How We Research
We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want to add Bluetooth to a Windows laptop so you can cut the cord on your headphones, choose Avantree DG45; if you need a cheap, driver-free way to get a working 3.5mm headphone-and-mic jack back on a PC, Mac, Chromebook or PS4, choose QimKero External.
These two get compared a lot, but they solve completely different problems. The DG45 is a Bluetooth radio. The QimKero is a wired sound card. Getting that distinction right is basically the whole buying decision, so let's walk through it.
• Avantree DG45 — biggest strength: adds Bluetooth to a Windows-only PC and holds up to 7 paired devices, so headphones, keyboard, mouse and printer can all live on one tiny adapter.
• Avantree DG45 — biggest trade-off: it is strictly Windows 11/10/8.1/8 and strictly Bluetooth. No macOS, no Linux, no Chromebook, and it will not talk to 2.4G or Wi-Fi gear.
• QimKero External — biggest strength: plug-and-play USB-A to 3.5mm TRRS audio that works across Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Raspberry Pi, PS4 and PS5 with no drivers.
• QimKero External — biggest trade-off: it is wired and one-directional, has no in-line controls, and its mic support has real caveats (more on that below).
• Who each pick is for: the DG45 is for a Windows user who wants wireless audio; the QimKero is for anyone who needs a physical 3.5mm jack that actually works.
The DG45 is a USB Bluetooth adapter for Windows PCs and laptops, full stop. It works with Windows 11, 10, 8.1 and 8 — and that's the entire supported list. Avantree is explicit that macOS, ChromeOS, Linux, Windows 7/XP/Vista, TVs, car stereos and gaming consoles are all out. If your machine runs anything other than a supported Windows build, this isn't your product, no matter how good the rest of the spec sheet looks.
What it does well is act as a hub for your Bluetooth peripherals. It pairs with up to 7 Bluetooth devices and lets you switch between them — headphones, speakers, keyboards, mice, printers, smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and supported Bluetooth game controllers. Non-audio devices like a keyboard and mouse can run simultaneously, which is genuinely useful if you're trying to declutter a desktop. The one limit worth knowing: only one Bluetooth audio device can be active at a time, so you can't stream to two sets of headphones at once.
For audio, it handles two things: stereo music to Bluetooth headphones or speakers, and voice calls through your headphone's microphone on Skype, Zoom and Teams. It also supports Bluetooth data transfer with compatible phones and tablets.
So who should buy it? Someone with a Windows laptop whose built-in Bluetooth is flaky or missing, or who wants a single adapter to handle headphones plus input devices. Someone who wants to move around the room while listening. Someone who takes a lot of video calls and wants a wireless headset without buying a new machine.
Physically it's tiny — roughly 0.9" by 0.53" by 0.25", weighing about 2 grams, in black. It's the kind of adapter you plug in and forget about. Avantree backs it with a 12-month warranty that extends to 24 months with product registration, plus chat, email, phone, online clinic, video tutorials and FAQ support. Nothing exotic, but a real support structure behind a very small dongle.
QimKero External: Who It's For
The QimKero External is a USB-A to 3.5mm TRRS 4-pole female adapter — an external stereo sound card, and it comes as a 2-pack. The job is simple: it gives you a working 3.5mm jack with both audio out and microphone in, routed over USB.
The headline feature is compatibility, and it's broad. The USB male end works with Windows 10/9/8/7/Vista/XP, Linux, Mac OS X, Google Chromebook, Raspberry Pi, PS4, PS5 and Windows Surface 3. That spread is the exact opposite of the DG45's narrow Windows-only scope, and it's the single biggest reason people land on this thing. No drivers, no external power — you connect it and the operating system picks it up. On some machines you'll need to double-click the sound icon in the control panel and set the USB audio device as the default output, which is a normal one-time step.
It supports TRRS headsets and microphones, outputs stereo surround sound across a 4-channel configuration, and lists a maximum sample rate of 96 KHz. The build is an aluminum shell with a nylon braided cable — a step up from the plastic-shell, PVC-cable adapters that fray within a year. It measures about 5.9" by 0.58" by 0.29", so there's real cable length to work with, and the 2-pack means you can leave one on a desktop and one in a laptop bag.
Now the caveats, because this adapter has more of them than the marketing suggests, and QimKero is admirably upfront about it. Audio is unidirectional — it flows from USB to the 3.5mm port, not the other way, so the USB end is an output, not an input. It will not work with TVs, cars, PS3 or trucks. On PS3 specifically, the USB port doesn't carry an audio signal at all. There's no microphone input when you connect Apple, Beats or Bose headphones. It won't work with headsets that have separate headphone and microphone plugs. It won't work with TS or TRS microphones — TRRS only. And there are no in-line controls: no pause/play, no volume up or down. Mic functionality also depends on your sound card driver version reaching at least 6.0.89 or 10.27.04.
Who should skip it? Anyone with a headset that has two separate plugs, anyone using a TS or TRS mic, Apple/Beats/Bose headphone owners who need the mic, and anyone who wants inline volume control. If any of those describe you, this adapter will disappoint — and QimKero says so plainly.
Side-by-Side: Which Should You Choose?
• Best for wireless audio on a Windows PC → Avantree DG45. It's the only one of the two that does Bluetooth at all.
• Best for cross-platform compatibility → QimKero External. Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Raspberry Pi, PS4 and PS5 versus Windows only.
• Best for pairing multiple devices → Avantree DG45. Up to 7 paired devices, with keyboard and mouse working at the same time as each other.
• Best for a dead or missing 3.5mm jack → QimKero External. That's its entire reason to exist.
• Best for console use → QimKero External. PS4 and PS5 are supported; the DG45 explicitly is not for gaming consoles.
• Best for mic input flexibility → Avantree DG45. Voice calls through a Bluetooth headset mic on Zoom, Teams and Skype, without the TRRS restrictions.
• Best for a spare-to-go setup → QimKero External. The 2-pack and a 5.9" braided cable make it easy to keep one stashed away.
• Best for Mac, Linux or Chromebook owners → QimKero External. The DG45 is a non-starter on all three.
One more thing worth flagging: these aren't really competitors, and you could reasonably own both. Plenty of people use a QimKero to get wired audio working and a DG45 to go wireless. If your only goal is one specific fix, though, pick the one that matches your actual problem. And since both are inexpensive categories, check the current price on Amazon before you commit — the numbers move, and the page button will show you where things stand today.
My Verdict
No. Avantree states it works with Windows 11, 10, 8.1 and 8 only. It is not compatible with macOS, ChromeOS, Linux, Windows 7/XP/Vista, TVs, car stereos or gaming consoles. For those platforms, the QimKero External is the better fit.
Yes, with limits. It supports TRRS 4-pole headsets and mics, but not TS or TRS microphones, not headsets with separate headphone and mic plugs, and there's no mic input with Apple, Beats or Bose headphones. Your sound card driver also needs to be at least version 6.0.89 or 10.27.04.
No. It's a wired USB sound card, not a Bluetooth adapter. It converts USB audio to a 3.5mm analog output (plus mic input) and requires a physical cable. If you want Bluetooth, you need something like the Avantree DG45.
They're aimed at different buyers, so value depends on your need rather than the number. The QimKero gives you two adapters and works across far more devices; the DG45 gives you Bluetooth and multi-device pairing but only on Windows. Check the current price on Amazon for both before deciding.
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