Loud background hiss when using headphones (XPS 13 9350)

[Qasim Ali]

Whenever I play audio, I head a loud hiss from my headphones. The hiss stops after a few seconds if I pause the audio, but starts again when I start it.

The hiss goes away if I open 'alsamixer' and increase 'Headphone Mic Boost', but I'm not sure if this is expected behaviour.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 19.10
Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.3.0-24.26-generic 5.3.10
Uname: Linux 5.3.0-24-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu8.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC0: qasim 850 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC0D0p: qasim 850 F...m pulseaudio
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Thu Dec 26 16:33:21 2019
InstallationDate: Installed on 2019-12-21 (5 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 19.10 "Eoan Ermine" - Release amd64 (20191017)
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/usr/bin/fish
SourcePackage: alsa-driver
Symptom: audio
Symptom_AlsaPlaybackTest: ALSA playback test through plughw:PCH failed
Symptom_Card: Built-in Audio - HDA Intel PCH
Symptom_Jack: Black Headphone Out, Front
Symptom_Type: High background noise, or volume is too low
Title: [XPS 13 9350, Realtek ALC3246, Black Headphone Out, Front] Background noise or low volume
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 01/22/2019
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.10.1
dmi.board.name: 07TYC2
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A01
dmi.chassis.type: 9
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.10.1:bd01/22/2019:svnDellInc.:pnXPS139350:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn07TYC2:rvrA01:cvnDellInc.:ct9:cvr:
dmi.product.family: NULL
dmi.product.name: XPS 13 9350
dmi.product.sku: 0704
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.