Bluetooth speaker only plays as mono

[David]

When I connect my Sony SRS-X1 Bluetooth speaker to Ubuntu, it only plays back as "mono" and refuses to use "hi fidelity".

I have Windows 10 installed on the same laptop and when I've used the Bluetooth speaker in Ubuntu, Windows will "forget" the speaker on its Bluetooth list. I have to hold in the "reset" button on the speaker itself and re-add the speaker to Windows 10. This ONLY HAPPENS if I try using this speaker in Ubuntu, which suggests that Ubuntu is forcing the speaker into "mono" mode and Windows then sees it as a different device?????

Please help.
I will post all needed outputs as instructed.

Cheers!
---
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.10
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0c: david 3626 F...m pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: david 3626 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: Unity
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-07-28 (367 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.1 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160719)
Package: pulseaudio 1:8.0-0ubuntu3.3
PackageArchitecture: amd64
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-87.110-generic 4.4.73
Tags: xenial
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-87-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 12/16/2013
dmi.bios.vendor: Insyde Corp.
dmi.bios.version: V2.21
dmi.board.asset.tag: Type2 - Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: VA50_HC_CR
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: Type2 - Board Version
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Insyde Corp.
dmi.chassis.version: V2.21
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnInsydeCorp.:bvrV2.21:bd12/16/2013:svnAcer:pnAspireV3-571:pvrV2.21:rvnAcer:rnVA50_HC_CR:rvrType2-BoardVersion:cvnInsydeCorp.:ct10:cvrV2.21:
dmi.product.name: Aspire V3-571
dmi.product.version: V2.21
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer
modified.conffile..etc.xdg.autostart.pulseaudio.desktop: [modified]
mtime.conffile..etc.xdg.autostart.pulseaudio.desktop: 2016-07-29T10:08:04.428983

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Bluetooth profile selection and generally all bluetooth audio issues are actually the domain of PulseAudio. Which is surprising at first...

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Also, please run this to give us more information automatically:
   apport-collect 1707487

[David (dave400)]

Who do I run "apport-collect 1707487"?

Please tell me how to do this.

Many thanks.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Open a terminal window (Ctrl+Alt+T) and then run:

sudo apt install -y apport
apport-collect 1707487

[David (dave400)]

Thanks. I tried it, got this:

Quote "You need to run 'sudo apt-get install python-apport' for apport-collect to work."

I guess I need to run "sudo apt-get install python-apport" first?

[David (dave400)]

apport information

[David (dave400)]

apport information

[David (dave400)]

apport information

[David (dave400)]

apport information

[David (dave400)]

apport information

[David (dave400)]

apport information

[David (dave400)]

apport information

[David (dave400)]

Now the Ubuntu updater is doing a "partial upgrade". I hope I don't break anything?!!

[David (dave400)]

I need to report a SIMILAR bug, which affects the same GUI for the audio. Bear with me.

[David (dave400)]

I have reported a similar bug that affects the same audio GUI: bug number 1707611

Hoping that will help get to the root of the problem.

Anything I can do to help, please let me know. I have all the time you need.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

David, have you tried setting the speaker mode to A2DP in sound settings? If it defaulted to headset mode then it might indeed be in low quality mono mode. Make sure the correct mode is set in your sound settings.

It's meant to choose high quality by default but that doesn't always work. Once you correct the setting it should be remembered.

[David (dave400)]

I have already tried that. When I go into the sound GUI options (by clicking on the speaker icon in the top-right, then "Sound Settings..."), the option for "Hi fidelity" is there, but often times it does not let me choose it. Sometimes it will let me choose it then instantly jump back to "mono".

A few times I've been lucky and been able to select "hi fidelity" and it works, but this setting never gets remembered.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

David, we have done a lot of work improving Bluetooth audio support recently. But most of the work only exists in Ubuntu 17.10 right now. Please also try booting up a live image of 17.10 (no need to install it) and see if that solves your problem:
  http://cdimage.ubuntu.com/daily-live/current/

[David (dave400)]

Thank you for replying.

I tried that live image of 17.10, tested its sha256sum matched - all OK (also tested the USB disc for defects on boot: "no errors found").

No luck.

I could not pair the Bluetooth speaker (Sony SRS-X1), but it was recognised.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for pulseaudio (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]