sounds not working on Dell XPS 17 (9700)

[Niklas]

My investigation process:

Dell XPS 17 (9700) comes with Windows 10 preinstalled, where sounds worked.

I installed Ubuntu 20.04 LTS fresh, sounds did not work on speakers or 3.5mm headphones,
using linux-image-5.4.0-42-generic, I did not try blutooth.

I sudo apt upgrade, dist-upgrade to get kernels

linux-image-5.8.0-38-generic
linux-image-5.8.0-40-generic

Sounds did not work.
I download linux-image-unsigned-5.10.9-051009-generic.
Sounds did not work.

I upgrade Dell XPS 9700 firmware from 1.3 to 1.63.
Sounds did not work.

After googling I found this solution in the comments:
https://askubuntu.com/questions/1270442/no-sound-on-xps-17-9700

"""

    Download and install dkms module:

    https://launchpad.net/~canonical-hwe-team/+archive/ubuntu/pc-oem-dkms/+packages

    Alternatively, you can install linux-oem-20.04, it will install the 5.6 kernel with the above driver. Your system may be more stable with 5.4 kernel since it is in wide use.

    Manually install sof-firmware from Arch Linux:

    https://archlinux.pkgs.org/rolling/archlinux-extra-x86_64/sof-firmware-1.5.1-1-any.pkg.tar.zst.html

    You will need to delete the existing "sof" and "sof-tplg" files from the Ubuntu linux-firmware package first. Note if this package gets updated from Canoncial and they don't update these, you will have to delete and then reextract. Files go into the /usr/lib/firmware/intel/sof and /usr/lib/firmware/intel/sof-tplg folders.

    Manually install the ucm2 files:

    http://xps17.ddns.net/sof-soundwire.zip

    These go into /usr/share/alsa/ucm2/sof-soundwire. Delete the contents of the existing sof-soundwire folder (if you have it) and replace them with the ones from the archive.

    Reboot. You should now have all your audio devices available. If speakers do not play, you may need to run alsamixer (non-root) from a terminal and unmute and set the mixer levels all the way up.
"""

This solution worked for me on linux-image-5.6.0-1042-oem AFTER manually opening alsa-mixer and changing soundcard to sof. The sound would otherwise just show 'dummy'.

My sounds still do not work on 5.8 or 5.10, full name listed above. I did not get to test this temporary fix with 5.4.

my full alsa-info:
http://alsa-project.org/db/?f=6a638be0cfbe8ed08a010eb26a7702e324dce5ff

based on some google research, this seems to be a common problem:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/hj8oxw/xps_17_9700_no_audio_on_linux_also_hardware_is/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/hge2yo/no_audio_on_linux_ubuntu_2004_xps_17_9700_realtek/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Dell/comments/j2kdjw/xps_17_9700_on_linux_audio_issue/
etc...

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
Package: pulseaudio 1:13.99.1-1ubuntu3.10
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.6.0-1042.46-oem 5.6.19
Uname: Linux 5.6.0-1042-oem x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.14
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: neoh 1786 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/pcmC1D0p: neoh 1786 F...m pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: neoh 1786 F.... pulseaudio
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Thu Jan 21 12:08:45 2021
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-01-20 (1 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200731)
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: pulseaudio
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
dmi.bios.date: 12/30/2020
dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1.6.3
dmi.board.name: 0CXCCY
dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.board.version: A03
dmi.chassis.type: 10
dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc.
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvr1.6.3:bd12/30/2020:svnDellInc.:pnXPS179700:pvr:rvnDellInc.:rn0CXCCY:rvrA03:cvnDellInc.:ct10:cvr:
dmi.product.family: XPS
dmi.product.name: XPS 17 9700
dmi.product.sku: 098F
dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc.
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu27.14
Architecture: amd64
CasperMD5CheckResult: skip
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Dependencies:

DistroRelease: Ubuntu 20.04
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-01-20 (1 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.04.1 LTS "Focal Fossa" - Release amd64 (20200731)
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia_modeset nvidia
Package: linux
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 TERM=xterm-256color
 PATH=(custom, no user)
 XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.6.0-1042.46-oem 5.6.19
Tags: focal
Uname: Linux 5.6.0-1042-oem x86_64
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip docker lpadmin lxd plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True

[Ubuntu Kernel Bot (ubuntu-kernel-bot)]

This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. While running an Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline or third-party kernel) please enter the following command in a terminal window:

apport-collect 1912673

and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.

If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.

This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.

[Niklas (neoh1)]

apport information

[Alex Zander (alex2311)]

This bug affects all Dell XPS 9700 users since the release of the laptop.
I sincerely hope the talented and able can fix it.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[nikkkk (studenttu)]

Sounds do not work on Ubuntu 21.04 with 5.10.0-14-generic either.

