Broken Audio on wireless headset( possibly update related?)

Issues & Assistance Unsupported hardware | Dual boot
1

I have suddenly started having an issue with my wireless headset. When I turn on my headset I start getting an excruciatingly loud static type noise that won’t stop until I turn off the headset. Now I know that obviously sounds like a headset issue but actually it works fine in Windows still.

The headset is this one: Headset I am using it over the 2.4ghz band with the USB adapter.

It has been working fine since I installed Garuda around 2 or 3 months ago. The reason I think it might be an update is I was using Windows exclusively for a week or so because of a game so then when I switched back to Garuda of course there loads of updates that I immediately did.

What I have tried so far:

  • Switch from zen to lts kernel
  • Roll back with snapper to a snapshot from before the recent updates
  • Uninstall pipewire & install pulse audio:
    Strange one this runs into a conflict with pipewire even though I have uninstalled it:
    image
    image1320×710 45.3 KB

    I don’t really understand these different audio packages so I haven’t gone any further here yet.
  • Connected the headset via bluetooth: it is working for audio out but without stereo surround and the microphone is a lot weaker

Anyone have any fixes or suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

Garuda-inxi:

System:
  Kernel: 6.14.2-zen1-1-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 14.2.1 clocksource: tsc
    avail: hpet,acpi_pm parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
    root=UUID=796024b3-9ab7-49d8-a1cb-26da85642225 rw rootflags=subvol=@ quiet loglevel=3 ibt=off
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.3.4 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.12.0 wm: kwin_wayland vt: 3
    dm: SDDM Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: ROG STRIX B450-E GAMING v: Rev 1.xx
    serial: <superuser required> part-nu: SKU uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends
    v: 5302 date: 10/20/2023
CPU:
  Info: model: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Zen 3+ gen: 3 level: v3 note: check
    built: 2022 process: TSMC n6 (7nm) family: 0x19 (25) model-id: 0x21 (33) stepping: 2
    microcode: 0xA201210
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 1 cores: 8 threads: 16 tpc: 2 smt: enabled cache:
    L1: 512 KiB desc: d-8x32 KiB; i-8x32 KiB L2: 4 MiB desc: 8x512 KiB L3: 32 MiB desc: 1x32 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3821 min/max: 550/4853 boost: enabled scaling: driver: amd-pstate-epp
    governor: powersave cores: 1: 3821 2: 3821 3: 3821 4: 3821 5: 3821 6: 3821 7: 3821 8: 3821
    9: 3821 10: 3821 11: 3821 12: 3821 13: 3821 14: 3821 15: 3821 16: 3821 bogomips: 121603
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
  Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Navi 21 [Radeon RX 6800/6800 XT / 6900 XT]
    driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: RDNA-2 code: Navi-2x process: TSMC n7 (7nm) built: 2020-22 pcie:
    gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: DP-1,DP-3 empty: DP-2,HDMI-A-1,Writeback-1
    bus-ID: 0c:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:73bf class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Microdia Webcam Vitade AF driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-6:5 chip-ID: 0c45:6366 class-ID: 0102
    serial: <filter>
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.16 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6 compositor: kwin_wayland
    driver: X: loaded: amdgpu dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu d-rect: 5120x2880 display-ID: 0
  Monitor-1: DP-1 pos: top-right model: Idek Iiyama PL2783Q serial: <filter> built: 2018 res:
    mode: 2560x1440 hz: 60 scale: 178% (1.78) to: 1440x2560 dpi: 109 gamma: 1.2
    size: 597x336mm (23.5x13.23") diag: 685mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 2560x1440 min: 640x480
  Monitor-2: DP-3 pos: bottom-l model: BenQ EX3203R serial: <filter> built: 2020 res:
    mode: 2560x1440 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 93 gamma: 1.2 size: 698x393mm (27.48x15.47")
    diag: 801mm (31.5") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 2560x1440 min: 720x400
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0 drv: radeonsi device: 1 drv: swrast
    gbm: drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: radeonsi wayland: drv: radeonsi x11: drv: radeonsi
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: amd mesa v: 25.0.4-arch1.1 glx-v: 1.4
    direct-render: yes renderer: AMD Radeon RX 6800 (radeonsi navi21 LLVM 19.1.7 DRM 3.61
    6.14.2-zen1-1-zen) device-ID: 1002:73bf memory: 15.62 GiB unified: no display-ID: :1.0
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.309 layers: 12 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: AMD Radeon RX 6800 (RADV
    NAVI21) driver: N/A device-ID: 1002:73bf surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland device: 1 type: cpu
    name: llvmpipe (LLVM 19.1.7 256 bits) driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000
    surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor
