Dell XPS + dock WD19 - speakers not work

Question

I have a problem with speakers connected via jack to docking station Dell WD19. Outputs seem to be detected but the sound does not play.

╰>  aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 1: Dock [WD19 Dock], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: Dock [WD19 Dock], device 1: USB Audio [USB Audio #1]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 0: ALC289 Analog [ALC289 Analog]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: PCH [HDA Intel PCH], device 10: HDMI 4 [HDMI 4]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 3: Headset [Wireless Stereo Headset], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

Two outputs on card 1 seem to be jack in the front and back of the dock - the rest are built-in speakers, monitors and usb connected headset.

Here's output from pacmd list-cards:

index: 5
name: <alsa_card.usb-Generic_USB_Audio_200901010001-00>
driver: <module-alsa-card.c>
owner module: 28
properties:
    alsa.card = "1"
    alsa.card_name = "WD19 Dock"
    alsa.long_card_name = "Dell-WD15-Dock"
    alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
    device.bus_path = "pci-0000:00:14.0-usb-0:5.3.4:1.0"
    sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-5/1-5.3/1-5.3.4/1-5.3.4:1.0/sound/card1"
    udev.id = "usb-Generic_USB_Audio_200901010001-00"
    device.bus = "usb"
    device.vendor.id = "0bda"
    device.vendor.name = "Realtek Semiconductor Corp."
    device.product.id = "402e"
    device.product.name = "USB Audio"
    device.serial = "Generic_USB_Audio_200901010001"
    device.string = "1"
    device.description = "USB Audio"
    module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
    device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
profiles:
    HiFi: Default (priority 8000, available: unknown)
    off: Off (priority 0, available: unknown)
active profile: <HiFi>
sinks:
    alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio_200901010001-00.HiFi__hw_Dock_1__sink/#10: USB Audio Line Out
    alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio_200901010001-00.HiFi__hw_Dock__sink/#11: USB Audio Headphones
sources:
    alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio_200901010001-00.HiFi__hw_Dock_1__sink.monitor/#16: Monitor of USB Audio Line Out
    alsa_output.usb-Generic_USB_Audio_200901010001-00.HiFi__hw_Dock__sink.monitor/#17: Monitor of USB Audio Headphones
    alsa_input.usb-Generic_USB_Audio_200901010001-00.HiFi__hw_Dock__source/#18: USB Audio Microphone
ports:
    [Out] Line: Line Out (priority 200, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
        properties:
[Out] Headphones: Headphones (priority 100, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
    properties:

[In] Mic: Microphone (priority 100, latency offset 0 usec, available: unknown)
    properties:

Now, when I open sound settings I can see a number of devices:

When I select any Wireless Stereo Headset, HDMI 2 or Speakers Built-in appropriate device does make sound. But when I select USB Audio (Headset or Line Out) everything is quiet - even though the volume is set to 100%. I am running out of ideas what else could I check to fix this...

(exact same setup works fine when I switch to Windows so it's not a hardware issue)

[EDIT] Adding requested output from certain commands:

