Hi there!
I got two laptops, one is
HP Victus 16-e0xxx
the other is
HP 15-fc0xxx
I am using monitor headphones Beyerdynamic D 770 PRO 80 ohms since years ago, I used to go on my computer at home, a desktop one, 16 Gb RAM, Ryzen 7 2700 (I guess it was, if I remember correctly). Now, since I'm constantly travelling, I got the two laptops I said. But the sound is no good on the Victus one, it sounds flat, no bass, no nothing remarkable, while on the other one, the sound is good, bass, treble and the full range of frequencies...

And after spending a loooot of time installing vst gear and sample collecting, I find myself with a laptop which is no good for sound playback because same project in HP 15 is nice, while in HP Victus 16 sounds like crap...

So, after all this telling, I wonder if there is any way of making HP Victus sound like the other one which sounds fine. This Victus laptop says it has Bang & Olufsen integrated soundsystem. I have no clue if it has something to do with it or it is just something else. The truth is that being 16 inches of screen, I'd be more happy to compose music on this Victus, instead of the other one, not to talk about having to install all the vst gear I've been installing on the Victus since a week ago. That would be a real pain in the ass...

 

1) make sure any "sound enhancements" are disabled in windows sound settings and in BIOS
2) does the laptop have one "combo" jack input? if yes then you may need a splitter

 

That's most likely because the headphones port on one of the laptops can't deliver enough energy at the rated impedance of the headphones. It's worth noting that most people think of impedance as some sort of flat rate across the spectrum, which is not true. Usually lower frequencies have higher impedance than the rated impedance of the headphones, so that only makes it more confusing when shopping for a fix.

My simple recommendation based on your portable needs is an amplifier + DAC combo, perhaps a FiiO or Schiit. There are many models, so pick what fits the bill as long as it does both things. A DAC implies that you lose any ASIO drivers if you happen to use an external interface for that (if you use generic ASIO it shouldn't change anything), so if you already use an external interface on the go, you should get only an amplifier. I believe some from the brands I named can toggle between DAC+amp or amp only, but don't quote me on that.

 

You could test to make sure this software is not the source of your problem. This is the kind of "bundled" software that ships pre-installed from the factory and is included on any re-install versions, instead of what you would get with a normal Windows installation. All sorts of pre-installed bloat and junk. You could figure out what Realtek chipset is actually in the machine and then get the driver for just it. Not the one included with the restore bloatware installation software.

You could also just wipe the whole install and get a lite version of Windows without all the junkware. Then test. If you need an amp, so be it; but i'd do that to any laptop you want to use for audio production either way. You'd probably be best off just getting a real audio interface in the long run.

 

Get one of these : ZOOM AMS-22 audio interface

Dimensions : 1.81" x 2.67"x 2.27"
Uses dedicated ASIO driver. Latency on par with any other consumer ASIO interface, e.g. Focusrite, Presonus, etc..
Has combo TRS/XLR w/ 48v
it does have Zero latency monitoring
Will drive the DT-770 80ohm; will sound the same on both laptops - bypassing the OEM ASUS, HP, ACER, etc. shenanigans.
USB-C; Tiny...throw it in your backpack.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/AMS22--zoom-ams-22-audio-interface

 

Last edited: Aug 24, 2025 at 11:19 PM

Unless having something smaller is a must, I agree. More features and a better overall experience for musicians. I always forget Zoom makes really useful form factor interfaces.

The FiiO/Schiit I recommended are very good, but unless you need something ultra thin and even smaller, I wouldn't bother with them and would go with the Zoom instead.

 

This looks like a decent deal, but it also addresses what I mentioned about the driver software. If one of these laptops has some garbage driver compared to the other, it could even possibly be fixed for free. To where it will equal the other laptop anyway. I doubt the laptop with some fancy bang and olufsen tuning software actually has a lower performance realtek than the other cheaper model. (but you never really know until you actually check the specs).

An external audio interface is the way to go anyway.

 

I have external audio interfaces on all 3 of my setups. It made a world of difference to my headphone experience. The laptop with the B&O audio was the worst of the lot.

 

1) everything is disabled. didn't check BIOS yet.
2) combo jack input? I don't think so... The only input the laptop has is the built-in microphone. And only one output jack.

 

You need a portable audio interface that you can fit in your pocket!

Presonus AudioBox GO - 75 €
- USB 2.0 Audiointerface mit USB C Anschluss
- Auflösung: 24 Bit/96khz
- Abmessungen (H x B x T): 44 x 111 x 86 mm
- Gewicht: 0,23 kg
https://de.presonus.com/products/audiobox-go
www.thomann.de/de/presonus_audiobox_go.htm#bewertung

or

Audient - EVO 4 - 114 EUR
https://audient.com/products/audio-interfaces/evo-4/overview

 

Hmmmm... I have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (2nd gen.) for my desktop setup, but I don't want to be carrying more stuff when travelling, cause it's enough stuff already every time to travel... I think I'll have to move to the HP which sounds decent and forget about the extra inch of screen of this HP Victus.

 

ah I thought so, then it's 4-pole or 5-pole jack that supports headset (=stereo headphones with microphone),
some 3-pole jacks that headphones use may have problem with it, resulting in problem you described in the OP

 

The only way to get the uniform sound out of both is external soundcard or a DAC. Simple.

 

Best of all, thanks to its compact dimensions, your AudioBox GO fits neatly into any guitar case or laptop bag. Whether you're recording with Android™ or Apple® mobile devices, a laptop, or a desktop PC, AudioBox GO makes recording easy and fun.