HDX16T sound distortion

Hi everybody,

I just received my HDX16T and I love the laptop but I am having audio issues. Depending on what I am listening to, the sound gets distorted almost sounding like a blown speaker. However, I know it's not the speaker themselves because when I listen to the same audio piece through the headset jacks, I get the same distortion. I believe it's a driver/software issue and went to HP's website. Apparently there is an issue with audio but I'm wondering if anybody else is experiencing this? if you have, how did you fix it?

Any help would be appreciated. I don't want to believe that I paid this much money for a media laptop and can't stand listening to the sound.


This document pertains to HP Notebook PCs with Windows Vista.
Repairing sound drivers
Several models of notebooks may suffer from sound driver issues that result in distorted audio output. The solution to this problem is to re-install the sound drivers.
Re-install the driver from Driver Recovery
To resolve this issue, follow the steps below.
Click Start and type Recovery Manager in the search field.
Select Recovery Manager .
Click Advanced .
Select Hardware driver re-installation .
Click Next .
Select the appropriate audio driver.
Click Next . The audio driver will re-install.
Click Finish and allow the PC to restart.

 

I figured it out!

For some reason the Dolby options weren't enabled in the IDT control panel and without them on, the audio will be distorted. Now that I've enabled them, everything sounds great! Just and FYI to anybody who might have this problem later.

 

If possible, could you ellaborate on how to change the setting. I can't seem to find where the setting is located. Thanks!

 

Well there are two ways, on the notification area (right hand corner where the clock is) you can right click on the IDT icon and open the audio control panel. Or you can just go to your windows control panel and look up the IDT controls there too.

Under speakers and dual headphones go to "dolby" and make sure atleast the "enable dolby sound space expander" is checked. I found that if the "enable dolby natural bass" is checked too, the sound is a little better.

Let me know if you still have troubles.

 

Well I went into the control panel and opened a window called "Speaker and Dual Headphones Properties"; but I can't seem to find the "Dolby"tab.

 

It's a sub menu of speakers and dual headphones. After you click on speakers and dual .... look underneath it. There will be Settings, setup, equalization, dolby... And dolby is under each of the main menu's Speakers...., Independent Dual Head...., SPDIF....

 

Anyone have a better fix for this? I have the crazy distorted sound problem that i just noticed with vista's text to speech program, and so far the "finished" sound that dvd decrypter makes.

In text to speech, microsoft anna sounds like they're using a voice changer like in the movie SAW where the voice pitch is super low, and distorted.

Music and all other sound is not effected, these are the only two programs i have found that have the problem. Sure enough, enabling "dolby sound expander" in IDT fixes it, but i dont like the way it makes my music sound. It makes it sound flat.

Ugh, how annoying.

Im using driver 6.10.6047.5 that came with the HDX. There is a newer version available if you look in the DV5T on HP's site, but it didnt fix anything.

Im on a squeaky clean Vista install btw.

any help is appreciated.