Hi everyone,
I need to buy a new mainboard and need you experience. Nowadays, many mainboards have Realtek ALC4080 or ALC4082 audio chipsets. But like with any new chip, there might be driver issues (there have been lagging, static, noise, pops, etc. for some windows users).
The forum won’t let me create a poll, so please comment if you do or don’t have issues with these sound chips.
My experience taught me that HDMI is the best solution - until my receiver blew up. Can’t fix, and too stingy to replace it so I bought separate Class-D TP3116D2 amplifiers for 2.1 front channels and 2 rears - but I’m using ALC1200.
ALC4080/2 should prove to be a better technical solution - but I’d be more interested to look at issues from Linux users, and not Windows.
Perhaps using HDMI as a fallback until a possible driver issue is fixed could be a good idea, but I guess I would need a display with integrated speakers or adapters.
But doesn’t sound over HDMI just redirect the sound from the mainboard sound chip to the graphics card’s HDMI output?
That is why I am asking for feedback here. The link was just one of the very few sources where people that actually have the chip share their experiences. Also if there are driver issues on windows, it does not look good for linux. I’ve read warnings not to buy 4080/4082 for linux use, but the situation might have improved. Really sad that no one tests new hardware for linux compatibility.
HDMI passes the digital audio - best used with a receiver.
There has only been one discussion here about ALC4080 this year
No sound from optical port (S/PDIF out - Realtek ALC 4080) with MSI MAG X570S Edge Max Wifi Mother Board
This article has good comparison between ALC1220 and ALC4080 codecs
The Realtek ALC4080 on the new Intel boards demystified and the differences to the ALC1220 | Insider | igor’sLAB
The audio specfications are no different, but ALC4080 has additional amplifiers for audio outputs
and might have better audio quality
Audio controls in alsamixer are very similar to ALC1200 codecs, but ALC4080 has an internal USB bus to connect to the additional amplifiers and pre-amplifiers, so ALSA playback and capture devices in aplay -l and arecord -l are shown as USB devices
ALC4080 requires a Use Case Manager configuration to get the USB audio channels lined up correctly
The online source code for package alsa-ucm-conf has a list of motherboards that should work without issues on latest kernels.
One difference that will not matter for most users is the tools like hdajackretask for snd_hda_intel driver do not work for snd_usb_audio driver, but not many users want/need tools to hack internal codec configuration
So you are saying the lack of discussions could mean that there is no issue to complain about? Then there might be hope for a plug and play experience.
The list of mainboards is quite short - what would happen on a board that is not on that list - would there be no sound?
I own a msi b650m mortar wifi board that has an alc4080 with spdif output. It doesn’t work. There is light coming out of the cable but my receiver does not output sound. Currently using kernel 6.1.0rc7-1 and alsa-lib 1.2.8-1. Manjaro hardware configuration says it is a Family 17h (Models 10h-1fh) HD Audio Controller (AMD). Pavu control is set to use ac3 etc passtrough over digital stereo (IEC958).
Have tried modifying the ucm2/USB-Audio/USB-Audio.conf file with the ‘’ 151f’’ parameter but it was already there. In the list was no mention of my board. Adding it manually didn’t work haha.
HDMI gives better (higher resolution uncompressed) output with more formats which won’t translate properly through S/PIDIF.
I had an optical cable with my Yamaha reciever, but just quit using it - not worth the hassle when your HDMI carries video too.
My av receiver does not have hdmi. Older one but still functional. Regardless of that, spdif should just work as it always have done. To my understanding it is a alsa-lib update matter.
So I’ve got at least stereo sound working with spdif now. Installed meta packages manjaro-pipewire (wireplumber option). Use the pro audio profile option under configuration/usb audio and in my case I had to select usb audio pro 2 (use as fallback) under output devices. Hope this helps people having at least 2 channel playback.
