Bluetooth headset stuttering

General Help
1

Hello guys. First time linux user here.
I installed Zorin 18.1 Core, this previous wedensday, on a brand new ThinkPad e16 g3 Ryzen 7, 32GB. And I have an issue with my bluetooth headset stuttering slightly when Im playing a youtube video, and other media. Even when nothing is playing I can sometimes hear a faint crackling sound. It is especially bad when Im having a YT video playing in the background and then load another website.
I'm using the built in Brave browser.

Hardware used
PC: ThinkPad e16 g3 Ryzen 7, 32GB.
Headset: Bose QuietComfort 45

Thanks.

2

Welcome to the Forum!

  • Are Secure Boot and Fast Boot in BIOS disabled?
  • Did You tried it with disabled Hardware Acceleration in Brave?
  • Does the same happen when You use a different Browser like Firefox for Example?
  • Do You have all AV Codecs installed?
  • Did You tried a different Headset to check if it behaves the same?
  • Do cabled Speakers/Headsets behave the same?
  • Did You check the ''Additional Drivers'' Tab in Software & Updates if there are any Drivers offered?
3

⋅ Yes, disabled
⋅ yes its turned of now.
⋅ havent tried a different browser, same issue when using Spotify
⋅ I'm not sure
⋅ yes, JBL earbuds. Issue presist
⋅ Speakers work perfectly no issue
⋅ Nothing aviable for for updating

4

Spotify in Browser or when used as a Program?

Then let's check that. Open Gnome Software and scroll down to the End. You se there a Button called ''Codecs''. Click on it and You get an Overview with Codec Packages. Install all that aren't already installed.

Then open the Terminal and type:

sudo apt install ffmpeg vlc ubuntu-restricted-extras

To get more Codec Support. VLC is a Media Player, yes. but it brings Codec Support with it. The last Package is a Bundle. It contains Microsoft Fonts, too. Because of that, You will get a Prompt where You have to agree to a Licence Agreement; that Prompt is normal. Navigate with the Tab Key to ''Ok' and press Enter.

When all is installed, reboot and check if it works.

5

I am using the Spotify app, downloaded straight from the Zorin app center.

  • Downloaded all the codecs packs, updated VLC, ran ' sudo apt update ' and rebooted the whole machine.

Then when I run the command you gave me, it says this:

Reading package lists ... Done
Building dependency tree ... Done
Reading state information ... Done
E: Unable to locate package ubuntu-restricted-extra

Issue is still here

6

Please add an s at the end of the command:
ubuntu-restricted-extras

sudo apt install ffmpeg vlc ubuntu-restricted-extras

You could test if there is the same problem when you play a downloaded video or audio file while wlan is disabled.

1 Like
7

Thanks.
the command ran successfully. installed the thingamajigs. But the problem is still there.

8

Did you make the test with disabling wlan to check if there are interferences between bluetooth and wlan?

9

No I did not

10

Then try that- Also: Does Your System run in Wayland or X11? You can check that with the Terminal Command echo $XDG_SESSION_TYPE

11

Its running Wayland.

Turning of Wifi actually seems to do something about the problem.
I'm loading up the beginning of a YT video. turn of wifi. it plays perfectly. And as soon as I turn Wifi back on again its lags, stutters / crackles a bit!

12

You can try to set another channel for wifi in your router (5 GHz) to see if that helps.

Also try to switch to Xorg. Logout and at login click on your username then a cog wheal appears at the bottom right corner. There you can switch between Xorg and Wayland.

1 Like
13

I have done a bit of digging since yesterday with some commands to see exact hardware inside the machine.
My computer has the Realtek RTL8852CE chip. a WIFI 6 / Bluetooth 5 combo chip!

I asked both Grok and ChatGPT, they have me different results.
⋅ Grok wants me to do a firmware downgrade.
⋅ GPT asked me to intsal the OEM Ubuntu 24.04 Kernel. And create some driver options. And a handful of other stuff.

it seems like the chip is causing problems for alot of people running Linux.

14

I would try oem kernel first if I were you... it could solve it

15

The OEM Kernel didnt fix the issue either. Im starting to think it might just be the Realtek chip that doesnt have proper support to run WIFI and BT at the same time. Atleast for Linux. :melting_face:

16

Try this:

Check current driver status:

sudo modinfo rtl8852ce | grep version
rfkill list

Update your system completely:

sudo apt update
sudo apt full-upgrade
sudo apt install firmware-realtek

Then reboot and test.

17

I'm wondering if an older firmware version for the realtek driver can help you:

1 Like
18

I know it's not ideal, but generally swapping out wireless cards is a pretty easy and cheap thing to do. If some fixes here don't work out in that regard, I could recommend something like an AX200 / 201, those being Intel cards that have support built into the kernel that (for multiple machines that I've been working on) work just out of the box without any tinkering.

19

Thanks. Did the full update and reboot. Also tried to run the "install firmware-realtek" command. It says its not available, missing, expired. Or it is in another source.
⋅ Trying my best to translate to english from another language what the terminal answered to the command

20

I have been thinking of this soulution actually. And those 9 last words you wrote is music to my ears! :sweat_smile:

1 Like