Sound troubleshooting

[svyr]

hmmm it looks like maybe it's already fixed in the new alsa builds.
basically nothing worked and I nearly gave up but found this guide
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/So...otingProcedure

step 4 and just adding the ppa and installing the hda audio daily build works

sudo apt-add-repository ppa:ubuntu-audio-dev/alsa-daily

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install oem-audio-hda-daily-dkms

reboot

then both alsa and pulse audio outputs work

[alin742]

Thank you so much... I had this problem were alsa mixer displayed pcm but not the speakers or the headphones and there was no auto mute option

[yazdzik-k]

Dear friends,

Using the procedure in https://help.ubuntu.com/community/So...otingProcedure, I can achieve working sound.

Problems:

This does not last across reboots. (laptop, so often rebooted)
Pavucontrol does not mute system sounds. (for anyone coming across this, one can kill the sounds in dconf, so this much solved)

Running mate desktop on upgrade from 18.04. (not ubuntu mate the distro)

there were a number of vicious problems with update, but now all is running smoothly except for sound.

It is a nuisance to have the noise, and worse, to have to execute that command every time I reboot, as i travel a lot.

Any suggestions?


after running the command from the link above:

cat /proc/asound/{version,cards,devices,hwdep,pcm,seq/clients}; ls -l /usr/share/pulseaudio/alsa-mixer/paths/; sudo rm /etc/asound.conf; sudo rm -r ~/.pulse ~/.asound* ;sudo rm ~/.pulse-cookie; sudo apt-get update; sudo apt-get install aptitude; sudo aptitude install paman gnome-alsamixer libasound2-plugins padevchooser libsdl1.2debian-pulseaudio; sudo lshw -short;ls -lart /dev/snd; find /lib/modules/`uname -r` | grep snd ;cat /dev/sndstat; lspci -nn; lsusb; sudo which alsactl; sudo fuser -v /dev/dsp /dev/snd/* ; dpkg -S bin/slmodemd; dmesg | egrep 'EMU|probe|emu|ALSA|alsa|ac97|udi|snd|ound|irmware'; sudo /etc/init.d/sl-modem-daemon status; sudo grep model /etc/modprobe.d/* ; sudo dmidecode|egrep 'anufact|roduct|erial|elease'; lsmod | egrep 'snd|usb|midi|udio'; pacmd list-sinks; aplay -l; sudo alsa force-reload;  ubuntu-support-status ; sudo lshw -C sound

reading the output, it appears that timidity daemon races with pulse. Thus, the most practical solution is to purge timidity for the time being, since there are other ways of playing midi right now.

This is written to help anyone searching for what may not be an obvious problem.


Best,
M

[Yardstick]

I think I have a new and interesting sound failure in Ubuntu 18.04 on an Intel Nuc hooked up to my TV via HDMI. Sometimes there is sound, sometimes there is no sound. I have gone through several troubleshooting guides and still haven't figured it out. I have narrowed it down to a problem with certain videos on YouTube and certain songs on Pandora/Slacker/Spotify. Netflix and Amazon Video both play sound consistently. I am primarily using Firefox, but I have verified the no-sound problem with Chrome as well. I thought it could be a licensing issue, but it happens sometimes with YouTube videos that have no music. Any ideas?

[nlona]

https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2415634
Huge problem no sound at all and would really needs a step by step how to get my alc662 rev1 analog work

[mmmoshko-8]

hi Ubuntu Gurus ...
I am a rookie at this ... I have been using ubuntu for 10 years nearly trouble free ... this is the first major problem I have had in that time. first of all let me start with the issue, then I will go into the hardware etc ... then hopefully you can help so bare with me I am about to give you tons of info in hopes to expand the help.

Section 1.
the Hardware
MSI motherboard Z370-A Pro
Realtek ALC892 Soundcard
Nvidia G710 Video card
6 Screens (yes between the onboard and Nvidia I have 6 outputs, 2 HDMI, 2 DVI, 1 DP, 1VGA)
HDMI screens are Lenovo LEN LT2223zwC


Section 2.
Software/OS
Ubuntu 18: Kernel 4.15.0-58 Generic
Nvidia 390 installed directly from nvidia

Section 3.

