Bluetooth audio stops working after a while

Matter99 · August 4, 2016 at 8:26 PM

I have been trying to use my bluetooth headphones ( sony mdr-zx770bn ) with my raspberry pi 3 for a while now (onboard bluetooth), and it's easy to get working with either OSMC, the latest openELEC beta or the latest LibreELEC build (I just took the file from the downloads page) but it always stops working after a while (20 minutes the last time I tried it). I have to completely disable the bluetooth audio out (set output to hdmi, disable bluetooth) and then reboot, set it up again (bluetooth on, connect to headphones, change to Pulseaudio bluetooth) to make it work again for some time (in my anectodal evidence the time it worked the second time was significantly shorter, I believe 10 minutes). I can provide logs if you tell me how to.

Also, what is going on with openELEC and LibreELEC? I don't get it, is openelec dead? Is it true all the developers moved over here? And why?

LeSpark · September 13, 2016 at 9:01 PM

Quote from Matter99

but it always stops working after a while (20 minutes the last time I tried it)

Same problem here with a TaoTronics bluetooth headset. No error message, even the headset still says it's connected. But the sound is just gone.

**DaVu** · September 14, 2016 at 8:10 AM Official Post

I would start in the following way...

enable debug logging and providing the following logs if everything works as expected...each row is a single command:

Code

dmesg | pastebinit
pastebinit /stoarge/.kodi/temp/kodi.log

Then use the headphones until they stop working. Then provide the same logs again to compare what might happen.

Without logs it's only guessing.

Albynokwan · September 19, 2016 at 7:18 PM

I have the same Issue with Librelec 7.0.2 and a LG Bluetooth soundbar LAS350B

Here is the log when audio stopped ( video keeps on working) :

