LinuxQuestions.org - [SOLVED] Sound - OK but distorted on headphones but no sound from speakers

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Sound - OK but distorted on headphones but no sound from speakers

Howdy...

Mint 14 Nadia
Inspiron 9400

Sorry for posting so much lately, but I'm trying to get this old notebook running smoothly as a Linux-only system, and am traveling with it so would like to get the bugs worked out. I've dabbled in Linux for years - since I think when Mandriva used to be called Mandrake (if I recall correctly), but haven't been consistent enough to have gotten very experienced.

Sound was working on both speakers and headphones, and though I've requested help other times on sound issues, no sound from speakers is a new problem. The distortion problem never did get solved, but it is less of a problem now, and tolerable, though not good.

Without headphones connected, I get no sound from the speakers, even if I make sure the speakers are selected. I feel sure that in all of my fumbling around getting things to work that I must have changed something, and hopefully the fix is a simple switch or reinstall of something other than a full blown reinstall.

Any suggestions on diagnosing and fixing?

Thanks!
Optiker

Hi

I don't use mint but lets start the investigation

Pls post the outputs for these

Code:

lsmod | grep snd

aplay -l

aplay -L

lspci -v (just the section for your audio device)

cat /proc/asound/card0/codec#0 | grep Codec

2) I am not sure how to tell if pulsaudio (=PA) is running on mint but some dirty ways are
run as non-root
alsamixer
if the image shows only one slider called PA its running while if you see heaps its not

b) do you have a home folder .pulse? (hint thats DOT pulse and you may need to show hidden files in your file manager or run

Code:

ls .pulse

as non root in your home foler
do you have a /etc/pulse?

3) What is the main way you listen to sound
eg you need hdmi output at home
but when travelling you use the internal speakers
or you use an usb mixer at home and use internal mobile?

4) ok in the meantime I took a hint and looked at some of your other posts
t looks like some very good advice given but umm you may have been scared to try it?

therefore, we will combine some elements from your other posts

DETAILS

We need details

It looks like you are not using a hdmi lead but is the lead into your dell using a 3.5 mm jack into the headphone hole (or the mic hole with surround sound)
or does this Dell have a SPDIF hole, often hidden by a small black plug you remove and then insert a optical cable
-----the ends at the TV are irrelevant

5) post the contents of these command pls

Code:

ls /etc/modprobe.d/

cat  /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

Leaping ahead so you are not in shock when see your results, I would say that 99% of your past posts will disappear
once you agree to setup the model=string config.

Its not your fault that intel have only the one hardware module snd_hda_intel plus a number of codec modules
but
intel being so numerous offers lots of options.

A huge advantage of this occurs in my intel sytem not a dell.

debian configures it without PA as a 2 ch basic model sound device (onboard)
as soon as I reboot with a model=string (my string is irrelevant to you)
my alsamixer then shows the correct number of sliders and mic settings as I have a tower and have back and front mic/outs etc etc

so to prepare your mind for good sounds we have a link
https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documenta...dio-Models.txt

and as we know you have a 9400 we get

Quote:

STAC9200
========
ref Reference board
oqo OQO Model 2
dell-d21 Dell (unknown)
dell-d22 Dell (unknown)
dell-d23 Dell (unknown)
dell-m21 Dell Inspiron 630m, Dell Inspiron 640m
dell-m22 Dell Latitude D620, Dell Latitude D820
dell-m23 Dell XPS M1710, Dell Precision M90
dell-m24 Dell Latitude 120L
dell-m25 Dell Inspiron E1505n
dell-m26 Dell Inspiron 1501
dell-m27 Dell Inspiron E1705/9400
gateway-m4 Gateway laptops with EAPD control
gateway-m4-2 Gateway laptops with EAPD control
panasonic Panasonic CF-74
auto BIOS setup (default)

so we seduce you into using model=string which will be model=dell-m27

and pretending you have a debian structure we will edit your alsa-base.conf so it appends
options snd_hda_intel model=dell-m27

edit needs root powers and we keep it simple and just do a full reboot

aus9...as requested...
Looks like a huge investment of time on your part! Thank you so much!
Optiker

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