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#1 2025-04-17 07:43:46

Cbhihe
Member
Registered: 2017-04-09
Posts: 244

'pulseaudio' w/ 'alsa' does not output to speakers

Arch linux system up to date: Linux kernel 6.14.2-arch1-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC

I have run 'pulseaudio' for years now on this Dell XPS 15 9560 laptop without issues. 4 days ago I changed the internal keyboard on the laptop (that went smoothly). Then, 2 days ago, the laptop's main user noticed the laptop speakers did not put any sound out, whereas jack and BT headphones continue to work normally.

> pactl list short sinks
0       alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo      module-alsa-card.c      s16le 2ch 44100Hz       SUSPENDED                                                                                                                              
1       bluez_sink.B8_7B_D4_19_3A_29.a2dp_sink  module-bluez5-device.c  s16le 2ch 44100Hz       SUSPENDED
>  pactl get-default-sink
alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo       # or bluez_sink.B8_7B_D4_19_3A_29.a2dp_sink

'SUSPENDED'  becomes 'RUNNING' when a source is active.

The default sink is the same for speakers and jack headphones. It changes to `bluez_sink.B8_7B_D4_19_3A_29.a2dp_sink` when BT headphones are connected.

> pactl list sinks
Sink #0
        State: SUSPENDED
        Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_1f.3.analog-stereo
        Description: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
        Driver: module-alsa-card.c
        Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
        Channel Map: front-left,front-right
        Owner Module: 21
        Mute: no
        Volume: front-left: 28433 /  43% / -21.76 dB,   front-right: 28433 /  43% / -21.76 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.resolution_bits = "16"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.class = "sound"
                alsa.class = "generic"
                alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
                alsa.name = "ALC3266 Analog"
                alsa.id = "ALC3266 Analog"
                alsa.subdevice = "0"
                alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
                alsa.device = "0"
                alsa.card = "0"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xedd28000 irq 148"
                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 = "a171"
                device.product.name = "CM238 HD Audio Controller"
                device.form_factor = "internal"
                device.string = "front:0"
                device.buffering.buffer_size = "352800"
                device.buffering.fragment_size = "176400"
                device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
                device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
                device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
                device.description = "Built-in Audio Analog Stereo"
                module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-pci"
        Ports:
                analog-output-speaker: Speakers (type: Speaker, priority: 10000, availability unknown)
                analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, availability group: Legacy 2, availability unknown)
        Active Port: analog-output-headphones
        Formats:
                pcm
Sink #1
        State: RUNNING
        Name: bluez_sink.B8_7B_D4_19_3A_29.a2dp_sink
        Description: PixelBuds Pro2
        Driver: module-bluez5-device.c
        Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 44100Hz
        Channel Map: front-left,front-right
        Owner Module: 23
        Mute: no
        Volume: front-left: 39734 /  61% / -13.04 dB,   front-right: 39734 /  61% / -13.04 dB
                balance 0.00
        Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
        Monitor Source: bluez_sink.B8_7B_D4_19_3A_29.a2dp_sink.monitor
        Latency: 54444 usec, configured 45317 usec
        Flags: HARDWARE HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
        Properties:
                bluetooth.protocol = "a2dp_sink"
                bluetooth.codec = "sbc"
                device.description = "PixelBuds Pro2"
                device.string = "B8:7B:D4:19:3A:29"
                device.api = "bluez"
                device.class = "sound"
                device.bus = "bluetooth"
                device.form_factor = "headset"
                bluez.path = "/org/bluez/hci0/dev_B8_7B_D4_19_3A_29"
                bluez.class = "0x244404"
                bluez.alias = "PixelBuds Pro2"
                device.icon_name = "audio-headset-bluetooth"
                device.intended_roles = "phone"
        Ports:
                headset-output: Headset (type: Headset, priority: 0, available)
        Active Port: headset-output
        Formats:
                pcm

for jack headphones.  `Active Port:` changes to `analog-output-speaker` when speakers are used and to `headset-output` when BT headphones are connected with the BT sink.

Listing card(s):

> pactl list cards                                                                                                                                                                                                         
Card #0                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
        Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3                                                                                                                                                                                                       
        Driver: module-alsa-card.c                                                                                                                                                                                                             
        Owner Module: 6                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
        Properties:                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                alsa.card = "0"                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"                                                                                                                                                                                               
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0xedd28000 irq 148"                                                                                                                                                                    
                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 = "a171"                                                                                                                                                                                                     
                device.product.name = "CM238 HD Audio Controller"                                                                                                                                                                              
                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 (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 32833, available: yes)                                                                                                                               
                output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 39268, available: yes)                                                                                                                             
                output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 39333, available: yes)                                                                                                         
                output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5900, available: no)                                                                                                                         
                output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5965, available: yes)                                                                              
                output:hdmi-surround: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: no)                                                                                                                  
                output:hdmi-surround+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 865, available: yes)                                                                       
                output:hdmi-surround71: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 800, available: no)                                                                                                                
                output:hdmi-surround71+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 865, available: yes)                                                                     
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5765, available: yes)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, 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: yes)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, 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: yes)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5765, available: yes)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, 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: yes)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, 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: yes)
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, 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 unknown)
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                        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, ou
tput:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo
                analog-input-headphone-mic: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                        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, ou
tput:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo
                analog-input-headphone-mic: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                        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, ou
tput:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo
                analog-input-headset-mic: Headset Microphone (type: Headset, priority: 8800, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                        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, ou
tput:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo
                analog-output-speaker: Speakers (type: Speaker, priority: 10000, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
                        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 2, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
                        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, not available)
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                        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, not available) 
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                        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, not available) 
                        Properties:
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                        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

