Distorted Sound Issue on HP Victus 16-r0178ng

[unnolua]

Hello,

I have a question regarding my HP Victus 16-r0178ng laptop, which I purchased in October 2024. Shortly after purchase, I noticed distorted sound coming from the left speaker (the right speaker works perfectly). However, after reinstalling Windows, the problem seemed to go away. Since I primarily use the laptop with an external monitor and speakers, I rarely used the built-in speakers.

Recently, I decided to watch a show using the laptop's speakers and realized that the distortion issue is still present. It appears intermittently—the sound is sometimes distorted and other times completely fine. I have tried all possible solutions, including reinstalling different audio drivers and resetting the BIOS, but the issue persists. When using headphones or external speakers, there are no sound problems at all.

Now, here’s my concern. Since the original 1TB SSD was insufficient for my needs, I reviewed HP’s warranty policy and found that replacing the drive does not void the warranty. I replaced the original SSD with a 2TB WD_BLACK SN850X SSD. Because the laptop only has one NVMe M.2 slot, I kept the original SSD safe. I replaced the SSD carefully: I wore anti-static gloves, removed the back cover, disconnected the battery, held the power button to discharge any residual power, and only then performed the replacement. Afterward, the laptop continued to work perfectly.

My question is, if I take the laptop to the store for warranty repair (with the factory SSD reinstalled), will the SSD replacement impact my warranty claim? The laptop works fine overall, but it’s frustrating knowing that the built-in speakers occasionally distort or crackle. I'm worried the store might blame the SSD replacement for the issue and refuse to repair it under warranty.

Has anyone experienced a similar issue with sound distortion on this model? Could it just be a software issue related to Windows?

I’d greatly appreciate any advice, as I’m feeling stuck and unsure of what to do.

Thank you!

[Raj_05]

Hi @unnolua,

Welcome to HP Support Community.

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

Your situation with the HP Victus 16's distorted sound issue is frustrating but not uncommon. Let me address your concerns and provide advice.

Sound Distortion Issue:

Possible Causes:

• Hardware: A damaged or misaligned speaker could cause intermittent distortion. This could be due to physical impact.
• Software/Drivers: While reinstalling Windows may have temporarily masked the issue, it’s possible that a deeper hardware-related problem persists.

Troubleshooting Steps You’ve Taken:

• Reinstalling drivers and resetting the BIOS were great first steps, but since the issue is intermittent and not present with external devices, it points more toward a hardware issue with the left speaker.

Further Steps to Confirm:

• Test in Safe Mode: Boot into Safe Mode and play audio. If distortion occurs, it’s likely hardware-related.
• Run HP Diagnostics: Use the built-in HP hardware diagnostic tool (access it via F2 during boot) to test the speakers. This can help determine if the issue is hardware-based.

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!

Alden4

HP Support 

[unnolua]

Hello,

The BIOS indicates "Audio: PASSED," and I was unable to test the issue in Safe Mode because the problem disappeared again.

I would like to know if a malfunctioning speaker could potentially harm the laptop. Additionally, has my warranty been voided due to replacing the NVME drive?

[A_Gayathri]

Hi @unnolua ,

Thank you for your response, I appreciate your efforts. As the issue persists, I am sorry to hear that I'm sending out a private message to assist you with the next course of action. 

Please check your Private -icon on the upper right corner of your HP Community profile Next, to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope, please click on it or simply click on this link.

I hope this helps! Keep me posted for further assistance.

Please click “Accept as 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!