You wrote that you're a newbie and that you use GNOME,
I am new to Arch but have used Linux for years already before. But there were often problems with release upgrade, lately worse with Mint that is a nice distro though. So I got Arch recommended as of its bleeding-edge-style. I wouldn't be too optimistic that a complete Linux newbie would be able to get Arch started.
We know, we don't care. OTOH it's easy to edit the subject. Indeed ! Right now I've whitelisted the ML-address in the GMX portal,
However, you're welcome and I apologize for that idiotic pulse discussion. Again, everybody should have been aware that your card does work with PA and that it didn't automatically satisfies your need to auto-mute the speakers.
As I said in the OP it was just a question to use Arch even more comfortable, not as a "must-have". If this comes to the conclusion that my soundchip has no suitable kernel-support for this aspect yet then this is ok for me. Warm regards, Nelson.