Bluetooth audio problems Catalina

This is the log output when audio drops out. (All within one second.) "MDR-1000X" are the bluetooth headphones.

kernel	memorystatus: killing_idle_process pid 5932 [bluetoothaudiod] jetsam_reason->osr_code: 9
bluetoothd	BTDClient XPC connection for process bluetoothaudiod (5932) is becoming invalidated
bluetoothd	Removing (<BTDClient: 0x7fd805746340>) for process bluetoothaudiod (5932)
coreaudiod	XPC Error remove all devices
coreaudiod	Remove all devices
mediaremoted	Client <MRDMediaRemoteClient 0x7fd7XXX1d390, bundleIdentifier = bluetoothaudiod, pid = 5932> invalidated.
mediaremoted	Removing client <MRDMediaRemoteClient 0x7fd7XXX1d390, bundleIdentifier = bluetoothaudiod, pid = 5932>
mediaremoted	[AVRoutingServer] Setting (null) to application picked routes for client <MRDMediaRemoteClient 0x7fd735f1d390, bundleIdentifier = bluetoothaudiod, pid = 5932>
coreaudiod	BluetoothHALPlugIn_StopIO: triggered by (null) (0) - OUTPUT - MDR-1000X
coreaudiod	stopIO activeIO:1 relatedDevice activeIO:0 (output)
coreaudiod	stopIO:0 activeIO:0 (output)
AirPlayXPCHelper	Deactivate 04-5d-XX-72-XX-08
bluetoothaudiod	VID:0xFFFF PID:0x0000 (0x0000FFFF) FW:0x0000 (0x00000000FFFF)
bluetoothaudiod	Device supports A2DP sink
bluetoothaudiod	[init] entry
bluetoothaudiod	[init] virtual address = 0x10f6b6000
bluetoothaudiod	Create endpoints connected devices:1
bluetoothaudiod	Wifi is on 2.4GHz? 0
bluetoothaudiod	AAC Enabled
bluetoothaudiod	[init] entry
bluetoothaudiod	[init] virtual address = 0x10f6cf000
bluetoothaudiod	[init] entry
bluetoothaudiod	[init] virtual address = 0x10f700000
bluetoothaudiod	[createEndpoints] No SBC / AAC Rate Limits
bluetoothaudiod	[init] entry
bluetoothaudiod	[init] virtual address = 0x10f731000
bluetoothaudiod	Device supports AVRCP target
bluetoothaudiod	MediaRemote server initializing...
bluetoothaudiod	1 clients have now registered for Now Playing Notifications
bluetoothaudiod	Device supports HFP
mediaremoted	Adding client <MRDMediaRemoteClient 0x7fd7XXX1d390, bundleIdentifier = bluetoothaudiod, pid = 6020>
bluetoothaudiod	Set current codec (null)->SCO
bluetoothaudiod	Device supports HSP
bluetoothaudiod	Set current codec (null)->SCO
bluetoothaudiod	Created audio device MDR-1000X
bluetoothaudiod	XPC: BTStopIO for MDR-1000X
bluetoothaudiod	Stop IO - set output activeBeforeSleep = NO
bluetoothaudiod	Already stopped - return immediately
bluetoothaudiod	Update activity signaled:0
bluetoothaudiod	sendAudioStatus isAudioActive:0
bluetoothaudiod	Setting cached activePlayerPath (null) -> origin-XXX/client-com.google.Chrome-462 (Google Chrome)/player-MediaRemote-DefaultPlayer
bluetoothaudiod	Quitting now
coreaudiod	XPC Error remove all devices
coreaudiod	Remove all devices

Thanks for looking into this!

OK, my experience after .3 came out:

Still happening, but much less often, and switching back outputs is simple.

No idea what is happening.

For those who haven't updated yet, I just trashed everything before and after the update. Ev-er-y-thing. Restart, NVRAM. Most of it probably unnecessary, but something in there helped.

What doesn't help is the stupid amount of interference and issues I have with any transmitted signals, but that's because of my house and probably the lead or asbestos in the walls.

gpharry wrote:

...

Anyway: I think I'll wait for next releases (both Catalina and iOS) and eventually downgrade in worst case...

Giampaolo

Hi folks. Nothing's changed here. Still having bluetooth disconnection on catalina (maybe a little less ... but I couldn't swear) and still struggling with iOS/car's connection's issues.

Honestly I don't care if it happens (the problem ...) less or more frequent than 10.15.x The fact is: user experience is by far no longer what it used to be!

I started to think that way when I had to replace my 2017 MacBook Pro keyboard for the second time and despite the fact that Apple admitted the flaw, no replace policy to replace the whole laptop came out ...

Preparing backups for Mojave's downgrade ... :-(

Sadly,

Giampaolo

So you can switch back? That’s an improvement at least. I had that option with .2 already.

Do as Virtustilus suggested, leave your Console open (type bluetooth, coreaudiod, kernel or something? I actually don’t remember how it works) og watch what happens during the switches, if you can’t figure that out, and try to interpret what happened or post the codes. I have no idea how you can detect switches.

