Left Speaker comes from centre of HP Envy

[ShuggMcGlummfer]

I've put up with this for a while but have been unable to find a solution, so just putting this out in case anyone has come across a similar issue. My HP Envy has operated fine for a few years but a while back I became aware that the stereo spread now seemed to be right biased. So, having checked drivers and troubleshooters, all was allegedly fine. But go to Balance and turn off the right speaker and the left sound comes from the centre of the machine. Turn up right and turn off left and it's as expected with right side sound where you'd expect it to be. It's as if the left speaker has physically slipped into the centre, but this isn't possible. The sound levels in both are OK. I've tried mono inputs but it just gives right side biased sound!

Long shot, but anyone any ideas? Thanks.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @ShuggMcGlummfer,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

Thank you for posting your query, I will be glad to help you.

It sounds like you've already done some thorough troubleshooting by checking drivers and using the balance control. Since the issue persists even with mono inputs, it suggests that there might be a hardware-related problem. 

Here are a few additional suggestions you can consider:

Physical Inspection:

• Carefully examine the speakers to ensure there's no physical damage or misplacement.
• If you feel comfortable doing so, you might want to check if the speakers are securely connected inside the laptop. This would typically involve opening the laptop, which could void the warranty, so proceed with caution.

Device Manager:

• Check the Device Manager for any issues with the audio drivers. Right-click on the Start button, select "Device Manager," and look for the "Sound, video and game controllers" section. If there are any issues, you may try updating or reinstalling the audio drivers.

Audio Settings:

• Check the audio settings in the system. Sometimes, there might be software settings affecting the stereo balance. Look for any enhancements or audio effects that could be causing this imbalance.

System Restore:

• If you can pinpoint when the issue started happening, consider using the System Restore feature to revert your system to a previous state when the audio was working correctly.

External Speaker Test:

• Connect external speakers or headphones to your laptop and check if the audio balance issue persists. This can help determine whether the problem is with the laptop's internal speakers or a broader audio issue.

I hope this helps.

Take care and have a good day.

Please click “Accepted Solution” if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution. Click the “Kudos/Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say “Thanks” for helping!

Rachel571 
HP Support

[ShuggMcGlummfer]

Thanks for thoughts. Externals are fine and the machine is well out of warranty but I'm a bit wary of opening it up as I believe the speakers are pretty inaccessible in these devices. It's definitely something to do with the internal speakers. If I'm feeling brave I may open it!

I'll report back and mark off the "Solution" once I do that.

[Sneha_01]

Hi @ShuggMcGlummfer,

Thank you for your response. 

If you are not comfortable to  check if the speakers are securely connected inside the laptop, I request you to proceed with the remaining troubleshooting steps.

Please feel free to reply to us and we will be more than happy to help you.

If you would like to thank us for our efforts to help you, please go to the public post and click on "Accepted Solution" and give us a virtual high-five by clicking on the "Thumbs Up" icon.

Take care and have a great day ahead!

Rachel571 
HP Support