“Underwater” TV audio can come from a sound setting, one app or connected device, a connection problem, or a fault in the TV or external audio system. Start by switching sources: if the sound changes with one device, investigate that device and its connection; if it happens everywhere, check the TV’s output and run its built-in sound test.
First, check whether the problem follows one source
Switch from the affected channel, streaming box, game console, or other connected device to an internal TV app or another input. Note whether the muffled sound follows the original source or is present everywhere. LG recommends comparing content sources; if distortion is limited to one connected device, the TV is less likely to be responsible. That points you toward the device, its configuration, or its connection—not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Keep track of which combinations you try: for example, an internal app through the TV speakers versus a console through a soundbar. Comparing these paths helps distinguish a source-specific issue from one that affects the TV’s audio more broadly.
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Confirm that the TV is sending sound to the system you intend to use. With built-in speakers, select the TV speakers; with a soundbar or receiver, select the corresponding external output, and make sure that equipment is powered on with its volume at a suitable level.
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On Samsung TVs, available controls can include sound modes, an equalizer, balance, HDMI input audio format, and digital output audio format. Menu names and options depend on the model and selected output. Samsung lists Standard, Optimized, and Amplify as sound-mode options; trying a neutral mode such as Standard can provide a baseline. Change one setting at a time so you can tell whether it affects the sound.
These adjustments are tests, not evidence that a particular component is faulty. If a change makes things worse, restore the earlier setting. Samsung’s Reset Sound option restores default sound settings, which can also erase your previous audio configuration.
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Run the TV’s built-in sound test
A sound test helps separate a TV audio-path problem from one tied to a particular app or connected device. Follow the instructions for your exact model and software version: manufacturers use different menu paths, and LG’s guidance varies by webOS release.
- Samsung Gulf TVs: the cited support guidance gives this path: Menu > Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Sound Test. Menus can differ by model.
- LG TVs: use the audio or sound test instructions for your webOS version in LG’s support guidance. The available path differs between releases.
LG says that if its test plays properly, check the connected media device and try another cable. If distortion continues or no sound is heard during the test, LG advises requesting service. Treat that result as LG’s guidance for its TVs; for another brand, follow its model-specific support instructions.
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If the test is normal, inspect the external connection
If the built-in test sounds normal but one external source still sounds muffled, check the cable at both ends and reconnect it firmly. Try another compatible cable, test the same device on another TV, or connect a different device to the same TV input. These comparisons can help isolate a connection or source problem, but they do not prove that the cable is at fault.
A replacement HDMI cable is relevant only if the affected audio path uses HDMI. Match it to the devices and ports in your setup; replacing a cable without first narrowing down the affected path is not a general fix for muffled sound.
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When to contact support or arrange service
Contact the TV manufacturer or arrange service if the TV’s own sound test reproduces the distortion, or if the problem remains across sources after you have checked the output, settings, and connections. If only one external device remains affected after those checks, consult that device’s support guidance as well.
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Official support guidance identifies several possible causes but does not establish how often any one cause is responsible for muffled or “underwater” sound. Avoid assuming that a cable, sound setting, speaker, or other specific part is the cause before the source comparison and sound test point that way.
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Support guidance
- LG: Troubleshooting distorted audio from TV speakers (June 12, 2026).
- LG: TV audio problems (June 12, 2026).
- Samsung Gulf: How to fix sound and noise issues on a Samsung TV (updated June 25, 2026).
- Samsung Gulf: How to change the audio settings on your Samsung TV (updated August 27, 2026).
- Samsung US: Abnormal noise from the TV or TV speakers (accessed October 7, 2026). Its cable-isolation steps apply here only when troubleshooting an external audio path.
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