Hmm, this might be one of Realtek's processing coefficient magic bugs. You were saying it works from a fresh install. Does this mean it also works from a live-CD? If it does, could you please boot a live-CD, confirm that sound works, and then post an https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Audio/AlsaInfo from there? Thanks!
** Changed in: alsa-driver (Ubuntu) Status: New => Incomplete -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Ubuntu Bugs, which is subscribed to Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/714875 Title: [Realtek ALC259] ALSA test tone not correctly played back. Sound works on Win7 with laptop speakers, sound works on Ubuntu 10.10 with headphones, but not with laptop speakers -- ubuntu-bugs mailing list ubuntu-bugs@lists.ubuntu.com https://lists.ubuntu.com/mailman/listinfo/ubuntu-bugs