> "PA just sits on top of ALSA. So in my mind, if everything just works with out PA, why install it?" Yes, PA sits on top of ALSA. But PA does have other feat

> "PA just sits on top of ALSA. So in my mind, if everything just works with out PA, why install it?" Yes, PA sits on top of ALSA. But PA does have other features, for example sending audio over the network, which is something that I have used on systems that don't have soundcards (e.g. Windows Subsystem for Linux) and for routing all my audio through my OpenWRT router which is connected to my high quality stereo (which allows all computers in my room to output audio to speakers without any cables). Also things like grabbing audio out from one app and recording to audacity is easy with PA. That being said, I'm the type of person that prefers minimal systems, in which case I usually stick to LXDE sans-pulse, and if I do need advanced audio processing, then I go with Jack.