General bluetooth headset issue
This falls under the same ideas of audio distortion and stuttering and output from wrong deivce, but I think I found the cause of the issues?
For bluetooth headsets to play games properly, you have to disable its microphone/communications ability and use a seperate microphone because if you don't, it will use handsfree telephony audio to split the bluetooth signal into part microphone data and audio, which results in a distorted lower quality audio output signal. If you try to disable it and use the microphone, it will try to put the bluetooth data on the same bandwidth by stuttering all the audio, creating the stuttering.
Normally games dont have this issue once you just use a seperate microphone for voice input, and all audio output just goes to the headset. In marathon, however, I noticed that, in addition to a voice input device, there is a voice chat audio output device. If you set that vc audio output device to the bluetooth headset, it makes the headset think it is in telephony mode, or something, and the above problems will be created, regardless of if you have a seperate microphone input device. I verified that this was the issue because if I set that voice chat output audio device to my laptops speakers, i will get clean audio from my bluetooth headset, but obviously people talking to me will only output on my laptops speakers, hence the issue with the voice chat output from the wrong device.
Having the audio output channels (or what they are actually called) seperate (the game audio output and the voice chat audio output) makes it like unfeasible to play with a bluethooth headset, which isnt fun.
Sorry if this felt like mansplaining I just hope to help because I really think this game is cool and I really want to experience it in the best way with good audio and I hate my bluethooth headset doing this all the time. Best wishes!
댓글
Hi there,
Thank you for the report. We're currently investigating issues related to voice chat and comms on PC to have them resolved as soon as possible. We appreciate the added details!
I too am having this problem, with Bluetooth speakers that have a mic built in.
Yea hopefully they fix this I’m not sure but having a dedicated audio output and a delicates voice chat audio output could def be the reason why the distortion happens. But I rly hope they fix this because I has many teammates and other players in voice chat talking to me and I couldn’t hear them because I had my audio output on some random speakers
Environment
Game: Marathon
Platform: Windows 11 (also relevant for Windows 10)
Audio device: OnePlus Buds 2 Pro (Bluetooth)
Connection: Bluetooth A2DP / Hands-Free profile
Headset modes:
Media mode (A2DP stereo) — high quality audio, mic disabled
Call mode (Hands-Free / HFP) — low quality audio, mic enabled
Description
When launching Marathon, my Bluetooth headset automatically switches from media playback mode (A2DP) to hands-free call mode (HFP).
This happens even though the Hands-Free Telephony profile is disabled in Windows sound device settings.
The switch significantly degrades audio quality and enables the headset microphone.
Steps to Reproduce
Connect OnePlus Buds 2 Pro via Bluetooth.
In Windows Sound settings → Recording/Playback devices, disable Hands-Free Telephony.
Confirm audio is in high-quality stereo mode.
Launch Marathon.
Observe the headset switching to call mode (audio quality drops).
Expected Result
The game should respect the Windows audio configuration and keep the headset in stereo media mode.
Actual Result
Marathon forces the headset into hands-free call mode, lowering audio quality.
Frequency
100% reproducible.
Also experiencing this issue, Hesh ANC headphones for reference!
Everything was fine at launch, but today the game forcibly and diligently activated this feature, bypassing my Windows device settings. This also happens when I start the game, even though I have a microphone that activates when I press a button. However, every time I start the game, Hands Free begins right from the beginning and won't turn off. At the same time, if I completely disable this service in Windows, the game frequently interrupts the sound. I don't understand where such an error could come from... I even have my microphone set to a different device by default, but the game REALLY wants to listen to me through Bluetooth headphones.
Same issue for me. Found a temporary solution: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8huUmsKdKVk
Worked for me, but with one note: when this service is disabled - headset wont connect. So you need connect headset and then disable/stop service before you launch the game.
Moin,
Beim mir ist es genau das gleiche. Dieses Spiel schaltet in den Handsfree Mode sobald mein BT Kopfhörer als Audioquelle eingestellt wird. Ganz egal was in Windows eingestellt ist! Ich nutze ein Standmikro und hab eigentlich in keinem Spiel Probleme solange ich das Standmikro ausgewählt habe! Das Mikro vom Kopfhörer ist auch deaktiviert, interessiert das Spiel leider nur gar nicht :D
Same issue here. Airpods, with the headset input disabled in windows sound settings.
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