Surface 2 Speaker/Sound Problems

I went to Microsoft support site for surface and after clicking "I have sound issues' i got redirected to warranty replacement page, no questions asked which is weird as usually the system makes you try endless different configurations before getting a replacement. I will post once I get the new one.

I still think this is more a software issue but I might be wrong...

I just don't know what to do.

I tend to lean towards it being a software issue (not to say that there haven't been some cases in this thread which have been compounded by bad hardware) especially if the symptoms continue when playing through headphones or other devices.

The lack of fullness in sound can hopefully be improved upon with a driver update as it was with the first gen RT.

I think that the pops, crackles, and frame stutter when streaming from various websites are flash related. Don't most of the problem sites still use flash (Amazon, HBOGO, etc.) while html5 services (Netflix, Xbox video, some YouTube) play without a hitch. Most likely addressable with a software update.

I plan to wait it out for a bit and see what updates get released. Should it be identified as a hardware issue we should have no problem getting a replacement down the line.

Yeah, I am very confident that the crackles and sound stuttering in Amazon will be fixed. 

I am just worried that the other problem (low sound volume and lack of bass/fullness) is hardware.  But, the fact that both speakers sound exactly the same, and my son's Surface 2 sounds exactly the same, is pretty good evidence that it is not hardware.  I would guess that if it was bad speakers, that both speakers wouldn't likely be damaged to exhibit the exact same sound characteristics.

I was chatting with support and they were ready to have me replace it, but I decided against it for now.  I will wait a little longer and see what updates come out.

So your replacement after all the updates has high speaker volume, similar to the Surface RT?  That is my biggest complaint, the sound from the speakers lacks volume and fullness.  I have really never experienced the crackling (except streaming Amazon Instant Video).  I'm just not sure what I am experiencing is a hardware issue.

At 100% volume, it is ok I suppose, but it just doesn't have any fullness or bass to the sound.  I know these are just small speakers and I can't expect great sound, but my speakers are definitely inferior to the Surface RT.

I just don't know what to do.

I tend to lean towards it being a software issue (not to say that there haven't been some cases in this thread which have been compounded by bad hardware) especially if the symptoms continue when playing through headphones or other devices.

The lack of fullness in sound can hopefully be improved upon with a driver update as it was with the first gen RT.

I think that the pops, crackles, and frame stutter when streaming from various websites are flash related. Don't most of the problem sites still use flash (Amazon, HBOGO, etc.) while html5 services (Netflix, Xbox video, some YouTube) play without a hitch. Most likely addressable with a software update.

I plan to wait it out for a bit and see what updates get released. Should it be identified as a hardware issue we should have no problem getting a replacement down the line.

My replacement surface 2 came in today.  Even after all updates, the sound is perfect across the board.  Even Netflix, youtube and other web videos sound good.

I had the speaker problem where everything sounded bad, even the system sound test.  Left speaker was 30% of the right speaker.  Right speaker still not very loud.  Both speakers distorted, tinny, and sounded blown.  It started right after an update that first weekend after release.  Bluetooth and ear buds sounded amazing.  It was only the built-in speakers that were bad.

So if your audio symptoms are like mine, go to the surface support website or fall back on your retailer's warranty plan or what have you.  That's what I did and going to Microsoft support via the online chat was not a terrible experience.  For a bad situation, I'd even go so far as saying the service was excellent.  It took them 4 business days to get me a replacement under the Advanced replacement program (you guarantee you'll send the broken surface back to MS after you get your replacement -- with your credit card). 

But even while my internal speakers were terrible, everything else was excellent.  I still had my surface with me everywhere I went and it still became an invaluable part of my life.  So, sometimes you get a lemon (and I'm notorious for getting the lemons!), but MS made it right with as little pain as possible.

So your replacement after all the updates has high speaker volume, similar to the Surface RT?  That is my biggest complaint, the sound from the speakers lacks volume and fullness.  I have really never experienced the crackling (except streaming Amazon Instant Video).  I'm just not sure what I am experiencing is a hardware issue.

At 100% volume, it is ok I suppose, but it just doesn't have any fullness or bass to the sound.  I know these are just small speakers and I can't expect great sound, but my speakers are definitely inferior to the Surface RT.

I just don't know what to do.

My replacement surface 2 came in today.  Even after all updates, the sound is perfect across the board.  Even Netflix, youtube and other web videos sound good.

I had the speaker problem where everything sounded bad, even the system sound test.  Left speaker was 30% of the right speaker.  Right speaker still not very loud.  Both speakers distorted, tinny, and sounded blown.  It started right after an update that first weekend after release.  Bluetooth and ear buds sounded amazing.  It was only the built-in speakers that were bad.

So if your audio symptoms are like mine, go to the surface support website or fall back on your retailer's warranty plan or what have you.  That's what I did and going to Microsoft support via the online chat was not a terrible experience.  For a bad situation, I'd even go so far as saying the service was excellent.  It took them 4 business days to get me a replacement under the Advanced replacement program (you guarantee you'll send the broken surface back to MS after you get your replacement -- with your credit card). 

But even while my internal speakers were terrible, everything else was excellent.  I still had my surface with me everywhere I went and it still became an invaluable part of my life.  So, sometimes you get a lemon (and I'm notorious for getting the lemons!), but MS made it right with as little pain as possible.

Soo, what you are saying is playing songs from the xbox music raido and mp3s, with the audio enhancements on, you do not hear any crackling or distortion at all when the volume is maxed (both the music app and windows volume control) 

I'm listening to some heavy dubstep right now and no crackling or distortion -- xbox radio