Question 529 of 1,020

Mobile Device Connection Methods →easyMultiple ChoiceObjective-mapped

Bluetooth Headphones Paired but No Audio During Calls: Profile Mismatch

This 220-1201 practice question tests your understanding of mobile device connection methods. The scenario asks you to isolate a root cause — eliminate options that address a different problem before choosing. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.

A customer reports that their new Bluetooth headphones pair with their smartphone but produce no audio during calls. The headphones work fine with other devices. What is the most likely cause?

Clue words in this question

Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.

Clue: "most likely"
Why it matters: Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

A
The headphones are out of battery.
Why wrong: If the headphones were out of battery, they would not pair or produce any audio at all, not just during calls.
B
The smartphone's Bluetooth antenna is damaged.
Why wrong: A damaged antenna would likely cause intermittent or no connectivity, not a profile-specific failure.
C
The smartphone does not support the required Bluetooth profile for call audio.
Bluetooth profiles like HFP or HSP are needed for call audio; A2DP only handles music. If the phone lacks these profiles, calls will be silent.
D
The headphones are paired to too many devices simultaneously.
Why wrong: Most Bluetooth headphones connect to one device at a time; multi-point pairing is limited and would not cause profile-specific silence.

Full breakdown with real-world context →

Quick Answer

The answer is a Bluetooth profile mismatch, specifically that the smartphone lacks the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) or Headset Profile (HSP) required for call audio. While the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) handles high-quality music streaming, phone calls rely on HFP or HSP to manage two-way audio and microphone control. This is why the headphones pair and play music but produce no audio during calls. On the CompTIA A+ Core 1 220-1201 exam, this scenario tests your understanding of Bluetooth profiles as distinct functional layers—a common trap is assuming pairing guarantees full functionality. Remember that A2DP is for listening, but HFP is for talking; if call audio fails, suspect the profile, not the hardware. A useful memory tip is “Music needs A2DP, calls need HFP”—if one works and the other doesn’t, the missing profile is the culprit.

Answer choices

Why each option matters

Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.

Correct answer & explanation

✓

The smartphone does not support the required Bluetooth profile for call audio.

The most likely cause is that the smartphone does not support the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) or Headset Profile (HSP) required for bidirectional call audio over Bluetooth. While the headphones may pair and work for media audio using A2DP, these profiles are distinct and must be supported by both devices for voice calls. Since the headphones work with other devices, the issue is specific to the smartphone's Bluetooth profile support.

Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Answer analysis

Option-by-option breakdown

For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.

✗
The headphones are out of battery.
Why it's wrong here
If the headphones were out of battery, they would not pair or produce any audio at all, not just during calls.
✗
The smartphone's Bluetooth antenna is damaged.
Why it's wrong here
A damaged antenna would likely cause intermittent or no connectivity, not a profile-specific failure.
✓
The smartphone does not support the required Bluetooth profile for call audio.
Why this is correct
Bluetooth profiles like HFP or HSP are needed for call audio; A2DP only handles music. If the phone lacks these profiles, calls will be silent.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "most likely" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
✗
The headphones are paired to too many devices simultaneously.
Why it's wrong here
Most Bluetooth headphones connect to one device at a time; multi-point pairing is limited and would not cause profile-specific silence.

Common exam traps

Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword

The 220-1201 exam often tests the distinction between Bluetooth pairing/connection and profile support, trapping candidates who assume that successful pairing guarantees full functionality across all audio use cases.

Detailed technical explanation

How to think about this question

Bluetooth audio profiles are layered on top of the baseband and L2CAP layers; A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) handles high-quality stereo audio for music, while HFP (Hands-Free Profile) and HSP (Headset Profile) manage mono audio with codec negotiation for voice calls. Some smartphones, especially older or budget models, may implement only A2DP and not HFP/HSP, causing a scenario where media plays but call audio is silent. This is distinct from codec incompatibility, which would typically cause poor quality rather than total silence.

KKey Concepts to Remember

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.

TExam Day Tips

Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.

Key takeaway

Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.

Real-world example

How this comes up in practice

A practitioner preparing for the 220-1201 exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.

What to study next

Got this wrong? Here's your next step.

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

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FAQ

Questions learners often ask

What does this 220-1201 question test?

Mobile Device Connection Methods — This question tests Mobile Device Connection Methods — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..

What is the correct answer to this question?

The correct answer is: The smartphone does not support the required Bluetooth profile for call audio. — The most likely cause is that the smartphone does not support the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) or Headset Profile (HSP) required for bidirectional call audio over Bluetooth. While the headphones may pair and work for media audio using A2DP, these profiles are distinct and must be supported by both devices for voice calls. Since the headphones work with other devices, the issue is specific to the smartphone's Bluetooth profile support.

What should I do if I get this 220-1201 question wrong?

Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.

Are there clue words in this question I should notice?

Yes — watch for: "most likely". Probability qualifier — the question wants the most probable cause or outcome, not a guaranteed one. Eliminate low-probability options.

What is the key concept behind this question?

Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.

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Same concept, more angles

1 more ways this is tested on 220-1201

These questions test the same concept from different angles. Work through them to make sure you can recognise it however the exam phrases it.

Variation 1. A user reports that their new Bluetooth headset pairs with their smartphone but no audio is heard during calls. The headset works fine with another phone. What is the most likely cause?

easy

A.The headset battery is low.
✓ B.The phone is not using the correct Bluetooth profile for calls.
C.The headset is out of Bluetooth range.
D.The phone's Bluetooth radio is faulty.

Why B: The most likely cause is that the phone is not using the correct Bluetooth profile for calls. Bluetooth headsets require the Hands-Free Profile (HFP) or Headset Profile (HSP) for bidirectional audio during calls. If the phone defaults to the Advanced Audio Distribution Profile (A2DP) for media streaming instead, audio will not route through the headset for calls. Since the headset works with another phone, the issue is specific to the phone's profile selection or configuration.

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Question Discussion

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