[🐞 BUG] AirPods playback briefly drops when starting dictation

[NACC96]

Describe the bug
When using AirPods as both the macOS output device and microphone, starting/opening FluidVoice dictation briefly interrupts audio playback from another app such as YouTube. The audio comes back afterward, but there is a noticeable short drop/glitch right as dictation starts.

This does not appear to be caused by transcription sounds: transcription sound is set to None, and the issue still happens. The same playback interruption does not happen when FluidVoice/macOS input is switched to the built-in MacBook Pro microphone while keeping AirPods as the output device.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Connect AirPods to the Mac.
2. Set AirPods as the macOS output device.
3. Let AirPods also be the active/default input microphone.
4. Start playing a YouTube video or other media through the AirPods.
5. Start/open FluidVoice dictation.
6. Notice the media audio briefly interrupts/drops when dictation starts.

Expected behavior
Starting FluidVoice dictation should not briefly interrupt existing Bluetooth headphone playback. Ideally FluidVoice should avoid switching the AirPods onto the Bluetooth microphone route when AirPods are already being used for playback, or provide a stable way to prefer the built-in Mac microphone while keeping AirPods as output.

Screenshots
Not applicable.

Environment:

• macOS Version: macOS 26.2 (25C56)
• App Version: 1.6.0 (build 12)
• Architecture: Apple Silicon (arm64)
• Audio devices observed: NK AirPods Pro default input/output over Bluetooth; MacBook Pro Microphone built-in input available

Additional context

• Workaround: switch the input microphone to MacBook Pro Microphone while keeping AirPods as output. With that route, YouTube playback does not briefly drop when dictation starts.
• This feels related to Bluetooth profile/route switching when AirPods are used as an input device.
• A different dictation app reportedly does not trigger the same playback interruption on the same machine/setup, so there may be an app-level route/device handling difference.
• Related feature request: [✨ FEATURE] Set default microphone not matter what #136.
• Related AirPods route work: Fix AirPods route changes during recording #317.

Crash Logs
No crash occurs.

[kyrichen55]

I'm having a related issue. When voice input is active, audio playing through connected headphones (i.e. music, meetings, etc.) becomes louder with degraded quality. This appears to be caused by the app - the same issue happens natively within Claude / Codex, but does not occur with Wispr Flow. The degradation starts when the mic starts listening and stops once voice input ends.

I am also using AirPods as both the input and output device.