I think your last comment answers the question about what if a board is not on the list
If onboard audio USB device + PipeWire pro-audio profile can play stereo audio, the device is probably detected as a generic digital playback device in ALSA, but not specifically as an ALC4080 device supporting additional channels
analog audio from jack sockets may be working for stereo playback only
I also think that if it was possible to use HDMI output, surround sound would work because it is using a different (PCI) audio device that does not need UCM to sort out the channels
If the device was on the UCM list I would expect it to have a Hi-Fi profile containing different stereo and surround options
To add the device to the UCM list requires the motherboard name and device ID number
Please post more information about audio devices
inxi -Aazy ; lsusb -d 0db0:
~ inxi -Aazy ; lsusb -d 0db0: ✔
Audio:
Device-1: AMD Rembrandt Radeon High Definition Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel bus-ID: 1-6:5 chip-ID: 0db0:7696 pcie:
class-ID: 0300 gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16 bus-ID: 0f:00.1
chip-ID: 1002:1640 class-ID: 0403
Device-2: AMD Family 17h/19h HD Audio vendor: Micro-Star MSI
driver: snd_hda_intel v: kernel pcie: gen: 4 speed: 16 GT/s lanes: 16
bus-ID: 0f:00.6 chip-ID: 1022:15e3 class-ID: 0403
Device-3: Micro Star USB Audio type: USB
driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
Sound API: ALSA v: k6.1.0-1-MANJARO running: yes
Sound Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.21 running: no
Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 16.1 running: no
Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.63 running: yes
Bus 001 Device 005: ID 0db0:7696 Micro Star International USB Audio
inxi does not show the ID code and some other information
but lsusb found it - 0db0:7696
The configuration in /usr/share/alsa/ucm2/USB-Audio/USB-Audio.conf could be edited to add
the ID number and name to the commented list
# 0db0:419c MSI MPG X570S Carbon Max Wifi
# 0db0:7696 MSI MAG B650M Mortar Wifi
# 0db0:82c7 MSI MEG Z690I Unify
And add device ID number to command for Define.ProfileName
Regex "USB((0414:a00e)|(0b05:(1996|1a(16|2[07])))|(0db0:(005a|151f|1feb|419c|7696|82c7|a073|a47c|b202|d6e7)))"
}
True.Define.ProfileName "Realtek/ALC4080"
If that works it can be posted to: Issues · alsa-project/alsa-ucm-conf · GitHub
And other boards can be patched in a similar way if the Device ID number is known
Already tried that. Even replacing ‘‘Realtek/ALC4080’’ with ‘‘0db0:7696’’. Still no raw passtrhough of ac3 etc over spdif.
gr.
If the Use Case Manager cannot be patched for ALSA to recognise USB audio device as ALC4080 codec,
audio device will be continue to be detected in ALSA as a generic USB device, and surround sound profiles and ac3 will probably also continue to not be available in PipeWire
I suggest you get more information from ALSA
sudo alsa-info.sh --no-upload
and create an issue report for this motherboard at Issues · alsa-project/alsa-ucm-conf · GitHub
Here’s an update. I made a mistake. Usb-Audio.conf now looks like this.
If.realtek-alc4080 {
Condition {
Type RegexMatch
String "${CardComponents}"
# 0414:a00e Gigabyte Z590 Aorus Pro AX
# 0b05:1996 ASUS on multiple boards (including ASUS ROG Maximus XIII)
# 0b05:1a16 ASUS ROG Strix B660-F Gaming WiFi
# 0b05:1a20 ASUS ROG STRIX Z690-I Gaming Wifi
# 0b05:1a27 ALC4082 on ASUS ROG Maximus Z690 Hero
# 0db0:005a MSI MPG Z690 CARBON WIFI
# 0db0:151f MSI X570S EDGE MAX WIFI
# 0db0:1feb MSI Edge Wifi Z690
# 0db0:419c MSI MPG X570S Carbon Max Wifi
# 0db0:82c7 MSI MEG Z690I Unify
# 0db0:a073 MSI MAG X570S Torpedo Max
# 0db0:a47c MSI MEG X570S Ace Max
# 0db0:b202 MSI MAG Z690 Tomahawk Wifi
# 0db0:d6e7 MSI MPG X670E Carbon Wifi
# 0db0:7696 MSI MAG B650M Mortar Wifi
Regex "USB((0414:a00e)|(0b05:(1996|1a(16|2[07])))|(0db0:(005a|151f|1feb|419c|82c7|a073|a47c|b202|d6e7|7696)))"
}
True.Define.ProfileName "Realtek/ALC4080"
}
Still no ac3/dts passthrough over spdif with pipewire. Switched back to pulseaudio and pavucontrol. Option HiFi is available (2.0/5.1/7.1) but only stereo over digital out, no passthrough. I’m guessing these are analog?