I have problems with switches myself sometimes, but I think that is related to a neighbour’s airplay device (no access). But I think I can fool Music when restarting and play a music video right away, so it doesn’t try to connect to the stranger’s device and switches to internal speakers with no option to the bluetooth unit. My airplay device is off, but it is an alternative. I don’t know, but I have no other idea.

It is unreasonable to think that switching has anything to the problem that many had. This is not a memory or a kernel task problem. So my problems are non-existing.

I tried to figure out the 4GB RAM issue, since I am using about 5,5-6 GB RAM, including cached memory (buffer memory), but I still think 4 GB RAM is enough for normal use, if you run one or two programs at the same time. But is it enough to avoid Bluetooth issues? RAM is cheap, but not everyone can upgrade. I don’t know if additional 4GB of RAM will work either or if it is worth it. Mojave isn’t running better than Catalina, but the system requirements are lower. And security is lower.

My experience after 10.15.3 came out:

The problem still exists and I am very surprised (not really) that Apple still ignores the issue. Bluetooth audio switches 2-3 times an hour. My device is MBP 2018 13" 8gb (Catalina 10.15.3).

I had this problem during the call with my business partners.

Such situations could be harmful to my reputation... Thanks Apple, I can't trust you anymore.

Upgraded to Catalina 10.15.3. No go.

0) MBP 2016 15 inch, 16GB, big SSD.

1) Able to connect to to the Sound BlasterX Katana

2) Able to select it as the output, however

3) Sound never comes out. It used to work prior to Catalina.

4) Sennheiser PCX550 still works great as does Plantronics Voyager

5) IOS 13.3.1 iPhone X still working fine too blasting out my Amazon Prime music via the SBX Katana.

It (10.15.3) is slightly better in that sound stops coming out of the internal speakers now. So it seems like the computer thinks it's sending sound somewhere. Maybe some driver has the sound turned down or has decided to mute? Who knows?

Tried the various actions of deleting stuff, resetting, re-pairing etc. etc. But no go.

Installed windows (for games). And I can say bluetooth works worse there :D I can't use BT sound + BT mouse + BT keyboard together, because sound starts to crackling. So connected keyboard and mouse by wires and now I can use it windows. I think I will no return to windows back anytime soon (at least win10). Just every system became even worse last years (pc and mac), or it's just how we feel changes in general (like in the past everything was better :D). Mac for work and I can't downgrade (because I need last the most fresh software), Win for games and nothing else.

...PC for games and nothing else. Bluetooth has its drawback. Crackling (or stuttering) is not dependent on the operating system nor the mac’s/computer’s hardware. In other words, crackling occurs both with pc and mac separately. In fact, the crackling occurs in the same games, independently of system requirements.

You cannot buy a place in «heaven».

Glad I could help.

I also wrote a shell script, that frequently checks the audio output and automatically reconnects the bluetooth audio if the connection is lost. If anyone is interested, let me know..

Yes, the same keyboard, the same mouse. Both of them support USB and BT connections. The same Macbook.

When I use it in MacOS Catalina I don't experience any problems now (and didn't have crackling issues for some years already: Mojave, HSierra). But now I installed second operation system: windows and I got this crackling sound issue. Then I started to think what can cause it and tested it different ways. Every time I switched off Bluetooth module on macbook and then enabled again. Then connected at first phones and checked that music is playing without issues from google chrome. Then connected mouse, keyboard and got crackling. I tried different order of connection, tried to remove devices, etc. What I'm sure - it starts crackling when I start using keyboard and mouse. If I use only keyboard or only mouse, then crackling is low, but if both - crackling even increases (and only when connected mouse and keyboard through BT of course).

downgrading to mojave has not fixed the issue. Quite obvious that the issue here persisted on Mojave, which is what is happening to mine. Apple still insisted on releasing Catalina, with this horrid bluetooth issue.

It doesn’t mean that crackling cannot happen through this non-scientific approach. I am tired of the all non-related issues regarding bluetooth disconnections. We are going nowhere.

I have both an up to date powerful gaming PC and an iMac from 2017 for everyday use, and the Bluetooth connects in a similar way. Although, the iMac has the solutions better integrated and requires much less space.

Oh my gosh! I am having the SAME issue as well, I have contacted Apple support SO MANY times over it and I have literally done EVERYTHING there is to do to get this fixed other than going into an apple store (currently serving overseas with no apple store in sight). Smh this is really annoying and it also began when Apple came up with the "smart" idea to create Catalina. So frustrated because you spend ALL OF THIS MONEY on a laptop that CANNOT even preform the bare-minimum of what a laptop should do. $1000's of dollars down the drain. I know this is not helpful in the least for you but I wanted to let you know that I too am having the same issue. :) Best of luck to the both of us on finding a solution

You know, several years ago I just dreamed about good sound through some bluetooth headphones when I speak in Skype and I tried all of them and it was not possible, until bluetooth 4.2 standard came and now it's not perfect yet, but at least most of calls I can do without any troubles and without any wires )) And with new bose noice cancelling during the call I can speak at work when even somebody drills a wall :D And my colleagues that are on the call can't even hear that drill :D it's almost insane as cool, in comparison to several years ago, when they barely understood me when I used wireless phones in the silence :) So anyway everything became much much better, only some issues in software "made in hurry" it seems by apple makes things a bit worse for some months. Anyway I like it a lot.