> > Sorry for the misunderstanding, see pastbin link for the pulseaudio -vvvv output <a href="http://pastebin.com/cP3A1nLc">http://pastebin.com/cP3A1nLc</a> How did pulseaudio get dBmix -177dB for line out path and -114 dB for headphone path as both green line out and hp share the amps in audio output 0x10 and audio mixer 0x16 ? you may need to change the Front playback volume to Front+HP playback volume where Line out and HP share playback volume control <a href="https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound.git/commit/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c?id=03ad6a8c93b6df2d65c305b5b5f9474068b45bfb">https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound.git/commit/sound/pci/hda/hda_generic.c?id=03ad6a8c93b6df2d65c305b5b5f9474068b45bfb</a> pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Removing path 'analog-output' as it is a subset of 'analog-output-lineout'. D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Available mixer paths (after tidying): D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Path Set 0x9ec7fb8, direction=1 D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Path analog-output-lineout (Line Out), direction=1, priority=99, probed=yes, supported=yes, has_mute=yes, has_volume=yes, has_dB=yes, min_volume=0, max_volume=42, min_dB=-177, max_dB=0 D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Master, direction=1, switch=1, volume=1, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x7ffffffffffff, n_channels=1, override_map=yes D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Headphone, direction=1, switch=2, volume=0, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x0, n_channels=0, override_map=no D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Front, direction=1, switch=1, volume=1, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x6, n_channels=2, override_map=yes D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Surround, direction=1, switch=1, volume=1, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x60, n_channels=2, override_map=yes D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Side, direction=1, switch=1, volume=1, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0xc00, n_channels=2, override_map=yes D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Center, direction=1, switch=1, volume=1, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x4900000000018, n_channels=1, override_map=yes D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element LFE, direction=1, switch=1, volume=1, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x80, n_channels=1, override_map=yes D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element PCM, direction=1, switch=0, volume=1, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x3600000000f66, n_channels=2, override_map=yes D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Line Out, alsa_name='Line Out Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Line Out Phantom, alsa_name='Line Out Phantom Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Headphone, alsa_name='Headphone Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Line Out Front, alsa_name='Line Out Front Jack', detection possible D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Line Out Front Phantom, alsa_name='Line Out Front Phantom Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Line Out CLFE, alsa_name='Line Out CLFE Jack', detection possible D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Line Out CLFE Phantom, alsa_name='Line Out CLFE Phantom Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Line Out Surround, alsa_name='Line Out Surround Jack', detection possible D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Line Out Surround Phantom, alsa_name='Line Out Surround Phantom Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Line Out Side, alsa_name='Line Out Side Jack', detection possible D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Line Out Side Phantom, alsa_name='Line Out Side Phantom Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Path analog-output-headphones (Headphones), direction=1, priority=90, probed=yes, supported=yes, has_mute=yes, has_volume=yes, has_dB=yes, min_volume=0, max_volume=42, min_dB=-114, max_dB=0 D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Master, direction=1, switch=1, volume=1, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x7ffffffffffff, n_channels=1, override_map=yes D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Headphone, direction=1, switch=1, volume=0, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=4, required_absent=0, mask=0x0, n_channels=0, override_map=yes D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Front, direction=1, switch=1, volume=3, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x6, n_channels=2, override_map=no D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Surround, direction=1, switch=2, volume=2, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x6, n_channels=2, override_map=no