A fresher on Linux (ubuntu 14.04 lts)community with a disappointment sound/audio problem.

i been using windows since ages,but due to lots of crashes and software installation issue,i thought of giving a try on ubuntu 14.04 lts.

i used a laptop dell vostro 2520,and i installed a sound driver from dell site,called Cirius,which is amazing in windows OS.

but after the installation of ubuntu 14.04 lts,the sound is comprehensively slow and inaudible,i try installing the same audio driver but doesn't work.

So is there anyway to work around to enhance the sound quality in this OS? and thanks.

Did you spell the name incorrectly? I see lots of hits for "Cirrus" driver with Dell and the download page for the windows driver. I don't see anything for Linux. Do you have a link to what you downloaded you can post?

Welcome to the forum, what was your sound like before you installed the sound driver?

The name of the Driver is Cirrus Logic High-Definition Audio Driver,which i downloaded it in windows 7 32bits.The sound quality is awesome with this driver,gives more bass and can increase the volume with no distortion on windows.but in ubuntu,if i go beyond the given option in sound setting,it distort.its like hearing in a tin can.so,if you guys can suggest me to download any apps or work around in terminal,would be very helpful.

Hi meison...

Welcome to the forum

Sound quality can differ between Linux and Windows because of the quality of the drivers, which I think, in some cases, are reverse engineered. I've noticed this a little in my system.

To get an idea of the sound device (chip) and driver in question, please open a terminal and post the results of these commands...

lspci -nnk | grep -i -A7 audio

lsmod | grep snd

Simply copy and paste the commands above into the terminal and vice versa with the results to include them with your post.

Regards...

lspci -nnk | grep -i -A7 audio

00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller [8086:1e20] (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0558]
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
00:1c.0 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 1 [8086:1e10] (rev c4)
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:1c.3 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 4 [8086:1e16] (rev c4)
Kernel driver in use: pcieport
00:1c.5 PCI bridge [0604]: Intel Corporation 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family PCI Express Root Port 6 [8086:1e1a] (rev c4)


lsmod | grep snd

snd_hda_codec_hdmi 49152 1
snd_hda_codec_cirrus 20480 1
snd_hda_codec_generic 69632 1 snd_hda_codec_cirrus
snd_hda_intel 32768 3
snd_hda_codec 114688 4 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec_cirrus
snd_hda_core 57344 4 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel
snd_hwdep 16384 1 snd_hda_codec
snd_pcm 94208 4 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_core
snd_seq_midi 16384 0
snd_seq_midi_event 16384 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi 28672 1 snd_seq_midi
snd_seq 57344 2 snd_seq_midi_event,snd_seq_midi
snd_seq_device 16384 3 snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_seq_midi
snd_timer 28672 2 snd_pcm,snd_seq
snd 69632 17 snd_hwdep,snd_timer,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_pcm,snd_seq,snd_rawmidi,snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_cod ec,snd_hda_intel,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_codec_cirrus
soundcore 16384 1 snd

so this cirrus driver is doing some post-processing to the sound, "enhancing" it. like my android phone has this DTS setting. sometimes it's good, sometimes it sucks.

there might be some plugins for pulseaudio doing something similar, maybe a simple equalizer.

since these system are all proprietary and commercial, linux lacks them.
or maybe something is available and i just don't know about it.

Originally Posted by meison 00:1b.0 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation 7 Series/C210 Series Chipset Family High Definition Audio Controller [8086:1e20] (rev 04) Subsystem: Dell Device [1028:0558] Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel snd_hda_codec_cirrus 20480 1 snd_hda_codec_generic 69632 1 snd_hda_codec_cirrus

Hi...

Everything looks normal in your reports. I see Ubuntu is loading the Cirrus codec, which I found a reference for here. Your problem may very well have to do, at least in part, with the default settings. Take a look at the threads here and here. You can also look through my Google search here to see if there are any additional solutions.

Also, what do the settings in alsamixer look like? Just enter the following code in a terminal...

alsamixer

Regards...

Originally Posted by ardvark71 I see Ubuntu is loading the Cirrus codec, which I found a reference for here.

good to see that i was wrong about that!

Your problem may very well have to do, at least in part, with the default settings. Take a look at the threads here and here.

yes, my sentiments precisely.

i hope OP will tell us how they get along with that new info.