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After upgrade to Kubuntu 24.04, sound quality in websites like YouTube, HBO Max, TuneIn worsened: sound playback speed constantly gets faster (maybe 200% of normal), then slower (maybe 50%), and this repeats constantly, making listening / watching / Zoom calls impossible.

Nothing helped:

  • rebooted - the same
  • replaced PipeWire with PulseAudio - the same
  • tested on various web browsers, standalone apps (e.g. FreeTube, VLC - even offline, Zoom) - the same issue
  • there are no processes eating all CPU
  • internet is fast (400 mbps)
  • EDIT: after some further investigation: it happens only on sound card embedded in Samsung smart monitor connected to the laptop via HDMI (laptop internal card is ok, usb external card is ok, monitor's native smart tv apps have no problem with sound quality, using different HDMI cable doesn't help, disconnecting the monitor from power and connecting again doesn't help) - it seems as if something went wrong after the upgrade with the driver responsible for sending sound to such a monitor

Any ideas what's can be going on here? Downgrade or reconfigure the driver somehow?

iirekm
  • 441

1 Answers1

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Finally I found the answer myself: it seems that Kubuntu update process updated kernel to a broken version (6.8.0). I downgraded kernel version to 6.5.0-28 and sound on the Samsung smart monitor's speakers is great again.

How to downgrade kernel version? Can be done via console, but I used 2 3rd party tools: "Mainline Kernels" to ensure it's installed, then "Grub Customizer" to select the version permanently in Grub.

Unfortunately the solution isn't perfect - we can't stick to an older kernel forever, some fix has to be provided to the newer kernels.

iirekm
  • 441