SoundLink around-ear II microphone too low when connected to Macbook Pro

[katd22]

I have brand new Soundlink II headphones and am pairing via bluetooth with my Macbook Pro. My main usage is for video conference calls. When trying to use the Soundlink microphone, the volume is so low that other participants struggle to hear me. 

I have manually adjusted the system settings "Input volume" on my Mac to 100% with no better results. I have tested the mic in Zoom, Discord, and Slack...none are able to pick up the microphone. 

The only way I can get a decent level of mic input is to turn the volume on the headset up to near full, which is painfully loud to listen to. Help?

[Tegan_M]

Hi Katd22, 

I am sorry that you are having issues with using your microphone for conference calls. 

Does this occur when you take calls via mobile also?

Can you also test a cabled connection to your laptop to see if this persists?

I would suggest you check for any available firmware updates for your headphones. This can be done via a computer using a USB and visiting our firmware update website btu.bose.com, which will provide you with full instructions.

I look forward to hearing from you.

[katd22]

Thank you for reaching out Tegan. 

When using the headphones with a mobile device (aka standard phone call) the microphone performs much better and I can be heard in conversation. The trouble seems to be when using with the Macbook  Pro via bluetooth connection.

When I use the 3.5 jack cord that came with the headphones with my computer, the Macbook only displays the headphones as a speaker (listening) option, they do not appear under inputs (microphone) and instead the computer uses the internal microphone.

Should the headphone microphone be available to the computer via the 3.5 cord?

[Tegan_M]

That's great, thank you. 

When you insert the audio input cable to your headphones, this disables all Bluetooth functionality of the headset. This does include the microphone as it uses Bluetooth profiles in order to function. This will be why the microphone is not working on your calls when connected to your computer via cable. 

There are two ways we can get around this. You can opt in to use a Bluetooth connection to your Macbook instead. Or if you look into purchasing the audio input cable for our QuietControl 25 headphones, this includes an inline microphone on the cable.

Do let us know if you have any further questions.

[ThrillKessel81]

I have had the same issue with these headphones since I purchased them last year. I have read other people having this as well, so it seems to be a bad design on Bose's end. I have not found a remedy for it besides turning the headphone volume up which, as you said, is not very comfortable to do.

[Haimin]

I have the same issue. In fact, I have replaced one, and got a new one, and all three had exactly the same problem. My husband had an exactly same model, but purchased a few months ago, and his microphone volume is pretty decent. I wonder if Bose produced a bad batch.

[diego.postigo@gmail.com]

I am having the same issue. When used on my laptop (Windows), I have no problem with the mic. But I can't use them on my phone (Android). A normal volume for the speaker means that the other end can't hear me. They can only hear me when I turn the volume to the maximum, which not healthy. There should be a way to control the volume of the speaker and the microphone separately. It is very uncomfortable.

[Aindurain]

I want to add my voice to this issue. I am extremely upset that I purchased this headset expecting a seamless use. As others mentioned above, the microphone becomes useless when in Bluetooth. While purchasing a cable with a microphone would solve this, I find this unacceptable. How can we spend more than 200 dollars on a Bluetooth headset and have to buy a microphone and end up not using the Bluetooth at all?

My main use was also for video conferencing and now they are useless while brand new.

[sudhirbr]

I absolutely have the same problem. Receivers cant hear when the volume is normal. the volume has to be set to high for other end to hear me.  It is painful to go through with high volume. Did anyone found a solution?

[marco1]

I have exactly the same problem and I'm very upset.

When I connect via Bluetooth to:

- an iPhone SE2, or

- a MacBook Pro, or

- a Mac Mini

The microphone is almost inaudible; even when I turn the "input volume" to the maximum in macOS.

I also tried to reboot the headphones (power off, plug charger, unplug).

I have another pair of THE SAME MODEL/COLOR (Bose SoundLink Around-Ear II) from 2018; the microphone on those works flawlessly.

This is very disappointing; one would think a the microphone would work on a $229 headphone.