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Arknight38

Member

Registered: 2024-10-29

Posts: 4

Issues with speakers on pipewire

Hey guys, first time making a post, so if I make any errors, sorry.

Right now I'm trying to fix my speakers, as they are shown to have output in pavucontrol, but don't in actuality.

pactl works fine, and pipewire and all of its packages are installed

eg. output of pactl info

 Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 178
Tile Size: 65472
User Name: bytegirl
Host Name: Aurora
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.4.1)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo
Default Source: alsa_input.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo
Cookie: f916:5a02

pactl list sinks | grep Name outputs:

 Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo 

I even verified if the services were running fine

 systemctl --user status pipewire pipewire-pulse
● pipewire.service - PipeWire Multimedia Service
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pipewire.service; disabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Mon 2025-03-17 01:38:19 MDT; 15min ago
 Invocation: 853b9e1471ac4c9aabb1b353ae36e808
TriggeredBy: ● pipewire.socket
   Main PID: 560 (pipewire)
      Tasks: 3 (limit: 9209)
     Memory: 13.7M (peak: 14.3M)
        CPU: 2.324s
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/session.slice/pipewire.service
             └─560 /usr/bin/pipewire
Mar 17 01:38:19 Aurora systemd[550]: Started PipeWire Multimedia Service.
● pipewire-pulse.service - PipeWire PulseAudio
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pipewire-pulse.service; enabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Mon 2025-03-17 01:38:19 MDT; 15min ago
 Invocation: 2bf3971a97114c77b652ba1b3d115905
TriggeredBy: ● pipewire-pulse.socket
   Main PID: 562 (pipewire-pulse)
      Tasks: 3 (limit: 9209)
     Memory: 22.1M (peak: 22.6M)
        CPU: 3.071s
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/session.slice/pipewire-pulse.service
             └─562 /usr/bin/pipewire-pulse
Mar 17 01:38:19 Aurora systemd[550]: Started PipeWire PulseAudio.

I then checked the default sink to make sure that the system speakers were the default.

I also ran

 pactl set-sink-mute @DEFAULT_SINK@ 0
pactl set-sink-volume @DEFAULT_SINK@ 100% 

Just to make sure I wasn't stupid and had muted my speakers.

Also, to make sure it wasn't a issue with firefox's audio, i used speaker-test to check if the audio worked, but still no output.

That's all I have for right now, and since it's 2 am for me, I'm going to head to bed.

If you need me to add additional information I can provide it, thanks in advance!

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 24,995

Re: Issues with speakers on pipewire

aplay -l
amixer -c0 #Or correct index of card associated with speakers
pactl list cards
pactl list sinks

how are your speakers connected? Is this a laptop with builtins if not is everything wired properly?

Arknight38

Member

Registered: 2024-10-29

Posts: 4

Re: Issues with speakers on pipewire

Hey! Thanks for the reply. I'm on an older mac, somewhere around 2015-16. everything should be wired properly as the startup chime plays just fine, along with sounds while I was booted into macOS, which I wiped.

aplay -l outputs:

 **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: CS4208 Analog [CS4208 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0 

amixer -c0's output is:

Simple mixer control 'Master',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 127
  Mono: Playback 80 [63%] [-23.50dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'PCM',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 255
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 254 [100%] [-0.20dB]
  Front Right: Playback 254 [100%] [-0.20dB]
Simple mixer control 'Line Out',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 127
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 127 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 127 [100%] [0.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [-20.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [-20.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',1
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'IEC958',2
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Mono: Playback [on]
Simple mixer control 'Capture',0
  Capabilities: cvolume cswitch
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Capture 0 - 63
  Front Left: Capture 63 [100%] [12.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 63 [100%] [12.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Auto-Mute Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Disabled' 'Enabled'
  Item0: 'Disabled'
Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 2
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB] 

output of pactl list cards:

 Card #47
	Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3
	Driver: alsa
	Owner Module: n/a
	Properties:
		api.acp.auto-port = "false"
		api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
		api.alsa.card = "0"
		api.alsa.card.longname = "HDA Intel PCH at 0x92820000 irq 37"
		api.alsa.card.name = "HDA Intel PCH"
		api.alsa.path = "hw:0"
		api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
		api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio0"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.3"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio"
		device.enum.api = "udev"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
		device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3"
		device.nick = "HDA Intel PCH"
		device.plugged.usec = "6422565"
		device.product.id = "0x9d70"
		device.product.name = "Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio"
		device.subsystem = "sound"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0"
		device.vendor.id = "0x8086"
		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
		media.class = "Audio/Device"
		spa.object.id = "2"
		factory.id = "15"
		client.id = "46"
		object.id = "47"
		object.serial = "47"
		object.path = "alsa:acp:PCH"
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0x92820000 irq 37"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		alsa.mixer_name = "Cirrus Logic CS4208"
		alsa.components = "HDA:10134208,106b6500,00100401 HDA:80862809,80860101,00100000"
		alsa.id = "PCH"
		device.string = "0"
	Profiles:
		off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
		output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6565, available: yes)
		output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 6500, available: yes)
		output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5965, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5900, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5765, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5765, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
		output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 865, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 865, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
		output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
		input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 65, available: yes)
		pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 4, sources: 1, priority: 1, available: yes)
	Active Profile: output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
	Ports:
		analog-input-internal-mic: Internal Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, availability unknown)
			Properties:
				port.type = "mic"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 1"
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
				card.profile.port = "0"
			Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo
		analog-input-mic: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "mic"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 2"
				device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
				card.profile.port = "1"
			Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo
		analog-output-speaker: Speakers (type: Speaker, priority: 10000, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 3, availability unknown)
			Properties:
				port.type = "speaker"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 3"
				device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
				card.profile.port = "2"
			Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
		analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 4, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "headphones"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 4"
				device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
				card.profile.port = "3"
			Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
		hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (type: HDMI, priority: 5900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 5, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "hdmi"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 5"
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
				card.profile.port = "4"
			Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround, output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71, output:hdmi-surround71+input:analog-stereo
		hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (type: HDMI, priority: 5800, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 6, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "hdmi"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 6"
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
				card.profile.port = "5"
			Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra1, output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra1, output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo
		hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (type: HDMI, priority: 5700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 7, not available)
			Properties:
				port.type = "hdmi"
				port.availability-group = "Legacy 7"
				device.icon_name = "video-display"
				card.profile.port = "6"
			Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra2, output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra2, output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo

