The new and improved ASUS ROG Ally X has been available to buy for a few weeks now and users that have made the upgrade seem more than happy with it. The increased RAM, and more importantly the drastically better battery life, are the big selling points for this refreshed gaming PC handheld. However, there seems to be one thing that’s off compared to the original 2023 model – the speakers. Well, that’s not exactly the problem, as it’s not a hardware issue at all.
It’s no secret that the newer model comes out on top when pitting ROG Ally X vs ROG Ally head to head. Despite all the improvements, ASUS made some changes to the default sound profile, resulting in worse sound quality according to some users. Luckily, there’s an easy fix that will make your Ally X sound great again, just like the original Ally.
Change the Dolby Access app preset on your ROG Ally X
So, you probably don’t have to worry if you think the speakers on your new gaming handheld are busted. One user on Reddit complained that their ROG Ally X sounded “much more muted and tinny” compared to the older model they had become accustomed to. The issue has to do with sound settings in the Dolby Access app, so here’s what you need to change:
- Locate the Dolby Access app on your ROG Ally X
- Open the settings menu
- Change the sound profile to the ‘Custom 1’ setting
We can’t be sure why exactly ASUS changed the default Dolby sound profile on the newer model; all we do know is that everyone seems to agree that it’s not so great.
Worth the upgrade?
If you’ve seen reports that the Ally X speaker quality isn’t up to par, now you know the actual source of the problem. There’s a chance that ASUS will update this default setting in the future to address user complaints, but for now, it’s a quick and easy fix – no need to be put off by any apparent sound issues.
Overall, the ROG Ally X is a worthy upgrade over the original model and is a real contender that challenges fan-favorite handhelds such as the Steam Deck. It’s one of the most powerful handheld options on the market, but the price reflects that.
