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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
Updated: 2026-09-29 · 7 min read · Independent comparison
• Avantree Audikast 4 — biggest strength: it is built for TV listening, taking Optical (TOSLINK) or 3.5 mm AUX audio and broadcasting it wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones or Auracast-compatible hearing aids.
• Avantree Audikast 4 — biggest trade-off: your TV must have Optical or AUX output. HDMI-only TVs won't work, soundbar passthrough isn't supported, and in Classic Bluetooth mode only one device connects at a time.
• Ugreen USB-C — biggest strength: plug-and-play USB-C audio for PS5, PC and iMac, with Bluetooth 6.0, aptX Adaptive/HD support and switchable LE Audio modes for low latency or higher-quality sound.
• Ugreen USB-C — biggest trade-off: it is an audio-only dongle. It won't work with mice, keyboards, TVs, cars or microphones, and LE Audio features need headphones that actually support LE Audio or LC3.
• Who each pick is for: Avantree for TV and hearing-aid users who want private listening at their own volume; Ugreen for console and computer users who want wireless headphones without a driver install.
The Audikast 4 is a small black box — roughly 2.7" long, 2.9" wide and 2.6" tall — and its whole reason for existing is getting TV sound into your ears without blasting the room. You connect it to your TV over Optical TOSLINK or 3.5 mm AUX, and it streams that audio wirelessly to Bluetooth headphones, earbuds, or Auracast-compatible hearing aids. It runs on USB-C power and is controlled by touch, which keeps the top surface clean instead of cluttered with buttons.
What makes it interesting is the two-mode design. In Auracast mode it can broadcast to Auracast headphones, speakers and Auracast-enabled hearing aids — the multi-listener path. In Classic Bluetooth mode it behaves like a normal transmitter, but with a hard limit: one headphone or speaker at a time. That distinction matters more than anything else on the spec sheet. If your household has one person who wants the TV loud and another who wants it quiet, Auracast is the mode you'd lean on. If you just want your own pair of headphones to work, Classic is fine.
Who should skip it? Anyone whose TV only has HDMI output, and anyone running a soundbar passthrough setup — Avantree is explicit that neither works. Hearing aid users should also verify their model supports Auracast broadcast audio before buying, since the compatibility list is specific. And if you want to connect two regular Bluetooth headphones at once, this isn't the tool; Classic mode won't do it.
Ugreen USB-C: Who It's For
The Ugreen USB-C adapter (model BT701) is the opposite kind of product: a dongle you plug into a USB-C port and forget about. It's aimed at PS5 and gaming consoles first, with PCs and iMacs as the second audience. There are no drivers to install — plug it in, pair your headphones, play. Ugreen is clear about the boundary, though: it handles Bluetooth audio devices only, not mice, keyboards or other data peripherals.
The chip inside is the Qualcomm QCC3086 running Bluetooth 6.0, which is the part responsible for fast pairing and a stable link even in crowded wireless environments. Codec support covers aptX Adaptive, aptX HD, aptX and SBC, so it can match a decent quality tier with a compatible headset rather than falling back to the basics.
The feature I'd actually shop on is the LE Audio mode switch. Low Latency mode is the default and prioritizes audio-video sync — the thing that ruins gaming and movie watching when it's off. High-Quality mode trades that for richer detail on music. There's also a physical side toggle for BR (Classic Bluetooth), which is what you flip to if your headphones don't support LE Audio or LC3. That toggle is a genuinely useful bit of honesty: it means the adapter still works with older gear instead of leaving you stranded.
On the sharing side, Classic mode supports dual-device connection, while LE Audio mode supports one-to-many broadcasting for group gaming or family movie nights. One caveat worth remembering: aptX HD doesn't support dual-device connection, so you can't stack every feature at once.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for TV audio → Avantree Audikast 4. Optical and AUX inputs are the entire point; Ugreen doesn't accept TV audio.
• Best for PS5 and PC gaming → Ugreen USB-C. Plug-and-play USB-C with a Low Latency mode built for audio-video sync.
• Best for hearing aid users → Avantree Audikast 4. It's designed around Auracast broadcast to compatible hearing aids; Ugreen's Auracast support is a mode-switching path for headphones, not a hearing-aid-first design.
• Best for multiple listeners → depends on your gear. Avantree needs Auracast headphones or receivers to share; Ugreen does dual pairing in Classic mode and one-to-many in LE Audio mode.
• Best for older headphones → Ugreen USB-C. The BR toggle keeps non-LE, non-LC3 headphones working; Avantree's Classic mode also works, but one device only.
• Best for long-term flexibility → Avantree Audikast 4. Firmware-upgradable hardware is a real advantage while Auracast matures.
• Best for simplicity → Ugreen USB-C. Nothing to wire into a TV's back panel, nothing to configure beyond pairing and the mode toggle.
• Skip both if: your TV is HDMI-only (neither fixes that for TV use), or you want a wireless mouse/keyboard adapter (Ugreen explicitly excludes data devices).
If I were buying for myself, I'd pick based on which screen I care about most. For a living-room TV setup — especially with hearing aids or a partner who doesn't want the volume up — I'd buy the Avantree Audikast 4. Its Optical/AUX inputs, Auracast broadcast and upgradeable firmware make it the more purpose-built device for that job. For a desk or console setup, I'd buy the Ugreen USB-C: the Bluetooth 6.0 chip, Low Latency default and plug-and-play USB-C make it the easier, more flexible fit for PS5, PC and iMac. Match the product to the port you actually have.
FAQ
Yes, with limits. Classic Bluetooth mode supports dual-device connection, and LE Audio mode supports one-to-many broadcasting. Note that aptX HD doesn't support dual-device connection.
Yes. Auracast mode requires Auracast-compatible headphones, speakers or hearing aids. If your gear is regular Bluetooth only, you'd use Classic Bluetooth mode — and only one device connects at a time there.
The Ugreen USB-C. It's plug-and-play on PS5 with no drivers, defaults to Low Latency mode for better audio-video sync, and uses the Qualcomm QCC3086 Bluetooth 6.0 chip for a stable connection. Check the current price on Amazon before you commit.
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