Lost all audio in a laptop, including headphones that worked fine until yesterday or day before

Hello,

I lost all sound in my laptop with Leap 15.6. I find it hard to understand why there are consistent sound wars with Leap 15.6 (my home computer cannot connect for external speaker, in my laptop I lost sound again, and also cannot connect with external speaker). My process is updating the computer on a daily basis with whatever updates are available and that’s it. No playing with the system.

So I hope to understand and solve this issue, because it takes too much time off my hands and I am in need of the audio.

These are the details:

 Inxi  -Aa: 
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Comet Lake PCH-LP cAVS vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel alternate: snd_soc_skl,snd_sof_pci_intel_cnl bus-ID: 00:1f.3
    chip-ID: 8086:02c8 class-ID: 0403
  API: ALSA v: k6.4.0-150600.23.25-default status: kernel-api with: aoss
    type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.5 status: off with: wireplumber status: active
    tools: pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl
  Server-2: PulseAudio v: 17.0 status: active with: pulseaudio-alsa
    type: plugin tools: pacat,pactl

second one:

sudo dmesg | egrep -i "snd|firmware"
[sudo] password for root: 
[    2.458110] i915 0000:00:02.0: [drm] Finished loading DMC firmware i915/kbl_dmc_ver1_04.bin (v1.4)
[    7.220922] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
[    7.221266] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: bound 0000:00:02.0 (ops i915_audio_component_bind_ops [i915])
[    7.296615] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0: autoconfig for ALC294: line_outs=2 (0x14/0x17/0x0/0x0/0x0) type:speaker
[    7.296624] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    speaker_outs=0 (0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[    7.296628] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    hp_outs=1 (0x21/0x0/0x0/0x0/0x0)
[    7.296631] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    mono: mono_out=0x0
[    7.296633] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:    inputs:
[    7.296635] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Headset Mic=0x19
[    7.296637] snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC0D0:      Internal Mic=0x12
[    7.306227] iwlwifi 0000:00:14.3: loaded firmware version 77.85be44d3.0 QuZ-a0-jf-b0-77.ucode op_mode iwlmvm
[    8.140046] Bluetooth: hci0: Found device firmware: intel/ibt-19-0-1.sfi
[    8.140233] Bluetooth: hci0: Firmware Version: 132-3.24
[    8.140236] Bluetooth: hci0: Firmware already loaded

And last one:

 cat /etc/modprobe.d/*
# NVreg_PreserveVideoMemoryAllocations needed for GNOME Wayland
options nvidia NVreg_DeviceFileUID=0 NVreg_DeviceFileGID=481 NVreg_DeviceFileMode=0660 NVreg_PreserveVideoMemoryAllocations=1
options nvidia-drm modeset=1 fbdev=1
install nvidia PATH=$PATH:/bin:/usr/bin; if /sbin/modprobe --ignore-install nvidia; then   if /sbin/modprobe nvidia_uvm; then     if [ ! -c /dev/nvidia-uvm ]; then       mknod -m 660 /dev/nvidia-uvm c $(cat /proc/devices | while read major device; do if [ "$device" = "nvidia-uvm" ]; then echo $major; break; fi ; done) 0;        chown :video /dev/nvidia-uvm;     fi;     if [ ! -c /dev/nvidia-uvm-tools ]; then       mknod -m 660 /dev/nvidia-uvm-tools c $(cat /proc/devices | while read major device; do if [ "$device" = "nvidia-uvm" ]; then echo $major; break; fi ; done) 1;       chown :video /dev/nvidia-uvm-tools;     fi;   fi;   if [ ! -c /dev/nvidiactl ]; then     mknod -m 660 /dev/nvidiactl c 195 255;     chown :video /dev/nvidiactl;   fi;   devid=-1;   for dev in $(ls -d /sys/bus/pci/devices/*); do      vendorid=$(cat $dev/vendor);     if [ "$vendorid" = "0x10de" ]; then       class=$(cat $dev/class);       classid=${class%%00};       if [ "$classid" = "0x0300" -o "$classid" = "0x0302" ]; then          devid=$((devid+1));         if [ ! -L /run/udev/static_node-tags/uaccess/nvidia${devid} ]; then            ln -snf /dev/nvidia${devid} /run/udev/static_node-tags/uaccess/nvidia${devid};         fi;         if [ ! -c /dev/nvidia${devid} ]; then            mknod -m 660 /dev/nvidia${devid} c 195 ${devid};            chown :video /dev/nvidia${devid};         fi;       fi;     fi;   done;   /sbin/modprobe nvidia_drm;   if [ ! -c /dev/nvidia-modeset ]; then     mknod -m 660 /dev/nvidia-modeset c 195 254;     chown :video /dev/nvidia-modeset;   fi; fi 
# nS1_._mKFZVJuDc3:Comet Lake PCH-LP cAVS
alias snd-card-0 snd-sof-pci-intel-cnl

