Hi everyone, I’m experiencing an annoying audio "cutting" issue on Zorin OS 18. Whenever a sound starts playing (YouTube, system sounds, etc.), the first 1-2 seconds are muted. It feels like the audio device is going into a "suspend" or "power-save" mode and takes a moment to wake up.
Zorin 18 Core (Dual boot with Windows 11 Pro, fast startup disabled)
Hardware: Lenovo ThinkStation P350 Desktop
CPU: Intel i9-11th Gen
Ram: 64 GB
GPU: NVIDIA RTX 3060 (Proprietary drivers installed)
Audio: NVIDIA High Definition Audio via HDMI/DisplayPort
What I have tried so far:
Updated BIOS to the latest version (S0AKT49A).
Performed full system updates (sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade).
Checked for "power_save" settings in snd_hda_intel, but the issue persists.
I am using PipeWire (default in Zorin 18).
Could this be related to PipeWire's suspend-on-idle feature or an NVIDIA driver specific setting? Any help would be appreciated!
And also:
Audio:
Device-1: Intel Tiger Lake-H HD Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
Device-2: NVIDIA GA106 High Definition Audio driver: snd_hda_intel
Device-3: Logitech Brio 100 driver: snd-usb-audio,uvcvideo type: USB
API: ALSA v: k6.17.0-20-generic status: kernel-api
Server-1: PipeWire v: 1.0.5 status: active
(inxi -A)
I see you duel boot windows and linux can ya try turning off secure boot in bios and fast startup in windows and see if this solves any of the problems as linux dont work well with secure boot
thanks for the reply! I've already disabled the fast startup in windows but havent checked the secure boot yet. Ill go into the BIOS rn, disable it and see if it helps with the audio cutting issue. Ill report back shortly!!
Also check to see if you on wayland or x11 open settings then scroll to bottom system then about then system details
I just checked the BIOS and secure boot is already disabled. Like I said, Fast Startup is also off in Windows. The audio cutting is not happening right now, but after some use, it's going to happen again. I'm sure of it. Is there anything else I can do? Like idk maybe some kind of PipeWire config? I tried doing something with PipeWire before but it didn't work, so I just reset it. The issue still happens...
Im on x11. and somehow still happens 
ok x11 good you have nvidia so thats awsome...im not sure where to go next...might be some folks on here soon with more knoledge then i have who can help
thanks 
, its nice to see that this forum is actually alive. hope someone can help.
Welcome to the Forum!
Do You use external Speakers or internal? Headset/Headphones? Wired or Wireless? Did You checked Pulse Audio Volume Control? It is a Tool for set up Ausio Input And Output. You can install it with sudo apt install pavucontrol
When installed, You should take a Look at the Configuration and Output Tabs to check what Options and Audio Prifiles are there.
Thanks for the welcome!!
my audio software is pipewire and it says digital stereo HDMI output. (funny, Its not HDMI actually, display port) But I solved the problem by downgrading the nvidia drivers to 535 from 580. somehow worked. but Im not gonna close this forum immediately. just to make sure Its completely solved.
You can mark Your Post as Solution when downgrading the Driver has helped.
I will mark it as solved once I'm 100% sure it works.
Alright, the driver switch try did not work. So I swithced back do 580, and then... Tried ZorinOS on Wayland. And it... somehow worked. So yeah, the real solution is (90%) swithcing to Wayland with an Nvidia driver that newer than version 555 because of Explicit Sync thing.