D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Side, direction=1, switch=2, volume=2, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x6, n_channels=2, override_map=no D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element Center, direction=1, switch=2, volume=2, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x7ffffffffffff, n_channels=1, override_map=no D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element LFE, direction=1, switch=2, volume=2, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x7ffffffffffff, n_channels=1, override_map=no D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element PCM, direction=1, switch=0, volume=1, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x3600000000f66, n_channels=2, override_map=yes D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Element IEC958, direction=1, switch=2, volume=0, volume_limit=-1, enumeration=0, required=0, required_any=0, required_absent=0, mask=0x0, n_channels=0, override_map=no D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Dock Headphone, alsa_name='Dock Headphone Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Dock Headphone Phantom, alsa_name='Dock Headphone Phantom Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Front Headphone, alsa_name='Front Headphone Jack', detection possible D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Front Headphone Phantom, alsa_name='Front Headphone Phantom Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Headphone, alsa_name='Headphone Jack', detection unavailable D: [pulseaudio] alsa-mixer.c: Jack Headphone Phantom, alsa_name='Headphone Phantom Jack', detection unavailable > > Yes my chassis has a front audio panel (actually on the top) > > Basically I want the two output to work at the same time - it used to do so as I said in the past. > > i.e. My headset plugged onto my top/front audio panel and my speakers plugged onto the back panel on the black jack. I used to have it plugged onto the green but I changed to the black to see if it's changing or improving the situation. > If you use bios setup to change front audio panel type to HDA, driver should create auto mute control and you have to disable auto mute <a href="http://cgit.freedesktop.org/pulseaudio/pulseaudio/tree/src/modules/alsa/mixer/paths/analog-output-lineout.conf">http://cgit.freedesktop.org/pulseaudio/pulseaudio/tree/src/modules/alsa/mixer/paths/analog-output-lineout.conf</a> [Jack Headphone] state.plugged = no state.unplugged = unknown [Jack Line Out Front] required-any = any However pulseaudio seem also check the headphone jack is not plugged >> > Now upon start up or pulseaudio being restarted the headphones is muted, but the surround channel isn't any more. As mentioned I would like both channel not to be muted. ; This profile path is intended to control line out, let's mute headphones ; else there will be a spike when plugging in headphones [Element Headphone] switch = off volume = off Seem related to these rule in conf if pulseaudio mute headphone switch and turn off headphone playback volume when line out port is used For the headphone playback volume control, if you don't need 7.1, the workaround is to use early patching or hdajackretask to change pin default of side (grey) jack from [JACK] to [N/A] to get back the Headphone Playback Volume control and Independent headphone This allow driver to assign 0x25 to headphone , but this mean headphone won't connect to audio mixer 0x16 Node 0x25 [Audio Output] wcaps 0x41d: Stereo Amp-Out Control: name="Side Playback Volume", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0 Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x2a, nsteps=0x2a, stepsize=0x05, mute=0 Amp-Out vals: [0x00 0x00] Converter: stream=5, channel=0 PCM: rates [0x5e0]: 44100 48000 88200 96000 192000 bits [0xe]: 16 20 24 formats [0x1]: PCM Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Node 0x16 [Audio Mixer] wcaps 0x20050b: Stereo Amp-In Control: name="Rear Mic Playback Volume", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=2, ofs=0 Control: name="Rear Mic Playback Switch", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=2, ofs=0 Control: name="Front Mic Playback Volume", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=4, ofs=0 Control: name="Front Mic Playback Switch", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=4, ofs=0 Control: name="Line Playback Volume", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=3, ofs=0 Control: name="Line Playback Switch", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=3, ofs=0 Control: name="CD Playback Volume", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=1, ofs=0 Control: name="CD Playback Switch", index=0, device=0 ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=In, idx=1, ofs=0 Amp-In caps: ofs=0x17, nsteps=0x1f, stepsize=0x05, mute=1 Amp-In vals: [0x17 0x17] [0x80 0x80] [0x1f 0x1f] [0x1f 0x1f] [0x9f 0x9f] [0x80 0x80] [0x80 0x80] Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 Connection: 7 0x10 0x1f 0x1a 0x1b 0x1e 0x1d 0x25 <a