Problem with sound on CF-30 in Ubuntu Linux 11.10

Hi, I'm running running a CF-30 with Ubuntu 11.10, and recently upgraded from 11.04. However, I'm still quite new to Ubuntu, having migrated from OS X.

My problem isn't so much with the sound drivers (tried that): sound in general is fine. However, where in 11.04 I could choose between 'analog output' and 'analog headphones' in the output tab of the sound control panel, the only option left after upgrading is 'analog headphones' which controls both speaker and headphones.

Muting either headphones or front speaker in Alsamixer will result in killing sound altogether. It would of course be ideal if the OS would sense whether I've plugged in my headphones and mute the speaker then, but I could live with the 11.04 solution of having to choose the sound output port.

Is there anyone here who has tackled this problem? Help would be greatly appreciated, since I've run out of steam on my own. I've tried the Ubuntu forums, but they've not been really helpful other than suggestions to post a bug. This manual suggests adapting the alsa config file, but with so many options I'm not sure which one to use.

Some background:
Link to Alsa project log file: http://www.alsa-project.org/db/?f=508e68ba77d86d73caea8fde9f429b39271a0c07

Screenshot from Alsamixer:

 

There's a switch in the 3.5 socket of all audio devices I've worked on that electrically disconnects the speaker as the headphones are plugged in. Some newer devices may operate differently, ie. electronically switched, not sure.
Or have I misunderstood the problem?

 

Partly, yes. Part of it seems to be the inability to sense the presence or absence of the headphones. But the 'biggie' is that it seems to be impossible to use EITHER the headphones OR the speaker: at present, it's both or nothing.

Now, if I were to find a way for it to sense the headphones and cut the speakers, that would be fine. But I mainly need a way to cut the speakers while using the headphones.

 

The switch inside the 3.5 jack socket does "sense" the presence or absence of the phones plug because it (almost) simultaneously switches the speakers off and the phones on. That is, it "cuts the speakers"
If it's "both or nothing" I would suggest that is only the case because your sound is "on" or "muted=off"
1. Try a different set of phones. Mono plug/stereo socket = BAD
2. replace the 3.5 phones socket.
The leaf spring internal contacts of these sockets are very easily bent out of shape and could then make no- or the wrong- contact.

FINALLY found a diagram to link to - bottom of the page.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRS_connector

 

Tried three sets of headphones, but with the same result. But then, 11.04 didn't sense the headphones, either.

I might actually resort to physically disconnecting the speakers - I don't use them much anyway.

 

Desperate situations call for desperate measures - so I disconnected the speaker.

As it turned out, there was little need for disassembly - as soon as I touched it, it fell off its rather fragile cables. This might also explain why it has been rather crackly for a while now. I hadn't expected this part (or ANY part) of the machine to be so flimsy. I will reassemble it, but only after the issue has been solved; for now it's a clumsy but sufficient solution.