Bluetooth audio issue on MacBook Pro 2012 pre-Retina

[Cubytus]

Hi there,

On this MacBook Pro running Catalina, I tried to used various pair of Bluetooth headphones, without good results. For some unknown reason, all of them deliver sound so choppy it's almost impossible to understand, and disconnect from the computer without warning. I have to specify these earbuds have no problems staying connected to my iPhone SE (2016)

Wicked Audio Embr
Audio codec: SCO
Sound quality: very choppy and can-like, but can still be understood.

Apple AirPods
Audio codec: AAC
Sound quality: choppy, unintelligible.

Sony WF-1000XM4
Audio codec: AAC
Sound quality: choppy, unintelligible.

Don't know if related or not, but wireless keyboard and mouse often disconnect from the computer, even when batteries are full and they get a good signal.

The issue clearly seems to come from the computer, but what should I try next to debug it?

 

[Bigwaff]

Move MBP away from router.

 

[Cubytus]

Not sure that's the cause. I get the same issue very far from the router, but the iPhone doesn't, no matter how close to the router

 

[Bigwaff]

Take MBP away from normal home environment and try BT connections just to rule out local interference. If same result, most likely issue is hardware issue with BT module.

 

[Cubytus]

Same issue when I'm outside