diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index a10a4220..58a145c3 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -112,20 +112,12 @@ checksum = "683d7910e743518b0e34f1186f92494becacb047c7b6bf616c96772180fef923"
 [[package]]
 name = "alsa"
 version = "0.9.1"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "ed7572b7ba83a31e20d1b48970ee402d2e3e0537dcfe0a3ff4d6eb7508617d43"
-dependencies = [
- "alsa-sys",
- "bitflags 2.11.1",
- "cfg-if",
- "libc",
-]
 
 [[package]]
 name = "alsa"
-version = "0.10.0"
+version = "0.11.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "7c88dbbce13b232b26250e1e2e6ac18b6a891a646b8148285036ebce260ac5c3"
+checksum = "812947049edcd670a82cd5c73c3661d2e58468577ba8489de58e1a73c04cbd5d"
 dependencies = [
  "alsa-sys",
  "bitflags 2.11.1",
@@ -135,9 +127,9 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "alsa-sys"
-version = "0.3.1"
+version = "0.4.0"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "db8fee663d06c4e303404ef5f40488a53e062f89ba8bfed81f42325aafad1527"
+checksum = "ad7569085a265dd3f607ebecce7458eaab2132a84393534c95b18dcbc3f31e04"
 dependencies = [
  "libc",
  "pkg-config",
@@ -521,7 +513,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "bytemuck",
  "coreaudio-rs 0.13.0",
  "cosmic-text",
- "cpal 0.17.1",
+ "cpal 0.17.3",
  "crossbeam-channel",
  "fontdb",
  "half",
@@ -2624,6 +2616,20 @@ dependencies = [
  "objc2-core-foundation",
 ]
 
+[[package]]
+name = "coreaudio-rs"
+version = "0.14.2"
+source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
+checksum = "7d5d7dca3ebcf65a035582c9ad4385371a9d9ee6537474d2a278f4e1e475bb58"
+dependencies = [
+ "bitflags 2.11.1",
+ "libc",
+ "objc2-audio-toolbox",
+ "objc2-core-audio",
+ "objc2-core-audio-types",
+ "objc2-core-foundation",
+]
+
 [[package]]
 name = "coreaudio-sys"
 version = "0.2.17"
@@ -2682,12 +2688,12 @@ dependencies = [
 
 [[package]]
 name = "cpal"
-version = "0.17.1"
+version = "0.17.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "5b1f9c7312f19fc2fa12fd7acaf38de54e8320ba10d1a02dcbe21038def51ccb"
+checksum = "d8942da362c0f0d895d7cac616263f2f9424edc5687364dfd1d25ef7eba506d7"
 dependencies = [
- "alsa 0.10.0",
- "coreaudio-rs 0.13.0",
+ "alsa 0.11.0",
+ "coreaudio-rs 0.14.2",
  "dasp_sample",
  "jni 0.21.1",
  "js-sys",
@@ -2707,7 +2713,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "wasm-bindgen",
  "wasm-bindgen-futures",
  "web-sys",
- "windows 0.62.2",
+ "windows 0.61.3",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -3110,7 +3116,7 @@ source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "39cab71617ae0d63f51a36d69f866391735b51691dbda63cf6f96d042b63efeb"
 dependencies = [
  "libc",
- "windows-sys 0.61.2",
+ "windows-sys 0.52.0",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -3368,8 +3374,8 @@ dependencies = [
  "libc",
  "log",
  "rustversion",
- "windows-link 0.2.1",
- "windows-result 0.4.1",
+ "windows-link 0.1.3",
+ "windows-result 0.3.4",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -3461,7 +3467,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "vec_map",
  "wasm-bindgen",
  "web-sys",
- "windows 0.62.2",
+ "windows 0.54.0",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -3968,7 +3974,7 @@ checksum = "3640c1c38b8e4e43584d8df18be5fc6b0aa314ce6ebf51b53313d4306cca8e46"
 dependencies = [
  "hermit-abi",
  "libc",
- "windows-sys 0.61.2",
+ "windows-sys 0.52.0",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -4567,7 +4573,7 @@ version = "0.50.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "7957b9740744892f114936ab4a57b3f487491bbeafaf8083688b16841a4240e5"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-sys 0.61.2",
+ "windows-sys 0.59.0",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -5806,7 +5812,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "errno",
  "libc",
  "linux-raw-sys 0.12.1",
- "windows-sys 0.61.2",
+ "windows-sys 0.52.0",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -7441,7 +7447,7 @@ version = "0.1.11"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "c2a7b1c03c876122aa43f3020e6c3c3ee5c05081c9a00739faf7503aeba10d22"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-sys 0.61.2",
+ "windows-sys 0.52.0",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -7476,23 +7482,11 @@ version = "0.61.3"
 source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
 checksum = "9babd3a767a4c1aef6900409f85f5d53ce2544ccdfaa86dad48c91782c6d6893"
 dependencies = [
- "windows-collections 0.2.0",
+ "windows-collections",
  "windows-core 0.61.2",
- "windows-future 0.2.1",
+ "windows-future",
  "windows-link 0.1.3",
- "windows-numerics 0.2.0",
-]
-
-[[package]]
-name = "windows"
-version = "0.62.2"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "527fadee13e0c05939a6a05d5bd6eec6cd2e3dbd648b9f8e447c6518133d8580"
-dependencies = [
- "windows-collections 0.3.2",
- "windows-core 0.62.2",
- "windows-future 0.3.2",
- "windows-numerics 0.3.1",
+ "windows-numerics",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -7504,15 +7498,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-core 0.61.2",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "windows-collections"
-version = "0.3.2"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "23b2d95af1a8a14a3c7367e1ed4fc9c20e0a26e79551b1454d72583c97cc6610"
-dependencies = [
- "windows-core 0.62.2",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-core"
 version = "0.54.0"
@@ -7549,19 +7534,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-strings 0.4.2",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "windows-core"
-version = "0.62.2"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "b8e83a14d34d0623b51dce9581199302a221863196a1dde71a7663a4c2be9deb"
-dependencies = [
- "windows-implement 0.60.2",
- "windows-interface 0.59.3",
- "windows-link 0.2.1",
- "windows-result 0.4.1",
- "windows-strings 0.5.1",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-future"
 version = "0.2.1"
@@ -7570,18 +7542,7 @@ checksum = "fc6a41e98427b19fe4b73c550f060b59fa592d7d686537eebf9385621bfbad8e"
 dependencies = [
  "windows-core 0.61.2",
  "windows-link 0.1.3",
- "windows-threading 0.1.0",
-]
-
-[[package]]
-name = "windows-future"
-version = "0.3.2"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "e1d6f90251fe18a279739e78025bd6ddc52a7e22f921070ccdc67dde84c605cb"
-dependencies = [
- "windows-core 0.62.2",
- "windows-link 0.2.1",
- "windows-threading 0.2.1",
+ "windows-threading",
 ]
 
