Bluetooth Speaker Connects But No Sound

[tomp01]

Why is support for Bluetooth speakers so erratic in Ubuntu/Kubuntu? I actually succeeded in getting it working in 16.04, only for it to break again in 16.10 and 17.04. Finally decided to start over and do a fresh install of 17.10. This is better than before, at least the speaker connects and I can get a test sound to work but otherwise no sound from video or music.

I found out that using a YouTube URL in VLC works through my speaker but not if I access YouTube via a browser. Can anybody shed any light?

[tomp01]

Thanks for the merging of posts, but an answer would be nice as well. Do the Kubuntu/Ubuntu developers take notice of long standing problems like this one? It truly baffles me how this has become such a recurring fault across so many releases,

[sithlord48]

you can use the sound applet on your panel to drag applications playing sound to the devices you want to hear sound come from . you can also use system settings -> multimedia.

[tomp01]

you can use the sound applet on your panel to drag applications playing sound to the devices you want to hear sound come from . you can also use system settings -> multimedia.

Done all that already but no joy.

[GreyGeek]

Assuming you are using FireFox, in the URL enter "about:config" and search for
media.webaudio.enabled
and make sure it is set to true.
May already be set to true but at least it is a shot.

[tomp01]

Assuming you are using FireFox, in the URL enter "about:config" and search for
media.webaudio.enabled
and make sure it is set to true.
May already be set to true but at least it is a shot.

I looked for that but it doesn't exist, I am using Firefox 56 (64 bit). I hasten to add that it doesn't work with Chrome either.

[GreyGeek]

You can add it as a Boolean. If it doesn’t help (reboot FF) then delete it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[tomp01]

You can add it as a Boolean. If it doesn’t help (reboot FF) then delete it

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tried that, but no joy.

Still don't understand why YouTube works via VLC but not through a browser?

I would appreciate somebody that has also used a Bluetooth speaker on 17.10 to add their two penn'orth.

[tomp01]

Tried that, but no joy.

Still don't understand why YouTube works via VLC but not through a browser?

I would appreciate somebody that has also used a Bluetooth speaker on 17.10 to add their two penn'orth.

Looks like somebody else has had the exact same problem!!

https://www.kubuntuforums.net/showth...l=1#post403632

[tomp01]

This is really frustrating, I did a fresh install and it worked, briefly anyway, before proceeding to break again. I will have to give KDE Mint a try to see if it is any better.

[sithlord48]

Here is everything I do to get my speaker working via bluetooth (Anker Soundcore)
First make sure your bluetooth is turned on the computer..

1. Click on the bluetooth applet's + button to add a device
2. Hit the pair button on the speaker .
3. When it shows in the list pair and trust it
4. System Setting -> multimedia-> audio and video -> Device Preferences . and adjust according to what sounds i want to come out of the speaker (optionally use the audio applet on the fly to move streams to the device)
5. IF sound is not working This one is important and I forgot it before...
Pair your speaker System settings -> multimedia -> audio and video -> Audio Hardware Setup
Select it from the list of Sound Cards and then under profile you many need to change it the defalut for mine is Headset Mode, but two other profiles exsist A High Quality Playback and OFF perhaps yours is off. Mine will not play any sound unless its on the High Quality Mode. While you are in this you can also test the device. Under speaker placement and testing.

[tomp01]

Here is everything I do to get my speaker working via bluetooth (Anker Soundcore)
First make sure your bluetooth is turned on the computer..

1. Click on the bluetooth applet's + button to add a device
2. Hit the pair button on the speaker .
3. When it shows in the list pair and trust it
4. System Setting -> multimedia-> audio and video -> Device Preferences . and adjust according to what sounds i want to come out of the speaker (optionally use the audio applet on the fly to move streams to the device)
5. IF sound is not working This one is important and I forgot it before...
Pair your speaker System settings -> multimedia -> audio and video -> Audio Hardware Setup
Select it from the list of Sound Cards and then under profile you many need to change it the defalut for mine is Headset Mode, but two other profiles exsist A High Quality Playback and OFF perhaps yours is off. Mine will not play any sound unless its on the High Quality Mode. While you are in this you can also test the device. Under speaker placement and testing.

It is so broken that I cannot get beyond step 1, can't even see the device now. Think I'll wait till the final release and reinstall. it has worked but my god it's really flaky.

[tomp01]

Managed to get another Bluetooth speaker to pair, however can only get test sounds out of it, same as before. I have given up for now, with a 3.5mm jack cable from the headphone socket of my laptop I can connect via the aux port to the speaker.

[tomp01]

I don't have Bluetooth speakers but do have a (Dell) USB soundbar on my external screen.

It is recognised as a sound device, no problem.
But many applications including FF will play via the build in speakers of this laptop.

Right clicking the volume icon in the panel and selecting the volume setting brings up a window with various options for output.
Like sytem sound can be directed to the build in speakers and FF to the Dell soundbar.

Does your Bluetooth speaker show up in the devices menu?

I actually managed to get two different Bluetooth speakers to connect and play test sounds. However now both of them are grayed out in Audio and Video system settings. I can't connect and more importantly I can't delete them and try again.

[tomp01]

I was just reading that (K)ubuntu is using PulseAudio 10, there is a newer version 11 that fixes many of these problems supposedly.

Here comes the bit you won’t want to hear: it’s not a trivial task to upgrade to PulseAudio 11.0 on Ubuntu (alas!).

Ubuntu 17.10 currently uses PulseAudio 10.0, with nothing newer currently pending in the package queue.

So, if you eager to try out the various improvements on offer you’ll need to upgrade PulseAudio manually using a third-party PPA (not recommended) or by opting to build it from source (also not recommended).

As the PulseAudio website makes plain: upgrading an integral part of your OS isn’t something to be done lightly, so should you manage to find a way do let us know about it do be careful and backup any important configs.

You can check which version of PulseAudio you’re using by running this command:

pulseaudio --version

http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2017/09/p...io-11-released