# nS1_._mKFZVJuDc3:Comet Lake PCH-LP cAVS
alias snd-card-0 snd-sof-pci-intel-cnl
blacklist nouveau
Local configuration for modprobe(8)
===================================

The distribution-provided modprobe configuration files have moved to /lib/modprobe.d.
To modify the configuration, copy files from /lib/modprobe.d to this directory
(/etc/modprobe.d) and edit them here.

See also /lib/modprobe.d/README, /usr/share/doc/packages/suse-module-tools/README.md, and the
man page modprobe.d(5).
# This file specifies additional parameters to kernel modules added by Tuned.
# Its content is set by the Tuned modules plugin.
#
# Please do not edit this file. Content of this file can be overwritten by
# switch of Tuned profile.
#
# If you need to add kernel module parameter which should be handled by Tuned,
# create Tuned profile containing the following:
#
# [modules]
# MODULE_NAME = MODULE_PARAMETERS
#
# Then switch to your newly created profile by:
#
# tuned-adm profile YOUR_NEW_PROFILE
#
# and reboot or reload the module
#
# Tuned tries to automatically reload the module if specified the following
# way:
#
# [modules]
# MODULE_NAME = +r,MODULE_PARAMETERS

I hope someone can help with that.

Thanks!

This may or may not be impacting with your sound issue - I note that you have both PipeWire and PulseAudio active. I recommend replacing the latter with the ‘pipewire-pulse’ API wrapper. Install the ‘pipewire-pulseaudio’ package and let it replace the legacy PulseAudio package(s). Then review your sound situation again.

1 Like

hi,

for some reason the sound returned, but I still replaced it with ‘pipewire-pulseaudio’ and it worked as well. I will check it further, perhaps it can help with sending sound to my external speaker through DAC, and perhaps even my home computer will be able to do that.

Thanks for your help, and I will write my findings later.

Hello,

I made the change to ‘pipewire-pulseaudio’ for both computers. For both I can use headphones and internal speakers, but, I cannot use an external speaker through DAC.

I hope this can be reviewed and fixed, as there is no DAC issue with Windows.

Thank you for your help.

Was the DAC being detected/working before?
You may want to look at the journal log (journalctl -f) for any errors when connecting/disconnecting it.

Btw, no issues here with a DAC/AMP driving headphones (I’m on Slowroll, posting for reference):

pavin@suse-pc:~> inxi -Aaz
Audio:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Renoir Radeon High Definition
    Audio vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3
    speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 04:00.1
    chip-ID: 1002:1637 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] ACP/ACP3X/ACP6x Audio Coprocessor
    vendor: Lenovo driver: N/A alternate: snd_pci_acp3x, snd_rn_pci_acp3x,
    snd_pci_acp5x, snd_pci_acp6x, snd_acp_pci, snd_rpl_pci_acp6x, snd_pci_ps,
    snd_sof_amd_renoir, snd_sof_amd_rembrandt, snd_sof_amd_vangogh,
    snd_sof_amd_acp63 pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 4
    speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 04:00.5 chip-ID: 1022:15e2 class-ID: 0480
  Device-3: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Family 17h/19h HD Audio
    vendor: Lenovo driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 3 speed: 8 GT/s
    lanes: 16 link-max: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s bus-ID: 04:00.6
    chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
  Device-4: Thesycon System & Consulting GmbH DX3 Pro+ driver: snd-usb-audio
    type: USB rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 3-1.2:5
    chip-ID: 152a:8750 class-ID: fe01
  API: ALSA v: k6.11.6-2-default status: kernel-api with: aoss
    type: oss-emulator tools: alsactl,alsamixer,amixer
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.2.6 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
    status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
    4: pw-jack type: plugin tools: pactl,pw-cat,pw-cli,wpctl

Run pavucontrol and check the ‘Configuration’ tab. Make sure that the appropriate profile is selected to allow audio to be heard via your external speaker. You may also need to adjust the level in the ‘Ouptut Devices’ tab. If you still can’t please show us the output from

pactl list cards

Hi,

I checked it with the pavucontrol - I tried the different configurations, and volumes, and the pavucontrol does show that there is music coming through it (the playback silence bar is moving with the music). However, it doesn’t reach the speaker. SMSL is the DAC unit.

