Processing can be part of the route
Microsoft lists disabling Audio enhancements as a comparison for some Windows sound issues. This concerns processing on the selected output device, not a promise that enhancements are wrong for every speaker or listener.
Identify whether the active destination is TV HDMI, speakers or headphones. A setting changed on the laptop speakers cannot establish the behavior of another selected output.
Keep the comparison controlled
In Sound settings, open the intended output device’s properties and use the documented Audio enhancements Off control where available. Record the previous state. Replay the same short passage with the same volume and app.
If behavior improves, retain the observation and decide whether the resulting listening arrangement suits normal use. If it does not, restore the preferred state and continue the appropriate troubleshooting.
Avoid changing several processors together
Leave receiver, TV and app processing fixed during the Windows comparison. Multiple simultaneous changes make it hard to know which layer affected silence, distortion or timing.
For support, report the selected device and whether turning its enhancements off changed the symptom. This follows Microsoft’s documented diagnostic and contains no measured audio-quality score.
Questions answered
Should enhancements always be disabled?
Microsoft presents this as a troubleshooting comparison, not a universal preference.
Does changing one output’s properties test another output?
No. Inspect the actual active device.
Sources & further reading
Official references for the subjects discussed. Service terms and device software can change.