Hi everyone,
I’m trying to understand some recurring audio issues I've been having on Linux. For context, here is my PC audio setup:
* Motherboard: Gigabyte B550M-K with Realtek onboard audio
* Device 1: Logitech Speakers (3.5mm jack) connected to the rear port
* Device 2: Fifine AmpliGame H3 Headphone (3.5mm jack) connected to the front port
* Device 3: Bonkyo M999 Condenser Mic (3.5mm jack) connected to the rear port
The Problem:
Across all distros I've tried on a fresh install (CachyOS, Nobara, Fedora, Arch Linux, Pika OS, openSUSE Tumbleweed), my playback devices (Device 1 & Device 2) do not output any sound after booting every time I play audio.
My current workaround: I have to install alsa-utils, open alsamixer in the terminal, and manually disable Auto-Mute.
Additionally, my mic always sounds robotic and has a lot of static/background noise out of the box. To fix this, I have to open pavucontrol (or Volume Control) and lower the mic input volume down to around 20–36%.
Questions I'd like to understand:
* Why does this not happen on Windows? On Windows, everything works out of the box without any tweaking.
* Is this issue specific to the devices I'm using (mic, speakers, headset)?
* Is this specific to the audio drivers/codecs (e.g., Realtek chipsets)?
* Is this a universal issue across all Linux distros/architecture?
* Does switching from 3.5mm Jack to USB devices change anything regarding these issues? (Do USB headsets/mics bypass these motherboard/ALSA quirks entirely?)
Would love to hear any insights or explanations on why Linux handles these audio defaults this way!
Thanks!