====================================== cat /proc/asound/cards ======================================
0 [PCH            ]: HDA-Intel - HDA Intel PCH
                      HDA Intel PCH at 0x604b118000 irq 181
 1 [Dock           ]: USB-Audio - WD19 Dock
                      Dell-WD15-Dock
 2 [C920           ]: USB-Audio - HD Pro Webcam C920
                      HD Pro Webcam C920 at usb-0000:00:14.0-5.3.3.4, high speed
========================================= lsmod | grep snd =========================================
snd_hda_codec_hdmi     61440  1
snd_sof_pci            24576  0
snd_sof_intel_byt      20480  1 snd_sof_pci
snd_sof_intel_ipc      20480  1 snd_sof_intel_byt
snd_sof_intel_hda_common    81920  1 snd_sof_pci
snd_soc_hdac_hda       24576  1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_sof_xtensa_dsp     16384  2 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_intel_byt
snd_sof_intel_hda      20480  1 snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_sof               122880  4 snd_sof_pci,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_intel_byt,snd_sof_intel_ipc
snd_hda_ext_core       32768  3 snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda,snd_sof_intel_hda
snd_soc_acpi_intel_match    45056  2 snd_sof_pci,snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_soc_acpi           16384  3 snd_soc_acpi_intel_match,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_sof_intel_byt
snd_soc_core          278528  3 snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda
snd_hda_codec_realtek   139264  1
snd_compress           28672  1 snd_soc_core
snd_hda_codec_generic    81920  1 snd_hda_codec_realtek
ac97_bus               16384  1 snd_soc_core
ledtrig_audio          16384  3 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_sof,dell_laptop
snd_pcm_dmaengine      16384  1 snd_soc_core
snd_hda_intel          53248  3
snd_intel_dspcfg       24576  3 snd_hda_intel,snd_sof_pci,snd_sof_intel_hda_common
snd_hda_codec         143360  5 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_soc_hdac_hda
snd_hda_core           94208  9 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_hda_ext_core,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_soc_hdac_hda,snd_sof_intel_hda
snd_usb_audio         286720  5
snd_usbmidi_lib        36864  1 snd_usb_audio
snd_hwdep              20480  2 snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec
snd_seq_midi           20480  0
snd_seq_midi_event     16384  1 snd_seq_midi
snd_rawmidi            36864  2 snd_seq_midi,snd_usbmidi_lib
snd_seq                73728  2 snd_seq_midi,snd_seq_midi_event
snd_pcm               118784  10 snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hda_intel,snd_usb_audio,snd_hda_codec,snd_sof,snd_sof_intel_hda_common,snd_compress,snd_soc_core,snd_hda_core,snd_pcm_dmaengine
snd_seq_device         16384  3 snd_seq,snd_seq_midi,snd_rawmidi
snd_timer              40960  2 snd_seq,snd_pcm
snd                    94208  31 snd_hda_codec_generic,snd_seq,snd_seq_device,snd_hda_codec_hdmi,snd_hwdep,snd_hda_intel,snd_usb_audio,snd_usbmidi_lib,snd_hda_codec,snd_hda_codec_realtek,snd_timer,snd_compress,snd_soc_core,snd_pcm,snd_rawmidi
soundcore              16384  1 snd
mc                     57344  5 videodev,snd_usb_audio,videobuf2_v4l2,uvcvideo,videobuf2_common
=========================== dpkg -L linux-modules-$(uname -r) | grep snd ===========================
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/seq/snd-seq-dummy.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/seq/snd-seq-midi-emul.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/seq/snd-seq-midi-event.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/seq/snd-seq-midi.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/seq/snd-seq-virmidi.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/seq/snd-seq.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-compress.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-hrtimer.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-hwdep.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-pcm-dmaengine.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-pcm.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-rawmidi.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-seq-device.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd-timer.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/core/snd.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/drivers/pcsp/snd-pcsp.ko
/lib/modules/5.8.0-48-generic/kernel/sound/pci/snd-ens1370.ko
============================================= inxi -SA =============================================
System:    Host: tkaplonski-xps-jobleads Kernel: 5.8.0-48-generic x86_64 bits: 64 Desktop: Cinnamon 4.6.7 
           Distro: Ubuntu 20.10 (Groovy Gorilla) 
Audio:     Device-1: Intel Comet Lake PCH cAVS driver: snd_hda_intel 
           Device-2: Logitech type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo 
           Device-3: Realtek type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio 
           Sound Server: ALSA v: k5.8.0-48-generic
=================================== lspci -nnk | grep -A 4 Audio ===================================
00:1f.3 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation Comet Lake PCH cAVS [8086:06c8]
    Subsystem: Dell Comet Lake PCH cAVS [1028:097d]
    Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
    Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel, snd_sof_pci
00:1f.4 SMBus [0c05]: Intel Corporation Comet Lake PCH SMBus Controller [8086:06a3]
============================================= uname -a =============================================
Linux tkaplonski-xps-jobleads 5.8.0-48-generic #54-Ubuntu SMP Fri Mar 19 14:25:20 UTC 2021 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
======================================= dpkg -l | grep alsa ========================================
ii  alsa-base                                  1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu5                all          ALSA driver configuration files
ii  alsa-tools-gui                             1.2.2-1                             amd64        GUI based ALSA utilities for specific hardware
ii  alsa-topology-conf                         1.2.3-1                             all          ALSA topology configuration files
ii  alsa-ucm-conf                              1.2.2-1ubuntu5.1                    all          ALSA Use Case Manager configuration files
ii  alsa-utils                                 1.2.3-1ubuntu1                      amd64        Utilities for configuring and using ALSA
ii  gstreamer1.0-alsa:amd64                    1.18.0-2                            amd64        GStreamer plugin for ALSA
============================ grep intel /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf =============================
options snd-intel8x0m index=-2