 [[package]]
@@ -7650,16 +7611,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-link 0.1.3",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "windows-numerics"
-version = "0.3.1"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "6e2e40844ac143cdb44aead537bbf727de9b044e107a0f1220392177d15b0f26"
-dependencies = [
- "windows-core 0.62.2",
- "windows-link 0.2.1",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-result"
 version = "0.1.2"
@@ -7687,15 +7638,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-link 0.1.3",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "windows-result"
-version = "0.4.1"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "7781fa89eaf60850ac3d2da7af8e5242a5ea78d1a11c49bf2910bb5a73853eb5"
-dependencies = [
- "windows-link 0.2.1",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-strings"
 version = "0.1.0"
@@ -7715,15 +7657,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-link 0.1.3",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "windows-strings"
-version = "0.5.1"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "7837d08f69c77cf6b07689544538e017c1bfcf57e34b4c0ff58e6c2cd3b37091"
-dependencies = [
- "windows-link 0.2.1",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "windows-sys"
 version = "0.45.0"
@@ -7800,15 +7733,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "windows-link 0.1.3",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "windows-threading"
-version = "0.2.1"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "3949bd5b99cafdf1c7ca86b43ca564028dfe27d66958f2470940f73d86d75b37"
-dependencies = [
- "windows-link 0.2.1",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "windows_aarch64_gnullvm"
 version = "0.42.2"
diff --git a/Cargo.toml b/Cargo.toml
index ed50fae9..038a0b84 100644
--- a/Cargo.toml
+++ b/Cargo.toml
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ kira = { path = "third_party/kira" }
 # cost ~7 ms a raise — invisibly, for the raises an addon wraps in `pcall`: five a frame measured
 # 44.7 ms of VM tick with an empty error log (`third_party/mlua-sys/BENILLA.md`).
 mlua-sys = { path = "third_party/mlua-sys" }
+# A lock-only stand-in: bevy_audio's unbuilt cpal 0.15 would otherwise hold `alsa-sys` 0.3 against
+# cpal 0.17's 0.4, and a lock holds one `links = "alsa"` (`third_party/alsa-0.9/BENILLA.md`).
+alsa = { path = "third_party/alsa-0.9" }
 
