Everything played through my headphones sounds underwater/distorted

[shermie]

I've posted this elsewhere, but wanted to see if I could get some help here's what I've got so far...

I don't know how better to describe it than that. All audio on my computer, when played through a headset, sounds off. Either it has a faint "underwater" sound or some other distortions. Voices will be too quiet and echo, while background audio will be loud and jarring. I've used several different headsets, and tested them on different devices, and they seem to look fine. I've used them directly in the computer's audio out, which I thought was the problem, but I've also tried using USB headphones, and using my phone and it's USB as a third party. And even odder, things seem to sound fine when played through the computer's speakers. I could be wrong about that one and just not noticing, but it seems alright.


I'm on an Acer Aspire 7551, and this sound issue seems new. Like I said, I thought the issue was the port, and that could be an unrelated problem, but it's even giving me trouble through USB ports which are fine otherwise.


I have a temporary solution that I don't like, but maybe it will offer some insight for anyone who will know what my problem is?

Like I said, speakers work fine, no problem.

When using headphones, I can make it bearable by going into playback devices' options, and adjusting the balance left or right, and turning the other to zero. Regardless if I have it to left or right, there's no more echo or distortion. Obviously the downside here is that when sound is played through the channel that I have muted... I don't hear it. (ex. The Ultimate Headphones Test right now I'm set to 18 left, 0 right, so under the "Wiring" section on this page, I can't hear anything when the "right" button is pressed, and vice-versa 18 right/0 left has the respective effect).

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[fireberd]

I'm not sure, and you can clarify, but if USB and regular Analog headsets sound the same, its not the PC sound card that is the problem. USB headsets do not use the PC's sound card and get digital data and convert it to hearable (analog) audio, the same as the PC's sound card does. The problem would seem to be elsewhere if this is the case.

If this is not the case and the USB works OK, then its back to the Realtek. Check the Realtek HD Audio Manger for proper configuration and that there are NO Sound Effects.

 

[Layback Bear]

This might be helpful.