[Solved, mostly] Issues with Bluetooth headset showing in Sound Settings

[RichInTheUSA]

Hi, I have a "JLab BT" bluetooth headset and have successfully connected it to my Linux Mint system. However, it only sometimes shows up in Sound Settings. As a result, I can only sometimes select it for either listening to music or for a conference call.

I have run the following, but it does not seem to help:
> sudo dpkg-reconfigure bluez
> sudo dpkg-reconfigure linux-sound-base

Also, once the device is connected I can click Sound Settings, and then Test Sound... and it won't make a peep. Even when the device is working correctly (listening to spotify, or something else).

Any ideas how to fix or address this?

[RichInTheUSA]

Oh, after rebooting... i was able to re-pair, and then the JLab BT device showed up in the Sound Settings.

But once it unpairs, then it's gone from the Sound Settings. Even if re-paired... won't show up in sound settings until after another reboot.

[RichInTheUSA]

I found another application called "Blueman". This works a lot better...

I found that when I ran this software, the headset is able to be located and paired without problem. I did find that the devices needed to be in "A2DP Sink" mode and not HSP/HFP.

Lastly... I am not able to get the microphone of the bluetooth headset to work. It shows up in the Sound settings... but the input bar does not move at all when speaking into the mic.

One more step to a solution...

[MrEen]

Hi RichInTheUSA.

Nice work getting as far as you did.

Please paste the output of running pacmd list-cards in the terminal while the BT headset is connected/paired.

Also, the output of inxi -Fxz might come in handy.

[RichInTheUSA]

Thanks MrEn. Here is the output you suggested, along with a little commentary. Let me know what you're looking for.. so I can learn too.
Thanks in advance!! Also, thanks for that link in your signature, very helpful!!

pacmd list-cards

* Index 0/Card 1 is a logitech webcam with microphone. It's connected via USB, not Bluetooth.
* Index 1/Card 2 is a Logitech headset with microphone. It's also connected via USB, not Bluetooth.
* Index 2/Card 0 is the internal speaker jack of my computer.

* Index 3 is the JLab BT Bluetooth headset! It's interesting that availability of the headset-input is "no". Probably why the mic is not working!
headset-input: Headset (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
properties:

Code: Select all

4 card(s) available.
    index: 0
	name: <alsa_card.usb-046d_1080P_Pro_Stream_5D8DAA2F-02>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	owner module: 7
	properties:
		alsa.card = "1"
		alsa.card_name = "1080P Pro Stream"
		alsa.long_card_name = "1080P Pro Stream at usb-0000:00:14.0-1, high speed"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:1:1.2"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.2/sound/card1"
		udev.id = "usb-046d_1080P_Pro_Stream_5D8DAA2F-02"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.vendor.id = "046d"
		device.vendor.name = "Logitech, Inc."
		device.product.id = "0894"
		device.product.name = "CrystalCam"
		device.serial = "046d_1080P_Pro_Stream_5D8DAA2F"
		device.form_factor = "webcam"
		device.string = "1"
		device.description = "CrystalCam"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "camera-web-usb"
	profiles:
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (priority 60, available: unknown)
		input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 55, available: unknown)
		off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
	active profile: <input:analog-stereo>
	sources:
		alsa_input.usb-046d_1080P_Pro_Stream_5D8DAA2F-02.analog-stereo/#0: CrystalCam Analog Stereo
	ports:
		analog-input-mic: Microphone (priority 8700, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
		iec958-stereo-input: Digital Input (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
    index: 1
	name: <alsa_card.usb-Logitech_Inc_Logitech_Stereo_H650e_00000000-00>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	owner module: 8
	properties:
		alsa.card = "2"
		alsa.card_name = "Logitech Stereo H650e"
		alsa.long_card_name = "Logitech Inc Logitech Stereo H650e at usb-0000:00:14.0-2, full speed"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:2:1.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-2/1-2:1.0/sound/card2"
		udev.id = "usb-Logitech_Inc_Logitech_Stereo_H650e_00000000-00"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.vendor.id = "046d"
		device.vendor.name = "Logitech, Inc."
		device.product.id = "0a46"
		device.product.name = "Logitech Stereo H650e"
		device.serial = "Logitech_Inc_Logitech_Stereo_H650e_00000000"
		device.string = "2"
		device.description = "Logitech Stereo H650e"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
	profiles:
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (priority 60, available: unknown)
		input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 55, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (priority 6000, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (priority 6060, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Analog Stereo Output + Digital Stereo (IEC958) Input (priority 6055, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (priority 5500, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5560, available: unknown)
		output:iec958-stereo+input:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo Duplex (IEC958) (priority 5555, available: unknown)
		off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
	active profile: <output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo>
	sinks:
		alsa_output.usb-Logitech_Inc_Logitech_Stereo_H650e_00000000-00.analog-stereo/#0: Logitech Stereo H650e Analog Stereo
	sources:
		alsa_output.usb-Logitech_Inc_Logitech_Stereo_H650e_00000000-00.analog-stereo.monitor/#1: Monitor of Logitech Stereo H650e Analog Stereo
		alsa_input.usb-Logitech_Inc_Logitech_Stereo_H650e_00000000-00.analog-stereo/#2: Logitech Stereo H650e Analog Stereo
	ports:
		analog-input-headset-mic: Headset Microphone (priority 8800, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
		iec958-stereo-input: Digital Input (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
		analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority 9000, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
		iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
				