Firehose output for information for techies to help troubleshoot
modinfo snd-hda-intel
filename:       /lib/modules/4.15.0-58-generic/updates/dkms/snd-hda-intel.ko
description:    Intel HDA driver
license:        GPL
srcversion:     EAB27AC36BCDA02A3A68431
alias:          pci:v00001022d*sv*sd*bc04sc03i00*
alias:          pci:v00001002d*sv*sd*bc04sc03i00*
alias:          pci:v000015ADd00001977sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000017F3d00003010sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000013F6d00005011sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001102d00000009sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001102d00000012sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001102d00000010sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00006549d00002200sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00006549d00001200sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd*sv*sd*bc04sc03i00*
alias:          pci:v000010B9d00005461sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001039d00007502sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001106d00009140sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001106d00009170sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001106d00003288sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AAF0sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AAE0sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AAE8sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AAD8sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AAC8sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AAC0sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AAB0sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AAA8sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AAA0sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d00009902sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA98sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA90sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA88sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA80sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA68sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA60sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA58sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA50sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA48sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA40sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA38sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA30sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA28sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA20sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA18sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA10sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA08sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000AA00sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d00009840sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000970Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000960Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d00007919sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000793Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d000015B3sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000157Asv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d00001308sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d00000002sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001022d000015E3sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001022d0000157Asv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001022d0000780Dsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d00004383sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00001002d0000437Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d*sv*sd*bc04sc03i00*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00003A6Esv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00003A3Esv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000293Fsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000293Esv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000284Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000269Asv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000027D8sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002668sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00002284sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000F04sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000080Asv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000811Bsv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00003B56sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000160Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000D0Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000C0Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00000A0Csv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00003198sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001A98sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00005A98sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000034C8sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000006C8sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d000002C8sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00009DC8sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000A348sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000A2F0sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00009D71sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000A171sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00009D70sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000A170sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00009CA0sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00009C21sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00009C20sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000A270sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d0000A1F0sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00008D21sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00008D20sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00008CA0sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00008C20sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001E20sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001D20sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
alias:          pci:v00008086d00001C20sv*sd*bc*sc*i*
depends:        snd-hda-core,snd-hda-codec,snd-pcm,snd
retpoline:      Y
name:           snd_hda_intel
vermagic:       4.15.0-58-generic SMP mod_unload 
parm:           index:Index value for Intel HD audio interface. (array of int)
parm:           id:ID string for Intel HD audio interface. (array of charp)
parm:           enable:Enable Intel HD audio interface. (array of bool)
parm:           model:Use the given board model. (array of charp)
parm:           position_fix:DMA pointer read method.(-1 = system default, 0 = auto, 1 = LPIB, 2 = POSBUF, 3 = VIACOMBO, 4 = COMBO, 5 = SKL+). (array of int)
parm:           bdl_pos_adj:BDL position adjustment offset. (array of int)
parm:           probe_mask:Bitmask to probe codecs (default = -1). (array of int)
parm:           probe_only:Only probing and no codec initialization. (array of int)
parm:           jackpoll_ms:Ms between polling for jack events (default = 0, using unsol events only) (array of int)
parm:           single_cmd:Use single command to communicate with codecs (for debugging only). (bint)
parm:           enable_msi:Enable Message Signaled Interrupt (MSI) (bint)
parm:           patch:Patch file for Intel HD audio interface. (array of charp)
parm:           beep_mode:Select HDA Beep registration mode (0=off, 1=on) (default=1). (array of bool)
parm:           power_save:Automatic power-saving timeout (in second, 0 = disable). (xint)
parm:           pm_blacklist:Enable power-management blacklist (bool)
parm:           power_save_controller:Reset controller in power save mode. (bool)
parm:           align_buffer_size:Force buffer and period sizes to be multiple of 128 bytes. (bint)
parm:           snoop:Enable/disable snooping (bint)

modinfo soundcore
filename:       /lib/modules/4.15.0-58-generic/kernel/sound/soundcore.ko
alias:          char-major-14-*
license:        GPL
author:         Alan Cox
description:    Core sound module
srcversion:     243B76FF0432C637D451917
depends:        
intree:         Y
vermagic:       4.2.0-42-generic SMP mod_unload modversions 
signat:         X509
signer:         Build time autogenerated kernel key
sig_key:        71:38:F1:4B:5C:C6:26:BA:6E:4B:75:86:0A:1E:E2:08:2D:E8:20:E2
sig_hashalgo:   sha512
parm:           preclaim_oss:int