Code

19:53:43 307.650726 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::Decode - ret(2) pics(0) inputs(1) slept(0) queued(0.25) (4969.38:4969.13) full(0) flags(4000000)
19:53:43 307.650787 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::SetDropState - bDrop(0)
19:53:43 307.650848 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::Prime - queue(0x5c8f5d90)
19:53:43 307.651001 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::Decode - 0x73d3b648 3676  /0      dts:0.000 pts:4969.339 flags:10000004 ready_queue(0)
19:53:43 307.655060 T:1783620512   DEBUG: PushCecKeypress - received key  b duration 0 (rep:0 size:0)
19:53:43 307.655121 T:1783620512   DEBUG: PushCecKeypress - added key  b
19:53:43 307.661194 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::Decode - ret(0) pics(0) inputs(0) slept(1) queued(0.21) (4969.34:4969.13) full(0) flags(0)
19:53:43 307.661285 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::Prime - queue(0x5c8f5d90)
19:53:43 307.669281 T:1963307008   DEBUG: OnKey: 11 (0x0b) pressed, action is Select
19:53:43 307.669525 T:1963307008  NOTICE: CDVDPlayer::CloseFile()
19:53:43 307.669586 T:1963307008  NOTICE: DVDPlayer: waiting for threads to exit
19:53:43 307.671448 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::Decode - ret(0) pics(0) inputs(0) slept(1) queued(0.21) (4969.34:4969.13) full(0) flags(0)
19:53:43 307.671509 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::Prime - queue(0x5c8f5d90)
19:53:43 307.674286 T:1434489760  NOTICE: CDVDPlayer::OnExit()
19:53:43 307.674408 T:1434489760  NOTICE: Closing stream player 1
19:53:43 307.674469 T:1434489760  NOTICE: Waiting for audio thread to exit
19:53:43 307.681702 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::Decode - ret(0) pics(0) inputs(0) slept(1) queued(0.21) (4969.34:4969.13) full(0) flags(0)
19:53:43 307.681763 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::Prime - queue(0x5c8f5d90)
19:53:43 307.688873 T:1503237024   DEBUG: CMMALVideoBuffer::CMMALVideoBuffer 0x5bb2f818
19:53:43 307.688995 T:1503237024   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::dec_output_port_cb - 0x73d42a00 (0x5bb2f818) buffer_size(128) dts:-9223372036854.775 pts:4969.173 flags:10000004:0
19:53:43 307.689087 T:1503237024   DEBUG: CMMALVideoBuffer::CMMALVideoBuffer 0x5bb3de88
19:53:43 307.689209 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::Decode - ret(4) pics(1) inputs(0) slept(1) queued(0.21) (4969.34:4969.21) full(0) flags(0)
19:53:43 307.689270 T:1503237024   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::dec_output_port_cb - 0x73d438c0 (0x5bb3de88) buffer_size(128) dts:-9223372036854.775 pts:4969.214 flags:10000004:0
19:53:43 307.689392 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::ClearPicture - 0x6fd03ae8 (0x73d43338)
19:53:43 307.689453 T:1503237024   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::dec_input_port_cb port:0x73d43fb0 buffer 0x73d3b470, len 0 cmd:0
19:53:43 307.689545 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideoBuffer::Release 0x6fd03ae8 (0x73d43338) ref:1
19:53:43 307.689606 T:1659892640   DEBUG: CMMALVideoBuffer::Acquire 0x5bb2f818 (0x73d42a00) ref:1
19:53:43 307.689697 T:1659892640    INFO: CMMALVideo::GetPicture dts:0.000 pts:4969.173 flags:4:10000004 MMALBuffer:0x5bb2f818 mmal_buffer:0x73d42a00
19:53:43 307.689850 T:1413477280   DEBUG: CDVDPlayerAudio::HandleSyncError - average error -3325852.535492 above threshold of 200000.000000
19:53:43 307.689941 T:1413477280  NOTICE: thread end: CDVDPlayerAudio::OnExit()
19:53:43 307.690094 T:1434489760  NOTICE: Closing audio device
19:53:43 307.690155 T:1413477280   DEBUG: Thread DVDPlayerAudio 1413477280 terminating
19:53:43 307.690521 T:1503237024   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::dec_input_port_cb port:0x73d43fb0 buffer 0x73d3b648, len 0 cmd:0
19:53:43 307.702454 T:1503237024   DEBUG: CMMALVideoBuffer::CMMALVideoBuffer 0x5bb79d08
19:53:43 307.702576 T:1503237024   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::dec_output_port_cb - 0x73d42db0 (0x5bb79d08) buffer_size(128) dts:-9223372036854.775 pts:4969.256 flags:10000004:0
19:53:43 307.702667 T:1503237024   DEBUG: CMMALVideoBuffer::CMMALVideoBuffer 0x6fd9d6f8
19:53:43 307.702728 T:1503237024   DEBUG: CMMALVideo::dec_output_port_cb - 0x73d43510 (0x6fd9d6f8) buffer_size(128) dts:-9223372036854.775 pts:4969.298 flags:90000004:0
19:53:43 307.842896 T:1386738592   ERROR: EXCEPTION: XBMC is not playing any media file

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Seems to happen only with one file Which is 5.1 Dolby.

Hope this helps? Let me know if you need additional details.

tonyst · September 27, 2016 at 10:03 AM

I have the same issue, raspberry pi 3 LibreELEC v7.90.006, any solution?

corrpel · November 5, 2016 at 7:06 PM

Quote from tonyst

I have the same issue, raspberry pi 3 LibreELEC v7.90.006, any solution?

I have this issue too. No solution so far, for me is maximum 1 minute and also the video is freezing.

**chewitt** · November 6, 2016 at 11:38 AM Official Post

Quote from Matter99

Also, what is going on with openELEC and LibreELEC? I don't get it, is openelec dead? Is it true all the developers moved over here? And why?

Let’s rock this gig! – LibreELEC <= that's the best explanation we'll make in public. The only thing that changed since is the number of active developers working on LE increased a load.

Cris_ · November 8, 2016 at 10:15 AM

Same here! Audio stopped, video keeps running, BT Headphone still connected. Works sometimes 60-90min sometimes only 10-20min.
Next days i will post a log.

