[USB-Audio - ODAC-revB, playback] Much lower volume since 16.04

[agoodm]

Hi,

I have a O2+ODAC USB DAC unit.

14.04/15.10 output volume level is identical to Windows; in my case this means that low gain and volume knob @ 12:00 is as loud as my ears can handle.

Installed 16.04 today, volume level is considerably lower vs Windows now. I can now play at high gain and max volume and volume level is just bearable. I would run into limits of my headphones or hit the pain threshold if I tried this in Windows.

I've tried adjusting the volume levels in the volume control for both the app and the system level, both are at 99% and volume level is low. Allowing above 100% results in destortion but not reaching previously attainable volume levels.

Im a techy user and capable of advanced troubleshooting if required.

Alan

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.4.0-21.37-generic 4.4.6
Uname: Linux 4.4.0-21-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: Unity
Date: Sun May 1 23:29:03 2016
InstallationDate: Installed on 2016-05-01 (0 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20160420.1)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: alsa-driver
Symptom: audio
Symptom_Card: LifeCam Studio - Microsoft® LifeCam Studio(TM)
Symptom_Type: Volume slider, or mixer problems
Title: [USB-Audio - ODAC-revB, playback] volume slider problem
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 06/19/2015
dmi.bios.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.bios.version: N10ET36W (1.15 )
dmi.board.asset.tag: Not Available
dmi.board.name: 20CMCTO1WW
dmi.board.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.board.version: SDK0J40709 WIN
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Information
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: LENOVO
dmi.chassis.version: None
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnLENOVO:bvrN10ET36W(1.15):bd06/19/2015:svnLENOVO:pn20CMCTO1WW:pvrThinkPadX250:rvnLENOVO:rn20CMCTO1WW:rvrSDK0J40709WIN:cvnLENOVO:ct10:cvrNone:
dmi.product.name: 20CMCTO1WW
dmi.product.version: ThinkPad X250
dmi.sys.vendor: LENOVO

[agoodm (alan-goodmanemail)]

I checked in Alsamixer / pressed f6 / selected my sound card and found the volume to be set at a reduced level. I increased the volume and noted that original performance was restored.

This isnt exposed in the graphical volume controls for some reason...

[agoodm (alan-goodmanemail)]

P.S. I noticed that the above fix 'disables' software volume control in the GUI tools, this mirrors the behavious from 14.04 and 15.10

[agoodm (alan-goodmanemail)]

P.P.S Software volume control only seems to be disabled for certain applications! Either way same behaviour as previous versions.