Bluetooth audio is my least favorite part of using Linux and it seems like my coworkers agree. I hear a lot of praise for pipewire, but it doesn’t match what I experience. Does any system work well for anyone?
To clarify, it can work. But it’s a harsh experience compared to say Android. I’ve used Ubuntu, Fedora, and PopOS. I’ve tried a few different headphones, using Galaxy Buds 2 current. Pulseaudio tends to “do as it’s told” but doesn’t automatically switch to the right (confusingly named) profile. With Ubuntu 23.10, using pipewire, it does automatic switch profiles. Sometimes this works great. But very often, it gets stuck on on a profile or just stops working. I have to reconnect bluetooth to fix it.
Is there some magic combination of things that works or is this just how it is for everyone?
Fedora Kinoite, working just as well as on Android (GrapheneOS)
Using Pipewire. The issue really is the shitty firmware of my headphones.
Fuck Bluetooth. I’ve seen it multiple times this week that wireless headphones have failed on Linux, Mac, and Windows. “Shit, let me reconnect my headphones”. Also the switching from “high quality audio” to bullshit mono audio when calling.
Fuck bluetooth.
Bluetooth works great. Debian w/ XFCE (pulseaudio). But, there is some config on a fresh install:
# apt install blueman pulseaudio-module-bluetooth # nano /etc/pulse/default.pa add: load-module module-switch-on-connect # nano /etc/bluetooth/input.conf change: IdleTimeout=0No problem here with Opensuse slowroll (Sway WM) and a Realtek bluetootth radio, I’m using blueman for managing enabling/managing bluetooth connections.
No issues currently using pop os. I don’t use the graphical Bluetooth manager, for whatever that’s worth. I wrohe a script that connects and disconnects with bluetoothctl, and I pair and trust devices with bluetoothctl. I use several different headphones.
Occasionally, I have to go into the audio settings to change the destination, or tap a button on my headphones, but that’s about it.
Bluetooth kind of sucks ass
I use NixOS, but before that I was on openSuse. I have not thought about Bluetooth in at all in the last few years. Zero issues. I pair it in KDE’s default bluetooth manager and then never really touched it since. Media keys all work, I control it over WiFi from my phone with kdeconnect no problem.
I think a few months ago I had to turn my headphones off and on again when the quality got really low for a second. Reading this thread I guess I’m extremely lucky? I don’t produce music or anything like that, so I might not be taking advantage I’d some its more exotic features.
EDIT: I am using a basic USB Bluetooth dongle I bought at least 8 years ago for my desktop, and my laptop just uses the built in Bluetooth. If that’s any consolation.
Sometime HSP just stopped working so now I have to do calls with my laptop built-in mic.
Also, some programs like Zoom just fail to use the right output device no matter what I choose in settings. I just have to make headphones the fallback device for anything to work.
But the most annoying thing is Linux somehow stealing the playback when my headphones are connected to multiple devices. Even when nothing plays on the computer but does play on the phone, there’s no audio. I have to disable/disconnect my computer to use headphones with phone when my computer is in range.
Pretty good. I use Nothing ear 2s with a lenovo thinkpad on arch linux and it works just as well as with my ipad and my android smartphone.
Only bad thing, it set the codec to a worse sounding one once for some reason, but changing it back solved it.