The pactl list cards is:

Card #42
        Name: alsa_card.usb-SMSL_SMSL_USB_AUDIO-00
        Driver: alsa
        Owner Module: n/a
        Properties:
                api.acp.auto-port = "false"
                api.alsa.card = "1"
                api.alsa.card.longname = "SMSL SMSL USB AUDIO at usb-0000:00:14.0-1, high speed"
                api.alsa.card.name = "SMSL USB AUDIO"
                api.alsa.path = "hw:1"
                api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio1"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.bus = "usb"
                device.bus-id = "usb-SMSL_SMSL_USB_AUDIO-00"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:1:1.0"
                device.description = "SMSL USB AUDIO"
                device.enum.api = "udev"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-usb"
                device.name = "alsa_card.usb-SMSL_SMSL_USB_AUDIO-00"
                device.nick = "SMSL USB AUDIO"
                device.plugged.usec = "9841229"
                device.product.id = "0x85dd"
                device.product.name = "SMSL USB AUDIO"
                device.serial = "SMSL_SMSL_USB_AUDIO"
                device.subsystem = "sound"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-1/1-1:1.0/sound/card1"
                device.vendor.id = "0x152a"
                device.vendor.name = "Thesycon Systemsoftware & Consulting GmbH"
                media.class = "Audio/Device"
                factory.id = "15"
                client.id = "41"
                object.id = "42"
                object.serial = "42"
                object.path = "alsa:acp:AUDIO"
                alsa.card = "1"
                alsa.card_name = "SMSL USB AUDIO"
                alsa.long_card_name = "SMSL SMSL USB AUDIO at usb-0000:00:14.0-1, high speed"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
                alsa.mixer_name = "USB Mixer"
                alsa.components = "USB152a:85dd"
                alsa.id = "AUDIO"
                device.string = "1"
        Profiles:
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
                output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 6500, available: yes)
                output:iec958-stereo: Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5500, available: yes)
                pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 1, available: yes)
        Active Profile: output:iec958-stereo
        Ports:
                analog-output: Analog Output (type: Analog, priority: 9900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "analog"
                                card.profile.port = "0"
                        Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo
                iec958-stereo-output: Digital Output (S/PDIF) (type: SPDIF, priority: 0, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "spdif"
                                card.profile.port = "1"
                        Part of profile(s): output:iec958-stereo

Card #43
        Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3
        Driver: alsa
        Owner Module: n/a
        Properties:
                api.acp.auto-port = "false"
                api.alsa.card = "0"
                api.alsa.card.longname = "HDA Intel PCH at 0x6013118000 irq 145"
                api.alsa.card.name = "HDA Intel PCH"
                api.alsa.path = "hw:0"
                api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio0"
                api.dbus.ReserveDevice1.Priority = "-20"
                device.api = "alsa"
                device.bus = "pci"
                device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:1f.3"
                device.description = "Built-in Audio"
                device.enum.api = "udev"
                device.form_factor = "internal"
                device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
                device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_00_1f.3"
                device.nick = "HDA Intel PCH"
                device.plugged.usec = "9415422"
                device.product.id = "0x02c8"
                device.product.name = "Comet Lake PCH-LP cAVS"
                device.subsystem = "sound"
                sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3/sound/card0"
                device.vendor.id = "0x8086"
                device.vendor.name = "Intel Corporation"
                media.class = "Audio/Device"
                factory.id = "15"
                client.id = "41"
                object.id = "43"
                object.serial = "43"
                object.path = "alsa:acp:PCH"
                alsa.card = "0"
                alsa.card_name = "HDA Intel PCH"
                alsa.long_card_name = "HDA Intel PCH at 0x6013118000 irq 145"
                alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
                alsa.mixer_name = "Realtek ALC294"
                alsa.components = "HDA:10ec0294,104317d1,00100004 HDA:8086280b,80860101,00100000"
                alsa.id = "PCH"
                device.string = "0"
        Profiles:
                off: Off (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
                output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Duplex (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 6565, available: yes)
                output:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 6500, available: yes)
                output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5965, available: yes)
                output:hdmi-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5900, available: yes)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5765, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 5765, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
                output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
                output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo: Analog Surround 4.0 Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 1265, available: yes)
                output:analog-surround-40: Analog Surround 4.0 Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 1200, available: yes)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output + Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 1, sources: 1, priority: 665, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) Output (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
                input:analog-stereo: Analog Stereo Input (sinks: 0, sources: 1, priority: 65, available: yes)
                pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 4, sources: 1, priority: 1, available: yes)
        Active Profile: output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
        Ports:
                analog-input-internal-mic: Internal Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "mic"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 1"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                                card.profile.port = "0"
                        Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo
                analog-input-headset-mic: Headset Microphone (type: Headset, priority: 8800, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "headset"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 2"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-input-microphone"
                                card.profile.port = "1"
                        Part of profile(s): input:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo
                analog-output-speaker: Speakers (type: Speaker, priority: 10000, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 3, availability unknown)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "speaker"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 3"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-speakers"
                                card.profile.port = "2"
                        Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo, output:analog-surround-40, output:analog-surround-40+input:analog-stereo
                analog-output-headphones: Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 9900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "headphones"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 2"
                                device.icon_name = "audio-headphones"
                                card.profile.port = "3"
                        Part of profile(s): output:analog-stereo, output:analog-stereo+input:analog-stereo
                hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (type: HDMI, priority: 5900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 4, available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 4"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "4"
                                device.product.name = "PA278CGV"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo, output:hdmi-stereo+input:analog-stereo
                hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (type: HDMI, priority: 5800, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 5, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 5"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "5"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra1, output:hdmi-stereo-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra1, output:hdmi-surround-extra1+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1+input:analog-stereo
                hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (type: HDMI, priority: 5700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 6, not available)
                        Properties:
                                port.type = "hdmi"
                                port.availability-group = "Legacy 6"
                                device.icon_name = "video-display"
                                card.profile.port = "6"
                        Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra2, output:hdmi-stereo-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround-extra2, output:hdmi-surround-extra2+input:analog-stereo, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2+input:analog-stereo

