HDMI no sound for only the right channel

[JZX1673]

Hi everyone,

I’ve run into a strange audio issue and wanted to see if anyone else has experienced the same.

When I connect my laptop through HDMI, the right audio channel produces no sound at all when using stereo mode. The left channel plays fine, but the right is completely silent.

Here’s the odd part: if I switch the output configuration to surround (5.1 or higher), the problem disappears and everything, including the right channel, works normally. So it looks like stereo over HDMI is broken somehow, but surround works fine.

Details of my setup:

Laptop on Windows 11 (tested on 24H2 and now 25H2)

Connection: HDMI from laptop to TV, then ARC from TV to soundbar

All drivers are fully up to date

Soundbar and cables tested and confirmed to work fine with other devices

Troubleshooting I’ve already done:

Tried multiple HDMI cables → no change

Verified the soundbar works fine with other sources

Reinstalled audio and graphics drivers

Reset Windows and even did a completely clean install

Issue appears in both Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2

Other important notes:

Laptop speakers work fine in stereo

3.5mm headphone jack works fine in stereo

The problem only happens when using HDMI (through ARC) and only in stereo mode

Has anyone else run into this? It’s frustrating because stereo is the default setup, and I’d prefer not to force surround mode just to get both channels working

[JZX1673]

Sooo... i seem to have fixed it on the strangest way possible (if it was the first point i am making what fixed it) but what i did was

1. Connect all the devices i own, for example, microphones and headsets (i only use the 3.5mm jack, no usb audio)
2. Rename said devices in the windows old control panel
3. Check in omen gaming hub to make sure that the Nvidia broadcast enhancements were turned off (noticed it wasnt grabbing a default device but rarther using one i seemingly chose, i.e, laptop speakers and the integrated mic which i thought was fine but i selected "default device" instead) then turned on and then back off both enhancments
4. Reboot
   Pass updates to sound devices on device manager (no updates found)
5. Installed Dolby Access (Atmos) because i already own it and prefer it over DTS for anything other than the integrated speakers
6. Reboot
7. Connect to my TV using the hdmi port on the laptop and the same port on my TV as described
   
   SUDDENLY THERE'S AUDIO ON BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT
   
   Checked to see if i still had it set up with "Surround sound" in windows, it wasn't, was set only to stereo output
8. Reboot again
   Confirm sanity check so i rebooted again and tested it, now its working as intended

[JZX1673]

Soooooooooo... nope, its back now after a reboot, wonder if it's another driver or DTS causing an issue

[Hawks_Eye]

Hi @JZX1673 

Welcome to the HP Support Community! We're here to help you get back up and running.

Thanks for laying out the issue so clearly—this is a fascinating and frustrating HDMI audio bug, especially given how precisely you've tested it. 

Based on your setup and findings, here's a deeper probe into what might be happening and how to stabilize stereo output over HDMI:

 

Stabilization Strategy

1. Lock HDMI Output to Stereo LPCM

• Go to Control Panel > Sound > Playback
• Select your HDMI output device > Properties > Supported Formats
• Uncheck all formats except LPCM 2.0
• Under Advanced, set Default Format to 16-bit, 48kHz Stereo

This forces Windows to use basic stereo over HDMI without triggering surround routing.

 

2. Disable All Enhancements

• In the same HDMI device properties:
  • Go to Enhancements tab
  • Check Disable all enhancements
• Also disable Spatial Sound under the Spatial tab

Enhancements can reroute or suppress channels depending on the active profile.

 

3. Set HDMI Device as Default (Not Default Communication)

• In Control Panel > Sound, right-click HDMI output
• Set as Default Device and Default Communication Device

Prevents fallback to laptop speakers or other devices during boot or app launch.

 

4. Disable NVIDIA Broadcast Audio Routing

• Open OMEN Gaming Hub
• Go to Audio Settings > NVIDIA Broadcast Enhancements
• Turn off all enhancements and manually select Default Device

This prevents NVIDIA from hijacking stereo routing or applying spatial filters.

 

5. Use EDID Override (Advanced)

If the issue persists, consider using Custom Resolution Utility (CRU) to override EDID and force stereo LPCM support.

This is advanced and should be done cautiously—let me know if you want help with it.

Let me know if you'd like to test with EDID override or if you'd prefer a script-based fix to lock stereo output on boot. 

You're doing everything right by documenting this thoroughly—I’ll stay with you until stereo works reliably.

If my response helped, please mark it as an Accepted Solution! ✅ It helps others and spreads support. 💙 Also, tapping "Yes" on "Was this reply helpful?" makes a big difference! Thanks! 😊

Take care, and have an amazing day!

Regards, 

Hawks_Eye