L5 call audio quality

[Shiach]

@JR-Fi

The icon is a representation of a separate (not integrated) soundcard from a desktop computer.

Thank you very much for this. If I understand you correctly, unless someone has hooked up a non-integrated soundcard to his/her L5, the cogwheels slider has absolutely no significance*. It is a considerable relief to know this. Thank you again.

*EDIT
(1)

@JR-Fi

or it’s via BT phone or the like

Are you saying that the telecom server’s soundcard might be represented by the cogwheels icon? In that case, what would be the consequence of adjusting the volume level?

(2) How about the separate, non-integrated cellular modem used in the L5? Does it incorporate a soundcard that might be represented that way?
(3) The answer to (2) turns out to be “Yes”, as expressed by Loki in the post that follows this one.

[Loki]

There are a number of tools/utilities available (pre-installed) on the phone that could be used to answer most if not all the recent questions being asked.

For example (pactl, pa-info, aplay and arecord)…

pactl list sources this will list all pulseaudio sources with a lot of detail, perhaps of interest to those guessing icons and their meaning would be the “device.icon_name” parameter for each source. pactl list short sources this is the same as previous but is an abbreviated/short form for when the previous is a bit information overload.

pactl list sinks same as above but for pulseaudio sinks.

aplay -l this lists all playback devices, integrated or not, all devices are “cards”.

aplay -L provides a bit more information on the capabilities of the various devices/cards.

aplay provides information on playback devices, arecord (arecord -l, arecord -L) provides the same information for capture devices/cards.

pa-info dumps the entire state of the pulseaudio server, typically way more info than anybody really needs.

These are just a small subset of tools/commands available.

Some sample outputs…
aplay -l, cards 0 and 1 are internal/integrated, card 2 is the modem, cards 3 and 4 are USB devices/cards

aplay -l
**** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices ****
card 0: imxaudiohdmi [imx-audio-hdmi], device 0: i.MX HDMI i2s-hifi-0 [i.MX HDMI i2s-hifi-0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 1: L5 [Librem 5], device 0: 308b0000.sai-wm8962 wm8962-0 [308b0000.sai-wm8962 wm8962-0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 2: Modem [Modem], device 0: 30030000.sai-bm818 bm818-0 [30030000.sai-bm818 bm818-0]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 3: RU6 [Cayin RU6], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0
card 4: Amplifier [THX Onyx USB Amplifier], device 0: USB Audio [USB Audio]
  Subdevices: 1/1
  Subdevice #0: subdevice #0