If the HiFi Profile is available in PulseAudio/PipeWire, the configuration changes must have been successful to get the device using /usr/share/alsa/ucm2/USB-Audio/Realtek/ALC4080-HiFi.conf
Please post response to this command to show more information about the UCM profile
alsaucm -c hw:2 dump text
that might show if spdif optical output is limited to stereo. If it does not, check PulseAudio information
pactl list cards
Switched back to pipewire. Was having videostutters en sound problem out of the blue.
Here’s the requisted info.
~ alsaucm -c hw:2 dump text ✔
Verb.HiFi {
Comment "HiFi 2.0 channels"
Device.Speaker {
Comment Speakers
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
JackControl "Speaker - Output Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackChannels 2
PlaybackMixerElem PCM,0
PlaybackPCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackPriority 200
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.Headphones {
Comment "Front Headphones"
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
JackControl "Headphone - Output Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackMixerElem PCM,1
PlaybackPCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,1"
PlaybackPriority 300
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.SPDIF {
Comment "S/PDIF Output"
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackMixerElem PCM,2
PlaybackPCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,3"
PlaybackPriority 100
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.Line1 {
Comment "Line Input"
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
CaptureMixerElem Line,0
CapturePCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,1"
CapturePriority 100
JackControl "Line - Input Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.Mic1 {
Comment Microphone
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
CaptureMixerElem Mic,0
CapturePCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,2"
CapturePriority 300
JackControl "Mic - Input Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
TQ HiFi
}
}
}
Verb."HiFi 5+1" {
Comment "HiFi 5.1 channels"
Device.Speaker {
Comment Speakers
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
JackControl "Speaker - Output Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackChannels 6
PlaybackMixerElem PCM,0
PlaybackPCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackPriority 200
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.Headphones {
Comment "Front Headphones"
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
JackControl "Headphone - Output Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackMixerElem PCM,1
PlaybackPCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,1"
PlaybackPriority 300
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.SPDIF {
Comment "S/PDIF Output"
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackMixerElem PCM,2
PlaybackPCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,3"
PlaybackPriority 100
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.Line1 {
Comment "Line Input"
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
CaptureMixerElem Line,0
CapturePCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,1"
CapturePriority 100
JackControl "Line - Input Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.Mic1 {
Comment Microphone
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
CaptureMixerElem Mic,0
CapturePCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,2"
CapturePriority 300
JackControl "Mic - Input Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
TQ HiFi
}
}
}
Verb."HiFi 7+1" {
Comment "HiFi 7.1 channels"
Device.Speaker {
Comment Speakers
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
JackControl "Speaker - Output Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackChannels 8
PlaybackMixerElem PCM,0
PlaybackPCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackPriority 200
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.Headphones {
Comment "Front Headphones"
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
JackControl "Headphone - Output Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackMixerElem PCM,1
PlaybackPCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,1"
PlaybackPriority 300
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.SPDIF {
Comment "S/PDIF Output"
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
PlaybackMixerElem PCM,2
PlaybackPCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,3"
PlaybackPriority 100
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.Line1 {