    index: 2
	name: <alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3>
	driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
	owner module: 9
	properties:
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xa1410000 irq 132"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.3"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.vendor.id = "8086"
		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
		device.product.id = "a348"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "0"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
	profiles:
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (priority 60, available: no)
		output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (priority 6000, available: unknown)
		output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (priority 6060, available: unknown)
		output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (priority 5400, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5460, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 300, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 360, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (priority 300, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 360, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (priority 5200, available: unknown)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5260, available: unknown)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5260, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra3+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5260, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra3+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra3+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra4: Digital Stereo (HDMI 5) Output (priority 5200, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra4+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 5) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 5260, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra4: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 5) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra4+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 5) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra4: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 5) Output (priority 100, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra4+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 5) Output + Analog Stereo Input (priority 160, available: no)
		off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
	active profile: <output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo>
	sinks:
		alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo/#1: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
	sources:
		alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo.monitor/#3: Monitor of Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
		alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo/#4: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
	ports:
		analog-input-mic: Microphone (priority 8700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
		analog-input-linein: Line In (priority 8100, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				
		analog-output-lineout: Line Out (priority 9900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				
		analog-output-headphones: Headphones (priority 9000, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
		hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (priority 5900, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
		hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (priority 5800, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
				device.product.name = "LG IPS FULLHD"
		hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (priority 5700, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
		hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (priority 5600, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
		hdmi-output-4: HDMI / DisplayPort 5 (priority 5500, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
    index: 3
	name: <bluez_card.34_43_1E_0B_B6_39>
	driver: <module-bluez5-device.c>
	owner module: 28
	properties:
		device.description = "JLab BT"
		device.string = "34:43:1E:0B:B6:39"
		device.api = "bluez"
		device.class = "sound"
		device.bus = "bluetooth"
		device.form_factor = "headset"
		bluez.path = "/org/bluez/hci0/dev_34_43_1E_0B_B6_39"
		bluez.class = "0x260404"
		bluez.alias = "JLab BT"
		device.icon_name = "audio-headset-bluetooth"
		device.intended_roles = "phone"
	profiles:
		headset_head_unit: Headset Head Unit (HSP/HFP) (priority 30, available: no)
		a2dp_sink: High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink) (priority 40, available: yes)
		off: Off (priority 0, available: yes)
	active profile: <a2dp_sink>
	sinks:
		bluez_sink.34_43_1E_0B_B6_39.a2dp_sink/#2: JLab BT
	sources:
		bluez_sink.34_43_1E_0B_B6_39.a2dp_sink.monitor/#5: Monitor of JLab BT
	ports:
		headset-output: Headset (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: yes)
			properties:
				
		headset-input: Headset (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: no)
			properties:
				

inxi -Fxz

Comments... Yep, 12 processors on this computer... I love it!

