No Sound / Pulseaudio not running

I booted up this morning and now have no sound - All was working fine last night, as I was doing some mixing work. There’s been no software updates since then either.

I have 3 potential sound outputs - 2 monitors (My usual speakers are plugged into one of these) and a USB DAC built into my Hi-Fi amp. ALl have been working previously with no notable issues. This isn’t related to a single device - I seem to have no audio service running. Pulse Audio Volume Control just hangs when I start it.

Looking at my log I’m getting circling errors in pulseaudio like this…

pulseaudio.service: Failed with result 'timeout'.
pulseaudio.service: State 'stop-sigterm' timed out. Killing.
pulseaudio.service: Killing process 56880 (pulseaudio) with signal SIGKILL.
pulseaudio.service: Main process exited, code=killed, status=9/KILL
Failed to start Sound Service.
Stale PID file, overwriting.
pulseaudio.service: start operation timed out. Terminating.
org.kde.klipper: Invalid or non-local url for preview: QUrl("pulseaudio.service:")

Here’s my inxi…

System:
  Host: silvershield Kernel: 6.1.1-1-MANJARO arch: x86_64 bits: 64
    compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0 parameters: BOOT_IMAGE=/@/boot/vmlinuz-6.1-x86_64
    root=UUID=656d8930-a03a-4850-a10b-696abf952cd4 rw rootflags=subvol=@
    quiet splash udev.log_priority=3
  Desktop: KDE Plasma v: 5.26.4 tk: Qt v: 5.15.7 wm: kwin_x11 dm: SDDM
    Distro: Manjaro Linux base: Arch Linux
Machine:
  Type: Desktop System: ASUS product: N/A v: N/A serial: N/A
  Mobo: ASUSTeK model: PRIME Z690-P D4 v: Rev 1.xx serial: 210992078509415
    UEFI: American Megatrends v: 1008 date: 01/13/2022
Battery:
  Message: No system battery data found. Is one present?
Memory:
  RAM: total: 31.1 GiB used: 6.32 GiB (20.3%)
  Array-1: capacity: 64 GiB slots: 4 EC: None max-module-size: 16 GiB
    note: est.
  Device-1: Controller0-ChannelA-DIMM0 type: no module installed
  Device-2: Controller0-ChannelA-DIMM1 type: DDR4 detail: synchronous
    size: 16 GiB speed: 3200 MT/s volts: curr: 1.2 min: 1.2 max: 1.35
    width (bits): data: 64 total: 64 manufacturer: Corsair
    part-no: CMK32GX4M2E3200C16 serial: N/A
  Device-3: Controller1-ChannelA-DIMM0 type: no module installed
  Device-4: Controller1-ChannelA-DIMM1 type: DDR4 detail: synchronous
    size: 16 GiB speed: 3200 MT/s volts: curr: 1.2 min: 1.2 max: 1.35
    width (bits): data: 64 total: 64 manufacturer: Corsair
    part-no: CMK32GX4M2E3200C16 serial: N/A
PCI Slots:
  Slot: 0 type: PCIe lanes: 16 status: available length: long volts: 3.3
    bus-ID: ff:01.0
  Slot: 1 type: PCIe lanes: 1 status: available length: short volts: 3.3
    bus-ID: ff:1b.2
  Slot: 2 type: PCIe lanes: 16 status: available length: long volts: 3.3
    bus-ID: ff:1b.3
  Slot: 3 type: PCIe lanes: 16 status: available length: long volts: 3.3
    bus-ID: 06:1b.4
  Slot: 4 type: PCIe lanes: 16 status: available length: long volts: 3.3
    bus-ID: ff:1b.5
CPU:
  Info: model: 12th Gen Intel Core i5-12600 socket: LGA1700 bits: 64
    type: MT MCP arch: Alder Lake gen: core 12 level: v3 note: check
