[Fixed] Selecting "Speakers" as Output Device for Audio produces no sound

[DigGumPig]

If i select "Speakers" as the Steam Decks' Audio Output Device i get no sound at all. If i instead select "Default (Speakers)" i get sound coming from the built-in speakers.

This is* problematic when connecting Steam Deck to an external display that does not have built-in Speakers where i would like to use the Steam Decks' built-in speakers for sound.

Because Steam Deck defaults the Audio Output Device to "Default (External Device)" when connecting to an external display with no built-in speakers, i will get no sound. If i then switch to "Speakers" as the Audio Output Device while connected to an External Display so that i could get sound from the Steam Decks' built-in speakers, i get no sound.

If for example i connect my bluetooth headphones to Steam Deck and then select "External Device" as the Audio Output Device instead of "Default (External Device)" i will have sound. But if i select "Speakers" i will not have sound.

This issue occurs both in-game and on the Home Screen in Gaming Mode.


I am on the latest Stable version of SteamOS which is 3.5.17 at the time of writing.
Steam Deck LCD 64GB
I'm pretty sure i have had the same issue with SteamOS 3.4.x

----------------------------------------------------------------------

The issue has been resolved as of Steam Client Version 1726256783 running SteamOS 3.5.19
At the time of writing i was on Steam Client Version 1726683985 and the issue is nowhere to be found.

[deaddoof]

aplay -l

wpctl status

Why don't you post the output of those commands?

[DigGumPig]

Into konsole in desktop mode i presume?

Originally posted by deaddoof:

aplay -l

wpctl status

Why don't you post the output of those commands?

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by DigGumPig:

Into konsole in desktop mode i presume?

Originally posted by deaddoof:

aplay -l

wpctl status

Why don't you post the output of those commands?

yep

[DigGumPig]

Originally posted by deaddoof:

Originally posted by DigGumPig:

Into konsole in desktop mode i presume?

yep

(1)(deck@PSP2 ~)$ aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: acp5x [acp5x], device 0: Playback/Capture nau8821-hifi-0 []
Subdevices: 1/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: acp5x [acp5x], device 1: CS35L41 Stereo Playback multicodec-1 []
Subdevices: 0/1
Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
(deck@PSP2 ~)$ wpctl status
PipeWire 'pipewire-0' [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, cookie:2238297901]
└─ Clients:
36. WirePlumber [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:1131]
37. WirePlumber [export] [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:1131]
38. pipewire [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:1130]
39. Chromium input [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:3746]
41. pipewire [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:1130]
42. pipewire [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:1130]
43. pipewire [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:1130]
99. xdg-desktop-portal [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:2551]
100. Plasma PA [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:2612]
101. pipewire [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:1559]
108. wpctl [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:4310]
109. Steam [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:3210]
110. Steam Voice Settings [0.3.62, deck@PSP2, pid:3210]

Audio
├─ Devices:
│ 82. Rembrandt Radeon High Definition Audio Controller [alsa]
│ 93. ACP/ACP3X/ACP6x Audio Coprocessor [alsa]
│
├─ Sinks:
│ 47. Filter Chain Sink [vol: 0.41]
│ 50. Virtual Sink [vol: 1.00]
│ * 79. ACP/ACP3X/ACP6x Audio Coprocessor Speaker [vol: 0.45]
│ 92. ACP/ACP3X/ACP6x Audio Coprocessor Headphones [vol: 1.00]
│
├─ Sink endpoints:
│
├─ Sources:
│ 46. Filter Chain Source [vol: 1.00]
│ 51. Virtual Source [vol: 1.00]
│ * 90. ACP/ACP3X/ACP6x Audio Coprocessor Headset Microphone + Internal Microphone [vol: 1.00]
│
├─ Source endpoints:
│
└─ Streams:
45. filter-chain-capture
58. monitor_FL
80. input_FL
81. input_FR
94. monitor_FR
48. filter-chain-playback
83. output_FR > Speaker:playback_FR [paused]
84. output_FL > Speaker:playback_FL [paused]
49. output.virtual-sink
66. output_FL > Speaker:playback_FL [paused]
67. output_FR > Speaker:playback_FR [paused]
52. input.virtual-source
74. input_FL < Headset Microphone + Internal Microphone:capture_FL [paused]
75. monitor_FL
76. input_FR < Headset Microphone + Internal Microphone:capture_FR [paused]
77. monitor_FR

Video
├─ Devices:
│
├─ Sinks:
│
├─ Sink endpoints:
│
├─ Sources:
│
├─ Source endpoints:
│
└─ Streams:

Settings
└─ Default Configured Node Names:
(deck@PSP2 ~)$

[deaddoof]

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1285#issuecomment-1841911587

├─ Sinks:
│ 47. Filter Chain Sink [vol: 0.41]
│ 50. Virtual Sink [vol: 1.00]

Found the problem. These sinks might not be configured properly. There is a workaround in the git issue page.

