Public bug reported:
## Problem Description
When playing audio via Bluetooth headphones "BOSE" on Kubuntu 26.04,
there is constant "scratching" or "crackling" sound when playback starts
and during playback. The same hardware works perfectly on KDE Neon
LiveCD.
## Steps to Reproduce
1. Boot from Kubuntu 26.04 LiveCD (clean system)
2. Pair "BOSE" Bluetooth headphones
3. Play any audio (local or streaming)
4. Audio plays with constant "scratching"/crackling distortion
## Expected Behavior
Audio should play clearly without artifacts (works on KDE Neon LiveCD
with same hardware).
## Actual Behavior
Constant "scratching" or "crackling" sound during playback. The issue
persists even on LiveCD (not an installation-specific problem).
## System Information (Kubuntu 26.04 LiveCD)
```bash
$ lsb_release -a
Description: Ubuntu 26.04 LTS
Release: 26.04
Codename: resolute
$ uname -a
Linux 7.0.0-7-generic #15-Ubuntu SMP
$ pactl info
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.2.7)
Affected Hardware
Bluetooth device: "Delta"
Vendor ID: bluetooth:009e
Product ID: 0x4022
pactl list cards | grep -A 5 "bluez_card"
Nombre: bluez_card.28_11_A5_AF_C3_AC
Controlador: module-bluez5-device.c
Módulo propietario: n/d
Propiedades:
device.api = "bluez5"
device.bus = "bluetooth"
--
device.name = "bluez_card.28_11_A5_AF_C3_AC"
device.description = "Delta"
device.alias = "Delta"
device.vendor.id = "bluetooth:009e"
device.product.id = "0x4022"
device.form_factor = "speaker"
wpctl settings | grep bluetooth
- Id: bluetooth.autoswitch-to-headset-profile
- Id: bluetooth.use-persistent-storage
- Id: device.routes.mute-on-bluetooth-playback-removed
journalctl -p 3 -xb | grep -i bluetooth
may 30 09:52:10 bichota kernel: Bluetooth: hci0: unexpected event for opcode
0x0000
may 30 09:55:36 bichota bluetoothd[3559]: src/service.c:btd_service_connect()
a2dp-source profile connect failed for 28:11:A5:AF:C3:AC: Device or resource
busy
may 30 09:56:37 bichota kernel: Bluetooth: hci0: SCO packet for unknown
connection handle 70
may 30 09:56:37 bichota kernel: Bluetooth: hci0: SCO packet for unknown
connection handle 70
may 30 09:57:43 bichota bluetoothd[3559]: src/service.c:btd_service_connect()
a2dp-source profile connect failed for 28:11:A5:AF:C3:AC: Device or resource
busy
may 30 09:57:43 bichota kernel: Bluetooth: hci0: SCO packet for unknown
connection handle 70
may 30 10:08:03 bichota bluetoothd[3559]: No matching connection for device
may 30 10:08:34 bichota bluetoothd[3559]: src/service.c:btd_service_connect()
a2dp-source profile connect failed for 28:11:A5:AF:C3:AC: Device or resource
busy
may 30 10:15:26 bichota bluetoothd[3559]: src/service.c:btd_service_connect()
a2dp-source profile connect failed for 28:11:A5:AF:C3:AC: Device or resource
busy
may 30 10:17:51 bichota bluetoothd[3559]: src/service.c:btd_service_connect()
a2dp-source profile connect failed for 28:11:A5:AF:C3:AC: Device or resource
busy
may 30 10:21:40 bichota bluetoothd[3559]: No matching connection for device
may 30 10:22:47 bichota bluetoothd[8824]: src/service.c:btd_service_connect()
a2dp-source profile connect failed for 28:11:A5:AF:C3:AC: Device or resource
busy
Additional Notes
Issue persists after disabling bluetooth.autoswitch-to-headset-
profile via wpctl settings --save false
Issue persists on LiveCD (not an installation problem)
Wired audio works perfectly
Same hardware works perfectly on KDE Neon LiveCD
Disabling WiFi does not solve the problem
ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 26.04
Package: pipewire 1.6.2-1ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 7.0.0-22.22-generic 7.0.0
Uname: Linux 7.0.0-22-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.34.0-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC1: shadowcat 8659 F.... wireplumber
/dev/snd/controlC0: shadowcat 8659 F.... wireplumber
/dev/snd/seq: shadowcat 4566 F.... pipewire
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CurrentDesktop: KDE
Date: Sat May 30 10:30:01 2026
InstallationDate: Installed on 2026-05-28 (3 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Kubuntu 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon" - Release amd64 (20260423)
MachineType: ASUS System Product Name
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No
PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
SourcePackage: pipewire
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 01/13/2025
dmi.bios.release: 5.17
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 3621
dmi.board.asset.tag: Default string
dmi.board.name: Pro B550M-C
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev X.0x
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Default string
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Default string
dmi.chassis.version: Default string
dmi.modalias:
dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr3621:bd01/13/2025:br5.17:svnASUS:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:rnProB550M-C:rvrRevX.0x:cvnDefaultstring:ct3:cvrDefaultstring:skuSKU:pfaTobefilledbyO.E.M.:
dmi.product.family: To be filled by O.E.M.
dmi.product.name: System Product Name
dmi.product.sku: SKU
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUS
** Affects: pipewire (Ubuntu)
Importance: Undecided
Status: New
** Tags: amd64 apport-bug resolute wayland-session
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Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2154643
Title:
Bluetooth audio "scratching"/crackling with A2DP on Kubuntu 26.04
(works on KDE Neon)
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