    built: 2021+ process: Intel 7 (10nm ESF) family: 6 model-id: 0x97 (151)
    stepping: 5 microcode: 0x26
  Topology: cpus: 1x cores: 6 tpc: 2 threads: 12 smt: enabled cache:
    L1: 480 KiB desc: d-6x48 KiB; i-6x32 KiB L2: 7.5 MiB desc: 6x1.2 MiB
    L3: 18 MiB desc: 1x18 MiB
  Speed (MHz): avg: 1741 high: 3300 min/max: 800/6100 base/boost: 4356/4800
    scaling: driver: intel_pstate governor: powersave volts: 1.2 V
    ext-clock: 100 MHz cores: 1: 600 2: 3300 3: 600 4: 600 5: 3300 6: 3300
    7: 799 8: 3300 9: 600 10: 600 11: 3300 12: 600 bogomips: 79284
  Flags: 3dnowprefetch abm acpi adx aes aperfmperf apic arat
    arch_capabilities arch_lbr arch_perfmon art avx avx2 avx_vnni bmi1 bmi2
    bts cat_l2 cdp_l2 clflush clflushopt clwb cmov constant_tsc cpuid
    cpuid_fault cx16 cx8 de ds_cpl dtes64 dtherm dts epb ept ept_ad erms est
    f16c flexpriority flush_l1d fma fpu fsgsbase fsrm fxsr gfni hfi ht hwp
    hwp_act_window hwp_epp hwp_notify hwp_pkg_req ibpb ibrs ibrs_enhanced ibt
    ida intel_pt invpcid invpcid_single lahf_lm lm mca mce md_clear mmx
    monitor movbe movdir64b movdiri msr mtrr nonstop_tsc nopl nx ospke pae
    pat pbe pcid pclmulqdq pconfig pdcm pdpe1gb pebs pge pku pln pni popcnt
    pse pse36 pts rdpid rdrand rdseed rdt_a rdtscp rep_good sdbg sep
    serialize sha_ni smap smep smx split_lock_detect ss ssbd sse sse2 sse4_1
    sse4_2 ssse3 stibp syscall tm tm2 tme tpr_shadow tsc tsc_adjust
    tsc_deadline_timer tsc_known_freq umip vaes vme vmx vnmi vpclmulqdq vpid
    waitpkg x2apic xgetbv1 xsave xsavec xsaveopt xsaves xtopology xtpr
  Vulnerabilities:
  Type: itlb_multihit status: Not affected
  Type: l1tf status: Not affected
  Type: mds status: Not affected
  Type: meltdown status: Not affected
  Type: mmio_stale_data status: Not affected
  Type: retbleed status: Not affected
  Type: spec_store_bypass mitigation: Speculative Store Bypass disabled via
    prctl
  Type: spectre_v1 mitigation: usercopy/swapgs barriers and __user pointer
    sanitization
  Type: spectre_v2 mitigation: Enhanced IBRS, IBPB: conditional, RSB
    filling, PBRSB-eIBRS: SW sequence
  Type: srbds status: Not affected
  Type: tsx_async_abort status: Not affected
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel Alder Lake-S GT1 [UHD Graphics 770] vendor: ASUSTeK
    driver: i915 v: kernel arch: Gen-12.2 process: Intel 10nm built: 2021-22+
    ports: active: DP-1,HDMI-A-2 empty: HDMI-A-1 bus-ID: 00:02.0
    chip-ID: 8086:4690 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: Microsoft LifeCam Studio type: USB
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid,uvcvideo bus-ID: 1-1.1:12
    chip-ID: 045e:0772 class-ID: 0300
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 21.1.6 compositor: kwin_x11 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting alternate: fbdev,vesa dri: iris gpu: i915 display-ID: :0
    screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 7680x2160 s-dpi: 96 s-size: 2032x571mm (80.00x22.48")
    s-diag: 2111mm (83.1")
  Monitor-1: DP-1 pos: right model: Samsung U28E590 serial: HTPJ806172
