5 Common Mistakes That Could Ruin Your PC Sound

Getting great sound from your PC doesn’t require a degree in audio engineering, but there are some common mistakes that can ruin your listening experience. Regardless of the price, you probably want your PC to deliver the best sound possible while you enjoy your media. This can be especially true if you’re trying to get the most out of a new PC. If your audio isn’t working the way you want it to, it could be due to a few common errors.

Common PC audio issues include not updating certain audio drivers; relying on faulty or incorrect sources (including choosing poor audio quality when streaming); have certain audio enhancement features enabled; or even have a poor wired or wireless connection. While we’re primarily focusing on Windows as an example, many of these solutions involve checking certain components or navigating to specific settings. However, some users may also want to consider an additional accessory if they’re really trying to expand their sound.

Without sounding like a party animal, remember that one of the simplest solutions may be to simply turn down the volume on your PC. If your audio distorts at higher volumes, this can help avoid the problem. However, if the problem goes beyond volume, the solutions below are a great place to start. For those who rely on them, it is also worth mentioning that multiple speaker errors can ruin your audio quality.

It’s important to remember about PC audio that the overall quality of the file you’re listening to can affect the sound. If you typically stream your music or podcasts, it might be worth researching which streaming service offers the best audio quality. However, most streaming services allow you to change the audio quality by quickly accessing your settings menu.

For example, Spotify Premium users have access to lossless audio, and changing the audio quality is as easy as clicking on your profile, selecting Settings, and then selecting Audio Quality. With Apple Music (which also supports Apple Lossless), you can find audio quality settings by tapping the three dots in the app and going to Settings > Playback > Audio Quality.

It is of course not just about streaming, because the quality (bit rate) of an audio file also matters. For MP3s, 128 kbps is considered “standard quality”, so anything lower may not be the best. However, 192 or 320 kbps is ideal. In Windows, you can right-click a file, choose Properties, then select Details to view the bitrate of an MP3, while also being aware of other audio formats. If you have physical media, consider transferring it to digital format and remember to only download music from reputable sources to ensure quality.

If you’re unfamiliar, many accessories on your PC may require drivers. This is additional software that helps your PC communicate with its peripherals. Just like your operating system, updating these drivers can be crucial for audio. If you ignore them, you may experience audio distortion, speaker issues, or even missing sound altogether. On the bright side, updating drivers is not too difficult.

If you’re using Windows 11, for example, Microsoft recommends updating audio players through Windows Update. It’s as simple as going to Start > Settings > Windows Update and selecting Check for updates. Your PC will restart after applying them. You can also update drivers manually through Device Manager.

Here are the steps:

1. Open the Start menu.

2. Type Device Manager, then open it.

3. Choose Sound, video and game controllers.

4. Right-click the audio device and choose Update Driver.

5. Choose Search for drivers automatically.

6. Follow the on-screen instructions.

7. Restart your system.

If you think you may have driver issues, you can also reinstall an audio driver by selecting Uninstall Device instead of Update Driver. This will remove the driver and then reinstall it on startup. Depending on your sound card, you may also need to visit the manufacturer’s website for updates and installation instructions. Other operating systems may require additional research (although we can help you get the best sound from a MacBook Pro if you need it).

An app that promises to boost your bass or offer other “audio enhancements” may not do what you expect. If you’ve downloaded additional apps promising to improve your audio quality, try disabling them to see if that produces a more pleasant result. Be aware, however, that some operating systems may also include their own audio enhancement features. Windows 11 is a great example of this.

If you’re unfamiliar, Windows 11 turns on audio enhancements by default. This default setting may work for some, but it may also cause incompatibility issues with other software or drivers you are trying to run. You may also prefer to keep these features disabled. As long as you have administrative access, the process is generally straightforward. However, whether or not you have this setting may depend on your drivers and sound card.

Here are the steps:

1. Open Windows Settings.

2. Choose System.

3. Select Sound.

4. Under Output, select the Choose where to play audio drop-down list and choose your audio source.

5. Select Off from the Audio Enhancements drop-down list.

Of course, you might like these improvements, so you can always repeat the steps above and choose the default effects On or Device, depending on the situation. Additionally, disabling these features can reduce the load on your CPU, which can make your computer run faster (just like disabling other Windows 11 features).

If you’re using wired headphones or speakers, the problem may be with the cable itself. First, inspect the audio cable to make sure it is not damaged. If you can, try connecting the headphones or speakers to another audio source to see how they work with another system. If your audio source has a wireless option, try connecting with Bluetooth to see if that changes anything.

If you leave your speakers or headphones connected to your PC through the headphone jack on the front of the machine, this may also affect your audio quality. If you have a headphone jack on the back of your PC, try making your connection there. Don’t forget the audio driver information mentioned above. It’s also a good idea to inspect all ports to make sure they are clean and working.

Finally, it may also be time to consider a digital-to-analog converter (DAC), which could solve potential problems with audio jacks. Essentially, a DAC can help take digital information and send it through a system as an analog audio signal. Although a PC is likely to have its own built-in DAC, the one that came with your system may no longer be sufficient for your needs. After all, an external DAC is one of the reasons audiophiles choose wired headphones over Bluetooth.

Fixing a common Bluetooth problem may be routine for some PC users, but problems specific to wireless headphones or speakers can be a whole different animal. In addition to checking your Bluetooth settings and disconnecting any devices that may have automatically connected (Settings > Bluetooth & devices > Devices in Windows 11), it can also help to disconnect your Bluetooth audio device and then reconnect it.

If you’re using Windows 10 or Windows 11, it includes an automated Bluetooth troubleshooter in the Get Help app. This troubleshooter can scan for potential issues and try to resolve them. You can also click the Sound icon in the Windows taskbar to ensure that the chosen Bluetooth device is the active audio output. Another option is to go to Start > Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, turn Bluetooth off, wait 10 seconds, then turn it back on.

In this Bluetooth and other devices menu, you can also click Devices, choose your Bluetooth audio device, then select Advanced sound properties (if you’re using Windows 11). Make sure 2ch, 16bit, 48000Hz (DVD quality) is selected under Output Settings to ensure you are using the highest quality. In Windows 10, you can find this option by right-clicking the Sound icon in the taskbar, then going to Sounds > Playback > Properties > Advanced > Default Format. It may also be helpful to update your Bluetooth drivers in Device Manager or update your operating system in general.