I have looked through a few threads on Sound issues with Zorin 18. I'd appreciate some help.
My hardware is not especially exotic.
AMD 9900X3D
AMD 7900XTX
32Gb ram
Sound is a Realtek HD Audio which is on the mainboard.
I am connecting via S/PDIF to a Sony receiver.
I have a Steelseries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless headset connected to USB C header via it's wireless box thing.
I've installed PulseAudo Volume meter.
In PulseAudio volume meter I see activity on the appropriate meters if I set the output to headset OR USB Audio.
But I can only hear sound from the headset. meter shows activity but no sound from the speakers if set to USB Audio.
This all works fine in Windows.
I can provide screenshots of anything required.
One thing I'm confused with. This is the drop-down in Sound Settings->output.
It seems to suggest that the Arctis Pro is on S/PDIF, when I t is not. Could this be why the USB Audio cannot send through the optical cable?
Welcome to the Forum!
What happens when You choose this Option? I mean S/-PDIF - Arctis Nova Pro Wireless. Do You get there from any Device Sound? And could You please show a Screenshot from PulseAudio with the Output Tab please? So that all Output Devices are visible.
Hi, many thanks for the fast response.
Yes, I can set the headset to Either Digital or Analog, and I get sound fine.
This is the Output tab from Pulse. At the moment I have it set to Analogue.
Okay, only to clarify: When You unplug the Arctis Headset, then comes Sound over the S/PDIF, yes?
No, I get zero sound in that case. Strangely, I enabled the HDMI Audio (one of my monitors has ■■■■■■ built-in speakers) and I can get sound from that.
This suggests to me that there's a problem with Realtek drivers.
I say that because previously I tried Fedora 43 Desktop and no issues with sounds. However, it managed to brick itself after updates, so I decided to try Zorin.
While I don't understand the issues you are having with your sound personally, I do know that some people who have headsets with mics, do have issues with them on Linux.
What I can tell you for certain, is that USB audio, is generally considered S/PDIF. I do not use headsets, sound quality are always sub-standard in speaker drivers. I use wired audiophile cans, plugged into a USB DAC, and that DAC takes over sound processing for the computer, over USB connection.
See on my screenshot, Digital Output S/PDIF, completely normal for USB, if as you say your headset sends a signal to a box, which is plugged via USB, then thats means that box, has got to be more then a receiver, its a DAC.
And yes, you can have 2 modes, digital over S/PDIF, (which is always the higher quality sound) or you can use analog mode, but typically analog, is 3.5mm jack, or RCA jacks.
1 Like
Ahh that explains why the headset is showing as S/PDIF. Ok, that makes sense.
As for audio quality, I'm nearly 70, and retired, and mostly play video games so that's where the headset comes in.
For listening to music or sometimes even games I use the Digital output to a Sony receiver -a very old one DB930 which has been in use for more than 25 years. Only supports DTS 
That feeds an equally old Bose AIM15 speakers.
All of which is to say it works. Usually. I'm going to grab an Ubuntu Live on a USB stick and see if that has any audio issues.
1 Like
Ok, I have tried booting off live USB drive for Fedora 43 and Ubuntu latest.
Neither play sound over the Optical connection.
Only Windows 11 seems to be able to play audio over that. Sucks.
I pulled out an old pair of Bose desktop speakers. Plugged into the Line out jack and they work fine. Either Analog audio or Digital IEC958.
So for what's it's worth it appears that S/PDIF Optical output does not work under at least these 3 distros.
So at least I have sound now.
