No sound in Dell XPS 15

English Hardware
1

Hi, I have problems with the sound card in a new Dell XPS15 with Leap 42.3. After a fresh installation I had sound, although I could not change the volume globally (only turn it on and off). Worse, the headphones didn’t work at all. Trying to fix it, I have been reading and following the tips from here:

https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Audio_troubleshooting

and here:

https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:Intel-HDA_sound_problems

Unfortunately, the outcome of all that is that now I have no sound at all :X. Therefore any sort of help might be of interest, including how to revert the sound system to its default state.

I paste the output from alsa-info.sh at the bottom of this post. You will note that there is no sound card at all. Well, this is clearly part of my mistake, because in the fresh installation I could see the card, which was running with the driver ALC3266 (not 100% sure, I don’t fully remember). To come to this situation, I have been playing with the 50-sound.conf and 50-alsa.conf files, (and no, I didn’t keep a copy of the original files) which obviously are the files that contain the main problem. Their current content is:

install snd /sbin/install-snd-module snd $CMDLINE_OPTS
install snd-pcm /sbin/install-snd-module snd-pcm $CMDLINE_OPTS
install snd-seq /sbin/install-snd-module snd-seq $CMDLINE_OPTS


options snd-hda-intel model=dell-headset-dock enable=1 index=1
# nS1_.nzbEQF6aDG6:Intel Corporation
alias snd-card-0 snd-hda-intel

I have adapted some options in the latter playing more or less randomly, but according to documentation I found in the HD-Audio-Models.txt file in the kernel source folder.

As I say, any tip other than “reinstall the system” to overcome this problem and even better, to have a sound system 100% operative is very welcome. Thanks.


upload=true&script=true&cardinfo=
!!################################
!!ALSA Information Script v 0.4.64
!!################################


!!Script ran on: Sat Sep 23 13:37:56 UTC 2017




!!Linux Distribution
!!------------------


Welcome to openSUSE Leap 42.3 - Kernel \r (\l). openSUSE 42.3 (x86_64) # /etc/SuSE-release is deprecated and will be removed in the future, use /etc/os-release instead NAME="openSUSE Leap" ID=opensuse ID_LIKE="suse" PRETTY_NAME="openSUSE Leap 42.3" CPE_NAME="cpe:/o:opensuse:leap:42.3" BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.opensuse.org" HOME_URL="https://www.opensuse.org/"




!!DMI Information
!!---------------


Manufacturer:      Dell Inc.
Product Name:      XPS 15 9560
Product Version:   
Firmware Version:  1.0.3
Board Vendor:      Dell Inc.
Board Name:        05FFDN




!!ACPI Device Status Information
!!---------------


/sys/bus/acpi/devices/ACPI0003:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/ACPI000C:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/DLL07BE:01/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/DLLK07BE:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT0E0C:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT33A1:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT33D5:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT3400:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT3403:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT3403:01/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT3403:03/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT3403:04/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT3403:05/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT3403:06/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT340E:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/INT3F0D:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:00/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:01/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:02/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:03/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:04/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:05/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:06/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:07/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:08/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:09/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:0a/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:0b/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:0c/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:0d/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:0e/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:0f/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:10/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:11/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:12/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:13/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:14/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:15/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/LNXPOWER:16/status      1
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/MSFT0101:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0103:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C02:01/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C02:03/status      3
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C02:05/status      3
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C04:00/status      31
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C09:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C0A:00/status      31
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C0C:00/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C0F:00/status      9
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C0F:01/status      9
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C0F:02/status      9
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C0F:03/status      9
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C0F:04/status      9
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C0F:05/status      9
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C0F:06/status      9
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/PNP0C0F:07/status      9
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/device:09/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/device:5f/status      15
/sys/bus/acpi/devices/device:70/status      11




!!Kernel Information
!!------------------


Kernel release:    4.4.76-1-default
Operating System:  GNU/Linux
Architecture:      x86_64
Processor:         x86_64
SMP Enabled:       Yes




!!ALSA Version
!!------------


Driver version:     k4.4.76-1-default
Library version:    
Utilities version:  1.1.4