lsmod | grep snd_hda_intel


lspci -nnk | grep -A2 Audio
01:00.1 Audio device [0403]: NVIDIA Corporation GK208 HDMI/DP Audio Controller [10de:0e0f] (rev a1)
	Subsystem: ASUSTeK Computer Inc. GK208 HDMI/DP Audio Controller [1043:85f7]
	Kernel modules: snd_hda_intel
03:00.0 RAID bus controller [0104]: Adaptec AAC-RAID [9005:0285] (rev 09)


dkms status
nvidia, 390.129, 4.15.0-58-generic, x86_64: installed
oem-audio-hda-daily, 0.201905191531~ubuntu18.04.1, 4.15.0-58-generic, x86_64: installed




upload=true&script=true&cardinfo=
!!################################
!!ALSA Information Script v 0.4.64
!!################################


!!Script ran on: Tue Aug 27 17:32:40 UTC 2019




!!Linux Distribution
!!------------------


Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS \n \l DISTRIB_ID=Ubuntu DISTRIB_DESCRIPTION="Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS" NAME="Ubuntu" ID=ubuntu ID_LIKE=debian PRETTY_NAME="Ubuntu 18.04.3 LTS" HOME_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/" SUPPORT_URL="https://help.ubuntu.com/" BUG_REPORT_URL="https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/" PRIVACY_POLICY_URL="https://www.ubuntu.com/legal/terms-and-policies/privacy-policy" UBUNTU_CODENAME=bionic




!!DMI Information
!!---------------


Manufacturer:      Micro-Star International Co., Ltd.
Product Name:      MS-7B48
Product Version:   1.0
Firmware Version:  2.60




!!Kernel Information
!!------------------


Kernel release:    4.15.0-58-generic
Operating System:  GNU/Linux
Architecture:      x86_64
Processor:         x86_64
SMP Enabled:       Yes




!!ALSA Version
!!------------


Driver version:     
Library version:    1.1.9
Utilities version:  1.1.3




!!Loaded ALSA modules
!!-------------------






!!Sound Servers on this system
!!----------------------------


Pulseaudio:
      Installed - Yes (/usr/bin/pulseaudio)
      Running - Yes




!!Soundcards recognised by ALSA
!!-----------------------------






!!PCI Soundcards installed in the system
!!--------------------------------------


01:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GK208 HDMI/DP Audio Controller (rev a1)




!!Advanced information - PCI Vendor/Device/Subsystem ID's
!!-------------------------------------------------------


01:00.1 0403: 10de:0e0f (rev a1)
	Subsystem: 1043:85f7




!!Modprobe options (Sound related)
!!--------------------------------


snd_pcsp: index=-2
snd_usb_audio: index=-2
snd_atiixp_modem: index=-2
snd_intel8x0m: index=-2
snd_via82xx_modem: index=-2
snd_hda_intel: model=auto
snd_atiixp_modem: index=-2
snd_intel8x0m: index=-2
snd_via82xx_modem: index=-2
snd_usb_audio: index=-2
snd_usb_caiaq: index=-2
snd_usb_ua101: index=-2
snd_usb_us122l: index=-2
snd_usb_usx2y: index=-2
snd_cmipci: mpu_port=0x330 fm_port=0x388
snd_pcsp: index=-2
snd_usb_audio: index=-2
snd_hda_intel: model=generic
snd_hda_intel: model=auto
snd_hda_intel: model=basic
snd_hda_intel: probe_mask=1
snd_hda_intel: probe_mask=2
snd_hda_intel: model=generic
snd_hda_intel: model=auto
snd_hda_intel: model=auto
snd_hda_intel: model=generic
snd_hda_intel: id=Generic_1 index=0
snd_hda_intel: id=Generic index=1
snd_hda_intel: single_cmd=1
snd_hda_intel: probe_mask=1
snd_hda_intel: enable_msi=1




!!Loaded sound module options
!!---------------------------




!!ALSA Device nodes
!!-----------------


crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116,  1 Aug 26 21:25 /dev/snd/seq
crw-rw----+ 1 root audio 116, 33 Aug 26 21:25 /dev/snd/timer




!!ALSA configuration files
!!------------------------


!!System wide config file (/etc/asound.conf)


pcm.!default {
    type hw
    card 1
}


ctl.!default {
    type hw           
    card 1
}




!!Aplay/Arecord output
!!--------------------


APLAY


aplay: device_list:270: no soundcards found...


ARECORD


arecord: device_list:270: no soundcards found...