EDIT:
And the usability is also terrible:
Raspi connected on AV receiver with passthrough mode on HDMI out.
To hear over BT Headset i must disable passthrough mode, power on the BT Headphone and connect with Raspi and the switch to Pulse Audio.
Other way doesnt work.
Try this: LibreELEC

LibreElec 7.02, Philips BT SHB9150BT.

**chewitt** · November 8, 2016 at 12:29 PM Official Post

Have a play with current alpha builds, i've seen multiple comments about BT stability being better (although not in a pulse audio context).

ermethic · November 13, 2016 at 11:53 PM

Having the same issue here.
Works fine if I use a BT USB adapter though, but this defeats the purpose of having onboard BT...

CarlosMC · November 17, 2016 at 1:56 AM

Hi All,

I've the same issue on my RPi3.
I did a fresh install of LibreELEC some days ago

here are the LOGs:

Code

13:32:36 2058.479248 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:38 2060.088867 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:40 2061.811279 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:41 2063.450684 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:43 2065.088379 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:45 2066.763916 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:46 2068.436523 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:48 2070.107178 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:50 2071.778076 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:51 2073.423096 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:53 2075.061035 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:55 2076.733398 T:1344013216   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer
13:32:57 2078.734375 T:1886380960   ERROR: ActiveAE::FlushEngine - failed to flush
13:32:59 2080.734863 T:1886380960   ERROR: ActiveAE::FlushEngine - failed to flush
13:33:18 2100.516357 T:1953493920   ERROR: CEngineStats::UpdateSinkDelay - inconsistency in buffer time

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I didn't realice that could be problem with DTS-5.1 audo...
So, in the next days i will do more tests regarding this issue and provide more logs or details!

Please, let me know any idea on how to provide useful information

Hope this can be fixed!!

tihmann · November 25, 2016 at 8:36 PM

Same problem here, bluetooth speaker stops working after less than 1 min, using Rpi3 with onboard bluetooth

Code

21:30:34.711 T:1961724496  NOTICE: VideoPlayer: Opening: pvr://channels/radio/Alle Kanäle/pvr.hts_1803502268.pvr
21:30:34.711 T:1961724496 WARNING: CDVDMessageQueue(player)::Put MSGQ_NOT_INITIALIZED
21:30:34.713 T:1378608032  NOTICE: Creating InputStream
21:30:35.395 T:1378608032  NOTICE: Creating Demuxer
21:30:36.136 T:1378608032  NOTICE: Opening stream: 1 source: 256
21:30:36.136 T:1378608032  NOTICE: Finding audio codec for: 86016
21:30:36.143 T:1378608032  NOTICE: Creating audio thread
21:30:36.144 T:1370219424  NOTICE: running thread: CVideoPlayerAudio::Process()
21:30:36.145 T:1378608032  NOTICE: Opening stream: 1 source: 256
21:30:36.145 T:1378608032  NOTICE: Finding audio codec for: 86016
21:30:36.155 T:1370219424  NOTICE: Creating audio stream (codec id: 86016, channels: 2, sample rate: 48000, no pass-through)
21:30:36.645 T:1929376672  NOTICE: PulseAudio: Opened device Default in pcm mode with Buffersize 154 ms
21:30:36.667 T:1378608032 WARNING: CDVDMessageQueue(video)::Put MSGQ_NOT_INITIALIZED
21:30:53.474 T:1370219424   ERROR: CDVDAudio::AddPacketsRenderer - timeout adding data to renderer

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Cris_ · November 30, 2016 at 12:14 AM

Here a debug log from starting a AC3 5.1 .mkv (little bit cleaned the log).

LibreElec 7.0.2 + SHB9150 Stereo Bluetooth Headphones

freefly42 · December 30, 2016 at 5:29 AM

I've been chasing down the same problem--very difficult to trace the problems, but it doesn't seem to be anything wrong in Kodi, it's actually in the bluetooth stack. With a bluetooth keyboard connected, I found when the Dolby Digital audio started to cause problems it also caused the keyboard not to work.