aplay -L

aplay -L
null
    Discard all samples (playback) or generate zero samples (capture)
default
    Playback/recording through the PulseAudio sound server
lavrate
    Rate Converter Plugin Using Libav/FFmpeg Library
samplerate
    Rate Converter Plugin Using Samplerate Library
speexrate
    Rate Converter Plugin Using Speex Resampler
jack
    JACK Audio Connection Kit
oss
    Open Sound System
pulse
    PulseAudio Sound Server
upmix
    Plugin for channel upmix (4,6,8)
vdownmix
    Plugin for channel downmix (stereo) with a simple spacialization
hw:CARD=imxaudiohdmi,DEV=0
    imx-audio-hdmi, i.MX HDMI i2s-hifi-0
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=imxaudiohdmi,DEV=0
    imx-audio-hdmi, i.MX HDMI i2s-hifi-0
    Hardware device with all software conversions
sysdefault:CARD=imxaudiohdmi
    imx-audio-hdmi, i.MX HDMI i2s-hifi-0
    Default Audio Device
dmix:CARD=imxaudiohdmi,DEV=0
    imx-audio-hdmi, i.MX HDMI i2s-hifi-0
    Direct sample mixing device
usbstream:CARD=imxaudiohdmi
    imx-audio-hdmi
    USB Stream Output
hw:CARD=L5,DEV=0
    Librem 5, 308b0000.sai-wm8962 wm8962-0
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=L5,DEV=0
    Librem 5, 308b0000.sai-wm8962 wm8962-0
    Hardware device with all software conversions
sysdefault:CARD=L5
    Librem 5, 308b0000.sai-wm8962 wm8962-0
    Default Audio Device
dmix:CARD=L5,DEV=0
    Librem 5, 308b0000.sai-wm8962 wm8962-0
    Direct sample mixing device
usbstream:CARD=L5
    Librem 5
    USB Stream Output
hw:CARD=Modem,DEV=0
    Modem, 30030000.sai-bm818 bm818-0
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Modem,DEV=0
    Modem, 30030000.sai-bm818 bm818-0
    Hardware device with all software conversions
sysdefault:CARD=Modem
    Modem, 30030000.sai-bm818 bm818-0
    Default Audio Device
dmix:CARD=Modem,DEV=0
    Modem, 30030000.sai-bm818 bm818-0
    Direct sample mixing device
usbstream:CARD=Modem
    Modem
    USB Stream Output
hw:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    Hardware device with all software conversions
sysdefault:CARD=RU6
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    Front output / input
surround21:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=RU6,DEV=0
    Cayin RU6, USB Audio
    Direct sample mixing device
usbstream:CARD=RU6
    Cayin RU6
    USB Stream Output
hw:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    Direct hardware device without any conversions
plughw:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    Hardware device with all software conversions
sysdefault:CARD=Amplifier
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    Default Audio Device
front:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    Front output / input
surround21:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    2.1 Surround output to Front and Subwoofer speakers
surround40:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    4.0 Surround output to Front and Rear speakers
surround41:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    4.1 Surround output to Front, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround50:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    5.0 Surround output to Front, Center and Rear speakers
surround51:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    5.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Rear and Subwoofer speakers
surround71:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    7.1 Surround output to Front, Center, Side, Rear and Woofer speakers
iec958:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    IEC958 (S/PDIF) Digital Audio Output
dmix:CARD=Amplifier,DEV=0
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier, USB Audio
    Direct sample mixing device
usbstream:CARD=Amplifier
    THX Onyx USB Amplifier
    USB Stream Output