Thanks for your help.

Hi,

The DAC is detected by the system, I can see it under the volume sign (I work with KDE). I tried the journalctl -f, there is nothing there which is related with audio.

Thanks for your help.

I noticed that the IEC958 (digital) profile is active. Shouldn’t that be ‘Analog Stereo Output’ for your speaker device?

Hi,

I tried both digital and analog, they don’t work. But normally, it should be on the IEC958, because the sound is coming from a USB and not from the headphones socket, and then goes to the DAC which is a digital to analog converter. The speaker is connected with 2 analog cables (R+L) to the DAC.

If you have any other ideas on how to solve this mystery, please let me now.

Many thanks for your help.

So the DAC is connected to your USB audio device via a coax or optical TOSLINK cable?

I don’t own such digital audio hardware, but under pavucontrol’s ‘Output Devices’ options, there should be ‘Advanced’ options to select various available digital audio formats…

Do you have the appropriate codecs selected?

Hi,

The DAC is connected to the computer via USB. It is connected to the speaker via RCA cables.

Thanks

When you try to play audio through the DAC is the main audio volume slider up as well? Can you check/share ALSA mixer settings?
Show all audio devices with

aplay -l

then

amixer -cX

where X = the relevant card number pertaining to the USB DAC.

hi,

please see for aplay -l:

 aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC294 Analog [ALC294 Analog]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 3: HDMI 0 [PA278CGV]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: AUDIO [SMSL USB AUDIO], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

Please see for amixer -c1:

Simple mixer control 'SMSL USB AUDIO ',0
  Capabilities: pvolume pvolume-joined pswitch pswitch-joined
  Playback channels: Mono
  Limits: Playback 0 - 100
  Mono: Playback 60 [60%] [-40.00dB] [on]

Thanks!

I’m surprised by the mono output control. What happens if that is turned up to 100 BTW?

I would have expected something more like this

amixer -c1
Simple mixer control 'DAC',0
  Capabilities: pvolume
  Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right
  Limits: Playback 0 - 240
  Mono:
  Front Left: Playback 200 [83%] [-20.00dB]
  Front Right: Playback 200 [83%] [-20.00dB]

Hopefully someone using this SMSL DAC hardware (or similar) can chime in with further advice.

I join your hope, and thank you all the same for your help and patience.

All the best.

I want to add a little something to this discussion - I use a double boot system (windows 11, OpenSuse).

If I, at any point, restart the computer to move OpenSuse=>Windows=>OpenSuse or just Windows=>OpenSuse, I lose the audio at OpenSuse. In order to restore Audio, I have to completely shut down the computer and boot it again into OpenSuse. A simple Restart doesn’t do the trick.

Just another mystery concerning the audio system.

Thanks!

That sounds like windows not completely powering down the audio hardware, so Linux not able to initialize it properly.

FWIW, a similar story (different symptoms)…
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=331733