In trying to troubleshoot, I found other references to problems with the built-in bluetooth device on the Pi3. Since I happened to have a Bluetooth USB dongle, I disabled the built-in bluetooth by adding the following to /flash/config.txt

Code

dtoverlay=pi3-disable-bt

This disabled the built-in bluetooth, but does not disable USB bluetooth. Interestingly the built-in bluetooth is not USB, and I believe the root issue is actually the bandwidth for the data interface with the built-in bluetooth being insufficient for hi definition audio.

Anyway, with USB bluetooth device streaming audio works perfectly even with Dolby Digital. Seems annoying to have such a limitation on the built-in hardware.

hajoe01 · January 11, 2017 at 8:12 AM

Quote from Matter99

but it always stops working after a while (20 minutes the last time I tried it).

Same problem - I'm using "August EP650 Headphones" - have to do a reboot when the transmission stops

Hakmawongzi · January 19, 2017 at 4:12 PM

Sold my Amazon Fire TV and bought a PI 3 and it turned out to be a bad move on my part. Optical connection to my amp is disconnected and Bluetooth headset is giving me grieve non stop till I stopped using it..
I experienced the audio disconnect problem just like everyone else that posted here before me but I just kept trying different setup every couple of days and until recently I discovered something by accident.
If I load a video file into the sdcard and play the file from there, I can be on the Bluetooth headset for hours and I never had the audio disconnect on me. The minute I played a video from YouTube and the audio would just disconnect at random time. And this behaviour exhibits in both OpenElec as well as LibreElec. And I never had this Bluetooth headset problem when I was running either Kodi or SPMC on my Amazon Fire TV.
Which brings me to suspect the PI3 hardware itself. So I was playing with different video/audio setting, changing buffer memory size in advancesetting.xml and non of those solved the problem.
Earlier on this morning I downloaded the Pi configuration add-on and played with different setting and finally I was watching video on YouTube without my Bluetooth audio quitting on me for 4 hours non stop.
Guys...If you are still having problem with your PI3 Bluetooth audio, please clock your PI3 to turbo at 1000 or higher and enable "Disable dynamic overclock" option to confirm my findings.
Thank you.
Time to shop for a 8 core Android box with Bluetooth and optical out.

walexand · January 25, 2017 at 9:42 PM

Quote from hajoe01

Same problem - I'm using "August EP650 Headphones" - have to do a reboot when the transmission stops

I guess, the most important line in /flash/config.txt is:

force_turbo=1 #Voids Warranty! (uncomment to avoid CPU scaling down to 600Mhz)

It seems, that bluetooth stops, if the CPU frequency goes down to 600 Mhz.
If you enable force_turbo, you also may set:

arm_freq=1000

1000 Mhz is fast enough. If you don't set arm_freq, it will be set to the default value, 1200 Mhz.
You can determine the current CPU frequency with the command:

sudo cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/cpuinfo_cur_freq

MysteriousBoy · February 10, 2017 at 7:00 PM

same problem for me, if i listen to shoutcast2 plugin sometimes works good, sometimes the sound is stopped and i am forced to reboot the system to make it work. If i play any movie (plugins too) the sound is droping after 10-20sec (the video is freezing too) and i need to reboot the system too. this problem is only when i use onboard bluetooth connected to my portable bluetooth receiver with analog output or with my bluetooth headphones.
Please fix this in the new version of LibreELEC!!
I am using LibreELEC (Krypton) v7.95.2 BETA installed as single OS (without any thing like "Noobs" or "Berryboot" or smtg) on a Raspberry Pi 3 Model B (microSDHC Samsung evo+ 16gb)
[hr]

Quote from walexand

I guess, the most important line in /flash/config.txt is:

force_turbo=1 #Voids Warranty! (uncomment to avoid CPU scaling down to 600Mhz)

It seems, that bluetooth stops, if the CPU frequency goes down to 600 Mhz.
If you enable force_turbo, you also may set:

arm_freq=1000

1000 Mhz is fast enough. If you don't set arm_freq, it will be set to the default value, 1200 Mhz.
You can determine the current CPU frequency with the command:

sudo cat /sys/devices/system/cpu/cpu0/cpufreq/cpuinfo_cur_freq

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already i have tried this, and the problem persist... still not working