Linux Audio is a pain in the back. Coincidentally i own a Respeaker mic array v2 - i will give it a try with the vad-streaming demo, but this might take some time (quite tight schedule in real life nowadays…)
@jens: which exact version of the Respeaker array do you have: hat for RPI, v1, v2 or the USB? which firmware do you use - multi channel or single channel output?