Bluetooth audio in OSX Lion

I cannot connect to any of my bluetooth periphals on the latest rev of the Macbook Air 13. I've just updated to 10.7.1, and the problem persists. This is a huge problem as my home setup is now RSI-inducing. What's up Apple?

I am seeing occasional stuttery audio with my jambox as well. usually after a successful attempt, the second time and after that, the audio is choppy. the only way I can fix it is to turn the jambox off and then on again, then re-start audio. does this fix it for anyone else?

Go to System Preferences->Sound->Sound Effects and change "Play sound effects through" to "Internal Speakers". This should solve your error message problem with Apple Mail with the headphones turned off and still paired.

SpaceCoder - it has only been an hour since I used my headset after your suggested settings were in place.

I'm tentatively saying it works, however, I've never gone more than 5 minutes without a pop-up bugging me, etc. So, this appears to be the solution. And of course, as this is Apple, the solution was spankingly simple.

J

@SpaceCoder and @aroughdraft, that is NOT the solution, it may be a workaround. I don't play sounds in Mail and may not even have Mail open and the problem is still there.

Don't say that you have a solution which is not really a solution but at best a workaround and give Apple an excuse to not fix this problem. 🙂

I just know as far as the problem I had, it is gone, and I think Mail was only part of the problem - or maybe just a coincidence, but as far as my issue with being able to turn on and off my bluetooth headset without getting a crapload of error messages until I uninstall it, the steps I took from SpaceCoder seem permanent since I've booted since then and it still works - no problems any more ... I can't speak for why or whether my issues were at all related to the others posted here..... 🙂

> I can't speak for why or whether my issues were at all related to the others posted here..... 🙂

SpaceCoder's solution has at least helped a few folks, but it had no effect on my situation whatsoever.

Come on Apple. I know iCloud is your primary focus right now, but let's get this issue addressed!

Best regards,

Lou

Unfortunatly I have also issues with my Sennheiser MM450. Notably they sell it in the Swiss Appel WebStore. I don't want to loose hours to find a solution and hope for an update. But obviously there are bluetooth problems in Lion.

Confirming two (2) Bluetooth audio problems here: the "audio error occurred" phenomenon associated with Lion, and also the deteriorating and distorted sound from certain headsets (Jambox mainly, apparently) in both Snow Leopard and Lion.

------------------------------

There is obviously a problem with Bluetooth supporting audio devices. Both Snow Leopard and Lion caused "stuttering" and distorted sound eventually during extended listening sessions on the Jawbone Jambox, from OS X versions 10.6.x (latest was 10.6.8) through 10.7.1 thus far. Only fix is to power down Jambox, reboot it, re-pair it at the computer, and continue listening until distortion begins to occur (and it does deteriorate if not interrupted).

Further, with Lion, both 10.7.0 and 10.7.1 there is a new Bluetooth problem with Jambox... also documented here by many users, using other audio headsets as well. The connection simply will not work and requires repeated tries, or trashing preference files for bluetooth out of system/Library/Preferences folder, trashing Jambox "paired connection" in the Bluetooth control panel, and starting all over again. Sometimes minimal triage is all that's necessary. Sometimes major steps, as described are required.

This is a bug, straight and simple. Bluetooth audio transmission from OS X devices seems a low priority. No one is reporting iOS problems of similar sort, though Bluetooth would be the primary means of connectivity (a Jawbone Era headset works perfectly with iOS 4.3.2, as does a Motorola Finiti headset.

Apple should get their priorities in order, and get some additional developers working on the Lion Bluetooth code. They've opened a new campus, hundreds of millions in real estate, but not a cent, apparently in development resources.

I'm disgusted. Some things simply don't work and don't get fixed, and other work in the old version, and then get broken in the new one. Nice way to run a railroad.

Thanks for the clear statement. I would also add to my former post (see just above) that this same sennheiser mm450 headset works perfectly on my old iBook G4 running with Leopard. I hope that apple does not become a second Microsoft where upgrading means adding bugs.

Would like to add another data point.

I have a Sennheiser MM-400 bluetooth headset. This thing works fine with my ipod. But its totally different with my macbook pro. I experience all sorts of "A Bluetooth Error Has Occurred" popups. The headset sometimes pairs properly, sometimes not. When it does pair, it often works for a bit, but then sound gets out of sync, and eventually the whole thing just stops working.

I had hoped this would work fine with Skype, but it doesn't. I'm sure that the headset is not the problem, since it works with other BT sources (Ipod, Windows 7 laptop).

I need to add an addendum to my statement that the issue was fixed.

This may be pure idiocy on my part, but I did discover that if my iPad 2 or iPod Touch have Bluetooth enabled and are within range of my mid-2011 iMac with Lion, I get the error messages. If I turn off Bluetooth on those devices, there is absolutely no problem. Not at all.

I'm sure the rest of you are more savvy with Apple products than I am, and you probably already do that as a matter of course, but I found it a remarkable discovery for myself.

The error message says nothing to indicate that might be a problem, but I figured it out by a random spark in my head.

This is a relatively inexpensive Motorola headset. I don't know if that is significant.

I hope everyone else finds a solution. I'm doing fine, finally.

Best,

J

The very same issue here with Sennheiser MM400. And the problem is definately NOT with the headset. It works perfectly with my android phone, Sony VAIO notebook and Lenovo notebook. even with my wife's iPhone. The only system that makes it unusable is OS X Lion - once you try to use it as a handsfree (talk on skype, XLite / Bria or whatever else) - it crashes. That makes me really sick. And all that in line with other Lion glitches and crashes ... boy, I feel like I'm back on Win Vista.

I have ZERO confidence that the BlueTooth failure in Lion 10.7.X is even on Apple's radar given the push for iOS 5 and iCloud.

I would look for a fix [hopefully] in 10.7.5 or 10.7.6 Q1 of 2012.

The next updates following 10.7.2 will probably address issues related to iOS & Cloud integration.

I already rolled back an iMac to Snow Leopard just so I can resume using my JawBone Icon BT earpiece.

Since my MBP has too much of my day to day stuff and is more complicated to roll back, I'm leaving it @ 10.7.1 for the time being inherit with it the BlueTooth connectivity problems.

I'm hoping Apple proves me wrong.

time to try 10.7.2... fingers crossed!