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?
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.
Pipewire and debian stable here
BT audio works like 99% of the time. Then there’s that 1% it just stops working for no apparent reason and you spend an hour googling why without finding any answers. And in the end, unpairing, forgetting the device and the re-adding it fixes the problem in 2 mins
Overall very happy once i remember the quick fix
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=0
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
