The Amazing Bone-Head...

[oshunluvr]

...and he is I.

So, I had re-arranged some stuff on my desk - moving into a new office space and cleaning up - and all seemed well. Then tonight, I tried to play some music and it was totally distorted, off-balance, volume was weird, lots of issues. This hadn't happened before but KDEneon is a fast moving target and I have a brand spankin' new mobo and CPU so, you know, things break.

I whipped out my amazing google-foo and found lots of references to my issue with my sound card - ALC1150 - and the new Skylake CPU's so I was off to the races. I reconfigured this and modprobe-optioned that, even installed a new set of dkms enable audio drivers. All to no avail - sounded like crap.

One post referenced the correct port to use for a single cable connection but I was plugged in the right spot according to my mobo manual. Still, I tried the other ports anyway; no help.

Digging further, I tested a mono-sound vs. stereo and it sounded normal, so did system sounds. Hmmm...

Long-story-short: I looked down at my speakers, you know, the ones on my desktop that I had been rearranging? Lo and behold, the cable - the three connection 3.5mm stereo-mini cable connecting to my Bose mini Sound Bar - and it was sticking out of the port just a bit. Just enough to cause all this noise and problems with stereo sound <forehead smack>. Well, obviously, a little push followed by a smart click and my sound system returned to normal. Sigh.

2 lessons here:

#1 Check the simple things first.
#2 Don't try and out-smart the issue.

I un-did all my edits and installations, but that's an hour of my life I'll never get back.

[Qqmike]

As the saying goes in the DIY market & diagnostics crowd, "It's the cable, stupid!"
Sounds ridiculous, but it really often is the cable(s)/connector(s), followed by re-seating cards, etc.
Helluva mixed feeling, though, after you finally get it--elation that you got it, regret that you hadn't got it sooner! Don't ask my how I know all this stuff.

[MoonRise]

Been there. I feel you!

[Snowhog]

2 lessons here:

#1 Check the simple things first.
#2 Don't try and out-smart the issue.

I un-did all my edits and installations, but that's an hour of my life I'll never get back.

Yup.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AynXoLjYrKc

[dibl]

Yeah, I lost an hour yesterday for a similarly stupid reason. Too stupid to detail -- it happens to most of us, sooner or later.

[GreyGeek]

Sure does. ANYONE with any experience at all around computers stumbles over their own feet on occasions. That's why I don't have any hair on the top of my head. Pulled it all out.