This affects me too. This is on a modern PowerEdge T20 server but it uses the same RealTek audio chip.
A workaround is to use one of the two methods: 1) Using pavucontrol, switch the output from "Speakers" to "Headphones (unplugged)". 2) Using alsamixer, increase the "Headphone" volume and disable "Speaker". This bug looks like the same one that's also expired at https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1133321 but it does appear to be genuine. ** Bug watch added: Red Hat Bugzilla #1133321 https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1133321 -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Touch seeded packages, which is subscribed to alsa-driver in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1404731 Title: [ Dell OptiPlex 7020, Realtek ALC3220, Green Line Out, Rear] Background noise Status in alsa-driver package in Ubuntu: Confirmed Bug description: Any time I start Ubuntu, just a sec before it starts I begin to hear background noise from speakers. And the noise isn't gone until I shutdown the system. By the way, when I start listening to any music, I can't get any bass (although, I have a speaker system with sub woofer, and it worked fine for me on the previous computer). A lot of workaround didn't help. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 14.04 Package: alsa-base 1.0.25+dfsg-0ubuntu4 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.13.0-43.72-generic 3.13.11.11 Uname: Linux 3.13.0-43-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.14.1-0ubuntu3.6 Architecture: amd64 AudioDevicesInUse: USER PID ACCESS COMMAND /dev/snd/controlC1: byte 1547 F.... pulseaudio /dev/snd/controlC0: byte 1547 F.... pulseaudio CurrentDesktop: Unity CurrentDmesg: [ 18.943961] IPv6: ADDRCONF(NETDEV_CHANGE): eth0: link becomes ready [ 19.717121] init: plymouth-upstart-bridge main process ended, respawning [ 19.722598] init: plymouth-upstart-bridge main process ended, respawning Date: Mon Dec 22 00:11:51 2014 InstallationDate: Installed on 2014-12-21 (0 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS "Trusty Tahr" - Release amd64 (20140722.2) PackageArchitecture: all SourcePackage: alsa-driver Symptom: audio Symptom_AlsaPlaybackTest: ALSA playback test through plughw:PCH successful Symptom_Card: Built-in Audio - HDA Intel PCH Symptom_Jack: Green Line Out, Rear Symptom_PulsePlaybackTest: PulseAudio playback test successful Symptom_Type: High background noise, or volume is too low Title: [OptiPlex 7020, Realtek ALC3220, Green Line Out, Rear] Background noise or low volume UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) dmi.bios.date: 04/25/2014 dmi.bios.vendor: Dell Inc. dmi.bios.version: A00 dmi.board.name: 08WKV3 dmi.board.vendor: Dell Inc. dmi.board.version: A00 dmi.chassis.type: 6 dmi.chassis.vendor: Dell Inc. dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnDellInc.:bvrA00:bd04/25/2014:svnDellInc.:pnOptiPlex7020:pvr01:rvnDellInc.:rn08WKV3:rvrA00:cvnDellInc.:ct6:cvr: dmi.product.name: OptiPlex 7020 dmi.product.version: 01 dmi.sys.vendor: Dell Inc. To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+bug/1404731/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages Post to : touch-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~touch-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
