WirePlumber is a session and policy manager for PipeWire. Both of the services associated with each should be active. As already explained, PipeWire already provides a pipewire-pulse compatibility layer that makes apps that require native PulseAudio think they’re communicating with it while actually going through PipeWire.
Then you’re not likely to be using it. 
EasyEffects is an app (PipeWire font-end) that lets you adjust your system sound, providing equalizer settings, bass boost, volume leveling, (and other effects), so you can make your speakers or headphones sound the way you like.
The only way your sound might get messed up is if you’d accidentally clicked in the KDE Audio applet and switched the active profile, sink, or port without realizing.
Show the results from…
pactl list sinks
Filtered a bit for relevant info…
pactl list sinks | egrep "Name:|State:|Volume:|Mute:|device.description"
Also when you’re playing some audio, show the results form
pactl list sink-inputs
freda@localhost.localdomain] ~ $ pactl list sinks
Sink #1286
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo.4
Description: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
Driver: PipeWire
Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 4294967295
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 26214 / 40% / -23.88 dB, front-right: 26214 / 40% / -23.88 dB
balance 0.00
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo.4.monitor
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0887,1462d721,00100302"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
alsa.id = "Generic"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfeb40000 irq 16"
alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC887-VD"
alsa.name = "ALC887-VD Analog"
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfeb40000 irq 16"
api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
api.alsa.path = "front:1"
api.alsa.pcm.card = "1"
api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
audio.channels = "2"
audio.position = "FL,FR"
card.profile.device = "4"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
device.id = "42"
device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
device.routes = "2"
factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
media.class = "Audio/Sink"
device.description = "Built-in Audio"
node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo.4"
node.nick = "ALC887-VD Analog"
node.pause-on-idle = "false"
object.path = "alsa:pcm:1:front:1:playback"
priority.driver = "1009"
priority.session = "1009"
factory.id = "18"
clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
client.id = "45"
node.driver = "true"
factory.mode = "merge"
audio.adapt.follower = ""
library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
object.id = "37"
object.serial = "1286"
api.acp.auto-port = "false"
api.alsa.card = "1"
api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
device.bus = "pci"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.2"
device.enum.api = "udev"
device.form_factor = "internal"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_00_14.2"
device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
device.plugged.usec = "36726281"
device.product.id = "0x780d"
device.product.name = "FCH Azalia Controller"
device.subsystem = "sound"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.2/sound/card1"
device.vendor.id = "0x1022"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
device.string = "1"
Ports:
analog-output-lineout: Line Out (type: Line, priority: 9000, availability group: Legacy 4, available)
analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, availability group: Legacy 5, not available)
Active Port: analog-output-lineout
Formats:
pcm
freda@localhost.localdomain] ~ $ pactl list sinks | egrep "Name:|State:|Volume:|Mute:|device.description"
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo.4
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 26214 / 40% / -23.88 dB, front-right: 26214 / 40% / -23.88 dB
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
device.description = "Built-in Audio"
freda@localhost.localdomain] ~ $
An old .wav file that loops
freda@localhost.localdomain] ~ $ pactl list sink-inputs
Sink Input #1420
Driver: PipeWire
Owner Module: n/a
Client: 1404
Sink: 1286
Sample Specification: s16le 1ch 11025Hz
Channel Map: mono
Format: pcm, format.sample_format = "\"s16le\"" format.rate = "11025" format.channels = "1" format.channel_map = "\"mono\""
Corked: no
Mute: no
Volume: mono: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
balance 0.00
Buffer Latency: 0 usec
Sink Latency: 0 usec
Resample method: PipeWire
Properties:
client.api = "pipewire-pulse"
pulse.server.type = "unix"
application.name = "VLC media player (LibVLC 3.0.21)"
application.id = "org.VideoLAN.VLC"
application.version = "3.0.21"
application.icon_name = "vlc"
application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
application.process.id = "14299"
application.process.user = "freda"
application.process.host = "localhost.localdomain"
application.process.binary = "vlc"
window.x11.display = ":0"
application.process.machine_id = "e16e3459d7fe4e5ba89a4bcaa26f3288"
application.process.session_id = "4"
media.role = "video"
media.name = "audio stream"
node.rate = "1/11025"
node.latency = "441/11025"
stream.is-live = "true"
node.name = "VLC media player (LibVLC 3.0.21)"
node.want-driver = "true"
node.autoconnect = "true"
media.class = "Stream/Output/Audio"
adapt.follower.spa-node = ""
object.register = "false"
factory.id = "6"
clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
factory.mode = "split"
audio.adapt.follower = ""
library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
client.id = "77"
object.id = "67"
object.serial = "1420"
pulse.attr.maxlength = "4194304"
pulse.attr.tlength = "2646"
pulse.attr.prebuf = "0"
pulse.attr.minreq = "882"
module-stream-restore.id = "sink-input-by-media-role:video"
freda@localhost.localdomain] ~ $
The VLC test file you shared is only 11 kHz mono. That would be expected sound a little dull. Could you try a known good stereo track (eg music at 44.1 kHz or 48 kHz) to confirm?