Post your wpctl status there.

[sgtnoodle]

Perhaps also related, I've discovered that recently only the left and right channels come through for me when using 5.1 channel HDMI.

[DigGumPig]

Originally posted by deaddoof:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1285#issuecomment-1841911587

├─ Sinks:
│ 47. Filter Chain Sink [vol: 0.41]
│ 50. Virtual Sink [vol: 1.00]

Found the problem. These sinks might not be configured properly. There is a workaround in the git issue page.

Post your wpctl status there.

alrighty then. i've just posted it on github

[DigGumPig]

Originally posted by deaddoof:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1285#issuecomment-1841911587

├─ Sinks:
│ 47. Filter Chain Sink [vol: 0.41]
│ 50. Virtual Sink [vol: 1.00]

Found the problem. These sinks might not be configured properly. There is a workaround in the git issue page.

Post your wpctl status there.

and i just followed the steps on github to manually fix the issue. it totally worked !

I tried it with my wireless headphones just now and switched between them and the built-in speakers. the sound is coming through !

Thank you very much !

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by DigGumPig:

Originally posted by deaddoof:

https://github.com/ValveSoftware/SteamOS/issues/1285#issuecomment-1841911587

├─ Sinks:
│ 47. Filter Chain Sink [vol: 0.41]
│ 50. Virtual Sink [vol: 1.00]

Found the problem. These sinks might not be configured properly. There is a workaround in the git issue page.

Post your wpctl status there.

and i just followed the steps on github to manually fix the issue. it totally worked !

I tried it with my wireless headphones just now and switched between them and the built-in speakers. the sound is coming through !

Thank you very much !

The fix may end up deleted in an OS update. Just to give you a heads up. I hope they fix it for you.

[DigGumPig]

Originally posted by deaddoof:

Originally posted by DigGumPig:

and i just followed the steps on github to manually fix the issue. it totally worked !

I tried it with my wireless headphones just now and switched between them and the built-in speakers. the sound is coming through !

Thank you very much !

The fix may end up deleted in an OS update. Just to give you a heads up. I hope they fix it for you.

ah thank you for the heads up. Well at the speed the stable channel gets updated it may be a while. Will update the post if the issue comes back

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by DigGumPig:

Originally posted by deaddoof:

The fix may end up deleted in an OS update. Just to give you a heads up. I hope they fix it for you.

ah thank you for the heads up. Well at the speed the stable channel gets updated it may be a while. Will update the post if the issue comes back

Valve follows a yearly release cycle for major changes. Minor changes happens whenever

3.X happens every year around November

3.5.X happens whenever they feel like it.

[DigGumPig]

Unfortunately, the latest Stable SteamOS 3.5.19 reverts the manual fix. As

Originally posted by deaddoof:

mentioned

Following the steps again from here [github.com] fixes the issue again.

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by DigGumPig:

Unfortunately, the latest Stable SteamOS 3.5.19 reverts the manual fix. As

Originally posted by deaddoof:

mentioned

Following the steps again from here [github.com] fixes the issue again.

Yea. its an immutable distro. Of course these fixes will revert. Go to the Steam OS issue link and say Steam OS 3.5.19 breaks your sound.

[joemannumber1]

This is ridiculous. Total amateur hour if your audio drivers don't work. I shouldn't have to go into desktop mode and use the console to make the device speakers function. Get your act together valve.

[deaddoof]

Originally posted by joemannumber1:

This is ridiculous. Total amateur hour if your audio drivers don't work. I shouldn't have to go into desktop mode and use the console to make the device speakers function. Get your act together valve.

The audio drivers work. There are various test to check. Audio is just a giant mess because the standard is a giant mess. Intel HD audio created so many woes.

https://wiki.ubuntu.com/SndHdaIntelSoundProblems

In the situation above, Pipewire is a fast changing project that is less than 5 years old. Test coverage is always an issue with projects like Pipewire unless IHV themselves send bug reqports which they usually do not.

aplay -l

 speaker-test -Dplughw:1,1 -c2

**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 3: HDMI 0 [HDMI 0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 7: HDMI 1 [HDMI 1]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 8: HDMI 2 [HDMI 2]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 0: Generic [HD-Audio Generic], device 9: HDMI 3 [HDMI 3]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: acp5x [acp5x], device 0: Playback/Capture nau8821-hifi-0 []
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: acp5x [acp5x], device 1: CS35L41 Stereo Playback multicodec-1 []
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0