Original Switch has no sound while undocked???

I have an odd problem with my original Switch that I haven't seen many other posts about or fixes for.

When docked, everything works as it should. Once I undock though, the sound becomes disabled. It has happened at least three times now. Nothing I try fixes the issue so I dock the Switch and leave it for months at a time. Occasionally, if I go to try it out undocked, sound will be restored! In the past the sound has worked for weeks before dying again.

So tonight, having not played any Switch for 3 or 4 months, I grab it off the dock and THERE'S SOUND. It prompted for an update and I suspected that once it restarted the sound would be gone. I navigated the menu for a few minutes and played with volume controls and I can confirm that the speakers both work well. Sure enough, once I updated and restarted the sound was disabled again.

I've done all standard factory resets that I can access and cleared any and all data the OS will let me clear. The speaker icon responds to volume control and headphone jack activity and it is functioning as if the sound works as normal (even though it produces no sound). The audio/sound/mute/headphone menu settings are all set properly.

I'm at a loss. It's crazy frustrating. At least when I do play, it's mostly docked. I'd like to be able to take the Switch on vacation though and that's currently a no go.

Anyone here of this issue before? Thanks for taking the time. Cheers.

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TLDR, whatever mechanism (firmware?) that routes the sound to the Switch speakers when undocked, is not enabling the speakers. Speaker icon reflects working audio, but no sound present. Speakers confirmed working still.