Trouble installing sound driver on new Laptop

Today I purchased a Toshiba Satellite Laptop (if any additional information is needed to solve this issue I will provide it, but I'm not sure what kind of information to specify otherwise - also, I'm completely new to Windows 8 and these forums and I apologize if this topic has already been posted - if it has, my hours of googling didn't find it.) There is an issue with my audio - everything sounds like it spikes around 1.5khz, the high end (6khz+) is very unclear and there's basically nothing in the low/bass end at all. (Basically it sounds completely terrible.)

I have determined that this issue is related to my sound driver (Conexant SmartAudio HD) and that this driver is up to date. I know that this is the source of the problem as my ASIO driver works perfectly and sounds normal on the same system. I am unfortunately unable to use this driver outside of specific software, though, hence my problem.

I am, however, having trouble locating and installing a different driver to remedy this issue (as said, the current one is up to date.) Nothing seems to be compatible, allegedly. I'm in need of general advice as I'm not sure how to fix this after trying for a good 7 hours.

You should be able to use both, or at least have both connected. I have a recording studio and at times I have both my Roland Octa-Capture connected to Sonar X3 and my PC sound (RealTek in my case) on for my audio editor program.

Have you tried a headset, to isolate it to the sound module, or the laptop speakers?

As this is a new PC, I would either take it back and exchange it for another (if that is an option), otherwise call Toshiba for warranty service.

Thank you for the reply! I have tried multiple output devices yes, I am currently using Sennheiser 280 headphones. When I go into my device manager, the only driver available is the Conexant one, even though ASIO is installed (I've already used it with both Protools 11 and FL studio 11 since I bought the laptop.)

How can I use ASIO as a driver outside of this software given that it isn't in my device manager?

I will also consider taking the laptop back (though it was the last one on the shelf unfortunately!) But are there any sound drivers that I can download that should be compatible with my system?

Thank you!

Would help to know EXACT model of laptop.

popeye said:

Would help to know EXACT model of laptop.

Click to expand...

Satellite P70-A
Serial - 4E102380C
Windows 8.1

Not sure what else

What I found on Toshiba site. Is this what you have?

popeye said:

What I found on Toshiba site. Is this what you have?

Click to expand...

it is, yeah.

I would start from scratch. Uninstall and delete the ASIO driver. Uninstall and delete the Conexant driver. Run CCleaner registry cleaner twice. Reboot. Install OEM Conexant driver and see how it works.

If still not good, take it back.

popeye said:

I would start from scratch. Uninstall and delete the ASIO driver. Uninstall and delete the Conexant driver. Run CCleaner registry cleaner twice. Reboot. Install OEM Conexant driver and see how it works.

If still not good, take it back.

Click to expand...

I'll give it a go, thanks for the advice!

Along with the advice given by popeye, if you have a System Restore point that is BEFORE you installed the ASIO driver, go back to that point and see if the sound is OK or even restore it to the original factory condition. However, given the symptom I suspect there is a hardware problem with the PC.