Audio/Video distortion in Ubuntu VM on Surface Pro 11 (ARM)

Hi, Non-Tech newbie here humbly reaching out for help with, what I believe is a known issue. The stuttering audio/video on my out of the box surface pro 11 (ARM).

I have reached out on multiple platforms and seen various posts on the issue, but non resulting in a resolution, only multiple tech troubleshooting actions.

Is there anyone out here, that could assist with enlightening me as to if this is a bug, or simply is Ubuntu VM simply non compatible with the surface pro 11, thanks a lot.

Device Environment:
Device: Microsoft Surface Pro, 11th Edition
OS: OS Product: Windows 11
System Type: ARM64
CPU: Ubuntu Version:
Virtualisation: Hypervisor Enabled
Audio Adapter: Qualcomm(R) Aqstic™ Audio Adapter

Ubuntu VM Environment:
Version: Ubuntu Studio 25.04 arm64 - Debian GNU/Linux trixie/sid
Desktop Environment: Ubuntu:GNOME on x11.
System Kernel: Linux 6.14.0-35-generic (aarch64)
VirtualBox VM 7.2.4 r170995 win.arm64
Audio Controller: AC’97 Audio Controller
VM Audio Adapter: ICH - Intel 82801AA-ICH

Problem Description:
When attempting to play video Audio/Video performance is very poor. The video/Audio stutters constantly, with brief clips of audio being heard. If I disable (Mute) the audio, then the video plays just fine. During my research of the issue, I have seen others noting it could be a buffer issue, which I attempted to change, but the sample rate size (16bit 48000), is not available to change on the device. When changed on the VM (via audio Configuration app), to match the device, the same results were present.

Example:
Opened Firefox and selected audio clip.
Buffered briefly, then started to play with immediate stuttering.
When muted audio, video played fine.

Relevant System Information:
Qualcomm Audio Adapter driver version 1.0.4281.8500
Surface Pro 11 Internal Speakers

Screenshots or Error Messages:
Ubuntu Sys Log Error/Warning:
00:00:33.610008 Audio: Warning: Scheduling hint of stream ‘[WasAPI] Output:0’ is bigger (5ms) than used period size (0ms)

What I’ve Tried:
Various VM Audio Controller setting changes.
Installed and upgraded Guest Additions
Installed Ubuntu Standard VM - Same result.
Various Processor, Acceleration, Audio Driver settings changes

known Issues:
As previously mentioned, there are numerous posts on multiple platforms discussing the topic, but none that I could find, proposes a resolution, or even a workaround for the issue.

Please provide the report from the following command. That will ensure the Community knows exactly what “beast” is being tamed! :slight_smile:

inxi -SAGxxx

My own report looks like this:

SNAPSHOT__inxi_-SAGxxx

Added tags for Virtualization & Ubuntu-Studio

Hi, thanks for the reply. Sorry, as mentioned a non-tech here. What do you mean “Added tags”?

Hi, Thanks for your reply. I have installed and copy/pasted what I believe is the mentioned report below, please let me know if this is indeed what is required, thanks.

System:
Host: Ubuntu Kernel: 6.14.0-35-generic arch: aarch64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc
v: 14.2.0 clocksource: arch_sys_counter
Desktop: GNOME v: 48.0 tk: GTK v: 3.24.49 wm: gnome-shell
tools: gsd-screensaver-proxy dm: SDDM Distro: Kubuntu 25.04 (Plucky Puffin)
base: Ubuntu
Graphics:
Device-1: VMware SVGA II Adapter driver: vmwgfx v: 2.20.0.0 ports:
active: Virtual-1 empty: Virtual-2, Virtual-3, Virtual-4, Virtual-5,
Virtual-6, Virtual-7, Virtual-8 bus-ID: 00:00.0 chip-ID: 15ad:0406
class-ID: 0300
Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.16 with: Xwayland v: 24.1.6
compositor: gnome-shell driver: X: loaded: modesetting unloaded: fbdev
alternate: vmware dri: vmwgfx gpu: vmwgfx display-ID: :0 screens: 1
Screen-1: 0 s-res: 1920x1141 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 508x301mm (20.00x11.85")
s-diag: 590mm (23.25")
Monitor-1: Virtual-1 res: mode: 1920x1141 hz: 60 scale: 100% (1) size: N/A
modes: max: 1920x1141 min: 640x480
API: EGL v: 1.5 platforms: device: 0 drv: vmwgfx device: 1 drv: swrast
gbm: drv: vmwgfx surfaceless: drv: vmwgfx x11: drv: vmwgfx inactive: wayland
API: OpenGL v: 4.5 compat-v: 4.1 vendor: vmware mesa
v: 25.0.7-0ubuntu0.25.04.2 glx-v: 1.4 direct-render: yes renderer: SVGA3D;
build: RELEASE; LLVM; device-ID: 15ad:0406
API: Vulkan v: 1.4.304 layers: 2 surfaces: xcb,xlib device: 0 type: cpu
driver: N/A device-ID: 10005:0000
Info: Tools: api: clinfo, eglinfo, glxinfo, vulkaninfo
de: kscreen-console,kscreen-doctor wl: wayland-info x11: xdriinfo,
xdpyinfo, xprop, xrandr
Audio:
Device-1: Intel 82801AA AC97 Audio driver: snd_intel8x0 v: kernel
bus-ID: 00:02.0 chip-ID: 8086:2415 class-ID: 0401
API: ALSA v: k6.14.0-35-generic status: kernel-api with: osspd
status: active
Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.22 status: off with: a2jmidid status: off
Server-2: PipeWire v: 1.2.7 status: active with: 1: pipewire-pulse
status: active 2: wireplumber status: active 3: pipewire-alsa type: plugin
4: pw-jack type: plugin

Ah, found it, thanks for updating the post, appreciated.

As requested, reposted with quotes, thanks.