Low sound volume compared to Windows 7 and even Windows XP

vishal8492 · 2012-01-15 19:29:07

First of all I am sorry if I'm breaking any rule or something.I just didn't want to bump an old thread still it's relevant.
https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=31570
I can't achieve volume as louder in windows in arch setup.I tried many solutions but hasn't succeeded.
I have used oss4 and pulse-audio but still no go.
I have maxed all channels in kmix pcm,master,front,surround,center.I am using kde if that matters.
I'd be happy to provide any other information.Just ask me.
Few things:
1) I am very new to arch linux.
2) I am not new to linux and have been experiencing issue since long.
3) It's my first post because I was scared of community being reputed as aggressive.(I believe it's not)

Audio device :
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 01)
It's Realtek ALC888 audio chip using snd_hda_intel.

uname -a
Linux arch 3.1.9-2-ARCH #1 SMP PREEMPT Sat Jan 14 08:11:41 UTC 2012 i686 Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 4400 @ 2.00GHz GenuineIntel GNU/Linux

Last edited by vishal8492 (2012-01-15 19:35:38)

ewaller · 2012-01-15 21:42:22

Sorry I've no suggestions, but:

First of all I am sorry if I'm breaking any rule or something.

That is probably the best first post I have ever seen Yes, it is best to start a new thread and link to the old.
You describe the problem, what you have tried, and your hardware and software.

Kudos. You will make a fine addition to the forums. Welcome.

moetunes · 2012-01-16 05:25:05

You could try this.

Last edited by moetunes (2012-01-16 05:25:23)

vishal8492 · 2012-01-16 10:11:27

I tried that but it doesn't help.It's actually preamp so more chances of distortion.Thanks for reply.

KingX · 2012-01-17 06:26:03

I have the same device on my desktop and audio levels are the same in Linux and winxp/win7. Using snd_hda_intel also in the kernel.

lspci | grep -i Audio
00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation N10/ICH 7 Family High Definition Audio Controller (rev 01)

I am using Pulse-Audio with alsa libs. My speaker system is a Logitech X51 5.1 sound or something.. it comes with a hardware volume control knob which I use 99% of the time to change volume levels. I would recommend grabbing the paprefs and pavucontrol to check/manage your sound levels. To be honest I don't even remember needing to use alsamixer to unmute any channels... following the wiki for pulseaudio has given me perfect sound and I have used GNOME3/KDE4 with no audio issues currently using xfce4.

Following are the packages I have on my system relating to alsa/pulseaudio.

pacman -Qs alsa
local/alsa-lib 1.0.24.1-1
    An alternative implementation of Linux sound support
local/alsa-plugins 1.0.24-3
    Extra alsa plugins
local/lib32-alsa-lib 1.0.24.1-1
    An alternative implementation of Linux sound support (32 bit)
local/lib32-alsa-plugins 1.0.24-1
    Extra alsa plugins (32-bit)
local/pulseaudio-alsa 1-2 (pulseaudio-gnome)
    ALSA Configuration for PulseAudio

pacman -Qs pulseaudio
local/lib32-libpulse 1.1-1
    A featureful, general-purpose sound server (32-bit client libraries)
local/libcanberra-pulse 0.28-2
    PulseAudio plugin for libcanberra
local/paprefs 0.9.10-2
    A simple GTK-based configuration dialog for PulseAudio
local/pavucontrol 1.0-1
    A GTK volume control tool for PulseAudio
local/pulseaudio 1.1-2
    A featureful, general-purpose sound server
local/pulseaudio-alsa 1-2 (pulseaudio-gnome)
    ALSA Configuration for PulseAudio

vishal8492 · 2012-01-17 09:19:52

Well actually I don't have pulse audio at the moment.It's only alsa is pulseaudio better? (I have used pulse audio in kubuntu and sound was issue there too.)
It's just alsa integrates very well with kmix and I don't see any big advantages with pulse audio for that matter.
I don't mind adjusting knob but still when I have to login in windows.I'd prefer not to but still so much louder sound really annoys me.
I have artis sound system but I really doubt it really matters.

[vishal@arch ~]$ pacman -Qs alsa
local/alsa-lib 1.0.24.1-1
An alternative implementation of Linux sound support
local/alsa-plugins 1.0.24-3
Extra alsa plugins
local/alsa-utils 1.0.24.2-3
An alternative implementation of Linux sound support
local/alsaequal 0.6-3
A real-time adjustable equalizer plugin for ALSA sound server.

KingX · 2012-01-18 19:09:36

I don't know about the better part, after setup they both sound the same. You can give pulseaudio a shot if it works well then stick with it, if not then you can remove it. Just track the packages/conf changes you make so you can reverse em if you need to.

Cloudef · 2012-01-18 19:17:09

I managed to boost up my low volume by messing with snd-hda-intel options so that it masks my hda something else:

# ALSA
# Fix low volume in Realtek ALC1200
options snd-hda-intel model=6stack-dig probe_mask=1

I dint even notice this before I got rid of my speakers since I dint ever use them. (The speakers had analog amplifier && headphone output)
If there is similar "fix" for OSSv4, I would be happy to know.

vishal8492 · 2012-01-18 19:47:25

Actually with new kernel I am starting to feel great change in sound I'll have to check with windows installation.I'll report soon.

Arch Linux

#1 2012-01-15 19:29:07

Low sound volume compared to Windows 7 and even Windows XP

#2 2012-01-15 21:42:22

Re: Low sound volume compared to Windows 7 and even Windows XP

#3 2012-01-16 05:25:05

Re: Low sound volume compared to Windows 7 and even Windows XP

#4 2012-01-16 10:11:27

Re: Low sound volume compared to Windows 7 and even Windows XP

#5 2012-01-17 06:26:03

Re: Low sound volume compared to Windows 7 and even Windows XP

#6 2012-01-17 09:19:52

Re: Low sound volume compared to Windows 7 and even Windows XP

#7 2012-01-18 19:09:36

Re: Low sound volume compared to Windows 7 and even Windows XP

#8 2012-01-18 19:17:09

Re: Low sound volume compared to Windows 7 and even Windows XP

#9 2012-01-18 19:47:25

Re: Low sound volume compared to Windows 7 and even Windows XP

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