speaker options - BT, USB, or 3.5mm jack?

[Skibumwi]

Just stabilized my RPi 4B hardware and am now considering how to get sound from the setup. I just want a way to hear game audio and, occasionally some form of streaming (although, so far streaming is quite jerky for me even with a very fast connection).

I think there are three options but I'm not sure which option will be best.

1) 3.5mm jack
I plugged a wired headset with 3.5mm plug into the jack of the Pi but could only hear the left channel. What's up with that?

2)Bluetooth
I can't get a BT Headset to pair - not even recognized when trying to pair. Will BT Speakers work?

3) USB
Haven't done any testing.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Ski

[ame]

What do you mean by "Just stabilized my RPi 4B hardware"? It's stable out of the box.

The steps are:
1 Buy Pi
2 Write Raspberry Pi OS to SD card
3 Insert card
4 Power on

That's it.

The 3.5mm audio jack just works. Maybe your plug is dirty, or you have a broken wire, or you didn't insert it properly.

BT audio also just works. I have mine paired with a BT speaker amp.

USB sound cards just work too.

No stabilisers required.

[ejolson]

Any recommendations?

Have you checked if your video monitor has a volume control?

[FTrevorGowen]

Just stabilized my RPi 4B hardware and am now considering how to get sound from the setup. I just want a way to hear game audio and, occasionally some form of streaming (although, so far streaming is quite jerky for me even with a very fast connection).

I think there are three options but I'm not sure which option will be best.

1) 3.5mm jack
I plugged a wired headset with 3.5mm plug into the jack of the Pi but could only hear the left channel. What's up with that?

2)Bluetooth
I can't get a BT Headset to pair - not even recognized when trying to pair. Will BT Speakers work?

3) USB
Haven't done any testing.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Ski

W.r.t. 1) That suggests your TRRS Audio/Video Cable(?) does not match the connection requirements - FWIW see examples etc. here:
https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... deo_Cables
Trev.

[B.Goode]

2)Bluetooth
I can't get a BT Headset to pair - not even recognized when trying to pair. Will BT Speakers work?

Yes.

[ame]

Just stabilized my RPi 4B hardware and am now considering how to get sound from the setup. I just want a way to hear game audio and, occasionally some form of streaming (although, so far streaming is quite jerky for me even with a very fast connection).

I think there are three options but I'm not sure which option will be best.

1) 3.5mm jack
I plugged a wired headset with 3.5mm plug into the jack of the Pi but could only hear the left channel. What's up with that?

2)Bluetooth
I can't get a BT Headset to pair - not even recognized when trying to pair. Will BT Speakers work?

3) USB
Haven't done any testing.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Ski

W.r.t. 1) That suggests your TRRS Audio/Video Cable(?) does not match the connection requirements - FWIW see examples etc. here:
https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... deo_Cables
Trev.

That would most likely be an issue if OP was trying to get video out of the socket.

[FTrevorGowen]

Just stabilized my RPi 4B hardware and am now considering how to get sound from the setup. I just want a way to hear game audio and, occasionally some form of streaming (although, so far streaming is quite jerky for me even with a very fast connection).

I think there are three options but I'm not sure which option will be best.

1) 3.5mm jack
I plugged a wired headset with 3.5mm plug into the jack of the Pi but could only hear the left channel. What's up with that?

2)Bluetooth
I can't get a BT Headset to pair - not even recognized when trying to pair. Will BT Speakers work?

3) USB
Haven't done any testing.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,
Ski

W.r.t. 1) That suggests your TRRS Audio/Video Cable(?) does not match the connection requirements - FWIW see examples etc. here:
https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... deo_Cables
Trev.

That would most likely be an issue if OP was trying to get video out of the socket.

Whilst I agree that no video would be the more obvious fault, did you notice that one of those examples has Comp(osite) Video connected to the Audio Right (Tip)?
Trev.

[ame]

W.r.t. 1) That suggests your TRRS Audio/Video Cable(?) does not match the connection requirements - FWIW see examples etc. here:
https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... deo_Cables
Trev.

That would most likely be an issue if OP was trying to get video out of the socket.

Whilst I agree that no video would be the more obvious fault, did you notice that one of those examples has Comp(osite) Video connected to the Audio Right (Tip)?
Trev.

Well, yes, but OP was talking about plugging in a headset. Nothing to do with video.

[FTrevorGowen]

That would most likely be an issue if OP was trying to get video out of the socket.

Whilst I agree that no video would be the more obvious fault, did you notice that one of those examples has Comp(osite) Video connected to the Audio Right (Tip)?
Trev.

Well, yes, but OP was talking about plugging in a headset. Nothing to do with video.

Yes, but this was also stated:

" 1) 3.5mm jack I plugged a wired headset with 3.5mm plug into the jack of the Pi but could only hear the left channel. What's up with that? "

which implied the attempted use of the 3.5mm TRRS socket, albeit for "audio only". If composite video was not enabled there would be nothing to be heard on a misconnected right channel, consistent with the above quote. Using a TRS 3.5mm jack may give a similar result - it's quite a while since I may have tried that - using a USB dongle tended to give better sound IIRC eg. https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... apter.html
or https://www.cpmspectrepi.uk/raspberry_p ... apter.html (this one is in use by my "other half" to feed active speakers currently from my 8GB P4B)

Trev.

[Skibumwi]

Thanks all. I think I have a clear picture now.

Ski

[Skibumwi]

Well, I got my BT speaker working under Raspian but cannot get sound from RetroPi , it will pair with the speaker but will not connect. Any thoughts?

Ski

[ame]

Well, I got my BT speaker working under Raspian but cannot get sound from RetroPi , it will pair with the speaker but will not connect. Any thoughts?

Ski

Aren't you dealing with that in your other thread?
viewtopic.php?p=2109470#p2109470

[Skibumwi]

Yes, I guess I am - sorry

Ski

[Skibumwi]

Wasn't sure if GAMING was the right place to put this question - seemed like this was more appropriate.

Ski

[ame]

Wasn't sure if GAMING was the right place to put this question - seemed like this was more appropriate.

Ski

It's not really an issue. People will see it and offer suggestions no matter what section it's in. The problem is having more than one thread asking the same question. It gets confusing very quickly.