!!Loaded ALSA modules
!!-------------------






!!Sound Servers on this system
!!----------------------------


Pulseaudio:
      Installed - Yes (/usr/bin/pulseaudio)
      Running - Yes


ESound Daemon:
      Installed - Yes (/usr/bin/esd)
      Running - No




!!Soundcards recognised by ALSA
!!-----------------------------


--- no soundcards ---




!!PCI Soundcards installed in the system
!!--------------------------------------


00:1f.3 Audio device: Intel Corporation Device a171 (rev 31)




!!Advanced information - PCI Vendor/Device/Subsystem ID's
!!-------------------------------------------------------


00:1f.3 0403: 8086:a171 (rev 31) (prog-if 80)
    Subsystem: 1028:07be




!!Modprobe options (Sound related)
!!--------------------------------


snd_hda_intel: model=dell-headset-dock enable=1 index=1




!!Loaded sound module options
!!---------------------------




!!ALSA Device nodes
!!-----------------


crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116,  1 Sep 23 15:31 /dev/snd/seq
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 33 Sep 23 15:31 /dev/snd/timer




!!Aplay/Arecord output
!!--------------------


APLAY


aplay: device_list:270: no soundcards found...


ARECORD


arecord: device_list:270: no soundcards found...


!!Amixer output
!!-------------




!!Alsactl output
!!--------------


--startcollapse--
--endcollapse--




!!All Loaded Modules
!!------------------


Module
lp
parport_pc
ppdev
parport
st
sd_mod
sr_mod
cdrom
ctr
ccm
af_packet
arc4
rfcomm
fuse
nf_log_ipv6
xt_comment
nf_log_ipv4
nf_log_common
xt_LOG
xt_limit
ip6t_REJECT
nf_reject_ipv6
nf_conntrack_ipv6
nf_defrag_ipv6
ipt_REJECT
nf_reject_ipv4
xt_pkttype
xt_tcpudp
iptable_filter
ip6table_mangle
nf_conntrack_netbios_ns
nf_conntrack_broadcast
nf_conntrack_ipv4
nf_defrag_ipv4
ip_tables
xt_conntrack
nf_conntrack
ip6table_filter
ip6_tables
iTCO_wdt
iTCO_vendor_support
x_tables
bnep
msr
i2c_designware_platform
i2c_designware_core
intel_rapl
x86_pkg_temp_thermal
intel_powerclamp
coretemp
kvm_intel
kvm
irqbypass
crct10dif_pclmul
crc32_pclmul
ghash_clmulni_intel
snd_hda_intel
drbg
snd_hda_codec
ansi_cprng
ath10k_pci
snd_hda_core
snd_hwdep
ath10k_core
snd_pcm
ath
snd_timer
mac80211
uvcvideo
aesni_intel
videobuf2_vmalloc
videobuf2_memops
aes_x86_64
snd
dell_wmi
lrw
videobuf2_v4l2
idma64
sparse_keymap
dcdbas
gf128mul
glue_helper
ablk_helper
cryptd
pcspkr
rtsx_pci_ms
videobuf2_core
serio_raw
v4l2_common
joydev
hci_uart
videodev
btqca
memstick
soundcore
btusb
mei_me
btrtl
btbcm
cfg80211
i2c_i801
mei
btintel
bluetooth
intel_lpss_pci
rfkill
dell_smo8800
tpm_crb
pinctrl_sunrisepoint
intel_lpss_acpi
pinctrl_intel
intel_lpss
int3403_thermal
thermal
processor_thermal_device
int340x_thermal_zone
intel_soc_dts_iosf
int3400_thermal
shpchp
battery
acpi_als
acpi_thermal_rel
ac
kfifo_buf
fjes
acpi_pad
industrialio
processor
hid_multitouch
hid_generic
usbhid
ext4
crc16
jbd2
mbcache
rtsx_pci_sdmmc
mmc_core
i915
crc32c_intel
nouveau
mxm_wmi
i2c_algo_bit
drm_kms_helper
syscopyarea
sysfillrect
sysimgblt
fb_sys_fops
ttm
ahci
xhci_pci
libahci
nvme
xhci_hcd
nvme_core
rtsx_pci
mfd_core
libata
usbcore
drm
usb_common
i2c_hid
wmi
video
button
sg
scsi_mod
autofs4




