HP Spectre x360 13.5-ef Intel Core Ultra 7 165U Speaker Crackling Fix

The HP Spectre x360 13.5-ef is a premium 2-in-1 laptop featuring Bang and Olufsen tuned speakers. When the speakers crackle, pop, or distort — especially at higher volumes or during music and video playback — it defeats the purpose of the premium audio system this device is known for.

This guide covers the most effective fixes for speaker crackling on the HP Spectre x360 13.5-ef with the Intel Core Ultra 7 165U processor.

Why Speakers Crackle

• Bang and Olufsen audio software applying conflicting enhancement profiles
• Realtek audio driver bug with specific audio bit depth or sample rate
• Audio enhancement effects clipping at high volume
• DPC latency from other drivers interrupting the audio buffer
• Windows audio service instability after an update

Step-by-Step Fixes

Fix 1: Adjust the Bang and Olufsen Audio Profile

The Bang and Olufsen audio software applies equalization and enhancement presets that can cause distortion at high volume:

1. Open HP Audio Control from the Start menu or system tray.
2. In the Bang and Olufsen Audio panel, switch between profiles (Music, Movie, Voice) to identify whether one causes less crackling.
3. Try the Flat or Off preset if available to test without enhancement.

Fix 2: Disable Audio Enhancements

Windows-level audio enhancements can clip the audio signal:

1. Right-click the speaker icon and select Sound settings > More sound settings.
2. Double-click the default speakers in the Playback tab.
3. Go to the Enhancements tab and check Disable all enhancements.
4. Click OK and test audio playback.

Fix 3: Change the Audio Bit Depth and Sample Rate

Mismatched audio format settings can cause crackling artifacts:

1. In the speaker Properties, go to the Advanced tab.
2. Change the Default Format to 24 bit, 48000 Hz (Studio Quality).
3. Test several formats including 16-bit and 44100Hz to find the combination with no crackling.

“Switching the audio output format from 32-bit to 24-bit at 48kHz stopped the crackling. The B&O enhancement profile was pushing the 32-bit signal beyond what the codec could cleanly handle.”
— Siti Aminah, multimedia designer

Fix 4: Update the Realtek Audio Driver

HP regularly releases updated Realtek drivers for the Spectre x360 that address audio buffer and crackling issues:

1. Visit the HP Support page with your product number.
2. Download the latest Realtek audio driver package.
3. Install it and restart.
4. Test audio at various volume levels including maximum.

Fix 5: Restart the Windows Audio Service

1. Press Win + R, type services.msc, and press Enter.
2. Find Windows Audio and Windows Audio Endpoint Builder.
3. Right-click each and select Restart.
4. Test audio immediately after both services restart.

Frequently Asked Questions