Ask HN: macOS+AWS Workspace+Bluetooth sucks: dongle headphone recommendations?

By: nico_h

Following Apple basically giving up on fixing the Bluetooth audio mode switching ([1]), and AWS Workspace being a very frustrating piece of software on Mac OS, I am forced to consider giving up my beloved original Bose QC 35 (Bluetooth and ANC).

I have to work in AWS Workspaces, which has the habit of needlessly forcing the use of the microphone at all times (yellow icon in the menubar). This makes Mac OS change the Bluetooth profile from audio playback to handset mode, which is extremely low quality audio (and on my headphones pipes the headphones mic back in the audio and seemingly disable the noise cancellation). The tools to deactivate the profile was removed 3 version of Mac OS ago and changing the selected microphone in the settings does nothing.

As they don't suffer from the same problem, I am looking for dongle-based over ear headphones like the Logitech G 735. In order criteria are: "works with mac os", over the ear, comfortable, good audio, ANC, low latency, mic optional but a nice microphone a plus.

After endless frustrating google searches it seems only Logitech advertise Mac OS support on some of their headphones. Most tests or reviews don't mention mac os, and I think most of the dongle based headphones that "support" mac os is through the Bluetooth, which is a no-go for my use case.

- G735 work, sound OK but they feel a bit heavy and basically no noise isolation (also not inexpensive). - G733 should work with Mac OS, be lighter than G 735, but worse sound, isolation and latency (at least they seem relatively inexpensive) - G533 also should work, be light as well, but same problems and worse sound, isolation and latency (also available relatively inexpensive) - G Pro X2: should sound better, but Mac OS status is unknown

Anybody has good Mac OS experience with the above headphones or the Razer BlackShark series (the last one has ANC) ? Or able to recommend another pair?

1: https://support.apple.com/en-us/102217 : "If sound quality is reduced when using Bluetooth headphones with your Mac Quit any apps that use your Bluetooth headphones' built-in microphone, then try your audio again." : unfortunately I can't quit AWS Workspace.