Summary
- Bluetooth headsets: stereo when used as speakers only, mono once the microphone is in use
- Krisp on Mac: Bluetooth microphone and speaker always in mono, with speaker audio capped at 16 kHz
- Windows: every headset appears as Headphones (Stereo) and Headset (Hands-Free AG Audio)
- Bluetooth microphone with Krisp on Windows: select the Headset version for both microphone and speaker
- No stereo sound support in Krisp.
This article explains how Bluetooth devices work in general and how they work with Krisp.
How do Bluetooth devices work in general?
Generally, Bluetooth headsets are two-channel devices. When listening to music, for example, you use the device as a speaker only. This means both channels are assigned to the speakers and the sound can be in stereo.
The Bluetooth microphone itself is generally a mono device. Whenever the Bluetooth headset microphone is used, one of the channels gets assigned to it. This means both the speaker and the microphone will be in mono.
How do Bluetooth devices work with Krisp?
First, let's look at how Bluetooth devices work with Mac devices without Krisp.
When you use the speakers only, the sound is stereo. The moment you start using the Bluetooth microphone, both the microphone and the speaker become mono automatically. If the microphone stops being used, the speakers go back to stereo. This usually goes unnoticed, as you don't talk and listen at the same time.
Now let's add Krisp to this.
If you have your Bluetooth microphone and speaker both selected in the Krisp app, they will always work in mono. The voice quality you get through the speakers will also be 16 kHz maximum. This applies even to devices like AirPods Pro, whose speakers support HD voice on their own. In either case, this shouldn't noticeably change your experience.
First, let's look at how Bluetooth headsets work with Windows devices without Krisp.
Any Bluetooth headset connected to a Windows device appears in two versions:
- Headphones (Stereo)
- Headset (Hands-Free AG Audio)
The Headphones (Stereo) version lets you use the headset as a speaker only and get stereo sound. If you intend to use both the microphone and speakers of the device, select the Headset (Hands-Free AG Audio) version for both. The incoming and outgoing sound will be in mono. If you leave the speakers on the Headphones version, you can still use the headset microphone, but you won't hear anything through its speakers.
Now let's add Krisp to this.
To use the Headset version as both microphone and speaker with Krisp, select the Headset version for both devices in the Krisp app.
To use the Headphones version as a speaker, select the built-in microphone or another non-Bluetooth device as your microphone.
Keep in mind that Krisp doesn't support stereo sound.
When the Headphones version is available, Krisp automatically chooses it as the speaker. If it isn't, Krisp switches to the Headset version. This way, Krisp makes sure the best available Bluetooth profile of the device is selected.