Bluetooth on macOS: AAC vs SBC Codec Stability

Had Bluetooth audio dropouts with my Sony speaker. Switching from AAC to SBC fixed it.

The Problem

Sony Bravia Theater U speaker kept stuttering and dropping connection on macOS. Audio would cut out every few minutes.

AAC vs SBC

AAC (Advanced Audio Codec):

• Optimized for Apple devices
• Lower latency (better for video/calls)
• Better sound quality at same bitrate (256-320 kbps)
• Usually more stable on macOS

SBC (Subband Coding):

• Universal Bluetooth codec
• Not optimized for macOS
• Higher latency
• But sometimes more reliable with problematic devices

When AAC Fails

Despite being “better,” AAC can have issues:

• Wi-Fi interference (2.4 GHz overlap)
• USB 3.0 devices nearby (yes, really)
• Some speaker firmware doesn’t implement AAC well

In these cases, SBC can be more stable.

How to Switch

For Sony devices, use the Sony Connect app:

1. Download Sony Connect (App Store or Sony website)
2. Connect your speaker
3. Go to device settings
4. Change codec to SBC

Results

After switching to SBC:

• No more dropouts
• Slightly lower quality, but acceptable
• Stable connection

General Rule

On macOS:

• AAC: Better quality, usually more stable
• SBC: Fall back if AAC has problems

On Windows/Android:

• SBC often more reliable (AAC implementations vary)

Sometimes “worse” codec wins on stability.