kern/60557: hdafg(4): headphone output and jack detection do not work on Dell Latitude 5400 (ALC236)

["so%neutralite.org@localhost via gnats" <gnats-admin%NetBSD.org@localhost>]

>Number:         60557
>Category:       kern
>Synopsis:       hdafg(4): headphone output and jack detection do not work on Dell Latitude 5400 (ALC236)
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       non-critical
>Priority:       medium
>Responsible:    kern-bug-people
>State:          open
>Class:          sw-bug
>Submitter-Id:   net
>Arrival-Date:   Sat Aug 08 00:05:01 +0000 2026
>Originator:     Stéphane Ortega
>Release:        NetBSD 11.0_STABLE
>Organization:
>Environment:
NetBSD phoenix 11.0 NetBSD 11.0 (GENERIC) #0: Thu Jul 30 15:23:12 UTC 2026  mkrepro%mkrepro.NetBSD.org@localhost:/usr/src/sys/arch/amd64/compile/GENERIC amd64

>Description:
The internal speakers work normally. The codec is reported as:

hdafg0: DAC00 2ch: Speaker [Built-In]
hdafg0: DAC01 2ch: HP Out [Jack]
hdafg0: ADC02 2ch: Mic In [Built-In]

The codec configuration also reports NID 0x21 as:

0x21 02211020  2   0 Headphones     Jack  1/8"    Front      Black      0

However, the headphone output does not work.

The headphone jack is not detected when a working headset is plugged in or unplugged. There is no corresponding change in dmesg, and no jack insertion/removal event is visible.

The mixer exposes both DACs:

outputs.dacsel=DAC00,DAC01

Selecting DAC00 produces sound from the internal speakers.

Selecting DAC01 with:

mixerctl -w outputs.dacsel=DAC01

does not produce any sound in the headphones. The internal speakers may still produce sound depending on the mixer configuration.

The audio device itself works correctly. For example:

audiocfg test 0

completes successfully for the Realtek audio device.

The problem is reproducible on two different Dell Latitude 5400 machines using the same NetBSD installation/NVMe drive. The same headset works correctly on another laptop running Debian, so the headset itself is known to work.

Relevant device information:

hdaudio0 at pci0 dev 31 function 3: HD Audio Controller
hdafg0 at hdaudio0: Realtek product 0236

The HDA codec graph shows that DAC00 and DAC01 are both connected to the headphone/speaker pin widgets, including NID 0x21 (Headphones).

Therefore, the main symptoms are:

    internal speakers work;

    headphone DAC01 is detected by hdafg;

    no audio is produced through the headphone jack;

    plugging/unplugging the headset does not appear to be detected by the driver.
>How-To-Repeat:
    Boot NetBSD 11.0_STABLE on a Dell Latitude 5400 with a Realtek ALC236 codec.

    Verify that the internal speakers work.

    Connect a working headset to the 3.5 mm headphone jack.

    Check the audio devices:

    audiocfg list

    Check the mixer:

    mixerctl -a

    Select the headphone DAC:

    mixerctl -w outputs.dacsel=DAC01

    Play audio or run:

    audiocfg test 0

    No sound is produced through the headphones.

    Plug and unplug the headset while monitoring:

    dmesg

No jack insertion or removal event is reported.
>Fix:
unknown