    built: 2017 res: 3840x2160 hz: 60 dpi: 161 gamma: 1.2 chroma: red: x: 0.635
    y: 0.341 green: x: 0.310 y: 0.635 blue: x: 0.157 y: 0.059 white: x: 0.314
    y: 0.329 size: 607x345mm (23.9x13.58") diag: 698mm (27.5") ratio: 16:9
    modes: 3840x2160, 2560x1440, 1920x1080, 1680x1050, 1600x900, 1280x1024,
    1440x900, 1280x800, 1152x864, 1280x720, 1024x768, 832x624, 800x600,
    640x480, 720x400
  Monitor-2: HDMI-A-2 mapped: HDMI-2 pos: primary,left
    model: LG (GoldStar) HDR 4K serial: 100167 built: 2022 res: 3840x2160 hz: 60
    dpi: 163 gamma: 1.2 chroma: red: x: 0.682 y: 0.314 green: x: 0.278
    y: 0.675 blue: x: 0.153 y: 0.047 white: x: 0.314 y: 0.329
    size: 600x340mm (23.62x13.39") diag: 690mm (27.2") ratio: 16:9
    modes: 3840x2160, 2560x1440, 1920x1080, 1600x900, 1280x1024, 1280x800,
    1280x720, 1024x768, 800x600, 720x576, 720x480, 640x480
  EDID-Warnings: 1: parse_edid: unhandled CEA mode 97 2: parse_edid:
    unhandled CEA mode 96 3: parse_edid: unhandled CEA mode 93 4: parse_edid:
    unhandled CEA mode 94 5: parse_edid: unhandled CEA mode 95
  API: OpenGL v: 4.6 Mesa 22.3.1 renderer: Mesa Intel UHD Graphics 770
    (ADL-S GT1) direct render: Yes
Audio:
  Device-1: Intel Alder Lake-S HD Audio vendor: ASUSTeK driver: snd_hda_intel
    v: kernel bus-ID: 1-1.1:12 chip-ID: 045e:0772
    alternate: snd_sof_pci_intel_tgl class-ID: 0300 bus-ID: 00:1f.3
    chip-ID: 8086:7ad0 class-ID: 0403
  Device-2: Microsoft LifeCam Studio type: USB
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid,uvcvideo
  Device-3: Sony PS-HX500 type: USB driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid
    bus-ID: 1-3:5 chip-ID: 054c:0baa class-ID: 0300
  Device-4: Cambridge Audio CA CXA61 2.0 type: USB driver: snd-usb-audio
    bus-ID: 1-9:7 chip-ID: 22e8:170b class-ID: 0102
  Sound API: ALSA v: k6.1.1-1-MANJARO running: yes
  Sound Server-1: JACK v: 1.9.21 running: no
  Sound Server-2: PulseAudio v: 16.1 running: yes
  Sound Server-3: PipeWire v: 0.3.63 running: yes
Network:
  Device-1: Realtek RTL8125 2.5GbE vendor: ASUSTeK driver: r8169 v: kernel
    pcie: gen: 2 speed: 5 GT/s lanes: 1 port: 4000 bus-ID: 05:00.0
    chip-ID: 10ec:8125 class-ID: 0200
  IF: enp5s0 state: up speed: 1000 Mbps duplex: full mac: 04:42:1a:e9:5a:c5
  IP v4: 192.168.68.102/24 type: dynamic noprefixroute scope: global
    broadcast: 192.168.68.255
  IP v6: fe80::d7b8:7c76:1a7a:4644/64 type: noprefixroute scope: link
  WAN IP: 77.100.90.133
Bluetooth:
  Message: No bluetooth data found.
Logical:
  Message: No logical block device data found.
RAID:
  Hardware-1: Intel Volume Management Device NVMe RAID Controller driver: vmd
    v: 0.6 port: N/A bus-ID: 00:0e.0 chip-ID: 8086:467f rev: class-ID: 0104
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 10.01 TiB used: 4.05 TiB (40.5%)
  ID-1: /dev/nvme0n1 maj-min: 259:0 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 980 PRO 500GB
    size: 465.76 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: S5GYNX0T101140X rev: 5B2QGXA7 temp: 37.9 C
    scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes health: PASSED on: 44d 13h cycles: 328