Code: Select all

System:    Host: breathmint Kernel: 4.15.0-66-generic x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 7.4.0 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.2.4 
           Distro: Linux Mint 19.2 Tina base: Ubuntu 18.04 bionic 
Machine:   Type: Desktop System: HP product: HP Pavilion Desktop 590-p0xxx v: N/A serial: <filter> 
           Mobo: HP model: 843B v: 00 serial: <filter> UEFI: AMI v: F.12 date: 08/02/2018 
CPU:       Topology: 6-Core model: Intel Core i7-8700 bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Kaby Lake rev: A L2 cache: 12.0 MiB 
           flags: lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 ssse3 vmx bogomips: 76608 
           Speed: 900 MHz min/max: 800/4600 MHz Core speeds (MHz): 1: 900 2: 900 3: 900 4: 900 5: 900 6: 900 7: 900 8: 900 
           9: 900 10: 900 11: 900 12: 900 
Graphics:  Device-1: Intel vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: i915 v: kernel bus ID: 00:02.0 
           Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Jet PRO [Radeon R5 M230] vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: radeon 
           v: kernel bus ID: 01:00.0 
           Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.19.6 driver: ati,modesetting,radeon unloaded: fbdev,vesa 
           resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz, 1920x1080~60Hz 
           OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel UHD Graphics 630 (Coffeelake 3x8 GT2) v: 4.5 Mesa 19.0.8 direct render: Yes 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel Cannon Lake PCH cAVS vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus ID: 00:1f.3 
           Device-2: Logitech CrystalCam type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo bus ID: 1-1:2 
           Device-3: Logitech type: USB driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid bus ID: 1-2:3 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k4.15.0-66-generic 
Network:   Device-1: Realtek RTL8822BE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFi adapter vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: r8822be v: kernel 
           port: 4000 bus ID: 02:00.0 
           IF: wlp2s0 state: down mac: <filter> 
           Device-2: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet vendor: Hewlett-Packard driver: r8169 
           v: 2.3LK-NAPI port: 3000 bus ID: 03:00.0 
           IF: enp3s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter> 
Drives:    Local Storage: total: 2.73 TiB used: 285.30 GiB (10.2%) 
           ID-1: /dev/sda vendor: Seagate model: ST2000DM001-1ER164 size: 1.82 TiB temp: 28 C 
           ID-2: /dev/sdb type: USB vendor: Western Digital model: WD10TMVV-11BG7S0 size: 931.49 GiB 
Partition: ID-1: / size: 918.88 GiB used: 141.42 GiB (15.4%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sda6 
           ID-2: /home size: 918.88 GiB used: 141.42 GiB (15.4%) fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sda6 
Sensors:   System Temperatures: cpu: 45.0 C mobo: 27.8 C gpu: radeon temp: 27 C 
           Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A 
Info:      Processes: 357 Uptime: 18h 37m Memory: 15.53 GiB used: 6.03 GiB (38.9%) Init: systemd runlevel: 5 Compilers: 
           gcc: 7.4.0 Shell: bash v: 4.4.20 inxi: 3.0.32 

[MrEen]

What I was looking for with pacmd list-cards is to see what was available on the BT device. The reason the headset-input is unavailable is A2DP is unidirectional. To have the mic available, you have to use the Headset Head Unit setting. Of course, on Ubuntu derivatives the audio quality drops significantly on that setting. There is some discussion/work(?) going on in this regard. See here and here for some examples.

That said, there is some small hope depending on the use case. The reason I asked for the inxi output is to see which version of Linux Mint your using, which in turn tells me which PulseAudio version you're running. Because you're using a 19.x version of Mint, you have PulseAudio 11.x installed. Since PulseAudio 10, there's a new setting available to automatically switch between HSP/HFP and A2DP as needed. What this setting does is if an application requires the headset mic, the profile switches to HSP/HFP, and when done switches back to A2DP. Again, I don't know your use case and even if I did, wouldn't know if this will help in your case as I don't have a full understanding of this.

Anyway, here's how to add the setting to see if it helps any; in the terminal enter xed admin:///etc/pulse/default.pa and when the file opens find this line:

Code: Select all

load-module module-bluetooth-policy

And change it to this:

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load-module module-bluetooth-policy auto_switch=2

Now save and close the file, ignore the warnings from the terminal, then run pulseaudio -k in the terminal to restart the sound daemon. Then test whatever app is wanting the mic. That app may need to be restarted as well.

Assuming that doesn't help any, you may need to just live with the poor quality audio of the HSP/HFP setting for now. The spec to increase the audio quality on it was introduced in 2011, so Ubuntu/PulseAudio/kernel should have it implemented in the next dozen years or two.

EDIT: Here's a bug report indicating the auto_switch=2 parameter might not work properly yet depending on your use case.

Hope that is of some help.

[RichInTheUSA]

Interesting...

I made the change you suggested, and I am now able to switch between HSP/HFP and A2DP Sink. Wow, what a difference in the quality too!
I must be running into the same bug as the link you provided, as it didn't seem to auto swap.

Even though the JLab BT device shows up under Sound input... the mic still does not seem to work. I tried recording with OBS Studio, Zoom and Google Meet.
The device was detected by OBS and Zoom... and I could explicitly set the JLab BT for input, but it didn't actually work.

I did notice that on the Bluetooth settings, I could set the JLab to either select Head Set, Hands Free, or Audio Sink. After trying all 3, only Head Set worked.

Thanks again for the pointers. At least I can listen to music with the JLab... and I learned something!

[MrEen]

The device may have been muted. I would try again, then run alsamixer in the terminal. Press F6 when it opens to select the BT device, then look at the levels and if a column has MM at the bottom it is muted. Arrow over to the column and press the m key to unmute.

[RichInTheUSA]

With AlsaMixer, the Line and Mic were MM... so I bumped them up. The values are higher, and I hit "M" to toggle Mute.

However, after hitting F6 I get the following options:
(default) // I removed all other devices from the computer so that ONLY the JLab BT is present in the sound settings.
0 HDA Intel PCH
and "enter device name..." // Entering JLab BT was not accepted. Only "hw device 0"

So, while the setting seem to be better, I'm not sure i have the right device.

