Try the PulseAudio backend first

Alc/ALc.c

@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ typedef struct BackendInfo {
     BackendFuncs Funcs;
 } BackendInfo;
 static BackendInfo BackendList[] = {
+#ifdef HAVE_PULSEAUDIO
+    { "pulse", alc_pulse_init, alc_pulse_deinit, alc_pulse_probe, EmptyFuncs },
+#endif
 #ifdef HAVE_ALSA
     { "alsa", alc_alsa_init, alc_alsa_deinit, alc_alsa_probe, EmptyFuncs },
 #endif
@@ -66,9 +69,6 @@ static BackendInfo BackendList[] = {
 #ifdef HAVE_PORTAUDIO
     { "port", alc_pa_init, alc_pa_deinit, alc_pa_probe, EmptyFuncs },
 #endif
-#ifdef HAVE_PULSEAUDIO
-    { "pulse", alc_pulse_init, alc_pulse_deinit, alc_pulse_probe, EmptyFuncs },
-#endif
 
     { "wave", alc_wave_init, alc_wave_deinit, alc_wave_probe, EmptyFuncs },
 

alsoftrc.sample

@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@
 #  unless the list is ended with a comma (eg. 'oss,' will list OSS first
 #  followed by all other available backends, while 'oss' will list OSS only).
 #  An empty list means the default.
-#drivers = alsa,oss,solaris,dsound,winmm,port,pulse,wave
+#drivers = pulse,alsa,oss,solaris,dsound,winmm,port,wave
 
 ## excludefx:
 #  Sets which effects to exclude, preventing apps from using them. This can