!!ALSA/HDA dmesg
!!--------------


    7.451509] mei_me 0000:00:16.0: enabling device (0000 -> 0002)
    7.466174] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: bound 0000:00:02.0 (ops i915_audio_component_bind_ops [i915])
    7.475232] Bluetooth: BNEP (Ethernet Emulation) ver 1.3
--
    7.543593] ip_tables: (C) 2000-2006 Netfilter Core Team
    7.577588] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: CORB reset timeout#1, CORBRP = 0
    7.578850] snd_hda_intel 0000:00:1f.3: no codecs found!
    7.666262] ath10k_pci 0000:02:00.0: Direct firmware load for ath10k/cal-pci-0000:02:00.0.bin failed with error -2
2

As you noted, with your current 50-sound.conf alsa is not recognizing your sound card.

I recommend you delete that 50-sound.conf, reboot and see if you get basic sound (with your original audio problem) back.

Assuming then that nominal sound was back (with your volume control problem), post then then output URL of the diagnostic script /usr/sbin/alsa-info.sh run in konsole/xterm as a regular user with PC connected to internet. No need to post the script here, just post the URL where script output was uploaded assuming you selected the Share/Upload option when script was running.

Then AFTER that, rather do you own 50-sound.conf edits, use the YaST gui front end to tune that file. Go to YaST > Hardware > Sound and select ‘edit’ to configure your card. Try to avoid complex setups. All that YaST GUI front end will do is create a custom 50-sound.conf fail and force an alsa/pulse restart.

Test your sound then and advise of any degradation or improvement.
.

3

Hi, thanks for the nice hints.

I deleted the file and after TWO reboots the file was overwritten and loaded. So now I came to the former state: able to listen sound, but barely able to control it.

By the way, this is the output of alsa-info script run as a regular user:

http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=99c7b879d53348b27861c78610d1b8ebc4b53729

OK, so let me review now the strategy you propose: to have a look at the **HD-Audio-Controls.txt **file, and play around with the models available. Anything else? Doing this was that broke the system the first time…

By the way, the section that I believe is the relevant for this problem in the documentation is this:

  
  ALC22x/23x/25x/269/27x/28x/29x (and vendor-specific ALC3xxx models)======
  laptop-amic   Laptops with analog-mic input
  laptop-dmic   Laptops with digital-mic input
  alc269-dmic   Enable ALC269(VA) digital mic workaround
  alc271-dmic   Enable ALC271X digital mic workaround
  inv-dmic    Inverted internal mic workaround
  headset-mic   Indicates a combined headset (headphone+mic) jack
  headset-mode    More comprehensive headset support for ALC269 & co
  headset-mode-no-hp-mic Headset mode support without headphone mic
  lenovo-dock     Enables docking station I/O for some Lenovos
  hp-gpio-led   GPIO LED support on HP laptops
  dell-headset-multi  Headset jack, which can also be used as mic-in
  dell-headset-dock Headset jack (without mic-in), and also dock I/O
  alc283-dac-wcaps  Fixups for Chromebook with ALC283
  alc283-sense-combo  Combo jack sensing on ALC283
  tpt440-dock   Pin configs for Lenovo Thinkpad Dock support

PS: Believe it or not, but right now I can not access “Sound” section from Yast. It’s just not there any more, but it was few days ago.

4

Is the yast2-sound package installed? I don’t know why it wouldn’t be though…

zypper se -i yast2-sound

What happens if you try to launch it from a terminal window like this?

xdg-su -c "yast2 sound"
5

Thanks for the fast reply. I’m sorry, I’m becoming more stupid every day rotfl!. In an attempt to restore the system, I deleted and then reinstalled alsa, as well as several other things sound-related. Most likely I also deleted that yast package inadvertently. I have re-installed it and the sound section of yast is back :shame:

I’ll start playing with options later (I should work now a bit, although without music) and I’ll soon report improvements/further problems as I encounter them.

Cheers!

6

I am not convinced changing models in the 50-sound.conf file will help here. It might, it might not.

