Sound troubles - very low distorted sound (Ubuntu 14.04)

Try first to reload ALSA:

sudo alsa force-reload
If that won't help, try to reinstall ALSA and pulseaudio:

sudo apt-get remove --purge alsa-base pulseaudio
sudo apt-get install alsa-base pulseaudio

I tried both - and the result is the same. Very low sound with a lot of distortion. Is there anything else I can do?

Did you already have better sound on this system, or was it always like this?
Did this problem start after an action like program update, etc.?

This problem actually began when I did a clean Ubuntu 14.04 LTS install on
it via live USB. The computer had shipped with Windows installed but I got
rid of it. Btw, sound in Windows worked perfectly.

At the time I was not using this computer for audio so I didn't care. But
now I need audio in this PC and nothing has resolved the issue.

On Fri, Dec 7, 2018, 5:23 PM Manfred Hampl <
<email address hidden> wrote:

> Your question #676490 on alsa-driver in Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/676490
>
> Status: Open => Needs information
>
> Manfred Hampl requested more information:
> Did you already have better sound on this system, or was it always like
> this?
> Did this problem start after an action like program update, etc.?
>
> --
> To answer this request for more information, you can either reply to
> this email or enter your reply at the following page:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/alsa-driver/+question/676490
>
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

Have you considered upgrading to a more recent version of Ubuntu, e.g. 18.04?

I recommend that you run a newer version of Ubuntu from an installer device in the "try Ubuntu without installing" mode and test sound. Does it adequately work in that mode?