Difference from yesterday:
zypper update applied all changes since last sunday
system rebooted
Music selection:
Orchestral opening from Midsummer Night’s Dream
freda@localhost.localdomain] ~ $ pactl list sinks
Sink #59
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo.2
Description: Built-in Audio Analog Stereo
Driver: PipeWire
Sample Specification: s32le 2ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Owner Module: 4294967295
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 45875 / 70% / -9.29 dB, front-right: 45875 / 70% / -9.29 dB
balance 0.00
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
Monitor Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo.2.monitor
Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY
Properties:
alsa.card = "1"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.class = "generic"
alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0887,1462d721,00100302"
alsa.device = "0"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
alsa.id = "Generic"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfeb40000 irq 16"
alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC887-VD"
alsa.name = "ALC887-VD Analog"
alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
alsa.subdevice = "0"
alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfeb40000 irq 16"
api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
api.alsa.path = "front:1"
api.alsa.pcm.card = "1"
api.alsa.pcm.stream = "playback"
audio.channels = "2"
audio.position = "FL,FR"
card.profile.device = "4"
device.api = "alsa"
device.class = "sound"
device.id = "48"
device.profile.description = "Analog Stereo"
device.profile.name = "analog-stereo"
device.routes = "2"
factory.name = "api.alsa.pcm.sink"
media.class = "Audio/Sink"
device.description = "Built-in Audio"
node.name = "alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo.2"
node.nick = "ALC887-VD Analog"
node.pause-on-idle = "false"
object.path = "alsa:pcm:1:front:1:playback"
priority.driver = "1009"
priority.session = "1009"
factory.id = "18"
clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
client.id = "46"
node.driver = "true"
factory.mode = "merge"
audio.adapt.follower = ""
library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
object.id = "50"
object.serial = "59"
api.acp.auto-port = "false"
api.alsa.card = "1"
api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
device.bus = "pci"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.2"
device.enum.api = "udev"
device.form_factor = "internal"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_00_14.2"
device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
device.plugged.usec = "13922735"
device.product.id = "0x780d"
device.product.name = "FCH Azalia Controller"
device.subsystem = "sound"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.2/sound/card1"
device.vendor.id = "0x1022"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD]"
device.string = "1"
Ports:
analog-output-lineout: Line Out (type: Line, priority: 9000, availability group: Legacy 4, available)
analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, availability group: Legacy 5, not available)
Active Port: analog-output-lineout
Formats:
pcm
freda@localhost.localdomain] ~ $ pactl list sinks | egrep "Name:|State:|Volume:|Mute:|device.description"
State: SUSPENDED
Name: alsa_output.pci-0000_00_14.2.analog-stereo.2
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 45875 / 70% / -9.29 dB, front-right: 45875 / 70% / -9.29 dB
Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
device.description = "Built-in Audio"
freda@localhost.localdomain] ~ $ pactl list sink-inputs
Sink Input #93
Driver: PipeWire
Owner Module: n/a
Client: 91
Sink: 59
Sample Specification: float32le 6ch 48000Hz
Channel Map: front-left,front-right,side-left,side-right,front-center,lfe
Format: pcm, format.sample_format = "\"float32le\"" format.rate = "48000" format.channels = "6" format.channel_map = "\"front-left,front-right,side-left,side-right,front-center,lfe\""
Corked: no
Mute: no
Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB, front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB, side-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB, side-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB, front-center: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB, lfe: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
balance 0.00
Buffer Latency: 0 usec
Sink Latency: 0 usec
Resample method: PipeWire
Properties:
client.api = "pipewire-pulse"
pulse.server.type = "unix"
application.name = "VLC media player (LibVLC 3.0.21)"
application.id = "org.VideoLAN.VLC"
application.version = "3.0.21"
application.icon_name = "vlc"
application.language = "en_US.UTF-8"
application.process.id = "20586"
application.process.user = "freda"
application.process.host = "localhost.localdomain"
application.process.binary = "vlc"
window.x11.display = ":0"
application.process.machine_id = "e16e3459d7fe4e5ba89a4bcaa26f3288"
application.process.session_id = "4"
media.role = "video"
media.name = "audio stream"
node.rate = "1/48000"
node.latency = "1920/48000"
stream.is-live = "true"
node.name = "VLC media player (LibVLC 3.0.21)"
node.want-driver = "true"
node.autoconnect = "true"
media.class = "Stream/Output/Audio"
adapt.follower.spa-node = ""
object.register = "false"
factory.id = "6"
clock.quantum-limit = "8192"
factory.mode = "split"
audio.adapt.follower = ""
library.name = "audioconvert/libspa-audioconvert"
client.id = "64"
object.id = "62"
object.serial = "93"
pulse.attr.maxlength = "4194288"
pulse.attr.tlength = "138240"
pulse.attr.prebuf = "0"
pulse.attr.minreq = "46080"
module-stream-restore.id = "sink-input-by-media-role:video"
freda@localhost.localdomain] ~ $
Results: No Change-Still Muffled
Ok, this is just a hunch. This time you’re playing a 6 channel stream, and that is being down mixed by Pipewire to a 2 channel stereo sink. I’m wondering if PipeWire’s default mixing is behind “muffled” or phase-cancel content, as the channels get mixed (especially center channel voices and LFE) perhaps.
Again, you’re using VLC… try adjusting in the app so that it mixes to 2 channel stereo itself. Navigate to Tools > Preferences > Audio…
Down the bottom of the configuration window you can select ‘Simple’, or ‘All’ for advanced settings. Choose the latter, and here you can force stereo mode…
A similar topic…
https://www.reddit.com/r/VLC/comments/105avnu/permanently_set_audiostereo_mode/
See how that goes.
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