output of pactl list sinks:

 Sink #54
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo
	Description: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
	Driver: PipeWire
	Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 4294967295
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 26212 /  40% / -23.88 dB,   front-right: 26212 /  40% / -23.88 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo.monitor
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.components = "HDA:10134208,106b6500,00100401 HDA:80862809,80860101,00100000"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
		alsa.id = "CS4208 Analog"
		alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0x92820000 irq 37"
		alsa.mixer_name = "Cirrus Logic CS4208"
		alsa.name = "CS4208 Analog"
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.sync.id = "00000000:00000000:00000000:00000000"
		api.alsa.card.longname = "HDA Intel PCH at 0x92820000 irq 37"
		api.alsa.card.name = "HDA Intel PCH"
		api.alsa.path = "front:0"
		api.alsa.pcm.card = "0"
		api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
		audio.channels = "2"
		audio.position = "FL,FR"
		card.profile.device = "6"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog"
		device.id = "47"
		device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
		device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
		device.routes = "2"
		factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
		media.class = "Audio/Sink"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio"
		node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo"
		node.nick = "CS4208 Analog"
		node.pause-on-idle = "false"
		object.path = "alsa:acp:PCH:6:playback"
		port.group = "playback"
		priority.driver = "1009"
		priority.session = "1009"
		factory.id = "19"
		clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
		client.id = "46"
		node.driver = "true"
		node.loop.name = "data-loop.0"
		library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
		object.id = "54"
		object.serial = "54"
		api.acp.auto-port = "false"
		api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
		api.alsa.card = "0"
		api.alsa.split-enable = "true"
		api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio0"
		api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
		device.bus = "pci"
		device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.3"
		device.enum.api = "udev"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3"
		device.nick = "HDA Intel PCH"
		device.plugged.usec = "6422565"
		device.product.id = "0x9d70"
		device.product.name = "Sunrise Point-LP HD Audio"
		device.subsystem = "sound"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0"
		device.vendor.id = "0x8086"
		device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
		spa.object.id = "2"
		device.string = "0"
	Ports:
		analog-output-speaker: Speakers (type: Speaker, priority: 10000, availability group: Legacy 3, availability unknown)
		analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, availability group: Legacy 4, not available)
	Active Port: analog-output-speaker
	Formats:
		pcm

Arknight38

Member

Registered: 2024-10-29

Posts: 4

Re: Issues with speakers on pipewire

If you'd prefer me to do pastebin or something else for logs just lmk, thanks for taking time to respond!

Also, I'm seeing that one of the sinks is suspended. But I'm struggling to find info on how to to resume the sink.

The audio is unavailable all the way from boot, so rebooting isn't going to fix the problem, and systemctl --user restart pipewire pipewire-pulse wireplumber doesn't work well either.

I also attempted this

pactl suspend-sink alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo 0

, but that didn't work either.

Last edited by Arknight38 (2025-03-18 19:03:37)

V1del

Forum Moderator

Registered: 2012-10-16

Posts: 24,995

Re: Issues with speakers on pipewire

A sink being suspended is normal if you're not trying any active playback.

Detection wise everything looks fine doing a

speaker-test -Dhw:0 -c2

doesn't work?

Arknight38

Member

Registered: 2024-10-29

Posts: 4

Re: Issues with speakers on pipewire

Apologies for the late response, I had a extremely busy week, and once again, thanks for the response.

 speaker-test -Dhw:0 -c2 

Doesn't produce any noise, but it does have some output to the console if you're interested in that:

 speaker-test 1.2.13

Playback device is hw:0
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 2 channels
Using 16 octaves of pink noise
Rate set to 48000Hz (requested 48000Hz)
Buffer size range from 64 to 1048576
Period size range from 32 to 524288
Periods = 4
was set period_size = 12000
was set buffer_size = 48000
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.004429
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 6.000254
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999500
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999794
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 6.000048
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999487
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 6.000375
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999811
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 6.000019
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999591
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 6.000303
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999999
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999526
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 6.000250
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999718
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999975
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999556
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 6.000258
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999644
 0 - Front Left
 1 - Front Right
Time per period = 5.999765 

I'm not really sure where to move from here, as it worked fine with external speakers like my airpods, which I'm currently using as I write this.