Right speaker doesn't work, popping sounds

[Carla Watson]

No sound coming out from right speaker.
When starting up, laptop (Acer 5742-6674) makes popping noises even if speakers are muted. Sometimes it makes the same noises during operation for unidentified reasons.
Version: Ubuntu 12.04 LTS

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.2.0-24.37-generic 3.2.14
Uname: Linux 3.2.0-24-generic x86_64
AlsaVersion: Advanced Linux Sound Architecture Driver Version 1.0.24.
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu7
Architecture: amd64
ArecordDevices:
 **** List of CAPTURE Hardware Devices ****
 card 0: Intel [HDA Intel], device 0: ALC272X Analog [ALC272X Analog]
   Subdevices: 1/1
   Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: clw 4946 F.... pulseaudio
Card0.Amixer.info:
 Card hw:0 'Intel'/'HDA Intel at 0xb4400000 irq 44'
   Mixer name : 'Intel IbexPeak HDMI'
   Components : 'HDA:10ec0272,10250487,00100001 HDA:80862804,80860101,00100000'
   Controls : 26
   Simple ctrls : 12
Date: Wed Jun 20 10:37:12 2012
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: alsa-driver
Symptom: audio
Symptom_AlsaPlaybackTest: ALSA playback test through plughw:Intel failed
Symptom_Card: Built-in Audio - HDA Intel
Symptom_Jack: Speaker, Internal
Symptom_Type: Only some of outputs are working
Title: [Aspire 5742, Realtek ALC272X, Speaker, Internal] Playback problem
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to precise on 2012-05-06 (45 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 12/15/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: Acer
dmi.bios.version: V1.11
dmi.board.asset.tag: Base Board Asset Tag
dmi.board.name: Aspire 5742
dmi.board.vendor: Acer
dmi.board.version: V1.11
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Acer
dmi.chassis.version: V1.11
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAcer:bvrV1.11:bd12/15/2010:svnAcer:pnAspire5742:pvrV1.11:rvnAcer:rnAspire5742:rvrV1.11:cvnAcer:ct10:cvrV1.11:
dmi.product.name: Aspire 5742
dmi.product.version: V1.11
dmi.sys.vendor: Acer

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[James Gregory-Monk (jamgregory)]

In my case, following these instructions appeared to fix the popping sound:

http://gnometechblog.weebly.com/1/post/2012/03/fixing-popping-sound-in-ubuntu.html

My right speaker seems to be working fine too, although I forgot to check whether it wasn't before.

[Terry Herckenrath (terry-cactuscoder)]

I had the same issue until I played with the alsa settings and now I have no sound at all (speakers are not muted).

The fix James reported doesn't apply as the line referenced in the article does not exist in my alsa-base.conf.

The problem started when the computer was still running 10.10 - this weekend I upgraded to 12.04 (multiple upgrades), with the final upgrade to 12.04 failing, leaving the computer in an inoperable state.

Reinstalled 12.04 from the Live CD and restored home folder - sound problem was not affected by the upgrade.

[Marcus Tomlinson (marcustomlinson)]

This release of Ubuntu is no longer receiving maintenance updates. If this is still an issue on a maintained version of Ubuntu please let us know.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

[Expired for alsa-driver (Ubuntu) because there has been no activity for 60 days.]