pactl list sources

pactl list sources
Source #0
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.platform-sound-hdmi.stereo-fallback.monitor
	Description: Monitor of Built-in Audio Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 6
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.platform-sound-hdmi.stereo-fallback
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		device.description = "Monitor of Built-in Audio Stereo"
		device.class = "monitor"
		alsa.card = "0"
		alsa.card_name = "imx-audio-hdmi"
		alsa.long_card_name = "imx-audio-hdmi"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_soc_imx_hdmi"
		device.bus_path = "platform-sound-hdmi"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/platform/sound-hdmi/sound/card0"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "0"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card"
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #1
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.platform-sound.HiFi__hw_L5__sink.monitor
	Description: Monitor of Built-in Audio Headphones + Speaker + Handset
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 7
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.platform-sound.HiFi__hw_L5__sink
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		device.description = "Monitor of Built-in Audio Headphones + Speaker + Handset"
		device.class = "monitor"
		alsa.card = "1"
		alsa.card_name = "Librem 5"
		alsa.long_card_name = "Librem 5"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_soc_simple_card"
		device.bus_path = "platform-sound"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/platform/sound/sound/card1"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "1"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card"
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #2
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_input.platform-sound.HiFi__hw_L5__source
	Description: Built-in Audio Headset Microphone + Stereo Microphones + Handset Microphone
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 7
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 26852 /  41% / -23.25 dB,   front-right: 26852 /  41% / -23.25 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 26852 /  41% / -23.25 dB
	Monitor of Sink: n/a
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "308b0000.sai-wm8962 wm8962-0"
		alsa.id = "308b0000.sai-wm8962 wm8962-0"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.card = "1"
		alsa.card_name = "Librem 5"
		alsa.long_card_name = "Librem 5"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_soc_simple_card"
		device.bus_path = "platform-sound"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/platform/sound/sound/card1"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "hw:L5"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "8448"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "4224"
		device.access_mode = "mmap"
		device.profile.name = "HiFi: hw:L5: source"
		device.profile.description = "Headset Microphone + Stereo Microphones + Handset Microphone"
		alsa.mixer_device = "hw:L5"
		device.description = "Built-in Audio Headset Microphone + Stereo Microphones + Handset Microphone"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card"
		filter.apply.echo-cancel.parameters = "channels=1 use_master_format=yes aec_args=\"analog_gain_control=0\""
	Ports:
		[In] Headset: Headset Microphone (type: Headset, priority: 1000, not available)
		[In] Mic: Stereo Microphones (type: Mic, priority: 100, availability unknown)
		[In] Handset2: Handset Microphone (type: Handset, priority: 500, availability unknown)
	Active Port: [In] Handset2
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #3
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.platform-sound-wwan.stereo-fallback.monitor
	Description: Monitor of Modem Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 21
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.platform-sound-wwan.stereo-fallback
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		device.description = "Monitor of Modem Stereo"
		device.class = "monitor"
		alsa.card = "2"
		alsa.card_name = "Modem"
		alsa.long_card_name = "Modem"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_soc_simple_card"
		device.bus_path = "platform-sound-wwan"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/platform/sound-wwan/sound/card2"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "Modem"
		device.icon_name = "modem"
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #4
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_input.platform-sound-wwan.stereo-fallback
	Description: Modem Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 21
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 98304 / 150% / 10.57 dB,   front-right: 98304 / 150% / 10.57 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: n/a
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "30030000.sai-bm818 bm818-0"
		alsa.id = "30030000.sai-bm818 bm818-0"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.card = "2"
		alsa.card_name = "Modem"
		alsa.long_card_name = "Modem"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_soc_simple_card"
		device.bus_path = "platform-sound-wwan"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/platform/sound-wwan/sound/card2"
		device.form_factor = "internal"
		device.string = "hw:Modem"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "8448"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "4224"
		device.access_mode = "mmap"
		device.profile.name = "stereo-fallback"
		device.profile.description = "Stereo"
		device.description = "Modem Stereo"
		device.icon_name = "modem"
	Ports:
		analog-input: Analog Input (type: Analog, priority: 10000, availability unknown)
	Active Port: analog-input
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #5
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.usb-Cayin_Cayin_RU6_Cayin_RU6-00.analog-stereo.monitor
	Description: Monitor of Cayin RU6 Analog Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 28
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.usb-Cayin_Cayin_RU6_Cayin_RU6-00.analog-stereo
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		device.description = "Monitor of Cayin RU6 Analog Stereo"
		device.class = "monitor"
		alsa.card = "3"
		alsa.card_name = "Cayin RU6"
		alsa.long_card_name = "Cayin Cayin RU6 at usb-xhci-hcd.5.auto-1.4.1, high speed"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		device.bus_path = "platform-xhci-hcd.5.auto-usb-0:1.4.1:1.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/platform/soc@0/38100000.usb/xhci-hcd.5.auto/usb3/3-1/3-1.4/3-1.4.1/3-1.4.1:1.0/sound/card3"
		udev.id = "usb-Cayin_Cayin_RU6_Cayin_RU6-00"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.vendor.id = "2d87"
		device.vendor.name = "Cayin"
		device.product.id = "c001"
		device.product.name = "Cayin RU6"
		device.serial = "Cayin_Cayin_RU6_Cayin_RU6"
		device.string = "3"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #6
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_output.usb-THX_Ltd._THX_Onyx_USB_Amplifier_0-00.analog-stereo.monitor
	Description: Monitor of THX Onyx USB Amplifier Analog Stereo
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 2ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: front-left,front-right
	Owner Module: 29
	Mute: no
	Volume: front-left: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB,   front-right: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: alsa_output.usb-THX_Ltd._THX_Onyx_USB_Amplifier_0-00.analog-stereo
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		device.description = "Monitor of THX Onyx USB Amplifier Analog Stereo"
		device.class = "monitor"
		alsa.card = "4"
		alsa.card_name = "THX Onyx USB Amplifier"
		alsa.long_card_name = "THX Ltd. THX Onyx USB Amplifier at usb-xhci-hcd.5.auto-1.1, high speed"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		device.bus_path = "platform-xhci-hcd.5.auto-usb-0:1.1:1.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/platform/soc@0/38100000.usb/xhci-hcd.5.auto/usb3/3-1/3-1.1/3-1.1:1.0/sound/card4"
		udev.id = "usb-THX_Ltd._THX_Onyx_USB_Amplifier_0-00"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.vendor.id = "3378"
		device.vendor.name = "THX Ltd."
		device.product.id = "03e9"
		device.product.name = "THX Onyx USB Amplifier"
		device.serial = "THX_Ltd._THX_Onyx_USB_Amplifier_0"
		device.string = "4"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
	Formats:
		pcm

