Ubuntu – Bluetooth speaker no sound in Ubuntu 16.04

I too do have the same JBL flip as yours and I do face the same issue, sometimes we dont hear any sound after pairing.

I am not an expert but after hit and trial: I realized you need to click on the "bluetooth" icon on top right and choose "JBL FLIP" under scroll down and move tab to "Connection ON" and then test it by clicking on sound settings

** Short flow:

*blue-tooth icon>> JBL flip (after pairing)>> move tab to COnnection ON>> sound settings>> choose JBL flip>> Choose the mode HIGH Fidelity Playback (A2DP)>> "Test Sound"

You see a "Speaker Testing for headset" window. Test it by hitting on the left and right (Front left and Front Right). You can hear the sounds on the JBL speaker.*

Note: Sometimes when you play Videos through VLC player and if you pause it for a short-while to take a break like say ten minintes. When you come back and hit play: you might not hear the sound on the JBL nor the computer speakers (Sometimes). I just UN-pair and pair speakers: Do the same test. It works! :)

This is just a workaround.

Same problem when you connect a headphones- it doesn’t automatically detect, you will have to manually select it by the above path(** Short flow)- instead of option JBL Flip, select wired headset/headphones.

Hope this helps.

I have exactly the same problem you are describing, when I choose A2DP mode while my bluetooth speaker is selected I automatically get switched to the built in audio while in the sound menu.

Sometimes If I switch to A2DP during playback whatever I am playing freezes and does not start to play until I select something else.

I often get it working after some tinkering with restarting my bluetooth speaker and disconnecting/connecting the bluetooth.