Speakers not working on fresh install [ubuntu 24.04.1 LTS]

Support and Help
1

so i have recently got ubuntu linux, so i’m a beginner here. this is my first issue so far

in sound output devices, i have headphones - built-in audio, hdmi displayport, and digital output (s/pdif) - built-in audio

i assume my hdmi displayport is my monitor, which doesn’t have speakers

my headphones work fine

so my assumption is my speakers are the digital output (s/pdif), and they don’t produce sound (although they seem to produce volume, according to the visualizer above test)

in alsamixer, if i go to what seems like my speakers, i see 4 bars, s/pdif, s/pdif 1, s/pdif 2, s/pdif 3. they aren’t muted, but they are at a “maximum” of 0, and can’t be risen

i’ve looked stuff up and it seems that ubuntu has moved from pulseaudio to pipewire, so finding guides is confusing. i’ve read advice that says it being digital naturally means it’s inaudible, and it needs to be changed to analog, and it used to be done in pulseaudio config file. as for pipewire, i read it comes partially included in ubuntu, and i don’t know how to use it or if the thing i need is included naturally.

my speakers are usb + black connector (amongst the different colored audio sockets in the back, this uses one which is black), and has 2 speakers, one with volume control and headphones.

plugging headphones into the speaker, my headphones don’t work. they only work when plugged into the front of my machine.

2

Usually, the line out port on the back of a PC is green?
Do you have a green audio line out port?

3

Let’s do a bit of basic troubleshooting.

  1. Do your speakers have have a model printed on them? Many do. If not, what can you tell us about them that is more descriptive than “usb + black connector?”

    By “black connector,” do you mean a 3.5mm mini analog audio plug?
    image
    Or do you mean something else?

  2. Open a terminal. Try the command lsusb and then hit Enter. That’s the machine’s list of USB devices.

    Run lsusb before plugging in the USB speakers, and again after plugging in the speakers. Did a new line of output appear? If so, show us.

  3. If this is a fresh install of 24.04, then do you still have the Install USB? If so, boot it and enter the “Try Ubuntu” environment. Do your speakers work in that environment?

4

I too run 24.04 - Cinnamon

Here are my speaker settings.
The 3.5 Jack goes to active speakers.
3.5 Jack

3.5 speaker jack
3.5 speaker jack1622×1784 173 KB

USB

usb speaker
usb speaker1618×1804 191 KB

5

Re your graphic above that says USB. What happens if you click on Line Out Built-in-Audio and then see if any audio is working?

(I usually launch firefox/youtube and play any music to test if sound is coming out of the speakers).

6

Have each system switched on and then change the selected output.
The sound just comes out of the selected output.

Any old sound file on the desktop will do.
For this particular test I used a music MP4.

7

That is correct. But here is the issue.

On my laptop which has internal speakers I also use a TV (with speakers) as a monitor. Connected by HDMI cable.

In System Settings>Sound under Output the Output Device will be listed as Speakers - Built in Audio but when the HDMI cable is plugged in another output device will be added - HDMI/DisplayPort - Built in Audio.

If HDMI is selected as the audio output then sound comes out of the TV speakers.

What do you see in System Settings>Sound>Output? What do you see when the headphones are plugged in? What do you see when the speakers are plugged in to the headphone socket?

Do not have HDMI/DisplayPort selected as your sound output device. You will not get any sound output even if you click Test and click each speaker in turn. Why? Your monitor does not have speakers.

But what happens when you click Test when the headphones are plugged in? What happens when the speakers are plugged in and you click Test?

Regards

8

ok for number 1: the guy above you was right, it seems like putting it in the green hole made some progress. “line out - built-in audio” has appeared in my output devices, and clicking it gives me the choice to select analog configuration. since i have only 2 speakers, i clicked analog stereo output, but still there is no sound, and the visualizer above “test” still shows volume
for number 2: no new line of output appeared. i have:
bus 001 device 001 linux foundation 2.0 root hub
buss 001 device 002 my keyboard
bus 001 device 004 my mouse
bus 002 device 001 linux foundation 3.0 root hub
nothing changes before or after unplugging the speakers, but plugging them in does light up the power light on the speakers
for number 3, i will try this when i can, it may be later today and i’ll let you know

it seems like my issue is the usb isn’t detected, since now it’s showing up properly in output devices but not on the lsusb list

thanks for the response

9

my headphones play the test sound as expected, but my speakers don’t. for both, the little bar above test shows volume is produced

10

the black connector, if it looks like the 3.5 mm connector in #2 then that is the connector for sound. The usb connector provides power to the speaker set. I have a set exactly like that - a 3.5 mm plug that goes in the headphone socket and a USB-A that plugs into nearby USB socket for power. I ordered the set from Amazon. For such small speakers, they sound pretty good. If you connect the 3.5 mm jack into a rear socket, make sure it goes into the light green socket.
Added: It could be your setup is nothing like this, if so, just ignore it.