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parkerx

Member

Registered: 2026-07-09

Posts: 1

SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 USB audio regression linux 7.1.x

Hi, I am experiencing problems with what might be a USB audio regression. This is my first post, and I'm a little bit of a noobie.

Symptoms:
After updating, my headset output was halved (or so) despite the same mixer levels and sounds weird/bassy/distorted during fading audio. Previously my volume was set to 25%, but now i need 40-50% for the same volume, and the quality seems worse.

Working kernel:
- linux-lts 6.18.38-1-lts

"Broken" kernels:
- linux 7.1.2.arch3-1
- linux 7.1.3.arch1-1

Tests:
- Same device, userspace, and PipeWire/WirePlumber config
- Booting linux-lts fixes the audio
- Booting linux 7.1.2 or 7.1.3 breaks the audio
- PipeWire volumes appear normal
- Issue not isolated to a particular application, usb port

$ journalctl -b -k --no-pager | grep -iE "steelseries|arctis|sticky|snd_usb|usb.*mixer"
Broken kernel output:

Jul 09 17:06:05 <HOSTNAME> kernel: usb 3-1: Product: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5
Jul 09 17:06:05 <HOSTNAME> kernel: usb 3-1: Manufacturer: SteelSeries
Jul 09 17:06:05 <HOSTNAME> kernel: hid-generic 0003:1038:2232.0008: hiddev99,hidraw7: USB HID v1.11 Device [SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5] on usb-0000:13:00.3-1/input3
Jul 09 17:06:05 <HOSTNAME> kernel: input: SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:13:00.3/usb3/3-1/3-1:1.4/0003:1038:2232.0009/input/input12
Jul 09 17:06:06 <HOSTNAME> kernel: hid-generic 0003:1038:2232.0009: input,hidraw8: USB HID v1.11 Device [SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5] on usb-0000:13:00.3-1/input4
Jul 09 17:06:06 <HOSTNAME> kernel: hid-generic 0003:1038:2232.000A: hiddev100,hidraw9: USB HID v1.11 Device [SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5] on usb-0000:13:00.3-1/input5
Jul 09 17:06:07 <HOSTNAME> kernel: usb 3-1: 9:0: sticky mixer values (-19712/0/256 => 0), disabling
Jul 09 17:06:07 <HOSTNAME> kernel: usb 3-1: 10:0: sticky mixer values (-21248/0/256 => 0), disabling

Working kernel output:

Jul 09 17:49:23 <HOSTNAME> kernel: usb 3-1: Product: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5
Jul 09 17:49:23 <HOSTNAME> kernel: usb 3-1: Manufacturer: SteelSeries
Jul 09 17:49:23 <HOSTNAME> kernel: hid-generic 0003:1038:2232.0008: hiddev99,hidraw7: USB HID v1.11 Device [SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5] on usb-0000:13:00.3-1/input3
Jul 09 17:49:23 <HOSTNAME> kernel: input: SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:13:00.3/usb3/3-1/3-1:1.4/0003:1038:2232.0009/input/input12
Jul 09 17:49:23 <HOSTNAME> kernel: hid-generic 0003:1038:2232.0009: input,hidraw8: USB HID v1.11 Device [SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5] on usb-0000:13:00.3-1/input4
Jul 09 17:49:23 <HOSTNAME> kernel: hid-generic 0003:1038:2232.000A: hiddev100,hidraw9: USB HID v1.11 Device [SteelSeries SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5] on usb-0000:13:00.3-1/input5

The relevant difference is this from the broken kernel output:

Jul 09 17:06:07 <HOSTNAME> kernel: usb 3-1: 9:0: sticky mixer values (-19712/0/256 => 0), disabling
Jul 09 17:06:07 <HOSTNAME> kernel: usb 3-1: 10:0: sticky mixer values (-21248/0/256 => 0), disabling

Does this look like an snd-usb-audio regression or a quirk with my device?
Thanks in advance.

Last edited by parkerx (2026-07-09 21:55:48)

Namahage

Member

Registered: 2026-04-17

Posts: 10

Re: SteelSeries Arctis Nova 5 USB audio regression linux 7.1.x

I have never fiddled with this sort of stuff so I can only do so much, but with a little googling I found out that the new kernel has issues with USB audio on some certain devices. In case you (or anyone else) are still struggling with this problem, you should look into kernel quirk flags to get around this issue. The new kernel is unable to handle the data from these devices correctly and reverts to a B plan in which sharp peaks and drops in volume get screwed, or something like that. Here is a fix to a different device that has the same problem.

Last edited by Namahage (2026-07-14 15:39:19)