I note this error in the dmesg …


   14.510591] snd_hda_codec_hdmi hdaudioC0D2: Unable to sync register 0x2f0d00. -5

That suggests to me a problem with the alsa sound driver / kernel module.

I did a search on the ALC3266 and GNU/Linux alsao to see what I could learn.

Arch linux wiki documents: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Dell_XPS_15 that sound works in a Dell XPS-15 but there can be some weird behaviour: For the XPS 9550 variant, sound works out of the box with the linux kernel. If you try to plug in headphones, you won’t hear any output from them. Upon restart, you’ll receive a Dummy Output as your sound card.

Further there is an archlinux bug here: https://bugs.archlinux.org/task/49157

Its possible you are in bug reporting territory, and if so, it may be worth your time to write a bug report on openSUSE kernel. There is guidance here: https://en.opensuse.org/openSUSE:Submitting_bug_reports

Use your openSUSE username and password when logging on to bugzilla. Attach as a file attachment to the bug report the file you get by sending the command in a konsole/xterm:


/usr/sbin/alsa-info.sh --no-upload

and describe the anomalous behaviour fully in the bug report. Don’t bother referencing this forum thread as the openSUSE packager who will help with the bug report will not read a forum thread. Further not the openSUSE packager is a real sound expert, likelh being a key alsa-sound driver developer, and possibly the best person in GNU/Linux worldwide to look at this behaviour.

After raising the bug report, check every few days for a response. You may be asked to do some tests or provide other specific information. After providing the needed information, be certain to clear any “need info” flag, so that the packager knows you have replied to them.

Good luck.

7

Thanks for the advice. I have filled a bug report (actually the webpage was working terribly, so by mistake I have reported three times the same bug… sight!). Let’s see what happens…

https://bugzilla.opensuse.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1060284

8

Thanks - I see they have now consolidated it into this bug report: 1060278 – No sound / weird behaviour in Dell XPS 9560

9

I have kept digging a bit. I have booted an Ubuntu live and there the sound works nicely. I saved the output from alsa-info.sh (see here) and I do not see very big differences I can use to debug this problem: same kernel module, same codec… the major difference seems to me the kernel version, that in Ubuntu is 4.10. This drives me to think that upgrading the kernel might be a workaround for this issue. I think I’m going to try it…

PS: fast side question. In order to upgrade the kernel I only have to add the repository (http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Kernel:/stable/standard/) and then install the proper package, taking care not to delete the old kernel in order to have a fallback plan, right?

10

Hi, I just came to mention that it seems to work now. I updated to kernel 4.13, and right now I’m listening music through headphones.

It’s funny, because the first time I rebooted, the sound was not working at all (again dummy output). I tried setting up the sound card with Yast automatically, but instead I had a kernel panic (I hadn’t seen the Caps lock light blinking since I tried compiling my own kernels, back in 2005 or so xD). After a second reboot, and having lost any hope, everything seems to work magically. But I’m not 100% sure of it yet… When I plugged the headphones they worked, but Gnome suffered a flash restart, and dmesg says that there was a segmentation fault somehow xD


   1617.970194] gnome-settings-[2182]: segfault at 174 ip 00007f711ad6df7e sp 00007fff9f4592c0 error 4 in libmedia-keys.so[7f711ad49000+3a000]

Well, whatever. I’ll post if I experience any other remarkable change, but otherwise I’d conclude that the kernel update fixed the issue.

11

Hmm … interesting. I note Ubuntu in your case has a 4.10 kernel, while before you had a 4.4 kernel. The alsa sound driver comes with the kernel, so quite possibly between 4.4 and 4.10 there was an update wrt your PC audio hardware. Your openSUSE with kernel-4.4 alsa-info.sh scipt output has massive ACPI errors. Ubuntu had none. That may or may not be relevant. Your openSUSE with kernel-4.4 had this error:


   14.510591] snd_hda_codec_hdmi hdaudioC0D2: Unable to sync register 0x2f0d00. -5

and Ubuntu with its newer 4.10 kernel did not have this.

Possibly after giving it a day or two, you could post on the bug report your experience with the 4.13 kernel, … in that sound works, but you observe other instability.
.