!!Amixer output
!!-------------




!!Alsactl output
!!--------------


--startcollapse--
--endcollapse--




!!All Loaded Modules
!!------------------


Module
btrfs
zstd_compress
ufs
qnx4
hfsplus
hfs
minix
ntfs
msdos
jfs
xfs
nls_utf8
isofs
xfrm_user
xfrm4_tunnel
tunnel4
ipcomp
xfrm_ipcomp
esp4
ah4
af_key
xfrm_algo
uvcvideo
videobuf2_vmalloc
videobuf2_memops
videobuf2_v4l2
videobuf2_core
videodev
media
l2tp_ppp
l2tp_netlink
l2tp_core
ip6_udp_tunnel
udp_tunnel
pppox
oss_usb
osscore
pci_stub
vboxpci
vboxnetadp
vboxnetflt
vboxdrv
nvidia_uvm
nvidia_drm
nvidia_modeset
nvidia
joydev
intel_wmi_thunderbolt
mxm_wmi
input_leds
i915
mei_me
intel_rapl
x86_pkg_temp_thermal
intel_powerclamp
coretemp
kvm_intel
kvm
irqbypass
crct10dif_pclmul
crc32_pclmul
ghash_clmulni_intel
pcbc
aesni_intel
aes_x86_64
crypto_simd
glue_helper
cryptd
intel_cstate
intel_rapl_perf
wmi
drm_kms_helper
drm
ipmi_devintf
ipmi_msghandler
i2c_algo_bit
fb_sys_fops
syscopyarea
sysfillrect
sysimgblt
acpi_pad
mei
video
shpchp
mac_hid
sch_fq_codel
parport_pc
ppdev
lp
parport
ip_tables
x_tables
autofs4
raid10
raid456
async_raid6_recov
async_memcpy
async_pq
async_xor
async_tx
xor
uas
usb_storage
raid6_pq
libcrc32c
raid1
raid0
multipath
linear
dm_mirror
dm_region_hash
dm_log
hid_generic
usbhid
hid
r8169
aacraid
ahci
mii
libahci




!!ALSA/HDA dmesg
!!--------------


[    0.049009] ACPI: Added _OSI(Linux-Dell-Video)
[    0.049009] ACPI: Added _OSI(Linux-Lenovo-NV-HDMI-Audio)
[    0.049009] ACPI: Added _OSI(Linux-HPI-Hybrid-Graphics)
--
[   55.222257] usb 1-11.4: SerialNumber: 000000000000
[   55.222804] New audioctl device 11.4/0 - USB sound device
[   55.222824] ------------[ cut here ]------------
--
[   55.223241] ---[ end trace f9a10ddce7d392b5 ]---
[   55.223298] New audio streaming device 11.4/1 - USB sound device
[   55.223356] New audio streaming device 11.4/2 - USB sound device
[   55.340277] input: Lenovo LT2223Z as /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:14.0/usb1/1-11/1-11.4/1-11.4:1.3/0003:0572:1415.0005/input/input8

yet with all this ... I have no audio ...

I have tried to purge alsa and pulse, I have tried reinstalling the nvidia card and purge dkms, I have tried purge the kernel and reinstall it, I have rebooted multiple times after each change ... I even removed the nvidia card and its drivers and go with only 3 screens and still no luck,

anyone have any ideas. I am ready for the questions .... help please.

Matee Moshkovits

[wildmanne39]

Please use code tags - if you are using New Reply button - highlight text and use the # button in the text box header.

If using Quick Reply then [code] at the beginning and [/code] at the end.

[mmmoshko-8]

thank you for the correction ...

Matee

[mrsean]

Here is my alsa setup, please advise as I have removed and reinstalled ALSA and also installed generic sound drivers for ubuntu:

http://alsa-project.org/db/?f=508f12...7429dd21ed8501

Now ubuntu 18.04 not seeing my built in sound card on ASRock FM2A55M-DGS (5.1 CH HD Audio (Realtek ALC662 Audio Codec))
Problem started because I could only get stereo 2 channel with default ubuntu install, so tried to get Realtek drivers so I could access full 5.1 surround sound.