Comment "Line Input"
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
CaptureMixerElem Line,0
CapturePCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,1"
CapturePriority 100
JackControl "Line - Input Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
TQ HiFi
}
}
Device.Mic1 {
Comment Microphone
Values {
CaptureCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
CaptureMixerElem Mic,0
CapturePCM "_ucm0001.hw:Audio,2"
CapturePriority 300
JackControl "Mic - Input Jack"
PlaybackCTL "_ucm0001.hw:Audio"
TQ HiFi
}
}
}
~ pactl list cards 1 ✘
Card #43
Name: alsa_card.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00
Driver: alsa
Owner Module: n/a
Properties:
api.acp.auto-port = "false"
api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
api.alsa.card = "2"
api.alsa.card.longname = "Generic USB Audio at usb-0000:0c:00.0-6, high speed"
api.alsa.card.name = "USB Audio"
api.alsa.path = "hw:2"
api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio2"
device.api = "alsa"
device.bus = "usb"
device.bus-id = "usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0c:00.0-usb-0:6:1.0"
device.description = "USB Audio"
device.enum.api = "udev"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-usb"
device.name = "alsa_card.usb-Generic_USB_Audio-00"
device.nick = "USB Audio"
device.plugged.usec = "29237836"
device.product.id = "0x7696"
device.product.name = "USB Audio"
device.serial = "Generic_USB_Audio"
device.subsystem = "sound"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.1/0000:02:00.0/0000:03:0c.0/0000:0c:00.0/usb1/1-6/1-6:1.0/sound/card2"
device.vendor.id = "0x0db0"
device.vendor.name = "Micro Star International"
media.class = "Audio/Device"
factory.id = "14"
client.id = "33"
object.id = "43"
object.serial = "43"
object.path = "alsa:pcm:2"
alsa.card = "2"
alsa.card_name = "USB Audio"
alsa.long_card_name = "Generic USB Audio at usb-0000:0c:00.0-6, high speed"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
device.string = "2"
Profiles:
off: Uit (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
HiFi: HiFi 2.0 channels (sinks: 3, sources: 2, priority: 8000, available: yes)
HiFi 7+1: HiFi 7.1 channels (sinks: 3, sources: 2, priority: 1, available: yes)
HiFi 5+1: HiFi 5.1 channels (sinks: 3, sources: 2, priority: 1, available: yes)
Active Profile: HiFi
Ports:
[Out] SPDIF: S/PDIF Output (type: SPDIF, priority: 100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability unknown)
Properties:
port.type = "spdif"
card.profile.port = "0"
Part of profile(s): HiFi 7+1, HiFi 5+1, HiFi
[Out] Headphones: Front Headphones (type: Headphones, priority: 300, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Headphone - Output, not available)
Properties:
port.type = "headphones"
port.availability-group = "Headphone - Output"
card.profile.port = "1"
Part of profile(s): HiFi 7+1, HiFi 5+1, HiFi
[Out] Speaker: Speakers (type: Speaker, priority: 200, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Speaker - Output, not available)
Properties:
port.type = "speaker"
port.availability-group = "Speaker - Output"
card.profile.port = "2"
Part of profile(s): HiFi 7+1, HiFi 5+1, HiFi
[In] Mic1: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 300, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Mic - Input, not available)
Properties:
port.type = "mic"
port.availability-group = "Mic - Input"
card.profile.port = "3"
Part of profile(s): HiFi 7+1, HiFi 5+1, HiFi
[In] Line1: Line Input (type: Line, priority: 100, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Line - Input, not available)
Properties:
port.type = "line"
port.availability-group = "Line - Input"
card.profile.port = "4"
Part of profile(s): HiFi 7+1, HiFi 5+1, HiFi
Card #44
Name: alsa_card.pci-0000_0f_00.1
Driver: alsa
Owner Module: n/a
Properties:
api.acp.auto-port = "false"
api.acp.auto-profile = "false"
api.alsa.card = "0"
api.alsa.card.longname = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfc988000 irq 102"
api.alsa.card.name = "HD-Audio Generic"
api.alsa.path = "hw:0"
api.alsa.use-acp = "true"
api.dbus.ReserveDevice1 = "Audio0"
device.api = "alsa"
device.bus = "pci"
device.bus_path = "pci-0000:0f:00.1"
device.description = "Rembrandt Radeon High Definition Audio Controller"
device.enum.api = "udev"
device.icon_name = "audio-card-analog-pci"
device.name = "alsa_card.pci-0000_0f_00.1"
device.nick = "HD-Audio Generic"
device.plugged.usec = "4420677"
device.product.id = "0x1640"
device.product.name = "Rembrandt Radeon High Definition Audio Controller"
device.subsystem = "sound"
sysfs.path = "/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:08.1/0000:0f:00.1/sound/card0"