Source #7
	State: SUSPENDED
	Name: alsa_input.usb-THX_Ltd._THX_Onyx_USB_Amplifier_0-00.mono-fallback
	Description: THX Onyx USB Amplifier Mono
	Driver: module-alsa-card.c
	Sample Specification: s16le 1ch 48000Hz
	Channel Map: mono
	Owner Module: 29
	Mute: no
	Volume: mono: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	        balance 0.00
	Base Volume: 65536 / 100% / 0.00 dB
	Monitor of Sink: n/a
	Latency: 0 usec, configured 0 usec
	Flags: HARDWARE HW_MUTE_CTRL HW_VOLUME_CTRL DECIBEL_VOLUME LATENCY 
	Properties:
		alsa.resolution_bits = "16"
		device.api = "alsa"
		device.class = "sound"
		alsa.class = "generic"
		alsa.subclass = "generic-mix"
		alsa.name = "USB Audio"
		alsa.id = "USB Audio"
		alsa.subdevice = "0"
		alsa.subdevice_name = "subdevice #0"
		alsa.device = "0"
		alsa.card = "4"
		alsa.card_name = "THX Onyx USB Amplifier"
		alsa.long_card_name = "THX Ltd. THX Onyx USB Amplifier at usb-xhci-hcd.5.auto-1.1, high speed"
		alsa.driver_name = "snd_usb_audio"
		device.bus_path = "platform-xhci-hcd.5.auto-usb-0:1.1:1.0"
		sysfs.path = "/devices/platform/soc@0/38100000.usb/xhci-hcd.5.auto/usb3/3-1/3-1.1/3-1.1:1.0/sound/card4"
		udev.id = "usb-THX_Ltd._THX_Onyx_USB_Amplifier_0-00"
		device.bus = "usb"
		device.vendor.id = "3378"
		device.vendor.name = "THX Ltd."
		device.product.id = "03e9"
		device.product.name = "THX Onyx USB Amplifier"
		device.serial = "THX_Ltd._THX_Onyx_USB_Amplifier_0"
		device.string = "hw:4"
		device.buffering.buffer_size = "192000"
		device.buffering.fragment_size = "96000"
		device.access_mode = "mmap+timer"
		device.profile.name = "mono-fallback"
		device.profile.description = "Mono"
		device.description = "THX Onyx USB Amplifier Mono"
		module-udev-detect.discovered = "1"
		device.icon_name = "audio-card-usb"
	Ports:
		analog-input-mic: Microphone (type: Mic, priority: 8700, availability unknown)
	Active Port: analog-input-mic
	Formats:
		pcm

[wimdows]

I wouldn’t mind a Librem5 with a SoundBlaster.

[JR-Fi]

You may have slightly over-interpreted my meaning. I was merely referring to the graphic image, but there is a kernel of truth in there. It may reflect from what the system thinks is going on in the hardware. The cogwheels I’d take as more general settings or internal behavior (“system uses general icon because it can’t be sure what it’s referring to”).

Modem does have some functionality related to sound (it is a voice call modem after all), but I have no idea if it’s relevant or how. Loki’s view is more in-depth.