Audio device issues - bugged device switching, not in sync with Windows

Hello, i've been encountering a bug for the last couple of months, related to audio device list synchronization with the OS audio devices list.

TL;DR: please add a button to force the audio device list invalidation and refresh, so the descriptions will fit the proper devices. Or add a "Default audio device" option.

Context: I have two main audio devices i use - my speakers and external USB DAC connected to headphones. These devices are standard audio devices visible in my Windows OS and in PoE.




Issue description: After i run my game, when i change the default audio device on Windows and i want to change the device in PoE to the same one, the game halts for a second and all the audio seems to dissapear.
I do not know if the audio is actually being generated and outputted to one of the other audio devices i have (and i don't really have a way of checking them all, since some of them are virtual and not outputting audio anywhere).

To fix this issue, i can either restart the game, or after selecting the new audio device and experiencing the halt and dissapearance of audio, i can select (in-game) the previous audio device i've been using and the game will correctly output the audio on the device i've selected on Windows - despite in-game description still showing it as an old device.

Also, the game correctly remembers the audio device i've selected, and when i re-start the game it'll play the audio using it.

I've prepared a short demo video to present this issue, with my comment, because i believe that my explanations above may not be the best way to describe it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wlmS-wJYSqw

Note: OBS correctly tracks the default audio device i've selected in Windows.

How to reproduce:
Requirements: have at least two working audio devices connected to your PC (described below as device A and B), and Windows OS

1. Select the device A in Windows settings as default output device
2. Run the game - the audio should work normally and output on device A
3. Go back to Windows and change the default output device to device B
4. Go back to game and do exactly the same - change the audio device to device B
* Now the game should halt for a second, and the audio should be gone
5. Go back to audio device A in-game
* The audio will either stil not work, or it'll output on device B, despite the description indicating that it's device A
6. If the audio is still not working, try doing steps 4 and 5 few times again. Alternatively, change the audio device to any other - if present - and go back to device A. That should fix the issue, however the label on selected audio device (A) is invalid, because when selected, it should output on device B

If you need any more information, please let me know.

Having a rather similar issue, I only have two audio output devices; 2-USB Audio Device (my USB 3.5mm mic/headphones converter) and Realtek Digital Output (my normal 3.5mm speakers output). For SOME reason, if I set my output to 2-USB Audio Device (headphones), it comes through on my speakers. If I set it to Realtek Digital Output (speakers), it comes through my headphones.

This started happening the past few weeks, can't really pinpoint when. I always had an issue where I needed to change devices and save like 9 times before it would actually apply.. but the game settings choosing the opposite output device than is selected in game/in Windows sound settings is just asinine.

I'm also having this issue when changing my default audio device on Windows 11.

I can reproduce by changing my default audio device in the Windows 11 switcher after having the game launched; if the audio device is set prior to launch then everything lines up just fine. It seems like the default audio device at launch time is treated differently.

Potentially related is that when a new audio device is connected, or an old audio device is removed, the list in PoE is not updated either.

I filed bug report reference 1771207574 for this.