Card #1
        Name: bluez_card.B8_7B_D4_19_3A_29
        Driver: module-bluez5-device.c
        Owner Module: 23
        Properties:
                device.description = "PixelBuds Pro2"
                device.string = "B8:7B:D4:19:3A:29"
                device.api = "bluez"
                device.class = "sound"
                device.bus = "bluetooth"
                device.form_factor = "headset"
                bluez.path = "/org/bluez/hci0/dev_B8_7B_D4_19_3A_29"
                bluez.class = "0x244404"
                bluez.alias = "PixelBuds Pro2"
                device.icon_name = "audio-headset-bluetooth"
                device.intended_roles = "phone"
                bluetooth.codec = "sbc"
                bluetooth.battery = "100%"
        Profiles:
                a2dp_sink: High Fidelity Playback (A2DP Sink) (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 40, available: yes)
                handsfree_head_unit: Handsfree Head Unit (HFP) (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 30, available: yes)
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
        Active Profile: a2dp_sink
        Ports:
                headset-output: Headset (type: Headset, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Part of profile(s): a2dp_sink, handsfree_head_unit
                headset-input: Headset (type: Headset, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Part of profile(s): handsfree_head_unit

just reveals that the on-board audio card is correctly discovered, and the audio controller is loaded.

So what comes to mind is hardware failure or a physical disconnect of some wiring when I changed the keyboard on that laptop ...

Any ideas or pointers for me to probe hardware from CLI, BEFORE I try to reopen the "patient" for corrective surgery ?

Last edited by Cbhihe (2025-04-17 07:48:09)


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#2 2025-04-17 10:37:01

V1del
Forum Moderator
Registered: 2012-10-16
Posts: 25,157

Re: 'pulseaudio' w/ 'alsa' does not output to speakers

Is wireplumber running and potentially leading to conflicts with pulseaudio?

sudo fuser -v /dev/snd/*

more generally speaking check whether direct ALSA access works

amixer -c0
speaker-test -Dhw:0

if the second command (that completely bypasses pulseaudio and is as direct access as the kernel is going to give you) gives you no noise and it's not muted in amixer then you either have a kernel issue or -- more likely -- your  keyboard switch didn't go as smoothly.

Last edited by V1del (2025-04-17 10:37:50)

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#3 2025-04-17 13:17:02

Cbhihe
Member
Registered: 2017-04-09
Posts: 244

Re: 'pulseaudio' w/ 'alsa' does not output to speakers

Good point, but, nope, `wireplumber` is nowhere to be found here. The install is just "pa" and ALSA. (I checked anyway.)

> sudo fuser -v /dev/snd/*
                   USER        PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0:  my_user        9416 F.... pulseaudio

and apparently the right and left speakers are muted:

> amixer -c0                                                                                                                                                                                                                
Simple mixer control 'Master',0                                                                                                                                                                                                                
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined                                                                                                                                                                                  
  Playback channels: Mono                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  Limits: Playback 0 - 127                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
  Mono: Playback 88 [69%] [-19.50dB] [on]                                                                                                                                                                                                      
Simple mixer control 'Headphone',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 'Headphone Mic',0                                                                                                                                                                                                         
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive                                                                                                                                                                       
  Capture exclusive group: 0                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  Capture channels: Mono                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31                                                                                                                                                                                                                      
  Mono: Capture [off]                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]                                                                                                                                                                                                 
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]                                                                                                                                                                                                
Simple mixer control 'Headphone Mic Boost',0                                                                                                                                                                                                   
  Capabilities: volume                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right                                                                                                                                                                                                   
  Limits: 0 - 3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]                                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]                                                                                                                                                                                                                 
Simple mixer control 'Speaker',0                                                                                                                                                                                                               
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch                                                                                                                                                                                                                
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  Limits: Playback 0 - 127                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
  Mono:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-63.50dB] [off]                                                                                                                                                                                                 
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-63.50dB] [off]                                                                                                                                                                                                
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 'IEC958',0
  Capabilities: pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono                                  
  Mono: Playback [off]                                     
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 - 127
  Front Left: Capture 111 [87%] [22.00dB] [on]
  Front Right: Capture 111 [87%] [22.00dB] [on]
Simple mixer control 'Auto-Mute Mode',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Disabled' 'Enabled'
  Item0: 'Disabled'
Simple mixer control 'Headset Mic',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 31
  Mono: Capture [off]
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-34.50dB] [off]
Simple mixer control 'Headset Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic',0
  Capabilities: cswitch cswitch-joined cswitch-exclusive
  Capture exclusive group: 0
  Capture channels: Mono
  Mono: Capture [on]
Simple mixer control 'Internal Mic Boost',0
  Capabilities: volume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Capture channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: 0 - 3
  Front Left: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
  Front Right: 0 [0%] [0.00dB]
Simple mixer control 'Loopback Mixing',0
  Capabilities: enum
  Items: 'Disabled' 'Enabled'
  Item0: 'Disabled'