    gpu: amd-smi, corectrl, lact wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Navi 21/23 HDMI/DP Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0c:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:ab28 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Starship/Matisse HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0f:00.4
    chip-ID: 1022:1487 class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Jieli OW810 driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid type: USB rev: 1.1
    speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-5:4 chip-ID: 4c4a:4155 class-ID: 0300
    serial: <filter>
  Device-4: Microdia Webcam Vitade AF driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-6:5 chip-ID: 0c45:6366 class-ID: 0102
    serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.14.2-zen1-1-zen status: kernel-api with: aoss type: oss-emulator tools: N/A
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.4.2 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
Network:
  Device-1: Intel I211 Gigabit Network vendor: ASUSTeK driver: igb v: kernel pcie: gen: 1
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: e000 bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:1539 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp4s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel Wi-Fi 5 Wireless-AC 9x6x [Thunder Peak] driver: iwlwifi v: kernel pcie: gen: 2
    speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 05:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:2526 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp5s0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Info: services: NetworkManager, smbd, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Wireless-AC 9260 Bluetooth Adapter driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-9:7 chip-ID: 8087:0025 class-ID: e001
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 0 state: down bt-service: enabled,running rfk-block:
    hardware: no software: no address: <filter> bt-v: 5.1 lmp-v: 10 status: discoverable: no
    pairing: no
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 5 TiB used: 301.57 GiB (5.9%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Western Digital model: WD BLACK SN770 1TB
    size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 731030WD temp: 43.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 maj-min: 259:4 vendor: Crucial model: CT500P2SSD8 size: 465.76 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: P2CR012 temp: 31.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Crucial model: CT2000BX500SSD1 size: 1.82 TiB block-size:
    physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 061 scheme: MBR
  ID-4: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Western Digital model: WD10EZEX-00BN5A0 size: 931.51 GiB
    block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 1A01 scheme: GPT
  ID-5: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 860 EVO 1TB size: 931.51 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 3B6Q scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 316.83 GiB size: 316.83 GiB (100.00%) used: 301.57 GiB (95.2%) fs: btrfs
    dev: /dev/sda5 maj-min: 8:5
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 599 MiB size: 597.8 MiB (99.80%) used: 624 KiB (0.1%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 316.83 GiB size: 316.83 GiB (100.00%) used: 301.57 GiB (95.2%) fs: btrfs
    dev: /dev/sda5 maj-min: 8:5
  ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 316.83 GiB size: 316.83 GiB (100.00%) used: 301.57 GiB (95.2%)
    fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sda5 maj-min: 8:5
  ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 316.83 GiB size: 316.83 GiB (100.00%) used: 301.57 GiB (95.2%)
    fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sda5 maj-min: 8:5
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
  ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 31.25 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 comp: zstd
    avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842 max-streams: 16 dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 58.0 C mobo: 38.0 C gpu: amdgpu temp: 63.0 C mem: 62.0 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): cpu: 840 case-1: 1099 case-2: 0 case-3: 978 gpu: amdgpu fan: 0
  Power: 12v: 10.08 5v: N/A 3.3v: N/A vbat: 3.21 gpu: amdgpu watts: 38.00
Info:
  Memory: total: 32 GiB available: 31.25 GiB used: 5.21 GiB (16.7%)
  Processes: 468 Power: uptime: 5m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep avail: s2idle wakeups: 0
    hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot, suspend, test_resume image: 12.49 GiB
    services: org_kde_powerdevil, power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257
    default: graphical tool: systemctl
  Packages: pm: pacman pkgs: 1538 libs: 429 tools: octopi,paru pm: flatpak pkgs: 0 Compilers:
    clang: 19.1.7 gcc: 15.1.1 Client: Unknown Client: garuda-rani inxi: 3.3.37
Garuda (2.7.2-1):
  System install date:     2025-03-16
  Last full system update: 2025-04-22
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut
  Windows dual boot:       Probably (Run as root to verify)
  Failed units:
2