[gleedadswell]

Sound on my current laptop has been dicey for a long time. But it was more of less working as recently as last night. This morning, no sound at all (no speakers working, no microphones working, no devices showed up in the Sound Settings). I did a purge/reinstall of alsa and pulseaudio. That got me back partial functionality sound so that the current situation is as follows:

With no devices (headphones/mics) plugged in the Sound Settings only list the dreaded "Dummy Output" and nothing is listed for input devices. If I plug headphones in using a usb adaptor or plug in a usb mic then those show up in Sound settings and sound mostly works in them (both left and right speaker output get sent to both speakers in the headphones, but other than that it seems to be working). Plugging in to the headphone jack gets me nothing.

I've looked at a lot of places such as

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1...ngc5SFLMI/edit
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/So...otingProcedure
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php...roubleshooting

and done all the usual things such as killing and restarting pulseaudio, killing and restarting alsa, etc. I've also tried some advice from the third link above to edit the /etc/pulse/default.pa to add lines to get it to manually find the sound card. That involves adding a line

load-module module-alsa-sink device=hw:0,0

That just makes pulseaudio fail to launch.

Here is some diagnostic info, using the very helpful command from the first link above:

echo "Sound cards recognized by the system:"; lspci -nn | grep --color=none '\[04[80][13]\]'; echo "Sound cards recognized by ALSA:"; lspci -nn | grep '\[04[80][13]\]' | while read line; do lspci -nnk | grep -A 3 '\[04[80][13]\]' | grep -e 'Kernel modules: ..*' -e '\[04[80][13]\]' | grep --color=none -F "$line"; done; echo "Sound cards recognized by ALSA, and activated:"; lspci -nn | grep '\[04[80][13]\]' | while read line; do lspci -nnk | grep -A 3 '\[04[80][13]\]' | grep -e 'Kernel drivers in use: ..*' -e '\[04[80][13]\]' | grep --color=none -F "$line"; doneSound cards recognized by the system:
00:1f.3 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation CM238 HD Audio Controller [8086:a171] (rev 31)
Sound cards recognized by ALSA:
00:1f.3 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation CM238 HD Audio Controller [8086:a171] (rev 31)
Sound cards recognized by ALSA, and activated:
00:1f.3 Audio device [0403]: Intel Corporation CM238 HD Audio Controller [8086:a171] (rev 31)

So, the system sees the sound card, ALSA sees the sound card and it claims it is activated. However, aplay -l says

aplay -l
aplay: device_list:268: no soundcards found...

which confuses me since I thought that was the list of what alsa could see. So it seem to disagree with the previous command's output. Clearly one of those commands doesn't do what I think it does. If I plug in my headphones using a usb adaptor then it shows up:

aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 1: Device [Plugable USB Audio Device], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 0/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

hwinfo tells me the soundcard is not active

hwinfo --sound
20: PCI 1f.3: 0403 Audio device                                 
  [Created at pci.366]
  Unique ID: nS1_.qYoboy2l6HD
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1f.3
  SysFS BusID: 0000:00:1f.3
  Hardware Class: sound
  Model: "Intel Audio device"
  Vendor: pci 0x8086 "Intel Corporation"
  Device: pci 0xa171 
  SubVendor: pci 0x1028 "Dell"
  SubDevice: pci 0x07e1 
  Revision: 0x31
  Memory Range: 0xdf328000-0xdf32bfff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  Memory Range: 0xdf300000-0xdf30ffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  IRQ: 11 (no events)
  Module Alias: "pci:v00008086d0000A171sv00001028sd000007E1bc04sc03i00"
  Driver Info #0:
    Driver Status: snd_hda_intel is not active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe snd_hda_intel"
  Config Status: cfg=new, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

Trying modprobe fails to load snd_hda_intel

sudo modprobe -v snd_hda_intel
insmod /lib/modules/4.4.0-178-generic/updates/dkms/snd-hda-codec.ko 
modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'snd_hda_intel': Invalid argument

I speculate that this is the crux of the problem. Doing a search on this error message hasn't turned up anything that has worked. The only advice I've found is reinstalling alsa and pulseaudio (already done) and adding the ppa to the ubuntu-audio-dev/alsa-daily and updating, which I've also done. Neither of those have worked. I've tried a bunch of other things but this post is probably long enough already.

Next steps?

Edit: I should probably mention that I'm running Ubuntu 16.04.
Further update: Even with usb headphones where sound sort of works something is definitely strange. If I listen to music the vocals are very muted compared to everything else. If I fiddle with the left/right balance then they come back. But with the balance in the centre sound is definitely strange. Putting the balance all the way L or all the way R seems to make things sound more normal. Odd...