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A TV that sounds “underwater” may have a sound setting or output mismatch, a problem limited to one app or connected device, a loose or faulty connection, or an issue with the TV or external audio equipment. The symptom alone does not identify the cause. Start by checking whether it happens across sources, then run the TV’s built-in sound test before replacing equipment.
First, check whether the sound problem follows one source
Switch away from the affected channel, app, or connected device. Try an internal TV app or another input and listen for the same muffled or distorted sound.
- Only one app, channel, or device sounds wrong: Focus on that source, its audio configuration, and its connection to the TV. LG notes that distortion limited to one connected device makes the TV itself less likely to be responsible. LG TV Audio Problems.
- Several sources sound wrong: Check the TV’s selected audio output and sound settings, then run its sound test. A problem across sources makes the TV’s audio path or hardware more plausible, but does not prove a hardware fault.
Samsung Support identifies signal interference, incorrect audio output settings, and hardware issues as possible sources of distorted or noisy sound; it does not rank how often each cause occurs. Samsung’s sound and noise troubleshooting guidance.
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Check the TV’s speaker or sound-output selection. If you intend to listen through the TV itself, select its built-in speakers. If you use a soundbar or another audio system, select the output that matches your setup and make sure the external system is powered on with its volume set appropriately.
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Menu names and available choices vary by model and selected output. On Samsung TVs, relevant controls can include sound modes, equalizer settings, HDMI input audio format, and digital output audio format. Samsung lists Standard, Optimized, and Amplify sound modes, but those options and the menu path are not universal. See Samsung’s troubleshooting guidance and Samsung’s audio-settings guide for its model-dependent controls.
As a reversible test, try a neutral sound mode or temporarily return the equalizer to a less customized setting. If the change makes the sound worse, restore your previous settings. Samsung says its Reset Sound option restores default sound settings, which may remove your preferred configuration.
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Run the TV’s built-in sound test
A sound test helps separate a TV-speaker or TV-audio-path problem from an issue with a particular app, channel, or external source. Use the instructions for your exact model and software version; menu paths change.
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LG’s audio troubleshooting instructions vary by webOS version. Follow the sound-test path shown for your TV in LG’s distorted-audio troubleshooting guide. The guide, dated June 12, 2026, advises checking the media-device connection and trying another cable if the test audio plays properly. It says to request service if distortion continues or the sound test produces no sound.
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Samsung TVs
The Samsung Gulf support page gives this path: Menu > Settings > Support > Device Care > Self Diagnosis > Sound Test. Your model may use different labels or menu steps. See Samsung’s sound and noise troubleshooting page.
If the test sounds normal, inspect the external source and cable
When the TV’s own test is clear but an external device still sounds muffled, check that its audio or HDMI cable is firmly seated at both ends. Then try another compatible cable, test that device on another TV, or connect a different device to the same TV input. These comparisons can help isolate a connection or source problem; they do not establish that a cable is necessarily at fault.
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Consider a replacement HDMI cable only if the affected audio path actually uses HDMI and testing points to that connection. Match the cable to the devices and ports in use rather than treating a new cable as a general fix for muffled sound. Samsung’s guidance for abnormal TV noise includes checking connections, trying a replacement cable, and testing another source; those steps are relevant here only for isolating an external audio connection. Samsung’s connection and source troubleshooting guidance.
When to contact the manufacturer or arrange service
Contact the TV manufacturer or arrange service if the TV’s own sound test reproduces the distortion, or if the sound remains wrong across sources after you check output settings and connections. LG specifically recommends service when distortion persists or no sound is heard during its test. For another brand, follow the sound-test and escalation instructions for that exact model rather than assuming LG’s test criteria apply.
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Official support guidance describes several possible causes but does not provide a measured percentage showing which one most often produces “underwater” TV sound. There is no evidence here to label settings, cables, speakers, or hardware as the most common cause.
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