    read-units: 6,796,178 [3.47 TB] written-units: 5,594,437 [2.86 TB]
  ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1 maj-min: 259:1 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 980 PRO 1TB
    size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B speed: 63.2 Gb/s
    lanes: 4 type: SSD serial: S5GXNS0RC48348R rev: 5B2QGXA7 temp: 37.9 C
    scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes health: PASSED on: 40d 14h cycles: 324
    read-units: 9,189,957 [4.70 TB] written-units: 10,980,680 [5.62 TB]
  ID-3: /dev/sda maj-min: 8:0 vendor: Western Digital
    model: WD40EZRZ-22GXCB0 family: Blue size: 3.64 TiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B sata: 3.1 speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: HDD
    rpm: 5400 serial: WD-WCC7K0FSK29H rev: 0A80 temp: 34 C scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 233d 9h cycles: 503
  ID-4: /dev/sdb maj-min: 8:16 vendor: Western Digital
    model: WD40EZRZ-00GXCB0 family: Blue size: 3.64 TiB block-size:
    physical: 4096 B logical: 512 B sata: 3.1 speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: HDD
    rpm: 5400 serial: WD-WCC7K7CKD7R1 rev: 0A80 temp: 28 C scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 1y 294d 6h cycles: 672
  ID-5: /dev/sdc maj-min: 8:32 vendor: Samsung model: SSD 850 EVO 500GB
    family: based SSDs size: 465.76 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B
    logical: 512 B sata: 3.1 speed: 6.0 Gb/s type: SSD serial: S3R3NF0J947780K
    rev: 3B6Q temp: 29 C scheme: GPT
  SMART: yes state: enabled health: PASSED on: 3y 110d 22h cycles: 964
    written: 78.62 TiB
  ID-6: /dev/sdd maj-min: 8:48 type: USB vendor: Micron model: CT1000X8SSD9
    size: 931.51 GiB block-size: physical: 512 B logical: 512 B type: SSD
    serial: 2230E32AAA81 rev: PMAP scheme: MBR
  SMART Message: Unknown USB bridge. Flash drive/Unsupported enclosure?
  Message: No optical or floppy data found.
Partition:
  ID-1: / raw-size: 215.63 GiB size: 215.63 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 94.36 GiB (43.8%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p4
    maj-min: 259:5 label: N/A uuid: 656d8930-a03a-4850-a10b-696abf952cd4
  ID-2: /boot/efi raw-size: 300 MiB size: 299.4 MiB (99.80%)
    used: 612 KiB (0.2%) fs: vfat block-size: 512 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p1
    maj-min: 259:2 label: NO_LABEL uuid: 048C-6C0A
  ID-3: /cloud raw-size: 3.64 TiB size: 3.58 TiB (98.40%)
    used: 2.9 TiB (80.9%) fs: ext4 block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/sda1
    maj-min: 8:1 label: N/A uuid: 9d44b0e8-08c3-44d3-a2de-ab7df0f4492e
  ID-4: /home raw-size: 215.63 GiB size: 215.63 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 94.36 GiB (43.8%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p4
    maj-min: 259:5 label: N/A uuid: 656d8930-a03a-4850-a10b-696abf952cd4
  ID-5: /mnt/gnome-root raw-size: 215.62 GiB size: 211.18 GiB (97.94%)
    used: 157.68 GiB (74.7%) fs: ext4 block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p2
    maj-min: 259:3 label: manjaro uuid: 026a5788-7046-42eb-b2af-e4d193246186
