Bluetooth Audio Delay

[Mantis]

Is anyone else having very noticeable bluetooth audio delay on their Steam Deck? I have tried multiple different bluetooth earbuds, and my device has about a half second delay. When watching a youtube video in desktop mode, the audio is not even close to in sync with the video. When playing a game like Elden Ring, there is a noticable sound delay when you use your weapon. It's to the point where I can't even use bluetooth audio.

[SockDog]

Don't have much to offer here and I don't have BT headphones, but seeing as nobody else has responded.

From my limited knowledge BT devices can introduce lag if the hardware and/or codec used to send/receive data isn't the best. By default two hardware devices will negotiate down to a common level of support. This works fine for music audio as you don't notice the delay, I'd say even headsets are probably immune. Yet when you have video and audio you start to notice the difference.

From some googling it seems the Deck was rumoured to support different codecs (based on Arch Linux) and of course it is BT 5.1.

Here is the thread, there are links within: https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/p0h475/steam_deck_bluetooth_codecs_supported/

Unless someone can give you the first hand experiences you've requested I might suggest you post in the BUG forum and detail the hardware you're using etc.

[Dynamonic]

I’ve been using a set of Apple Airpods with my Steam Deck and have also noticed a slight delay in Bluetooth audio.
I didn’t initially notice the delay until I played Tetris Effect Connected, but now I know it’s there, I’ve noticed it in virtually everything since.

[bean]

I also don't have much to add (yet..) since I am still waiting on delivery, but it always helps to list the bt device/headphones you have tried to rule out certain codecs/controllers.

[Marlock]

on Linux Mint there are ways to change the codec being used by a bluetooth audio device in the system's audio settings

changing between available codecs might reduce the lag (afaik higher fidelity codecs need to use more complex compression algorythms, so take a bit longer to encode/decode than simpler codecs)

if you don't find a similar setting in Gaming Mode, try Desktop Mode... and if that doesn't have it, try pavucontrol (PulseAudio Volume Control) from the Discovery store in Desktop Mode, since it is available as a flatpak on FlatHub.org

[AskaLangly]

SBC codec will have the most latency.
aptX will have much less latency than SBC, but will still be a tad behind.
You want aptX LL in this case. Just need to make sure both the Bluetooth device and headset supports the codec.

[DerFeef]

Yep noticed as well sadly. Also Series X controllers have very bad lag 9n the Deck via BT. No idea how a docked experience would be any fun with such an high amount of lag.

[Marlock]

Originally posted by derFeef:

Yep noticed as well sadly. Also Series X controllers have very bad lag 9n the Deck via BT. No idea how a docked experience would be any fun with such an high amount of lag.

if you have input lag too, try not using the Deck's built-in framerate limiter

it provides very fluid images but the input lag is much bigger than other methods like libstrangle and some launch parameters

the lower the fps limit, the bigger the lag

maybe it affects bluetooth audio too, not sure...

[carn1x]

Just noticed this today, no lag at all through the SD speakers, and about half a second delay with BT earphones, very noticeable and distracting.

[carn1x]

Supposedly there's a fix here https://www.reddit.com/r/SteamDeck/comments/ujtzm6/hey_valve_can_we_default_to_aptx_ll_low_latency/i7psyov though I've not had time to try it yet

[Izeyash]

I use true wireless ear pieces with the deck which have a dongle for low latency bluetooth, but the onboard bluetooth is actually good. So it probably has to do with your speakers.

How I personally measure latency is as follows, keep in mind that this is very subjective and you need to be good at rhythm:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucZl6vQ_8Uo

I cover my eyes and try to pause the video at the moment of the click. It involves you yourself timing the pause which is the subjective part.

I personally can work with it and I found that, at least with my pair of headphones, it's absolutely bearable and I can't make out a noticable difference compared to speakers.

https://www.eposaudio.com/en/us/gaming/products/gtw-270-hybrid-bluetooth-low-latency-connection-gaming-headset-1000230
exact model that I use

[Nyegnav]

I've noticed if I have Bluetooth earphones and a Bluetooth controller it creates massive input latency.

[ElBadseed]

Just tried connecting to my home theatre by Bluetooth, a very noticeable delay, but works fine with my Anker Bluetooth headphones!

[HyenaDog]

This is pretty bogus. I have tried eight different headsets including big brand names like raycon, jbl, skullcandy, turtle beach, HyperX, even Bose, no matter what codec I choose or what headset the audio latency is painfully apparent. The only way I've been able to circumnavigate this issue is by using wired connection, which isn't so bad, just a little irritating. As of 12/28/2024 this is still an issue.

[invision2212]

I have audio delay too and it makes it impossible to use the Bluetooth headphones I have.

[Duffvader]

I have noticed that my BT Inear Jabra connection with the Steam Deck, will start interfering with the WiFi connection. I played FH5 on the cloud and when I connected my BT Inears, the game starts lagging and took the inputs seconds later. In-game the sign for WiFi was blinking and warned for a bad WiFi connection. Put the Inears away and thought that I have to deal with a WiFi problem again. But fortunately FH5 was running smooth again, in the moment I turned off the inear. Weird.

I talked to a guy, who noticed the same issues. He had problems with his BT Bose hp but had no problems with his Airpod tho. But all BT devices operating in the frequency around 2.4G and now it's interfering with my 5G WiFi? But a PS4 controller which is also a BT device connected to PS4 doesn't disturb the WiFi connection, when it's right between my Steam deck and the router? Wth? Maybe a physician can explain this to me.

That's where I decide to grab my good old wired Beyerdynamic DT880 and use the classical headphone jack.