No sound from right channel

Hello,

I am having Dell Inspiron 3542 Laptop. The hardware configuration is as under:

00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT DRAM Controller (rev 0b)
Subsystem: Dell Haswell-ULT DRAM Controller
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: hsw_uncore

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 0b) (prog-if 00 [VGA controller])
Subsystem: Dell Haswell-ULT Integrated Graphics Controller
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 46
Memory at f7400000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4M]
Memory at d0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
I/O ports at f000 [size=64]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at 000c0000 [disabled] [size=128K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: i915
Kernel modules: i915

00:03.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller (rev 0b)
Subsystem: Dell Haswell-ULT HD Audio Controller
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 54
Memory at f7a04000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

00:16.0 Communication controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series HECI #0 (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell 8 Series HECI
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 53
Memory at f7a0d000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=32]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: mei_me
Kernel modules: mei_me

00:1b.0 Audio device: Intel Corporation 8 Series HD Audio Controller (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell 8 Series HD Audio Controller
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 55
Memory at f7a00000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: snd_hda_intel
Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel

00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev e4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 40
Bus: primary=00, secondary=04, subordinate=04, sec-latency=0
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 3 (rev e4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 41
Bus: primary=00, secondary=06, subordinate=06, sec-latency=0
Memory behind bridge: f7900000-f79fffff
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.3 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev e4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 42
Bus: primary=00, secondary=07, subordinate=07, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 0000e000-0000efff
Memory behind bridge: f7800000-f78fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000f2100000-00000000f21fffff
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series PCI Express Root Port 5 (rev e4) (prog-if 00 [Normal decode])
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 43
Bus: primary=00, secondary=08, subordinate=08, sec-latency=0
I/O behind bridge: 0000d000-0000dfff
Memory behind bridge: f6000000-f70fffff
Prefetchable memory behind bridge: 00000000e0000000-00000000f1ffffff
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: pcieport

00:1d.0 USB controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series USB EHCI #1 (rev 04) (prog-if 20 [EHCI])
Subsystem: Dell 8 Series USB EHCI
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 23
Memory at f7a0b000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=1K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: ehci-pci

00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 8 Series LPC Controller (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell 8 Series LPC Controller
Flags: bus master, medium devsel, latency 0
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: lpc_ich
Kernel modules: lpc_ich

00:1f.2 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 8 Series SATA Controller 1 [AHCI mode] (rev 04) (prog-if 01 [AHCI 1.0])
Subsystem: Dell 8 Series SATA Controller 1 [AHCI mode]
Flags: bus master, 66MHz, medium devsel, latency 0, IRQ 44
I/O ports at f0b0 [size=8]
I/O ports at f0a0 [size=4]
I/O ports at f090 [size=8]
I/O ports at f080 [size=4]
I/O ports at f060 [size=32]
Memory at f7a0a000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=2K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: ahci
Kernel modules: ahci

00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corporation 8 Series SMBus Controller (rev 04)
Subsystem: Dell 8 Series SMBus Controller
Flags: medium devsel, IRQ 3
Memory at f7a09000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=256]
I/O ports at f040 [size=32]
Kernel modules: i2c_i801

06:00.0 Network controller: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9565 / AR9565 Wireless Network Adapter (rev 01)
Subsystem: Dell QCA9565 / AR9565 Wireless Network Adapter
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 18
Memory at f7900000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=512K]
Expansion ROM at f7980000 [disabled] [size=64K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: ath9k
Kernel modules: ath9k

07:00.0 Ethernet controller: Realtek Semiconductor Co., Ltd. RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller (rev 07)
Subsystem: Dell RTL810xE PCI Express Fast Ethernet controller
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 19
I/O ports at e000 [size=256]
Memory at f7800000 (64-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=4K]
Memory at f2100000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=16K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: r8169
Kernel modules: r8169

08:00.0 3D controller: NVIDIA Corporation GM108M [GeForce 840M] (rev a2)
Subsystem: Dell GM108M [GeForce 840M]
Flags: bus master, fast devsel, latency 0, IRQ 56
Memory at f6000000 (32-bit, non-prefetchable) [size=16M]
Memory at e0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=256M]
Memory at f0000000 (64-bit, prefetchable) [size=32M]
I/O ports at d000 [size=128]
[virtual] Expansion ROM at f7000000 [disabled] [size=512K]
Capabilities:
Kernel driver in use: nvidia
Kernel modules: nvidiafb, nouveau, nvidia_drm, nvidia

Last night, I installed Zorin OS 15.3. Everything is running smooth except for the sound. When I test speakers in sound settings, sound if coming from the left channel but not from the right channel. However, this is not happening in Windows 10.

I researched on the internet to find any clues, but to no avail. I even tried searching for the Dell sound drivers, but there aren't any.

Furthermore, I just can't figure out what could be wrong. Any help will be highly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

That is an uncommon issue as far as I know. It sounds like your OS is outputting in Mono. OK, please load up pulse audio volume control.

Click on the Output Devices tab. Make sure Port is set to Speakers. Also, make sure that it says its outputting Stereo. If it is, then lets check balance.

On the right side, there are 3-buttons just above the Port selection box. The middle button is a channel lock button, make sure the channels are unlocked.

Doing this will release the ability to manually adjust the left and right channels. Make sure that both channels are balanced in the middle.

Once your sure they are balanced, lock the channels again to prevent them from changing. If you are still having issues with this, we will have to help you digging deeper.

But this is what I know, to help you now.

I followed your instructions to further troubleshoot the problem, but no good.

I continued to debug by connecting a stereo headset with mic and found the right channel to functioning correctly. Which means that something was wrong with the stereo audio cable.

Luckily, I had a spare stereo audio cable which came to the rescue and both the channels are working properly now.

Furthermost, I suspect the culprit could be my tom cat who keeps doing things in the night when I am fast asleep. Probably, he must have sat on the audio cable thus damaging the connection right near the plug.

Anyway, thanks a lot for your valuable help, especially the PulseAudio Volume Control app which is very handy to manage audio settings.

Thanks once again.

1 Like

Open alsamixer in terminal. Check that the sliders are stereo and not just left channel turned up.
If you think it could be a cable issue, can you swap the left and right over at the output and see if the fault moves or not.
Don't let that cat near your mouse! :grinning:

Yes, I love Pulse Audio for managing audio settings, its a very powerful tool! You can also install Pulse Effects on your computer, which is an extension of Pulse Audio, giving you equalizer abilities to EQ your audio, if your into that sort of thing that is lol.

And I know what you mean, I've had a cat totally destroy a headphone cable when they were a kitten, guess they liked the taste of cable, good thing it wasn't energized when they did it, or they get a good shock lol.

Also, not checking the cable first, reminded me of when people bring their mower into my shop cause it couldn't start, they forgot to check the gas tank, they didn't put any fuel in it. Its like that moment in the Sling Blade movie when Carol looks inside the tiller gas tank and he says...

It aint got no gas in it, umm hmm. LOL :joy:

I checked, and they all are showing as 00 for S/PDIF thru S/PDIF 4 which confirms the output is not mono.

I only wished if they would listen to me :wink:

LOL

These cats have done the same here also. Damaged the headphones and what not. In a very recent incident, my alpha cat dragged my spectacles all the way down under the refrigerator and I couldn't find them. It was my daughter who recalled seeing him do something near the refrigerator. Gladly, we spotted the spectacles but unfortunately, when I pulled it out, there were scratches right in the center, making it of no use to me. But since I had spent a good amount of money on it, I have no other option but to use it.

LOL