PipeWire Linux: Installation, Setup, and Best Music Players

Managing audio on Linux traditionally involves tools like PulseAudio for desktop sound and JACK for professional audio workloads. While they are powerful, these systems often cause compatibility issues and require complex setups. This is where PipeWire comes in, which is a modern multipedia framework designed to unite and replace both PulseAudio and JACK, and also handle video streams. 

With PipeWire, Linux users get low-latency audio and seamless support for professional audio applications and is compatible with all desktop apps. So it is highly useful for everyone, from professional musicians and audio engineers to a typical user who just needs good music. 

In this guide, we will explore how you can easily install and configure PipeWire on Linux. 

Why Use PipeWire Linux Instead of PulseAudio or JACK?

PipeWire is designed by keeping in mind the functionality of both PulseAudio and JACK, combining the strengths of the two and eliminating drawbacks, such as latency issues, compatibility problems, and complication configuration settings. 

The modern framework of PipeWire Linux includes: 

• Low Latency Performance; it offers JACK-like latency, which makes it ideal for musicians, podcasters, and pro audio users. 
• Seamless Desktop Integration; it works as a drop-in replacement for PulseAudio so that everyday apps, such as Zoom, Firefox, Spotify, and all can run without extra setup hassle. 
• Unified Audio & Video Handling; unlike PulseAudio and JACK, PipeWire also manages video streams, such as screen sharing and webcams. 
• Better Security; it uses a sandboxed architecture with permission controls, improving safety across multiple apps. 
• Cross-application functionality; applications that are built for PulseAudio or JACK mostly work with PipeWire as well. 

In short, PipeWire eliminates the need to choose between PulseAudio for convenience and JACK for performance, giving Linux users a single solution that handles both.

Installing PipeWire Linux

PipeWire Linux is included in most of the modern distributions, but some steps might vary slightly depending on the version and the distro. Below are a few common methods to set it up. 

PipeWire on Ubuntu/Debian

Ubuntu 21.04 and newer versions already have PipeWire, but you might need to install additional packages and enable the system. Do so by running: 

sudo apt update

sudo apt install pipewire pipewire-audio-client-libraries pipewire-pulse wireplumber

Replace PulseAudio with PipeWire:

systemctl –user –now enable pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

Verify that PulseAudio has been replaced:

pactl info | grep “Server Name”

You should see PipeWire instead of PulseAudio.

Arch Linux PipeWire Installation

On Arch Linux and derivatives, such as Manjaro, EndeavourOS, and others, PipeWire is fully supported. However, you need to install it yourself by using: 

sudo pacman -S pipewire pipewire-pulse pipewire-alsa pipewire-jack wireplumber

Enable and start the services:

systemctl –user –now enable pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

Fedora and Other Distros

Fedora ships PipeWire by default, so you do not need any extra steps. For other distros, such as openSUSE or Gentoo, PipeWire is available in the repositories. You can activate by: 

• openSUSE:

sudo zypper install pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

• Gentoo: Enable the pipewire USE flag and rebuild media packages:

sudo emerge –ask media-video/pipewire

Configuring PipeWire Linux After Installation

Once PipeWire is successfully installed, you can add or replace additional configurations to ensure compatibility with JACK or PulseAudio. 

Replacing PulseAudio with PipeWire Linux

By default, many Linux distros will work with PulseAudio as the audio server. To replace it with PipeWire, you can follow these steps: 

1. Install the PulseAudio replacement libraries:
   sudo apt install pipewire-pulse

(On Arch: sudo pacman -S pipewire-pulse)

2. Disable PulseAudio and enable PipeWire services:
   systemctl –user –now disable pulseaudio pulseaudio.socket

systemctl –user –now enable pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber

3. Confirm PipeWire is running instead of PulseAudio:
   pactl info | grep “Server Name”

PipeWire for JACK Applications

On Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo apt install pipewire-jack

On Arch Linux:
sudo pacman -S pipewire-jack

1. Enable the JACK service in PipeWire. 
2. Verify JACK compatibility by running jack_lsp

This should list available JACK ports, even though PipeWire is handling them.

Linux Music Players with PipeWire Support

Music Player	Type / Desktop Focus	PipeWire Compatibility	Key Features
Rhythmbox	GNOME-based	✔️ Works via PulseAudio-on-PipeWire	Simple, stable, integrates with GNOME
Lollypop	GNOME-based	✔️ Native support	Modern UI, great library management
Clementine	Cross-platform	✔️ Works via PulseAudio-on-PipeWire	Internet radio, playlists, cloud storage support
Elisa	KDE-based	✔️ Works via QtMultimedia/PipeWire	Clean UI, integrates with KDE
Audacious	Lightweight	✔️ Compatible via ALSA/PulseAudio	Highly customizable, minimal resource use
VLC	Cross-platform	✔️ Full PipeWire integration	Plays almost any media format
QMMP	Lightweight (Winamp-style)	✔️ Supports JACK/PulseAudio/PipeWire	Skinnable, simple interface
DeadBeef	Minimalist	✔️ Works via ALSA/PulseAudio	Lightweight, gapless playback
Pragha	Lightweight	✔️ Compatible with PipeWire	Fast, clean interface
Strawberry	Clementine fork	✔️ Optimized for PipeWire	Hi-res audio, music collection management

PipeWire Performance and Audio Quality

PipeWire is designed to deliver low-latency audio comparable to JACK while maintaining the usability of PulseAudio. By reducing the overhead and improving how the audio streams are handled, PipeWire ensures smooth quality of playback, and better synchronization. 

• Low latency: it is a great option for professional audio recording, live mixing, and gaming. 
• High Fidelity: support for high audio formats. 
• Efficiency: needs lesser system resources than JACK and PulseAudio. 
• Compatibility: Works with Bluetooth, pro-audio hardware, and consumer sound cards. 

For most, this essentially means clearer sound, fewer dropouts, and more responsive applications. 

Conclusion

PipeWire is quickly becoming the default audio system on most newer Linux distributions, quite efficiently replacing PulseAudio and JACK using a combined and high performance solution. No matter what your audio application is, from musicians to an everyday user, PipeWire offers a seamless experience. 

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