device.vendor.id = "0x1002"
device.vendor.name = "Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]"
media.class = "Audio/Device"
factory.id = "14"
client.id = "33"
object.id = "44"
object.serial = "44"
object.path = "alsa:pcm:0"
alsa.card = "0"
alsa.card_name = "HD-Audio Generic"
alsa.long_card_name = "HD-Audio Generic at 0xfc988000 irq 102"
alsa.driver_name = "snd_hda_intel"
device.string = "0"
Profiles:
off: Uit (sinks: 0, sources: 0, priority: 0, available: yes)
output:hdmi-stereo: Digitaal stereo (HDMI) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5900, available: yes)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra1: Digital Stereo (HDMI 2) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra2: Digital Stereo (HDMI 3) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra3: Digital Stereo (HDMI 4) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-stereo-extra4: Digital Stereo (HDMI 5) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 5700, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra1: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 2) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra1: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 2) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra2: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 3) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra2: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 3) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra3: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 4) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra3: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 4) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround-extra4: Digital Surround 5.1 (HDMI 5) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
output:hdmi-surround71-extra4: Digital Surround 7.1 (HDMI 5) uitvoer (sinks: 1, sources: 0, priority: 600, available: no)
pro-audio: Pro Audio (sinks: 5, sources: 0, priority: 1, available: yes)
Active Profile: off
Ports:
hdmi-output-0: HDMI / DisplayPort (type: HDMI, priority: 5900, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 1, available)
Properties:
port.type = "hdmi"
port.availability-group = "Legacy 1"
device.icon_name = "video-display"
card.profile.port = "0"
device.product.name = "Optoma WXGA"
Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo
hdmi-output-1: HDMI / DisplayPort 2 (type: HDMI, priority: 5800, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 2, not available)
Properties:
port.type = "hdmi"
port.availability-group = "Legacy 2"
device.icon_name = "video-display"
card.profile.port = "1"
Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra1, output:hdmi-surround-extra1, output:hdmi-surround71-extra1
hdmi-output-2: HDMI / DisplayPort 3 (type: HDMI, priority: 5700, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 3, not available)
Properties:
port.type = "hdmi"
port.availability-group = "Legacy 3"
device.icon_name = "video-display"
card.profile.port = "2"
Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra2, output:hdmi-surround-extra2, output:hdmi-surround71-extra2
hdmi-output-3: HDMI / DisplayPort 4 (type: HDMI, priority: 5600, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 4, not available)
Properties:
port.type = "hdmi"
port.availability-group = "Legacy 4"
device.icon_name = "video-display"
card.profile.port = "3"
Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra3, output:hdmi-surround-extra3, output:hdmi-surround71-extra3
hdmi-output-4: HDMI / DisplayPort 5 (type: HDMI, priority: 5500, latency offset: 0 usec, availability group: Legacy 5, not available)
Properties:
port.type = "hdmi"
port.availability-group = "Legacy 5"
device.icon_name = "video-display"
card.profile.port = "4"
Part of profile(s): output:hdmi-stereo-extra4, output:hdmi-surround-extra4, output:hdmi-surround71-extra4
This is a odd ball out of the blue but did you check if the motherboard manufacturer has upgraded firmware for this audio card?
I recently build a computer for a friend (msi motherboard with ALC 4080) and there was a firmware upgrade specifically targeting usb audio spdif issues
So it might be worth checking the website from witch board you are looking at?
Read something simular about an asus board that needed firmware update for the new alc chips. No such update exists for my msi board. It’s a rather new platform so maybe msi already incorporated the new firmware. Anyway my new receiver, denon avc-x3800, is arriving this week so it should be a thing of the past.