[P7xxDM2(-G), Realtek ALC898, Headphone Jack, External] No sound at all

[Dennis Mungai Lin.Jr.]

Hello there,

I have Ubuntu 16.04LTS installed on the Clevo P751DM2-G, also marketed as the Schenker XMG U507, the System76's Serval WS (2017 model), the Eurocom Sky X4E2, among others.

The sound card is the Realtek ALC898 with the following output configuration:

1. One SPDIF/headphone combo jack (to the right)
2. One Line Out.
3. One Line-In.
4. One Mic-In.

Background information:

On Windows, one can use the Realtek HD Audio control panel pop-up menu on jack detection to set the output type when an audio device is plugged in to an appropriate jack, combined with Sound Blaster X-Fi MB5 software to enable post-processing effects such as Bass, noise cancellation, etc.

What I have tried so far:

1. Setting the model definition at /etc/modprobe.d/sound.conf with the following entries:

options snd-hda-intel model=no-primary-hp enable=1 index=0

Using such a line worked before on an MSI GS43VR 6RE Phantom Pro that also has the same (or a similar) ESS Sabre Audio DAC component.

Expected behavior:

When plugged into the microphone jack, the ESS Sabre DAC should be activated and sound should be routed to the headset.

Observed anomaly:

Sound comes out through the speakers instead.

However, the line-out output works. In that case, when plugged into the line out, Audio works as expected.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 16.04
Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5
Uname: Linux 4.14.0 x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_uvm nvidia_drm nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.1-0ubuntu2.10
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: lin 2199 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: lin 2199 F.... pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: GNOME
Date: Mon Nov 13 17:34:53 2017
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-07-25 (111 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 16.04.2 LTS "Xenial Xerus" - Release amd64 (20170215.2)
PackageArchitecture: all
SourcePackage: alsa-driver
Symptom: audio
Symptom_AlsaPlaybackTest: ALSA playback test through plughw:PCH failed
Symptom_Card: Built-in Audio - HDA Intel PCH
Symptom_DevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: gdm 1812 F.... pulseaudio
                      lin 2199 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: gdm 1812 F.... pulseaudio
                      lin 2199 F.... pulseaudio
Symptom_Jack: Speaker, Internal
Symptom_Type: No sound at all
Title: [P7xxDM2(-G), Realtek ALC898, Speaker, Internal] No sound at all
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/21/2016
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.06.04
dmi.board.asset.tag: Tag 12345
dmi.board.name: P7xxDM2(-G)
dmi.board.vendor: Notebook
dmi.board.version: Not Applicable
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: No Enclosure
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr1.06.04:bd12/21/2016:svnNotebook:pnP7xxDM2(-G):pvrNotApplicable:rvnNotebook:rnP7xxDM2(-G):rvrNotApplicable:cvnNoEnclosure:ct10:cvrN/A:
dmi.product.family: Not Applicable
dmi.product.name: P7xxDM2(-G)
dmi.product.version: Not Applicable
dmi.sys.vendor: Notebook

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Cristiano Rodrigues (microcris)]

Same problem (since long lime ago) on Debian but a different computer (MSI GS40 6QE Phantom) tha shares the same audio hardware:
Realtek ALC898
ESS SABRE HiFi audio DAC

with the following output configuration:

1. One SPDIF/headphone combo jack (to the right)
2. One Mic-In.

When I connect the jack plug in the combo jack connector, the audio keeps coming out through the speakers and at the same time through the jack connector but very loud and distorted

[Hork (aliyuchang33)]

Also affected. Using `Arch Linux`, `PulseAudio`. Motherboard model P775dm2-g. ALC898 and ESS SABRE HIFI. It has a light on that port. After booting linux, the red light disappears. However, as i plug in a headphone, it produces two short beep sound.

[Dennis Mungai Lin.Jr. (brainiarc7)]

A possible work-around: Update the jack's description to PulseAudio, as shown:

Create the file `/usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/iec958-stereo-output.conf` and populate it with:

```
# This file is part of PulseAudio.
#
# PulseAudio is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify
# it under the terms of the GNU Lesser General Public License as
# published by the Free Software Foundation; either version 2.1 of the
# License, or (at your option) any later version.
#
# PulseAudio is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, but
# WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of
# MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the GNU
# General Public License for more details.
#
# You should have received a copy of the GNU Lesser General Public License
# along with PulseAudio; if not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.

[General]
description = Headphones + Digital Output (S/PDIF)

[Element IEC958]
switch = mute
```

Then set the model definition at `/etc/modprobe.d/sound.conf` with the following entries:

`options snd-hda-intel model=no-primary-hp enable=1 index=0`

When done, issue a reboot.

For current HDA model lists, see http://git.alsa-project.org/?p=alsa-kernel.git;a=blob;f=Documentation/sound/alsa/HD-Audio-Models.txt;hb=HEAD.

Will test and report back.

[Hork (aliyuchang33)]

Not working. Confirmed for the approach in the previous comment.