That's probably not going to happen because there's probably nothing to fix.I guess I'll just wait around until there is a proper fix.
E D I T !!
As Rene explains in the next post - That probably IS going to happen because there's actually 'something to fix', and it is being attended to
The problem is apparently in Mint, or in Linux generally.
So this next bit is W R O N G:-
It is more likely to be in the way it is interacting with your sound system.
I'm running three computers at the moment, all accessing a single sound system made up from odd low cost components.
Two of the Mint computers are running different Realtek audio chipsets, the other is a Raspberry Pi 4B, running whatever it is that's on its board.
All communicate with a Logitech Bluetooth receiver that has two separate Logitech X-230 speaker systems that each have an 8 inch sub driver and a pair of 2 inch satellites. That gives me 2 satellites and a Sub near the 55 inch monitor, and 2 satellites and a Sub in another part of the room. Not surround like yours - but a sort of 'depth of sound' effect that suits this space.
Because all the computers are controlled using a single mouse and keyboard, and are accessed sharing a single monitor, I can switch the sound from whichever computer needs audio with a couple of clicks.
So basically, unless your sound hardware is broken - and we know it is not, because you said it works fine under Windows -
OK, from here though, some of these following bits 'might' be useful for squeezing better quality out of the systemn once it is up and running:
You can 'improve the sound quality' by adjusting a few of the settings.
You are right about the Bass Enhancer in Pulse Effects. It can seem to just distort the weak sound that is there. If that is happening, you need to swap the weak sound that is there for some Bass, so the Bass Enhancer can Enhance it !
In the mean time remember to toggle each f the items you are using in Pulse Effects ON. I think I might have posted some pictures in the forum somewhere.
You can move each of the Pulse Effects 'Applications' Up and Down. I would suggest starting byt moving these to the top and turning each of them ON (leave all the others OFF).
Applications (should be at the TOP by default) Toggle this ON or you won't get anything from Pulse Effects. It is like a MASTER switch.
Stereo Tools - Toggle it ON and Leave Input and Output sliders at zero for now.
Crystalizer - Toggle it ON. Set Input to -1 and Output to -2
Bass Enhancer - Toggle it ON and set Input to -1 and Output to -2
Reverberation - I use it for a faux surroundish thing because I have two sub woofers in the room. You probably won't use it, but it can be 'interesting'
Equalizer is probably disabled by default. There are uses for it, but it is seldom needed.
Most of the other Applications can be messed with but the first three in my list will allow just about anything you are likely to need.
The important thing from there is to have your surround sound amps set up correctly. I have an amp built into each Sub and an amp in one of each pair of satellites. I have the Sub amps set about half way (to stop the upstairs neighbour complaining about the crockery bouncing in her china cupboard) and the satellites about 1/2 and 3/4 respectively. Mine can be painfully loud if I am not careful. The Bass makes the fabric chairs in the room vibrate, and perople say they can 'feel it going through parts of their body' rather than just hearing it. Your results will depend on whatever you use.
That's all there is to it. Mint is pretty forgiving where audio is concerned. You can run it without PulseAudio. And Alsa will play everything just fine. You will alsp find some of Mint's media players, like SMplayer and VLC have quite good Equalizers built into them. Just turn them ON.
But once you understand that Pulse is only a tool to get 'more' out of Alsa (ok, that;s simplistic, but it is sort of true) you can do a hell of a lot of 'improving' the sound quality in Mint.
Currently listening to Guns n Roses 'Sweet Child of Mine' shaking the ceiling (neighbour's floor) ...