Ubuntu Version:
Example: 26.04
Desktop Environment (if applicable):
Example: GNOME
Problem Description:
Audio sounds correct when played through headphones, but audio played through the speakers sounds extremely scratchy. It sounds similar to what audio sounds like before the “broken audio fix” needed after installing Ubuntu on a Chromebook, but I’m pretty sure that audio was also broken on headphones, while this isn’t.
I had this issue on 25.10 as well; it occurred after I installed some updates. I made a post about it at that time, but every comment I got on that post was “Update to 26.04”. I did, and it did not fix this issue.
I looked and could not find anything else on this topic; every other issue I’ve found on distorted audio is from recordings, while this is from playback. An example of the broken audio can be found in the link below (turn up the volume to hear it properly).
https://www.reddit.com/r/Ubuntu/comments/1vf1rlz/recently_been_having_distorted_extremely_scratchy/
Relevant System Information:
I am using an Acer Chromebook 515. My computer uses the Intel Alder Lake PCH-P High Definition Audio Controller, which I have seen multiple other threads have problems with, but not the exact same problem. They usually report no audio period.
What I’ve Tried:
I have tinkered around with audio levels, and I have re-run the script that enables audio support for Ubuntu on Chrome devices. I also ran the diagnostic script linked here, but it found no issues. https://knowledgebase.frame.work/ubuntu-audio-issues-Bkw2Wlf2o