Robotic/Crackling sound coming from laptop speakers

[Milozs]

Hi, I’m having an audio issue on my laptop and I’m not sure what’s causing it.

While watching a YouTube video, the audio suddenly became robotic or distorted—almost like it was going through a voice changer. I checked other videos and had the same issue. I also tried playing a video game, and the distorted sound was still present there too.

I used the Xbox Game Bar to record a clip during the issue, and interestingly, the audio in the recording sounded completely normal.

About a week ago, I also noticed a crackling sound from the speakers. Rebooting the laptop fixed it at that time. This time too, after rebooting, the robotic audio issue went away.

Can someone explain why this is happening and why audio problems like this keep recurring?

Thanks.

SN: I can send a link to a video showcasing this problem if needed.

[Max3Aj]

@Milozs, Welcome to the HP Support Community!
 

Thanks for posting your question. I'm here to help you get things back on track.
I understand how frustrating it can be to deal with recurring audio issues like robotic or crackling sounds. Let's walk through some steps to help identify and resolve the problem.

You mentioned:

• Robotic/distorted audio during YouTube and games.
• Audio in Xbox Game Bar recordings sounds normal.
• Reboot temporarily resolves the issue.
• Crackling sound occurred previously.

This suggests a software-level audio processing issue, possibly related to drivers, audio enhancements, or system resource conflicts.

Step-by-Step Troubleshooting

Update Audio Drivers

Outdated or corrupted drivers are a common cause of audio distortion.

• Go to the HP Software and Driver Downloads page.
• Enter your product: HP 17 Laptop PC 17-cp2000.
• Download and install the latest Realtek Audio Driver (or AMD Audio if listed).
• Restart your laptop after installation.

Disable Audio Enhancements

Audio enhancements can sometimes interfere with playback.

• Right-click the Speaker icon in the taskbar → Sounds.
• Go to the Playback tab → Select your default device → Click Properties.
• Under the Enhancements tab, check Disable all enhancements.
• Click Apply and OK.

Check for Windows Updates

Ensure your system is fully updated.

• Go to Settings → Windows Update → Click Check for updates.
• Install all available updates and restart.

Run HP Audio Check

HP provides a built-in diagnostic tool to detect and fix audio issues.

• Download and run HP Support Assistant: HP Support Assistant | HP® Support
• Open the app → Go to Troubleshooting and Fixes → Select Audio Check.
• Follow the on-screen instructions.

Check for Background Processes

High CPU usage or background apps can cause audio stuttering.

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
• Check if any app is using excessive CPU or memory.
• End unnecessary tasks and test audio again.

I hope the information shared has been useful and resolves your concern.

Wishing you a smooth and hassle-free experience ahead!

If this solution helped, please click “Accepted Solution” so others can benefit too. Don’t forget to hit the “Yes” button if you found this helpful!
 

Warm regards,

Max3Aj

HP Support