  ID-6: /run/media/keith/Music raw-size: 931.45 GiB
    size: 931.23 GiB (99.98%) used: 743.76 GiB (79.9%) fs: vfat
    block-size: 512 B dev: /dev/sdd1 maj-min: 8:49 label: Music
    uuid: 55D2-D130
  ID-7: /scratch raw-size: 244.99 GiB size: 244.99 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 186.44 GiB (76.1%) fs: ntfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/sdc4
    maj-min: 8:36 label: Scratch uuid: 082A54672A545432
  ID-8: /var/cache raw-size: 215.63 GiB size: 215.63 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 94.36 GiB (43.8%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p4
    maj-min: 259:5 label: N/A uuid: 656d8930-a03a-4850-a10b-696abf952cd4
  ID-9: /var/log raw-size: 215.63 GiB size: 215.63 GiB (100.00%)
    used: 94.36 GiB (43.8%) fs: btrfs block-size: 4096 B dev: /dev/nvme0n1p4
    maj-min: 259:5 label: N/A uuid: 656d8930-a03a-4850-a10b-696abf952cd4
Swap:
  Kernel: swappiness: 60 (default) cache-pressure: 100 (default)
  ID-1: swap-1 type: partition size: 34.21 GiB used: 4.2 MiB (0.0%)
    priority: -2 dev: /dev/nvme0n1p3 maj-min: 259:4 label: swap
    uuid: 20e13c13-0198-440d-932c-da4e8560f4c3
Unmounted:
  ID-1: /dev/nvme1n1p1 maj-min: 259:6 size: 200 MiB fs: vfat label: N/A
    uuid: C459-1F93
  ID-2: /dev/nvme1n1p2 maj-min: 259:7 size: 128 MiB fs: N/A label: N/A
    uuid: N/A
  ID-3: /dev/nvme1n1p3 maj-min: 259:8 size: 668.12 GiB fs: ntfs
    label: Windows uuid: 28FE59B8FE597ECE
  ID-4: /dev/nvme1n1p4 maj-min: 259:9 size: 823 MiB fs: ntfs label: N/A
    uuid: 603A302D3A300298
  ID-5: /dev/nvme1n1p5 maj-min: 259:10 size: 169.12 GiB fs: ext4
    label: Timeshift uuid: de8f4479-2e5d-4bed-a7d4-55d1c1490aa8
  ID-6: /dev/sdb1 maj-min: 8:17 size: 3.64 TiB fs: ntfs label: Cloud
    uuid: 01D59F5766495230
  ID-7: /dev/sdc1 maj-min: 8:33 size: 600 MiB fs: vfat label: N/A
    uuid: 3D66-94F4
  ID-8: /dev/sdc2 maj-min: 8:34 size: 177.86 GiB fs: ext4 label: N/A
    uuid: 93926c19-7031-4f15-9487-0b3f22ff14f0
USB:
  Hub-1: 1-0:1 info: Hi-speed hub with single TT ports: 16 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s chip-ID: 1d6b:0002 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-2: 1-1:11 info: Realtek RTS5411 Hub ports: 3 rev: 2.1 speed: 480 Mb/s
    chip-ID: 0bda:5411 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 1-1.1:12 info: Microsoft LifeCam Studio type: Video,Audio,HID
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid,uvcvideo interfaces: 5 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s power: 500mA chip-ID: 045e:0772 class-ID: 0300
  Device-2: 1-1.3:13 info: LG USA USB Controls
    type: HID,Abstract (modem),CDC-Data driver: cdc_acm,hid-generic,usbhid
    interfaces: 3 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s chip-ID: 043e:9a39 class-ID: 0a00
    serial: 205NTGY2Y167
  Device-3: 1-2:3 info: ASUSTek AURA LED Controller type: HID
    driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s power: 16mA
    chip-ID: 0b05:19af class-ID: 0300 serial: 9876543210
  Device-4: 1-3:5 info: Sony PS-HX500 type: Audio,HID
