Random noises with 5.13.0-37-generic and later but not with 5.13.0-35-generic

[Ainar Garipov]

After a recent update to linux-image-5.13.0-37-generic, I started experiencing random noises about every five seconds. After rebooting into linux-image-5.13.0-35-generic, the noises were gone.

Some details that I've noticed:

1. When launching pulseaudio manually, not as a daemon, the problem disappears.

2. If I set the log-level in /etc/pulse/daemon.conf to debug and reload it, the log has a lot of:

Mar 23 17:22:44 ainar-ThinkPad-X13-Gen-1 pulseaudio[76435]: Wakeup from ALSA!
Mar 23 17:22:43 ainar-ThinkPad-X13-Gen-1 pulseaudio[76435]: Wakeup from ALSA!
Mar 23 17:22:39 ainar-ThinkPad-X13-Gen-1 pulseaudio[76435]: Wakeup from ALSA!
Mar 23 17:22:38 ainar-ThinkPad-X13-Gen-1 pulseaudio[76435]: Wakeup from ALSA!

Which roughly correspond with the noises.

3. The usual "rm -f -r ~/.config/pulse && pulseaudio -k && sudo alsa force-reload" doesn't seem to help. Only a kernel downgrade does.

4. This happens both in Firefox (where I first noticed it) as well as in Totem and in system sounds.

5. I tried to report the bug using "ubuntu-bug audio", but it showed me six inputs of which three looked the same, and for each of them it told me that it pulseaudio wasn't configured to use it. I'm ready to collect logs and other info within the next days.

Additional Info

  $ lsb_release -a
LSB Version: core-11.1.0ubuntu2-noarch:printing-11.1.0ubuntu2-noarch:security-11.1.0ubuntu2-noarch
Distributor ID: Ubuntu
Description: Ubuntu 20.04.4 LTS
Release: 20.04
Codename: focal

  $ apt-cache policy linux-image-generic-hwe-20.04
linux-image-generic-hwe-20.04:
  Installed: 5.13.0.37.42~20.04.22
  Candidate: 5.13.0.37.42~20.04.22
  Version table:
 *** 5.13.0.37.42~20.04.22 500
        500 http://mirror.yandex.ru/ubuntu focal-updates/main amd64 Packages
        500 http://mirror.yandex.ru/ubuntu focal-security/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     5.4.0.26.32 500
        500 http://mirror.yandex.ru/ubuntu focal/main amd64 Packages

  $ apt-cache policy pulseaudio
pulseaudio:
  Installed: 1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3.13
  Candidate: 1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3.13
  Version table:
 *** 1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3.13 500
        500 http://mirror.yandex.ru/ubuntu focal-updates/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3.8 500
        500 http://mirror.yandex.ru/ubuntu focal-security/main amd64 Packages
     1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3 500
        500 http://mirror.yandex.ru/ubuntu focal/main amd64 Packages

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Tejesember (tejes)]

I can confirm this bug. I run Kubuntu 21.10, and after updating the kernel to 5.13.0-37 (and no other packages changed), whenever audio is active, there is a pop in like every half a second.

I have 3 audio devices. The one integrated into the motherboard seems not to be affected. The Logitech G432 headset (which has a USB dongle), and the Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 (which is also a USB sound device) are producing the problem. Booting the 5.13.0-35 kernel solves the problem.

[WirelessMoves (gsmumts)]

Same here, I have a Lenovo X13 Gen1 notebook with an AMD 4750U Ryzen processor. The integrated sound chip works without problem, but when using the sound card in the Lenovo USB dock, the problem appears. Rebooted several times but the problem persists. Downgrading to the 5.13.0-35 kernel removes the problem.

[Ainar Garipov (ainar-g)]

I've tried 5.13.0-39-generic, but the issue is still there.

Any updates from the developers?

[Max (schachschal)]

Also with new 5.13.0-40-generic the issue is still available for me.

[Ainar Garipov (ainar-g)]

Seems to be fixed for me with 5.13.0-41-generic. Can anyone else confirm?

[Tejesember (tejes)]

5.13.0-41-generic fixed this issue for me too.

[Max (schachschal)]

I can confirm that. Fixed with 5.13.0-41-generic.