[nikkkk (studenttu)]

sounds did not work on 21.04 or 20.04 LTS with 5.11.0 mainline kernel either

[nikkkk (studenttu)]

quite disheartening sound support totally vanishes after 5.6 kernel

[Mikhail Shevtsov (mesouug)]

I've checked kernel configs for Arch, Redhat and Debian.
And I suspect that only thing is missing to make it work is following kernel config option:
CONFIG_SND_SOC_INTEL_SOUNDWIRE_SOF_MACH=m

[Luis Arias (kaaloo)]

Just tested on the 21.04 beta iso and this issue still persists.

[Miek Gieben (miek)]

Upgraded to 21.04 on 9 Apr 2021 and I see the intel sof module being loaded, but still no sound on this system (XPS 17)

[Giovanni Gallavotti (giovannigallavotti)]

I have installed kernels 5.11.0-13-generic, kernels 5.11.0-14-generic, kernels 5.11.0-16-generic,
and still no sound. I tried to load the NVIDIA 450 module on the kernel...14 but it blocked the boot. Any suggestions? ps: I also tired to install ubuntu 20.04LTS: but no sound. Suggestions welcome, thank you

[chungonn (chungonn)]

I have upgraded from 20.04, to 20.10 to the released version 21.04. Still no sound available. Any help is greatly appreciate. Thanks

[Herczeg Zsolt (herczegzsolt)]

I believe that this bug for 21.04 is the same as https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1924685 and the root cause is the misconfiguration of kernel flags.

[chungonn (chungonn)]

I have just upgraded to the released kernel version 5.11.0-17. The sound and mic still not working. Is there any chance this is going to be fixed.

My XPS 9700 is half baked even with an external usb headset. I have to boot to Windows 10 each time I need to do virtual meeting.

[George Lin (georgelina)]

I am facing the same issue, I have to login to different OS to use mic and sound. Do we have any news on fix release date?

[João Bárcia (joaobarcia)]

I agree with Herczeg. This is likely a duplicate of https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1924685

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

Hello, this machine has the soundwire audio design, the 5.6.0-oem kernel and 5.10.0-oem kernel are expected to support the audio on this machine (and the latest linux-firmware and alsa-ucm-conf in the 20.04).

And We are trying to let 5.11.0-generic kernel to support the audio on this machine, could you please install those kernels and check if the audio works or not, and upload the related dmesg.

thx.

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

BTW, I don't have that machine so far, I can't test the kernel myself.

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

A tracking bug for linux-5.11.0-generic kernel: https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1921632

[Igor Po (igorek220387)]

I had tried linux-headers-5.11.0-18-generic and the sound still doesn't work on it. I have myself built kernel linux-headers-5.11.17 that works great.
I built it with params
CONFIG_SND_SOC_INTEL_SOUNDWIRE_SOF_MACH=m
CONFIG_SND_SOC_INTEL_USER_FRIENDLY_LONG_NAMES=y

[Igor Po (igorek220387)]

P.S. my machine is XPS 9700

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

@Igor,

The proposed kernel is ready, you could install the kernel of 5.11.0-19 to verify, this kernel merged the fix of this bug.

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux/+bug/1921632/comments/28

[Miek Gieben (miek)]

I have done this and can confirm the -19 has working audio!

thanks for you work on this!

[Stephane Passignat (stephane72)]

Hello,

can you explain how to install this kernel 5.11.0-19 ?

thanks !

[Michael Hanafey (mike-hanafey)]

I updated Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS by the normal update process to 5.11.0-25-generic and sound is finally working on Dell XPS 9700.

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

@Stephane,

just run $sudo apt-get update;$sudo apt install linux-image-5.11.0-$(latest version)-generic; linux-modules-extra-5.11.0-$(latest version)-generic;reboot

[Stephane Passignat (stephane72)]

Hello,

I installed the 5.11.0-27 but still no sound.

Let's says the kernel is good, are there any settings involved ? Like kernel startup parameter or any other ones ?

Linux XPS-17-9700 5.11.0-27-generic #29~20.04.1-Ubuntu SMP Wed Aug 11 15:58:17 UTC 2021 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[Hui Wang (hui.wang)]

@Stephane,

No need special setting or boot parameter. Please upload the dmesg.

[nikkkk (studenttu)]

Headphone sounds have stopped working after upgrade from 21.10 to 22.04 LTS.

Sound bar is movement is seen in sound settings under output device:
Headphones - Comet Lake PCH cAVS - but no sound output from headphones.

There is sounds via screen speakers when speakers - Comet Lake PCH cAVS is chosen.