Very faint sound (stereo), no sound (others) with Intel i5 HD Audio - ALC892

[Fabián Rodríguez]

Analog audio output is very faint at maximum volume. I haven't tested HDMI.

I tested this in both 10.10 64-bit and current Natty 64-bit.

This CPU / motherboard combination is i5 680 on an Asus P7H55-M PRO motherboard (BIOS v 1604).

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.04
Package: linux-image-2.6.38-3-generic 2.6.38-3.30
Regression: No
Reproducible: Yes
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.38-3.30-generic 2.6.38-rc4
Uname: Linux 2.6.38-3-generic x86_64
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.23.
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC892 Analog [ALC892 Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse: Error: command ['fuser', '-v', '/dev/snd/by-path', '/dev/snd/controlC0', '/dev/snd/hwC0D0', '/dev/snd/hwC0D3', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D0c', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D0p', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D1p', '/dev/snd/pcmC0D3p', '/dev/snd/seq', '/dev/snd/timer'] failed with exit code -11:
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xf7df4000 irq 42'
   Mixer name : 'Intel IbexPeak HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:10ec0892,10438436,00100302 HDA:80862804,80860101,00100000'
   Controls : 36
   Simple ctrls : 19
Date: Sun Feb 20 19:37:49 2011
IwConfig:
 lo no wireless extensions.

 eth0 no wireless extensions.
LiveMediaBuild: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Alpha amd64 (20110218)
MachineType: System manufacturer System Product Name
ProcEnviron:
 LANGUAGE=en_US:en
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 LC_MESSAGES=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcKernelCmdLine: noprompt cdrom-detect/try-usb=true file=/cdrom/preseed/hostname.seed boot=casper initrd=/casper/initrd.lz quiet splash -- maybe-ubiquity
RelatedPackageVersions:
 linux-restricted-modules-2.6.38-3-generic N/A
 linux-backports-modules-2.6.38-3-generic N/A
 linux-firmware 1.47
RfKill:

SourcePackage: linux
dmi.bios.date: 07/22/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1604
dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: P7H55-M PRO
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev 1.xx
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr1604:bd07/22/2010:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnP7H55-MPRO:rvrRev1.xx:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: System Product Name
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer

[Fabián Rodríguez (magicfab)]

I haven't tested a mainline kernel with this yet.

This bug may be related:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/573378

Here's a public post describing a possible workaround:
http://us.generation-nt.com/bisected-2-6-36-regression-alc892-help-201200832.html

[Fabián Rodríguez (magicfab)]

Tested mainline (v2.6.35.11-maverick and v2.6.36-maverick) with the same results.

[Fabián Rodríguez (magicfab)]

Installed natty + last updates, same behavior.

[Fabián Rodríguez (magicfab)]

I've also tried the workaround suggested in Bug #718402 for a microphone problem, same problem:
Add "options snd-hda-intel position_fix=1 enable=yes" to /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

[Fabián Rodríguez (magicfab)]

After much experimentation and troubleshooting, installing Windows 7 and using its drivers to *disable* S/PDIF output as the default output brought sound back in Ubuntu (tested on both 10.10 and latest 11.04 nightly live CDs). For some reason this board seemed to come configured with S/PDIF output as default audio output.