Xbox Ally (Z2A) White model. After latest update No Audio through Internal Speakers

[thomasman52]

Your system information

• Steam client version: 20260119.1000
• SteamOS version: 3.9
• Opted into Steam client beta?: [Yes/No] No
• Opted into SteamOS beta?: [Yes/No] No (on Main)
• Have you checked for updates in Settings > System?: [Yes/No] Yes

Please describe your issue in as much detail as possible:

After the latest update 20260119.1000 I expect the audio to be outputed to the internal speakers. However there is no audio is being outputed at all. If I switch audio out put to headphones or my monitor speaker audio works.

Steps for reproducing this issue:

1. Install steam os using the steam oobe repair image 3.8
2. Update steam os to the latest update

[kisak-valve]

Hello @thomasman52, can you check if #2248 (comment) is a near match to your issue?

[thomasman52]

hello @kisak-valve I follow your steps and applied the workaround but I am still not getting audio

journalctl -k -b | grep tas2781
Jan 20 23:42:34 steamdeck kernel: snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC1D0: bound i2c-TXNW2781:00-tas2781-hda.0 (ops tas2781_hda_comp_ops [snd_hda_scodec_tas2781_i2c])
Jan 20 23:42:34 steamdeck kernel: tas2781-hda i2c-TXNW2781:00-tas2781-hda.0: Direct firmware load for TAS2XXX13941.bin failed with error -2
Jan 20 23:42:34 steamdeck kernel: tas2781-hda i2c-TXNW2781:00-tas2781-hda.0: tasdevice_dsp_parser: load TAS2XXX13941.bin error
Jan 20 23:42:34 steamdeck kernel: tas2781-hda i2c-TXNW2781:00-tas2781-hda.0: dspfw load TAS2XXX13941.bin error
Jan 20 23:42:39 steamdeck kernel: tas2781-hda i2c-TXNW2781:00-tas2781-hda.0: tasdevice_prmg_load: Firmware is NULL

Does the Xbox Ally run the same audio chip?

[kisak-valve]

I'd repeat the workaround for the missing firmware mentioned (ending in 1 instead of 0).

[thomasman52]

I'd repeat the workaround for the missing firmware mentioned (ending in 1 instead of 0).

@kisak-valve

Please see the following:

(1)(deck@steamdeck ~)$ journalctl -k -b | grep tas2781
Jan 21 00:00:53 steamdeck kernel: snd_hda_codec_realtek hdaudioC1D0: bound i2c-TXNW2781:00-tas2781-hda.0 (ops tas2781_hda_comp_ops [snd_hda_scodec_tas2781_i2c])
Jan 21 00:00:53 steamdeck kernel: tas2781-hda i2c-TXNW2781:00-tas2781-hda.0: Direct firmware load for TAS2XXX13941.bin failed with error -2
Jan 21 00:00:53 steamdeck kernel: tas2781-hda i2c-TXNW2781:00-tas2781-hda.0: tasdevice_dsp_parser: load TAS2XXX13941.bin error
Jan 21 00:00:53 steamdeck kernel: tas2781-hda i2c-TXNW2781:00-tas2781-hda.0: dspfw load TAS2XXX13941.bin error
Jan 21 00:00:58 steamdeck kernel: tas2781-hda i2c-TXNW2781:00-tas2781-hda.0: tasdevice_prmg_load: Firmware is NULL
(deck@steamdeck ~)$

[thomasman52]

Is there supposed to have two firmware files : TAS2XXX13940.bin and TAS2XXX13941.bin ? This is base xbox rog ally and not the xbox rog ally X does it run the same hardware build 20251216 worked but I cannot roll back to that version. as I do not get the recovery screen

[thomasman52]

@kisak-valve

Is there any thing else you can suggest?

[thomasman52]

I just applied a new update but the audio is still not outputting on internal speakers
This is build 20260121

[qsdrqs]

@thomasman52 Did you also try to manually add the missing TAS2XXX13941.bin firmware and reboot? Will you still see any missing of firmware by journalctl -k -b | grep tas2781 again after rebooting?