comments:
Best guesses only, like that the audio probably isn't an expansion card and components may be shared across other parts of a motherboard. Guesses can be very wrong. You haven't wiped and reinstalled everything, but it sounds like you already treated the likeliest software issues. My inclination is to turn to USB digital audio content and hope that that's working well, and unfortunately that remains an external speaker treatment. I favor the FiiO KA11 for headphone output, since the tiny DAC quality typically exceeds the motherboard output quality, and it is a very powerful device, coaxing as much power from the USB, 5VDC 2A source as such a device can. While that output is much lower than most AC powered headphone amplifiers, it is much higher than most computers and phones provide, and so even if a computer was in peak condition, $35 seems like a minimal investment to improve the digital to analog decoding, and boost the headroom and dynamics to a high level of enjoyment when listening through headphones or earbuds. For the type of external speakers often used with laptops or desktops before the popularity of Bluetooth, coming from a motherboard connected headphone jack, the KA11 would also allow those external speakers, desktop, or portable to use the KA11 output. In the spirit of misfortune breeds opportunity or spurs treatment that can actually improve circumstance, that FiiO USB adapter can also elevate the audio output quality and strength of most cellphones and some gaming consoles. There are less expensive options. I don't recommend the Apple version of the FiiO USB to headphone dongle. It's output is no stronger than motherboard/phone headphone outputs on the slightly weaker side of average, and it is manufactured so inexpensively, that even users who profess a love for that dongle, also admit to having to replace it regularly. Inexpensive peripherals manufacturers like Sabrent make cheap USB adapters that feature both a headphone output and a mic to USB input that sell for under USD $10, if you you already owned a headset for conferencing or gaming, it might have come with a detachable USB to 3.5mm adapter. You did write laptop and it travels with you. So do the minimalist speakers built in. My first laptop, years ago was a then top of line Toshiba with internal speakers developed by Harman Kardon. The upper range was fairly clean and bright from such small, hinge mounted tweeters, and while still only about the size of a quarter, the down firing bass driver, underneath the chassis did develop some almost bass. I still ended up purchasing a little traveling Altec Lansing speaker, maybe about as large as two stacked hockey pucks. The laptop replacements I've used since have all had very average speakers and sound I'd almost always rather not listen to. Now, when it matters, I travel with a JBL Boombox 3. That's sure overkill for most, but when I've had to do video presentations on the fly in small conference rooms it can sound like a first class, in home audio system. Home or away though, it nice to have decent sound from a laptop, and decent...is at least something like the small Altec Lansing. You wrote that you don't want to use use a Bluetooth speaker, but if you had the KA11, or a cheap generic USB to headphone dongle like the Sabrent, would you be adverse to adding an external speaker so small that it may fit in a laptop carry bag without needing bag enlargement, and if you don't want to fuss with a couple of AAA batteries or having to recharge the speaker, then how about not needing an audio adapter, batteries or recharge time because the speaker contains its own DAC and gets all of its power from USB? Lenovo Not an endorsement, just the Lenovo was first item that came up when I searched with google, but it does look like it would do the job and be a big step up from most built in laptop speakers. Sites like Consumer Reports, or more recently RTINGS.com and youtube might have a lot to say about the quality of a host of USB powered laptop speakers, many even slimmer than this Lenovo, and minute for minute, whether on the go, i the office or sitting at home there are always those silver linings, adversity leading to an upgrade, getting more from your laptop, your phone or other USB devices, by giving it a small, travel friendly speaker upgrade, and giving yourself all of those minutes when your not settling for sound that's inferior. Were on r/audio and these opinions are typical for such a forum, versus aren't laptop speakers swell, so I hope you can forgive my own bias. I don't take my own comforts to extremes but I do take them far enough to pamper my own ears. I always travel with at least an inexpensive, but still nice pair of AKG earbuds, and they're also USB powered with their own built in DAC. You should still be able to find them in ranges between $4 to $13 if you google AKG EO-IC100BBEGUS. They're better than many earbuds selling for $50, and were reduced in price for use by Samsung, who acquired AKG as part of HARMAN Industries. When I plan bigger, I usually have my Bose QuietComfort Ultra ANC Bluetooth headphones, and when I'm at home my laptop or home computer is connected to a pair of 5.25 inch driver bookshelf speakers and a 12 inch subwoofer via audiophile quality DAC, preamp/amp and DSP. It's like....I used to sing to myself when working when I'd be tired, to feed my senses and maintain productivity, but while it would help keep me on task, the more tired that I was, the worse my singing. I was never paying attention until after too many years of that, it was causing me to be a poor singer all around. I made a new pledge to myself that if I was going to sing at all, no matter the conditions or reason, that I should try to always sing better. If you're going to play any audio from a laptop, shouldn't you want it to be the same? Maybe its....a cry for help, your laptop telling you that it wants to please you by offering you so much more. Alright, I do know that's not true, but sometimes when you're given lemons, it helps to think of it that way. Turning an underutilized little appliance into an audio powerhouse for just a few dollars.