href="https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound.git/tree/Documentation/sound/alsa/HD-Audio.txt">https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound.git/tree/Documentation/sound/alsa/HD-Audio.txt</a> <a href="http://git.alsa-project.org/?p=alsa-tools.git;a=blob;f=hdajackretask/README;hb=HEAD">http://git.alsa-project.org/?p=alsa-tools.git;a=blob;f=hdajackretask/README;hb=HEAD</a> <a href="https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound.git/commit/sound/pci/hda?id=92603c594579e744a13b06efbbebb126db254655">https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound.git/commit/sound/pci/hda?id=92603c594579e744a13b06efbbebb126db254655</a> Enable independent HP should disabled driver 's auto mute feature, for auto mute, the driver just mute and won't change the volume control From viewpoint of user, I expect pulseaudio mute the surround speakers when stereo profile is selected but should keep those surround volume unchanged when user selected 7.1 profile This look like pulseaudio change those surround, clfe and side playback volume when you select stereo profile You need to dump those pulseaudio database files to find out whether pulseaudio keep the values of bass, fade controls in sound preference or surround, center, clfe and side playback volume if pulseaudio can restore the surround 7.1 profile ALSA: hda - Support advanced power state controls This patch enables the finer power state control of each widget depending on the jack plug state and streaming state in addition to the existing power_down_unused power optimization. The new feature is enabled only when codec->power_mgmt flag is set. <a href="https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound.git/commit/sound/pci/hda?id=e6feb5d08509be1af2ebc894dae35f32f7b92ab6">https://git.kernel.org/cgit/linux/kernel/git/tiwai/sound.git/commit/sound/pci/hda?id=e6feb5d08509be1af2ebc894dae35f32f7b92ab6</a> >> >> >> > >> >> > Please see below the output of alsa-info.sh before and after the headphone plugged in >> >> > >> >> > Before:<a href="http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=a316eebf7b150b5897838be37bce4e8c9d95eaae"> http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=a316eebf7b150b5897838be37bce4e8c9d95eaae</a> >> >> > After: <a href="http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=0f163003e9005972db5f97f21a45be67816e3801"> http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=0f163003e9005972db5f97f21a45be67816e3801</a> >> >> > >> >> > I have 6 Jacks at the rear panel and two at the top (one output one input) >> >> > I am afraid I do not know how to switch channel mode to retask. >> >> > >> >> > Also, the computer is of a certain age, and the issue has started several month ago but I never really looked into it, so I am not sure that change in power management will be relevant has it seems quite recent. >> >> If you plugged the speaker into the black jack, >> >> Seem you are using stereo profile since surround dac still using channel=0 >> >> Auto mute was disabled when you select ac97 front audio panel >> >> Do you expect pulseaudio just mute the surround playback switch but keep the surround playack volume remain unchanged when you select stereo profile ? >> >> Node 0x11 [Audio Output] wcaps 0x41d: Stereo Amp-Out >> Control: name="Surround Playback Volume", index=0, device=0 >> ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0 >> Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x2a, nsteps=0x2a, stepsize=0x05, mute=0 >> Amp-Out vals: [0x00 0x00] >> Converter: stream=5, channel=0 >> PCM: >> rates [0x5e0]: 44100 48000 88200 96000 192000 >> bits [0xe]: 16 20 24 >> formats [0x1]: PCM >> Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 >> Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 >> >> Node 0x18 [Audio Selector] wcaps 0x30050d: Stereo Amp-Out >> Control: name="Surround Playback Switch", index=0, device=0 >> ControlAmp: chs=3, dir=Out, idx=0, ofs=0 >> Amp-Out caps: ofs=0x00, nsteps=0x00, stepsize=0x00, mute=1 >> Amp-Out vals: [0x80 0x80] >> Power states: D0 D1 D2 D3 >> Power: setting=D0, actual=D0 >> Connection: 1 >> 0x11 >> >> control.36 { >> iface CARD >> name 'Line Out Front Jack' >> value false >> comment { >> access read >> type BOOLEAN >> count 1 >> } >> } >> control.37 { >> iface CARD >> name 'Line Out Surround Jack' >> value true >> comment { >> access read >> type BOOLEAN >> count 1 >> } >> } >> control.38 { >> iface CARD >> name 'Line Out CLFE Jack' >> value false >> comment { >> access read >> type BOOLEAN >> count 1 >> } >> } >> control.39 { >> iface CARD >> name 'Line Out Side Jack' >> value false >> comment { >> access read >> type BOOLEAN >> count 1 >> } >> } >> control.40 { >> iface CARD >> name 'Front Headphone Phantom Jack' >> value true >> comment { >> access read >> type BOOLEAN >> count 1 >> } >> } >> >> Simple mixer control 'Surround',0 >> Capabilities: pvolume pswitch >> Playback channels: Front Left - Front Right >> Limits: Playback 0 - 42 >> Mono: >> Front Left: Playback 0 [0%] [-63.00dB] [off] >> Front Right: Playback 0 [0%] [-63.00dB] [off] >> >> > As advices I changed the Bios setting from AC97 to HD Audio.