First, update your system and try again.

mhwd-kernel -li
Currently running: 6.14.4-zen1-2-zen (linux-zen)
The following kernels are installed in your system:
local/linux-znver3 6.14.4-2
local/linux-zen 6.14.4.zen1-2

there are kernel updates too.

1 Like
3

That was just due to the snapper rollback actually. one of the last things I did. Updated again & I still have the problem. Apologies should have done that before posting.

Fresh inxi:

System:
  Kernel: 6.14.4-zen1-2-zen arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 15.1.1 clocksource: tsc
    avail: hpet,acpi_pm parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-linux-zen
    root=UUID=796024b3-9ab7-49d8-a1cb-26da85642225 rw rootflags=subvol=@ quiet loglevel=3 ibt=off
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 6.3.4 tk: Qt v: N/A info: frameworks v: 6.13.0 wm: kwin_wayland vt: 3
    dm: SDDM Distro: Garuda base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop Mobo: ASUSTeK model: ROG STRIX B450-E GAMING v: Rev 1.xx
    serial: <superuser required> part-nu: SKU uuid: <superuser required> UEFI: American Megatrends
    v: 5302 date: 10/20/2023
CPU:
  Info: model: AMD Ryzen 7 5800X bits: 64 type: MT MCP arch: Zen 3+ gen: 3 level: v3 note: check
    built: 2022 process: TSMC n6 (7nm) family: 0x19 (25) model-id: 0x21 (33) stepping: 2
    microcode: 0xA201210
  Topology: cpus: 1x dies: 1 clusters: 1 cores: 8 threads: 16 tpc: 2 smt: enabled cache:
    L1: 512 KiB desc: d-8x32 KiB; i-8x32 KiB L2: 4 MiB desc: 8x512 KiB L3: 32 MiB desc: 1x32 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 3880 min/max: 550/4853 boost: enabled scaling: driver: amd-pstate-epp
    governor: powersave cores: 1: 3880 2: 3880 3: 3880 4: 3880 5: 3880 6: 3880 7: 3880 8: 3880
    9: 3880 10: 3880 11: 3880 12: 3880 13: 3880 14: 3880 15: 3880 16: 3880 bogomips: 121605
  Flags: avx avx2 ht lm nx pae sse sse2 sse3 sse4_1 sse4_2 sse4a ssse3 svm
  Vulnerabilities: <filter>
Graphics:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Navi 21 [Radeon RX 6800/6800 XT / 6900 XT]
    driver: amdgpu v: kernel arch: RDNA-2 code: Navi-2x process: TSMC n7 (7nm) built: 2020-22 pcie:
    gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 ports: active: DP-1,DP-3 empty: DP-2,HDMI-A-1,Writeback-1
    bus-ID: 0c:00.0 chip-ID: 1002:73bf class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Microdia Webcam Vitade AF driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-6:5 chip-ID: 0c45:6366 class-ID: 0102
    serial: <filter>
  Display: wayland server: X.org v: 1.21.1.16 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6 compositor: kwin_wayland
    driver: X: loaded: amdgpu dri: radeonsi gpu: amdgpu d-rect: 5120x2880 display-ID: 0
  Monitor-1: DP-1 pos: top-right model: Idek Iiyama PL2783Q serial: <filter> built: 2018 res:
    mode: 2560x1440 hz: 60 scale: 178% (1.78) to: 1440x2560 dpi: 109 gamma: 1.2
    size: 597x336mm (23.5x13.23") diag: 685mm (27") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 2560x1440 min: 640x480
  Monitor-2: DP-3 pos: bottom-l model: BenQ EX3203R serial: <filter> built: 2020 res:
    mode: 2560x1440 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) dpi: 93 gamma: 1.2 size: 698x393mm (27.48x15.47")
    diag: 801mm (31.5") ratio: 16:9 modes: max: 2560x1440 min: 720x400