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 01 '21 at 08:38

I am suggesting here a few things to try. Some were taken from old threads/solutions/etc., so they may not apply.

This (reboot after issuing the commands)

killall pulseaudio
rm -r ~/.config/pulse/*
rm -r ~/.pulse*

Install pavucontrol and tinker with its controls. I am not sure what you will see there.
This: "changing the configuration in "Pulse Audio Volume Control" from "Analog Duplex" to "Digital Stereo (IEC958) Output + Analog Stereo Input"." Look for analogous settings.
Go to system sound settings and set output to lineout (ref) (not sure if you tried alternatives for this)
Since the driver seems to be snd_usb_audio, try a solution like this, adapted somehow to your case.

Related:

Thanks for this. #1 worked for me. – prismspecs Mar 23 '23 at 06:37 — prismspecs, Mar 23 '23 at 06:37

Sayed H Fatimi · Answer 2 · 2021-04-02T23:34:08.467

I had a similar issue with a USB speaker where it was being detected, and would appear in lsusb output but wouldn't play sound, it appears to be an issue with pulseaudio, though I don't know the precise reasons, my problem was resolved by following these steps:

Open /etc/pulse/daemon.conf in a text editor with root privileges.

Uncomment the following lines (remove the semi-colon ;):

default-sample-format = s16le
default-sample-rate = 48000

Make sure the sample rate is set to 48000.

A preliminary look at the Windows drivers for this dock show the supported audio modes as:

48k_16bit_2ch
48k_24bit_2ch
96k_16bit_2ch
96k_24bit_2ch
192k_24bit_2ch
192k_16bit_2ch

Reboot your PC.

Hopefully this resolves your issue.

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Mar 30 '21 at 10:15

0

A comment posted as an answer, as it won't fit otherwise.

it may help if you post the output of:

$ cat /proc/asound/cards
$ lsmod | grep snd
$ dpkg -L linux-modules-<kernel version>-generic | grep snd
$ inxi -SA
$ lspci -nnk | grep -A 4 Audio
$ uname -a
$ dpkg -l | grep alsa
$ grep intel /etc/modprobe.d/alsa-base.conf

It helped a lot here.

answered Mar 30 '21 at 10:15

sancho.s ReinstateMonicaCellio

14,674
11
44
97

Added requested output in edit to original question. – Tomasz Kapłoński Apr 01 '21 at 06:05

score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 02 '21 at 23:53

One more thing to look at: in terminal, open alsamixer. Press F6 to bring up the menu with the available soundcards. Go around in each of them, and ensure that the PCM volume bar (column) is not set to 0 <> 0 (0 volume level for left and right channel correspondingly.)

If yes, use the right / left arrows to select the column, and up arrow to increase the value.

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Jul 11 '21 at 17:46

0

Had the same issue with my XPS 13 7390 running Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS plus WD 19 and treid all above suggested steps without sucess. To make sure that it's not a hardware issue I connected my old XPS 13 which has Win 10. On Windows line out works fine - so it is not a hardware issue. After this I plugged my new XPS and ... magic ... suddenly line out is working and still after a reboot!

This is really strange!!!

answered Jul 11 '21 at 17:46

user311044

31

I noticed even weirder magic in fact. My sounds sometimes works after restart and sometimes it does not. For some time I thought there was a rule depending on which thunderbolt I used (there are two ports on the left that can be used) but that's not the case - sometimes one work the other does not and sometimes roles turn. It's totally crazy but at least I know I can always reboot/plug cable into different port :/ – Tomasz Kapłoński Jul 12 '21 at 06:03

Dell XPS + dock WD19 - speakers not work

5 Answers5