The output of pacmd list-cards is now...

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  index: 1
	name: <bluez_card.34_43_1E_0B_B6_39>
	driver: <module-bluez5-device.c>
	owner module: 27
	properties:
		device.description = "JLab BT"
		device.string = "34:43:1E:0B:B6:39"
		device.api = "bluez"
		device.class = "sound"
		device.bus = "bluetooth"
		device.form_factor = "headset"
		bluez.path = "/org/bluez/hci0/dev_34_43_1E_0B_B6_39"
		bluez.class = "0x260404"
		bluez.alias = "JLab BT"
		device.icon_name = "audio-headset-bluetooth"
		device.intended_roles = "phone"
	profiles:
		headset_head_unit: Headset Head Unit (HSP/HFP) (priority 30, available: unknown)
		a2dp_sink: High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink) (priority 40, available: unknown)
		off: Off (priority 0, available: yes)
	active profile: <headset_head_unit>
	sinks:
		bluez_sink.34_43_1E_0B_B6_39.headset_head_unit/#4: JLab BT
	sources:
		bluez_sink.34_43_1E_0B_B6_39.headset_head_unit.monitor/#5: Monitor of JLab BT
		bluez_source.34_43_1E_0B_B6_39.headset_head_unit/#6: JLab BT
	ports:
		headset-output: Headset (priority 0, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
			properties:
			

[MrEen]

I had assumed alsamixer would have had controls for the BT device, but it appears I was wrong. If you don't have it, install and run PulseAudio Volume Control (pavucontrol.)

On the Configuration tab, you can switch between the A2DP and HSP/HFP Profiles when you want, and on the Output Devices tab, you can adjust the volume and check for Mute. If muted, the sound icon should be highlighted. Just click on it to unmute.

Hope that helps.

[RichInTheUSA]

Thanks... another good app. Unfortunatuely, I could see that the JLab BT was there and not muted... but still didn't work.

I do appreciate your insight, and I'll continue to play with it... and hopefully get it working.

Thanks again... You've been a huge help!

[winoseti]

no mic in hsp/hfp setting for BT headphones.. this feature was removed from bluez5x. if you run lm17x bluez 4x from a usb stick you find the mic works fine. if you try to use it in lm18x or 19x bluez5x it doesnt work. . now that android has started to use 5x bluez the same problem is happening there. for that reason I use android 7. and have a usb stick with lm17x and lm 17 installed next to lm19 for days when i need to use the headset for skype whatsapp etc. its been a pain. there is hope on the horizon as HFP support from ofono is included in bluez 5.5x onwards. so at least there is a chance that alsa and pulseaudio might recognise the mic someday soon. same applies to any system using the bluez 5x stack.

[MrEen]

no mic in hsp/hfp setting for BT headphones.. this feature was removed from bluez5x. if you run lm17x bluez 4x from a usb stick you find the mic works fine. if you try to use it in lm18x or 19x bluez5x it doesnt work. . now that android has started to use 5x bluez the same problem is happening there. for that reason I use android 7. and have a usb stick with lm17x and lm 17 installed next to lm19 for days when i need to use the headset for skype whatsapp etc. its been a pain. there is hope on the horizon as HFP support from ofono is included in bluez 5.5x onwards. so at least there is a chance that alsa and pulseaudio might recognise the mic someday soon. same applies to any system using the bluez 5x stack.

PulseAudio already supports the HSP/HFP profile since version 6. Bluez5 only removed support for the profile, leaving that to to other applications, which in this case is PulseAudio.

Obviously, some people still have issues, but there are many people with a working mic on a BT headset, as you noted in this post with Fedora 28 KDE. Here's a post from a Mint user that was conferencing with a BT headset for example.

Unfortunately, I don't know enough about Bluetooth to know why it's working for some and not for others.

[winoseti]

bluez 5.x removed hsp/hfp support that was in bluez 4.x so essentially no bluetooth mic in mint 18.x onwards. the only solution i have is to have 17.3 installed alongside 19.3. when i need my bluetooth headset to work i boot into 17.3 with bluez 4.x. one day i might get in and copy bits of program from bluez 4.x into the relevant files in bluez 5.x to see if i can get it to work. i will never be able to understand why they did this. it completely ruined for me what was otherwise a pretty damn good OS. a footnote to this is that i keep a phone with android 7.0 just for the same reason.

[MrEen]

Again, they only removed support for the profile, leaving that to happen elsewhere, which in this case is PulseAudio.

I rather doubt I'm going to be able to help fix it, but you have something broken that is most likely fixable. The output of pacmd list-cards while a Bluetooth headset is connected might be a good starting point.