So the tests below give zero sound output as expected from the speakers being muted...

> speaker-test -Dhw:0

speaker-test 1.2.14

Playback device is hw:0
Stream parameters are 48000Hz, S16_LE, 1 channels
Using 16 octaves of pink noise
Channels count (1) not available for playbacks: Invalid argument
Setting of hwparams failed: Invalid argument

I had tested that before by:

  - pointing to the device:

> speaker-test -D default -c 2   
[output: .... nothing]

  - pointing to the ALSA device, as you also suggested:

> speaker-test -D hw:0,0 -c 2
[output: .... nothing]

So if I interpret well the following section of the `amixer -c0` cmd output:

Simple mixer control 'Speaker',0                                                                                                                                                                                                               
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch                                                                                                                                                                                                                
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right                                                                                                                                                                                                  
  Limits: Playback 0 - 127                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
  Mono:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        
  Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-63.50dB] [off]                                                                                                                                                                                                 
  Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-63.50dB] [off]                                                                                                                                                                                                
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]

can I make those speakers work again by un-muting them (?)

Last edited by Cbhihe (2025-04-17 15:00:27)


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#4 2025-04-17 16:43:32

V1del
Forum Moderator
Registered: 2012-10-16
Posts: 25,157

Re: 'pulseaudio' w/ 'alsa' does not output to speakers

Likely, though I wonder why this isn't reflected on pulse's side. or rather, that the speakers are muted while you are on the headphone profile is generally normal, but this should relevantly reverse itself when switching off of the headphones profile

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#5 2025-04-20 19:50:39

Cbhihe
Member
Registered: 2017-04-09
Posts: 244

Re: 'pulseaudio' w/ 'alsa' does not output to speakers

V1del wrote:

.... this should relevantly reverse itself when switching off of the headphones profile

Yes, that was the previous behavior.

From the gdm graphical interface, when the selected "Output Device" is Speakers - Built-in Audio and neither BT ear buds nor jack headphones are in use, the "Output Volume" slider  is not at zero (it does not show as muted) but nothing out... and I can't seem to find a way to (try to) unmute them from CLI.

Boot and shutdown sequence, from `journalctl`:

> grep -i "Apr 19" < <(journalctl --user-unit pulseaudio)
Apr 19 09:31:41.524175 HOSTNAME systemd[2678]: Starting Sound Service...
Apr 19 09:31:41.583032 HOSTNAME systemd[2678]: Started Sound Service.
Apr 19 21:58:52.737419 HOSTNAME pulseaudio[2691]: Lost I/O connection in module "module-gsettings"
Apr 19 22:00:11.921700 HOSTNAME systemd[2678]: Stopping Sound Service...
Apr 19 22:00:11.944373 HOSTNAME pulseaudio[2691]: After module unload, module 'module-null-sink' was still loaded!
Apr 19 22:00:11.959190 HOSTNAME systemd[2678]: Stopped Sound Service. 

For kernel related messages, from `dmesg`:

> sudo dmesg | grep -E "pulse|audio|alsa"
[    5.946618] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: bound 0000:00:02.0 (ops i915_audio_component_bind_ops [i915])
[    6.066459] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: ALC3266: picked fixup dell-headset-multi (model specified)
[    6.067012] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: autoconfig for ALC3266: line_outs=1 (0x17/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0) type:speaker
[    6.067018] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    speaker_outs=0 (0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[    6.067021] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    hp_outs=1 (0x21/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[    6.067024] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    mono: mono_out=0x0
[    6.067026] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    inputs:
[    6.067028] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Internal Mic=0x12
[    6.067031] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Headset Mic=0x19
[    6.067033] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Headphone Mic=0x1a

which confirms the muted state (speaker_outs=0), no progress here.

Trying to unmute built-in 'Speaker':

> amixer -c 0 sset 'Speaker',0 80% on
Simple mixer control 'Speaker',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pswitch
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 127
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 102 [80%] [-12.50dB] [on]
  Front Right: Playback 102 [80%] [-12.50dB] [on]

but, again, no sound out (having made sure that some source is streaming sound, e.g. a youtube channel w/o BT or jack headphones...) the 'Speaker' channel.

Hardware failure looms bigger by the hour... roll

Last edited by Cbhihe (2025-04-21 08:49:23)


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