IssueTracker

This possibly also affects Linux users. When I start an android emulator my system sound quality drops significantly.

This seems to affect audio output through HDMI but not when I switch to internal speakers - strange!

SDK Version: “Android SDK Tools” Rev., 25.0.7
Host CPU Model: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4700HQ CPU @ 2.40GHz
Device name: hw.device.name=Nexus 5

I notice the same behavior. For me. it started yesterday, not sure what changed.

Emulator version 25.2.2-3096464
Android version 7.0 (Nougat) - API 24.

I just updated to the latest images to see if it would fix the issue: it didn't. I'm now on image x86 Atom_64 revision 7

Mac os Sierra

Even I am facing this issue since I installed mac OS Sierra and also updated to Android Studio 2.2.1.

It appears to be the case for every heavy processing software. When I run a heavy game on my macOS Sierra, the Bluetooth audio quality dips significantly.

Yup, same issue here using Sony MDR-1000X on Sierra. Typical tropical dr oid.

Same issue, using Sony MDR-XB950BT.

I have noticed this as well. What happens is that my headphones are connected using the AAC codec, and then sometime during the initialization of the AVD, it changes the codec to a lower-quality one, that is used for old-style bluetooth headsets on phones (possibly SBC, possibly something else). This happens with my Sony MDR-ZX770BT. You can find out what codec you're currently using by option-clicking on the bluetooth menu item, and hovering over your headphones in the list. More about Mac bluetooth audio quality here: http://www.theghostbit.com/2015/03/force-mac-os-x-to-use-aptx-with-your.html