  API: EGL v: 1.5 hw: drv: amd radeonsi platforms: device: 0 drv: radeonsi device: 1 drv: swrast
    gbm: drv: kms_swrast surfaceless: drv: radeonsi wayland: drv: radeonsi x11: drv: radeonsi
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 compat-v: 4.5 vendor: amd mesa v: 25.0.4-arch1.1 glx-v: 1.4
    direct-render: yes renderer: AMD Radeon RX 6800 (radeonsi navi21 LLVM 19.1.7 DRM 3.61
    6.14.4-zen1-2-zen) device-ID: 1002:73bf memory: 15.62 GiB unified: no display-ID: :1.0
  API: Vulkan v: 1.4.309 layers: 12 device: 0 type: discrete-gpu name: AMD Radeon RX 6800 (RADV
    NAVI21) driver: mesa radv v: 25.0.4-arch1.1 device-ID: 1002:73bf surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland
    device: 1 type: cpu name: llvmpipe (LLVM 19.1.7 256 bits) driver: mesa llvmpipe
    v: 25.0.4-arch1.1 (LLVM 19.1.7) device-ID: 10005:0000 surfaces: xcb,xlib,wayland
  Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor
    gpu: amd-smi, corectrl, lact wl: wayland-info x11: xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
  Device-1: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD/ATI] Navi 21/23 HDMI/DP Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0c:00.1 chip-ID: 1002:ab28 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Advanced Micro Devices [AMD] Starship/Matisse HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0f:00.4
    chip-ID: 1022:1487 class-ID: 0403
  Device-3: Jieli OW810 driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid type: USB rev: 1.1
    speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-5:4 chip-ID: 4c4a:4155 class-ID: 0300
    serial: <filter>
  Device-4: Microdia Webcam Vitade AF driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 2.0 bus-ID: 1-6:5 chip-ID: 0c45:6366 class-ID: 0102
    serial: <filter>
  API: ALSA v: k6.14.4-zen1-2-zen status: kernel-api with: aoss type: oss-emulator tools: N/A
  Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.4.2 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
Network:
  Device-1: Intel I211 Gigabit Network vendor: ASUSTeK driver: igb v: kernel pcie: gen: 1
    speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: e000 bus-ID: 04:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:1539 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp4s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: <filter>
  Device-2: Intel Wi-Fi 5 Wireless-AC 9x6x [Thunder Peak] driver: iwlwifi v: kernel pcie: gen: 2
    speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 bus-ID: 05:00.0 chip-ID: 8086:2526 class-ID: 0280
  IF: wlp5s0 state: up mac: <filter>
  Info: services: NetworkManager, smbd, systemd-timesyncd, wpa_supplicant
Bluetooth:
  Device-1: Intel Wireless-AC 9260 Bluetooth Adapter driver: btusb v: 0.8 type: USB rev: 2.0
    speed: 12 Mb/s lanes: 1 mode: 1.1 bus-ID: 1-9:7 chip-ID: 8087:0025 class-ID: e001
  Report: btmgmt ID: hci0 rfk-id: 3 state: down bt-service: enabled,running rfk-block:
    hardware: no software: no address: <filter> bt-v: 5.1 lmp-v: 10 status: discoverable: no
    pairing: no
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 5 TiB used: 305.97 GiB (6.0%)
  SMART Message: Unable to run smartctl. Root privileges required.