    driver: hid-generic,snd-usb-audio,usbhid interfaces: 3 rev: 2.0
    speed: 480 Mb/s power: 10mA chip-ID: 054c:0baa class-ID: 0300
  Device-5: 1-9:7 info: Cambridge Audio CA CXA61 2.0 type: Audio
    driver: snd-usb-audio interfaces: 2 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s power: 100mA
    chip-ID: 22e8:170b class-ID: 0102
  Device-6: 1-11:8 info: Dell Universal Receiver type: Keyboard,Mouse,HID
    driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 3 rev: 2.0 speed: 12 Mb/s
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 413c:301c class-ID: 0300
  Device-7: 1-12:9 info: MosArt Wireless Keyboard/Mouse type: Keyboard,Mouse
    driver: hid-generic,usbhid interfaces: 2 rev: 1.1 speed: 12 Mb/s
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 062a:4101 class-ID: 0301
  Hub-3: 1-13:10 info: Alcor Micro USB Hub ports: 4 rev: 2.0 speed: 480 Mb/s
    power: 100mA chip-ID: 058f:6254 class-ID: 0900
  Hub-4: 2-0:1 info: Super-speed hub ports: 9 rev: 3.1 speed: 20 Gb/s
    chip-ID: 1d6b:0003 class-ID: 0900
  Device-1: 2-3:2 info: Micron CT1000X8SSD9 type: Mass Storage driver: uas
    interfaces: 1 rev: 3.2 speed: 10 Gb/s power: 896mA chip-ID: 0634:5602
    class-ID: 0806 serial: 2230E32AAA81
Sensors:
  System Temperatures: cpu: 39.0 C mobo: N/A
  Fan Speeds (RPM): N/A
Repos:
  Packages: 1735 pm: pacman pkgs: 1724 libs: 511 tools: pamac,yay pm: flatpak
    pkgs: 11
  Active pacman repo servers in: /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist
    1: https://mirror.alpix.eu/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    2: https://mirror.truenetwork.ru/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    3: https://mirror.telepoint.bg/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    4: https://mirror.freedif.org/Manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    5: https://download.nus.edu.sg/mirror/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    6: https://mirrors.sjtug.sjtu.edu.cn/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    7: https://mirrors.pku.edu.cn/manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
    8: https://bd.mirror.vanehost.com/Manjaro/stable/$repo/$arch
Processes:
  CPU top: 5 of 370
  1: cpu: 21.0% command: music started by: dolphin pid: 2959
    mem: 185.5 MiB (0.5%)
  2: cpu: 7.2% command: msedge pid: 45685 mem: 243.3 MiB (0.7%)
  3: cpu: 5.4% command: ksystemlog pid: 46833 mem: 192.2 MiB (0.6%)
  4: cpu: 4.1% command: [kswapd0] pid: 111 mem: 0.00 MiB (0.0%)
  5: cpu: 2.9% command: msedge pid: 45630 mem: 197.2 MiB (0.6%)
  Memory top: 5 of 370
  1: mem: 1236.9 MiB (3.8%) command: sqlservr pid: 609 cpu: 1.5%
  2: mem: 502.2 MiB (1.5%) command: plasmashell pid: 1277 cpu: 2.0%
  3: mem: 292.6 MiB (0.9%) command: msedge pid: 45581 cpu: 2.0%
  4: mem: 291.4 MiB (0.9%) command: kwin_x11 pid: 1183 cpu: 2.5%
  5: mem: 243.3 MiB (0.7%) command: msedge pid: 45685 cpu: 7.2%
Info:
  Processes: 370 Uptime: 39m wakeups: 3 Init: systemd v: 252
  default: graphical tool: systemctl Compilers: gcc: 12.2.0 clang: 14.0.6
  Shell: Zsh (sudo) v: 5.9 default: Bash v: 5.1.16 running-in: konsole
  inxi: 3.3.24

