XDG_RUNTIME_DIR (/run/user/1000) is not owned by us (uid 0), but by uid 1000! (This could e.g. happen if you try to connect to a non-root PulseAudio as a root user, over the native protocol. Don't do that.) **** List of PLAYBACK Hardware Devices **** card 0: Creative [HDA Creative], device 0: ALC898 Analog [ALC898 Analog] Subdevices: 1/1 Subdevice #0: subdevice #0