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Western Digital model: WD BLACK SN770 1TB
    size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD
    serial: <filter> fw-rev: 731030WD temp: 29.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 maj-min: 259:4 vendor: Crucial model: CT500P2SSD8 size: 465.76 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 31.6 Gb/s lanes: 4 tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: P2CR012 temp: 26.9 C scheme: GPT
  ID-3: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Crucial model: CT2000BX500SSD1 size: 1.82 TiB block-size:
    physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter> fw-rev: 061 scheme: MBR
  ID-4: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Western Digital model: WD10EZEX-00BN5A0 size: 931.51 GiB
    block-size: physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: HDD rpm: 7200 serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 1A01 scheme: GPT
  ID-5: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 860 EVO 1TB size: 931.51 GiB
    block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 6.0 Gb/s tech: SSD serial: <filter>
    fw-rev: 3B6Q scheme: GPT
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 316.83 GiB size: 316.83 GiB (100.00%) used: 305.97 GiB (96.6%) fs: btrfs
    dev: /dev/sda5 maj-min: 8:5
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 599 MiB size: 597.8 MiB (99.80%) used: 624 KiB (0.1%) fs: vfat
    dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:3
  ID-3: /home raw-size: 316.83 GiB size: 316.83 GiB (100.00%) used: 305.97 GiB (96.6%) fs: btrfs
    dev: /dev/sda5 maj-min: 8:5
  ID-4: /var/log raw-size: 316.83 GiB size: 316.83 GiB (100.00%) used: 305.97 GiB (96.6%)
    fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sda5 maj-min: 8:5
  ID-5: /var/tmp raw-size: 316.83 GiB size: 316.83 GiB (100.00%) used: 305.97 GiB (96.6%)
    fs: btrfs dev: /dev/sda5 maj-min: 8:5
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 133 (default 60) cache-pressure: 100 (default) zswap: no
  ID-1: swap-1 type: zram size: 31.25 GiB used: 0 KiB (0.0%) priority: 100 comp: zstd
    avail: lzo-rle,lzo,lz4,lz4hc,deflate,842 max-streams: 16 dev: /dev/zram0
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 44.0 C mobo: 31.0 C gpu: amdgpu temp: 39.0 C mem: 40.0 C
  Fan Speeds (rpm): cpu: 838 case-1: 1099 case-2: 0 case-3: 971 gpu: amdgpu fan: 0
  Power: 12v: 10.14 5v: N/A 3.3v: N/A vbat: 3.18 gpu: amdgpu watts: 35.00
Info:
  Memory: total: 32 GiB available: 31.25 GiB used: 7.54 GiB (24.1%)
  Processes: 485 Power: uptime: 1h 5m states: freeze,mem,disk suspend: deep avail: s2idle
    wakeups: 2 hibernate: platform avail: shutdown, reboot, suspend, test_resume image: 12.48 GiB
    services: org_kde_powerdevil, power-profiles-daemon, upowerd Init: systemd v: 257
    default: graphical tool: systemctl
  Packages: 1556 pm: pacman pkgs: 1538 libs: 429 tools: octopi,paru pm: flatpak pkgs: 18
    Compilers: clang: 19.1.7 gcc: 15.1.1 Client: Unknown Client: garuda-rani inxi: 3.3.38
Garuda (2.7.2-1):
  System install date:     2025-03-16
  Last full system update: 2025-05-03
  Is partially upgraded:   No
  Relevant software:       snapper NetworkManager dracut
  Windows dual boot:       Probably (Run as root to verify)
  Failed units:
4