Checking the Audio services gave me the following…

PIPEWIRE (systemctl --user status pipewire.service)

● pipewire.service - PipeWire Multimedia Service
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pipewire.service; disabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Sun 2023-01-22 11:56:36 GMT; 43min ago
TriggeredBy: ● pipewire.socket
   Main PID: 1401 (pipewire)
      Tasks: 2 (limit: 38182)
     Memory: 2.0M
        CPU: 33ms
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/session.slice/pipewire.service
             └─1401 /usr/bin/pipewire

Jan 22 11:56:36 silvershield systemd[1066]: Started PipeWire Multimedia Service.
Jan 22 11:56:36 silvershield pipewire[1401]: mod.rt: Can't find xdg-portal: (null)
Jan 22 11:56:36 silvershield pipewire[1401]: mod.rt: found session bus but no portal

PULSEAUDIO (systemctl --user status pulseaudio.service)

● pulseaudio.service - Sound Service
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pulseaudio.service; disabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: activating (start) since Sun 2023-01-22 12:39:53 GMT; 41s ago
TriggeredBy: ● pulseaudio.socket
   Main PID: 59592 (pulseaudio)
      Tasks: 2 (limit: 38182)
     Memory: 7.3M
        CPU: 60ms
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/session.slice/pulseaudio.service
             └─59592 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --daemonize=no --log-target=journal

Jan 22 12:39:53 silvershield systemd[1066]: Starting Sound Service...
Jan 22 12:39:53 silvershield pulseaudio[59592]: Stale PID file, overwriting.

The status on pulseaudio just cycles as it tries to start, times out, fails then tries again over and over.

Running journalctl --user -xeu pulseaudio.service gives me this…

░░ The unit UNIT has entered the 'failed' state with result 'timeout'.
Jan 22 12:52:13 silvershield systemd[1066]: Failed to start Sound Service.
░░ Subject: A start job for unit UNIT has failed
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: https://forum.manjaro.org/c/support
░░ 
░░ A start job for unit UNIT has finished with a failure.
░░ 
░░ The job identifier is 801 and the job result is failed.
Jan 22 12:52:14 silvershield systemd[1066]: pulseaudio.service: Scheduled restart job, restart counter is at 2.
░░ Subject: Automatic restarting of a unit has been scheduled
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: https://forum.manjaro.org/c/support
░░ 
░░ Automatic restarting of the unit UNIT has been scheduled, as the result for
░░ the configured Restart= setting for the unit.
Jan 22 12:52:14 silvershield systemd[1066]: Stopped Sound Service.
░░ Subject: A stop job for unit UNIT has finished
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: https://forum.manjaro.org/c/support
░░ 
░░ A stop job for unit UNIT has finished.
░░ 
░░ The job identifier is 839 and the job result is done.
Jan 22 12:52:14 silvershield systemd[1066]: Starting Sound Service...
░░ Subject: A start job for unit UNIT has begun execution
░░ Defined-By: systemd
░░ Support: https://forum.manjaro.org/c/support
░░ 
░░ A start job for unit UNIT has begun execution.
░░ 
░░ The job identifier is 839.
Jan 22 12:52:14 silvershield pulseaudio[68096]: Stale PID file, overwriting.

This Stale PID file, overwriting feels pertinent somehow.

Or perhaps not…

I have tried the following…

cd /run/user/1000
mv pulse pulse.old
systemctl --user restart pulseaudio.service

This just sat there for ages so I looked at the status with systemctl --user status pulseaudio.service again and now get this…

● pulseaudio.service - Sound Service
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pulseaudio.service; disabled; preset: enabled)
     Active: activating (start) since Sun 2023-01-22 13:04:35 GMT; 54s ago
TriggeredBy: ● pulseaudio.socket
   Main PID: 83121 (pulseaudio)
      Tasks: 2 (limit: 38182)
     Memory: 7.3M
        CPU: 61ms
     CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/session.slice/pulseaudio.service
             └─83121 /usr/bin/pulseaudio --daemonize=no --log-target=journal

Jan 22 13:04:35 silvershield systemd[1066]: Starting Sound Service...

Still seems to be stuck but no whinging about the PID file anymore, so the PID error may be a red herring.

I ran the status check again 3 minutes later and the Stale PID file error is now back.

Sigh.

[HowTo] Enhance your Linux audio with EasyEffects or PulseEffects Legacy - Contributions / Tutorials - Manjaro Linux Forum Try switching to a different audio server

I fixed this in the end by rebooting while my Record deck, which has a Hi-Def USB out into my PC, was off - Then I got sound back.

It seems that if the Record deck is on when I boot up, PulseAudio won’t start.

Weird.

@angel2035 - I’m on a new build of the latest Manjaro KDE image - not totally sure what is actually the master audio server on this build - I knew where i was before as I made a manual switch over from PulseAudio to Pipewire. This is confusing me somewhat and will need deeper digging later once the more crucial stuff has stabilised.