[Asus GX531GX] Internal speakers are sometimes noisy - distorted audio

[Adam Niedling]

I have an Asus Zephyrus S GX531GX laptop and a pair of Asus Delta USB headphones. When the headphones are plugged in during boot the internal speakers won't work. There is only crackling sound coming from them. It doesn't help in I unplug the headphones. There is no problem if they are not plugged in during boot. I'm using Ubuntu 19.10.

Please let me know if you need more information.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 19.10
Package: pulseaudio 1:13.0-1ubuntu1.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.3.0-26.28-generic 5.3.13
Uname: Linux 5.3.0-26-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.2
Architecture: amd64
Date: Sun Jan 26 19:26:35 2020
InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-12-19 (38 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine" - Release amd64 (20191017)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=hu_HU.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
PulseList: Error: command ['pacmd', 'list'] failed with exit code 1: No PulseAudio daemon running, or not running as session daemon.
SourcePackage: pulseaudio
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 06/28/2019
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: GX531GXR.304
dmi.board.asset.tag: ATN12345678901234567
dmi.board.name: GX531GXR
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.board.version: 1.0
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.
dmi.chassis.version: 1.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvrGX531GXR.304:bd06/28/2019:svnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:pnZephyrusSGX531GXR_GX531GXR:pvr1.0:rvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:rnGX531GXR:rvr1.0:cvnASUSTeKCOMPUTERINC.:ct10:cvr1.0:
dmi.product.family: Zephyrus S
dmi.product.name: Zephyrus S GX531GXR_GX531GXR
dmi.product.version: 1.0
dmi.sys.vendor: ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC.

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

I was wrong about the headphones. They were not plugged in at all this time and the sound of the internal speakers are messed up. I'm attaching a sound recording I just made. If I switch to my monitors' speakers they work fine.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Can you please try the latest kernel and tell us if that improves the situation?

https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.5/

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

I've installed the kernel packages following the guide (sudo dpkg -i FILENAME.deb) but I got the "You need to load the kernel first" grub error message.

I guess some steps are missing from the guide?

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

You need four packages:

https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.5/linux-headers-5.5.0-050500_5.5.0-050500.202001262030_all.deb

https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.5/linux-headers-5.5.0-050500-generic_5.5.0-050500.202001262030_amd64.deb

https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.5/linux-image-unsigned-5.5.0-050500-generic_5.5.0-050500.202001262030_amd64.deb

https://kernel.ubuntu.com/~kernel-ppa/mainline/v5.5/linux-modules-5.5.0-050500-generic_5.5.0-050500.202001262030_amd64.deb

then install them together:

  sudo dpkg -i *.deb

and then reboot.

If it still doesn't work then try:

  sudo update-grub

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

I couldn't load kernel 5.5 because secure boot was turned on. My bad, sorry.

I was able to test the sound with kernel 5.5 after disable secure boot but there is no improvement. The audio is still bad. I'm attaching another file. It sounds like it's a cassette player running out of battery.

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

I'm uploading another example of distorted audio.

Original:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wDdyn4Kbffs

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

I haven't had this problem for some time now. Maybe there was an update that fixed it?

However sometimes the sound volume controller in the top right corner is no associated with sound device being used. I mean when I change the volume or mute it nothing happens because it controls some other device not the one being used.

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

I think the problem I mentioned is the same as this one:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/pulseaudio/+bug/1838577

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

The distorted audio problem just came back. I think it has something to do with this system being dual boot (Windows 10 and Ubuntu 20.04). When I only use Ubuntu there is no problem. As soon as I stop using Windows and reboot to Ubuntu the noise comes back.
It's almost like a turntable loses power and the playback slows down and stops.

[Adam Niedling (krychek)]

This audio problem seem to be only happening when I reboot from Windows to Ubuntu. To fix it I have turn off the computer and turn it on again. Rebooting doesn't fix it.
If I turn it off after using Windows and cold start it to boot to Ubuntu there is no problem.