I think kernel 6.14.3/4 has some issues with audio at the least I’ve had the crackles and pops and use a widget (pipewire settings) to mitigate it for a time. you can also set up this here Pipewire audio crackling/popping fix no longer works after KDE 6 - #2 by Thee_Sly_Guy so pipewire isn’t always cutting audio off. i cant say it will help on bluetooth though or the mic.

2 Likes
5

I’ve had plenty of strange audio problems with Garuda since i started using it back around Feb/Mar 2025 (almost embarrassed to admit my first real Linux experience after 25 years of windows PC gaming, mainly online). Eventually i started fixing things with

alsamixer

in the terminal; have you played around with stuff in there? mute/unmute, test volume changes etc while playing sounds to make sure it’s not incorrectly labeling some in/out?

but i also am getting some crackling/pop/delay/drops lately that seem to have got worse. Hopefully i’ll be able to focus on it now that it seems like it might be a new cause of DotA 2 problems for me, and i’ll fix it with some sound driver/setting fiddling.
(i’ve just reinstalled Garuda for maybe the 5th time, always on XFCE for my aging hardware, and while i consider other distro, and tried XUbuntu for sake of hopefully improving Dota 2 performance, i really love Garuda and wow it’s way better than Ubuntu, so i keep fighting and reading and learning Arch :D))

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6

I followed the steps from the wiki in the link you posted but when it got to restarting the pipewire and wireplumber services they were not found. This lead me to Rani & reinstalling pipewire there.(This is somewhere I think Garuda could improve, especially for new users, sure Rani is a helpful tool but it doesn’t actually give any help or guidance as to what the competing tools are) Decided this time to install also as @Dracosophy mentioned trying alsamixer. Low & behold I have working audio again, at least somewhat. It’s working fine with the stereo options except Surround 5.1, which still has the same crackling loud noise.

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image1224×875 103 KB

I’m going to continue to try & fix surround sound if I can but least I have got functional audio back again.

What is the pipewire settings widget you talked about? I haven’t been able to find it in octopi.

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I tried alsamixer but I feel it doesn’t offer me much more than the normal GUI volume mixer provides. Perhaps I’m just not getting it.

Anyway thanks for the alsa suggestion as that appears to have set me on the path to a solution!

8

All you really needed to do with this config was in /usr/share/wireplumber/wireplumber.conf.d/ make a file called 51-disable-suspension.conf

 monitor.alsa.rules = [
  {
    matches = [
      {
        # Matches all sources
        node.name = "~alsa_input.*"
      },
      {
        # Matches all sinks
        node.name = "~alsa_output.*"
      }
    ]
    actions = {
      update-props = {
        session.suspend-timeout-seconds = 0
      }
    }
  }
]
# bluetooth devices
monitor.bluez.rules = [
  {
    matches = [
      {
        # Matches all sources
        node.name = "~bluez_input.*"
      },
      {
        # Matches all sinks
        node.name = "~bluez_output.*"
      }
    ]
    actions = {
      update-props = {
        session.suspend-timeout-seconds = 0
      }
    }
  }
]

And save it.
It shouldn’t break your audio. if your set up is a bit diffren you might need the second step on the arch wiki → here.

Some devices implement their own detection of silence and suspension. For them disabling node suspention alone won’t work. It’s possible to work around them by adding a small amount of noise, making it so the output never goes fully silent:

.../51-disable-suspension.conf

...
    session.suspend-timeout-seconds = 0,  # 0 disables suspend
    dither.method = "wannamaker3", # add dither of desired shape
    dither.noise = 2, # add additional bits of noise
...

the pipewire widget is Pipewire Settings - pling.com

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I have implemented that in the usr folder. Let’s see how it goes.

One question, how did you know the correct folder path? The Arch wiki was pointing me towards /etc/wireplumber/wireplumber.conf.d/51-disable-suspension.conf or ~/.config/wireplumber/wireplumber.conf.d/ but the path you had was the correct one.

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In this here

These Lua “configuration” scripts were then looked up in the standard configuration directories (/usr/share/wireplumber, /etc/wireplumber and ~/.config/wireplumber). The system also supported fragments of these scripts to be placed in directories called main.lua.d, policy.lua.d and bluetooth.lua.d respectively, in the same locations.

At that time it wasn’t working in the other areas for me. It was trial and error. and has worked for me since on multiple installs from arch to nix. Lua was ending at that time for the new format so just put it in the correct place