Airpods Pro: very bad quality in Headset mode on Windows 10

I did some detailed testing of different devices. 

Major use case for me using BT headsets are TEAMS calls.

Setting of different MIC of BT headsetstested on Lenovo Notebook T490S, using Windows 10, version 1909

**Reference setting USB connected Mic (the t.bone SC420USB):**You have the choice between following settings:

Sound quality using the MIC: perfect (10 out of 10) on either settings.

Sound test was done using TEAMS and the test of the sound device (it records your voice and during playback you can judge the quality). In TEAMS one could choose to use a “Stereo” profile at least for the speaker, but doing so results in low or no sound from the headset. So the profile in TEAMS always needs to be “(…Hands-Free AG Audio)”.

The quality evaluation was based on subjective ratings.

The following shows different headset MIC settings connected via Bluetooth. 

Using Bluetooth the setting of the sound quality is generally greyed out!

There is no possibility for the user to choose the sound quality of the MIC.

Device type is set to Hands-Free AG Audio – which is the major issue I assume.

Using this type no user defined setting in audio quality is possible.

Plantronic BT600 (uses it’s own BT dongle)

Sound quality using the MIC: very good (9 out of 10)

Sennheiser HD 458BT (uses BT from notebook)

Sound quality using Mic: very good (8 out of 10)

A little lower than Plantronic due to the fact that the Mic of the headset catches some audio from the room. The mic of the Sennheiser is located on the front of the bottom on the right edge of the headset capsule. 

Apple Air Pods (uses BT from notebook)

Sound quality using Mic: poor(4 out of 10)

Both sound of the headset and sound of the Mic is of low quality.

Apple Air Pods Pro (uses BT from notebook)

Sound quality using Mic: poor(4 out of 10)

Both sound from the headset and sound of the Mic is of low quality.

MPOW Wireless Receiver (listed as HB298 in Windows Setting):

Sound quality using Mic: poor(4 out of 10)

Both sound from the headset and sound of the Mic is of low quality.

Conclusion:

For unknown reason the Plantronic and the Sennheiser do not use the “Hands-Free AG Audio” profile but something of their own, with significantly higher sound quality for the mic. Still no user adjustable sound quality setting is possible.

Tested Apple headsets and one other BT device are stuck to low quality audio profile, due to the fact that Windows does not allow the user to freely choose the quality within the “Hands-Free AG Audio” profile.

@Windows developers: get this fixed please. Make the sound quality user adjustable on the "Hands-Free AG Audio" profile as well.

Please do not bother about things like "reduced battery life of the BT device" - the user himself should decide.

Yes, this. It's a bit ridiculous for something used that often (AirPods aren't "a new thing" anymore. And all those other spin-offs...)

anybody with an idea here?

Definately a windows issue. Be it drivers or Windows 10 itself. The same bluetooth hardware works flawlessly and smoothly when booting the same machine in macos. They are horrible using hands free mode in windows 10 and don't work at all as a proper microphone. 

So yeah, definately windows 10. 

Unfortunately I do not have another set of bluetooth headphones from another company to see if it is "politially motivated" on one of the sides of the companies.

I don't have Air Pods but I have a set of AfterShokz that I can use on my Android phone and my Macbook but not on any Windows 10 PC. Now, with COVID-19 and more people working remotely, Microsoft need to prioritise this. We can't use Teams or zoom etc on Windows 10 with a Bluetooth headset. Not good enough