 # Dependencies at opt-level 3 in dev: at opt-level 0, avian/parry collision drops a run to <1 fps.
 # Line tables only, and never packed into the binary, for the reason under `[profile.dev]` below.
diff --git a/crates/benilla-app/src/sound/output/cpal.rs b/crates/benilla-app/src/sound/output/cpal.rs
index 356edfe0..c5490a19 100644
--- a/crates/benilla-app/src/sound/output/cpal.rs
+++ b/crates/benilla-app/src/sound/output/cpal.rs
@@ -332,6 +332,13 @@ pub(super) struct Notices {
 /// The device watch: a thread that re-reads the host's default output every [`WATCH_EVERY`] and
 /// raises a notice when it changes. One-shot: the backend answers a notice by rebuilding the
 /// stream, which arms a fresh watch.
+///
+/// Deviation: a change of the default output device is followed (here and in `coreaudio.rs`), where
+/// 1.12.1 initialises its sound device once and never again (`Sound::Initialize` `0x7a4330`
+/// refuses a second call; the driver-enumeration functions `0x7a6320`-`0x7a6380` have no caller),
+/// because a headset plugged in mid-session should play at once. On ALSA the watch sees only the
+/// "default" PCM, whose id never changes, so on Linux it is the sound server (PipeWire or Pulse)
+/// that moves the stream.
 pub(super) struct Listeners {
     stop: Arc<AtomicBool>,
     thread: Option<std::thread::JoinHandle<()>>,
diff --git a/crates/benilla-app/src/sound/output/mod.rs b/crates/benilla-app/src/sound/output/mod.rs
index 29513f33..ab9e5178 100644
--- a/crates/benilla-app/src/sound/output/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/benilla-app/src/sound/output/mod.rs
@@ -650,8 +650,8 @@ fn render_loop(
     period_ns: u64,
 ) {
     // Held for the thread's life: on Windows its drop hands the MMCSS registration back.
-    // `WOW_AUDIO_NO_RT=1` skips realtime for the user-interactive QoS fallback, an A/B lever for
-    // the render thread preempting the compute pools.
+    // `WOW_AUDIO_NO_RT=1` skips realtime for the fallback (user-interactive QoS on macOS), an A/B
+    // lever for the render thread preempting the compute pools.
     let no_rt = std::env::var_os("WOW_AUDIO_NO_RT").is_some();
     let realtime = if no_rt {
         Err(anyhow::anyhow!("WOW_AUDIO_NO_RT=1"))
@@ -667,7 +667,13 @@ fn render_loop(
             Some(realtime)
         }
         Err(e) => {
-            warn!("audio: render thread could not go realtime ({e}); using user-interactive QoS");
+            // `promote_current_thread` is a no-op off macOS, so the thread keeps its normal priority.
+            let fallback = if cfg!(target_os = "macos") {
+                "user-interactive QoS"
+            } else {
+                "normal thread priority"
+            };
+            warn!("audio: render thread could not go realtime ({e}); using {fallback}");
             benilla_world::thread_qos::promote_current_thread(
                 benilla_world::thread_qos::QosClass::UserInteractive,
             );
diff --git a/third_party/alsa-0.9/BENILLA.md b/third_party/alsa-0.9/BENILLA.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..79571728
--- /dev/null
+++ b/third_party/alsa-0.9/BENILLA.md
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+# A lock-only stand-in for `alsa` 0.9.1
+
+Written by benilla, MIT OR Apache-2.0; it contains no upstream code. Wired in through
+`[patch.crates-io]` in the workspace root.
+
+Why: `alsa-sys` declares `links = "alsa"`, and a lockfile may hold one version of it. `cpal` 0.17.3,
+our audio device layer off macOS, takes `alsa` 0.11 and so `alsa-sys` 0.4. `bevy_internal` lists
+`bevy_audio` as a weak optional dependency (`bevy_audio?/android_shared_stdcxx`), which puts
+`bevy_audio`, its `cpal` 0.15.3 and so `alsa` 0.9.1 and `alsa-sys` 0.3 into the lock although the
+workspace never enables bevy's audio (`Cargo.toml`, `bevy`). The two `links` collide and the
+resolver refuses. This package satisfies `cpal` 0.15.3's `alsa = "0.9"` with no dependency on
+`alsa-sys`.
+
+It is never compiled: `cargo tree --target all` holds no `cpal` 0.15. If bevy's audio were enabled,
+the build would stop at the `compile_error!` in `src/lib.rs`, which says why.
+
+Drop it when the lock holds no `bevy_audio` (a bevy that no longer lists it) or when bevy's
+`cpal` takes `alsa` 0.11.
diff --git a/third_party/alsa-0.9/Cargo.toml b/third_party/alsa-0.9/Cargo.toml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e4d74eb3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/third_party/alsa-0.9/Cargo.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[package]
+name = "alsa"
+version = "0.9.1"
+edition = "2021"
+license = "MIT OR Apache-2.0"
+description = "Lock-only stand-in for alsa 0.9.1; see BENILLA.md"
diff --git a/third_party/alsa-0.9/src/lib.rs b/third_party/alsa-0.9/src/lib.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a0f2da3b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/third_party/alsa-0.9/src/lib.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+compile_error!(
+    "third_party/alsa-0.9 is a lock-only stand-in: bevy_audio and its cpal 0.15 are not built. \
+     See third_party/alsa-0.9/BENILLA.md."
+);