the built-in speakers sound terrible, super tinny and quiet.

Diagnosis

The BenQ EW3270U is designed primarily as a visual powerhouse, but its audio hardware is an afterthought. The monitor utilizes two down-firing 2W stereo speakers. Because these drivers are physically small and housed in a plastic chassis with virtually no acoustic chamber or bass port, they cannot move enough air to produce low-frequency sounds. This results in a "tinny" profile where the mid-high frequencies dominate, making voices sound thin and music sound hollow. Furthermore, the internal amplifier is underpowered, leading to a low maximum decibel ceiling. When you push the volume to 100%, you aren't gaining much depth; instead, you are likely introducing harmonic distortion. If the sound feels exceptionally quiet, it is often due to a mismatch between the Windows/macOS system volume and the monitor's internal OSD (On-Screen Display) volume, or the "Audio Mode" being set to a profile that cuts out the remaining low-end frequencies.

How to Fix It

While you cannot physically upgrade the internal speakers, you can optimize the digital signal to reduce the "tinny" effect and maximize the available output. Follow these steps precisely:

1. Press the physical joystick button on the rear of the monitor to open the OSD menu.
2. Navigate to System > Audio.
3. Locate the Audio Mode setting. Switch this from "Standard" to "Movie" or "Game." These presets apply a basic EQ curve that slightly boosts the lower-mids to provide a fuller sound.
4. Ensure the internal monitor volume is set to 80-90. Do not set it to 100, as this often introduces clipping and distortion on the EW3270U's small drivers.
5. On your PC, right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Sound Settings.
6. Select the BenQ EW3270U as your output device, then click Device Properties.
7. If you are on Windows 10/11, look for Enhancements. Enable Bass Boost (set to 6dB or 12dB) and Loudness Equalization. This forces the small speakers to normalize volume levels, making quiet dialogue easier to hear.

If That Didn't Work

• Utilize the 3.5mm Headphone Jack: The EW3270U features a dedicated audio-out port on the rear. Instead of relying on the internal 2W speakers, connect a pair of powered desktop speakers (like the Logitech Z-series or Creative Pebble) or a soundbar. This bypasses the monitor's internal amplifiers entirely while still receiving the audio signal from your HDMI or DisplayPort cable.
• Install a Third-Party Equalizer: Download a system-wide EQ like Equalizer APO with the Peace GUI. Manually increase the frequencies between 60Hz and 250Hz and slightly dip the 3kHz to 5kHz range. This removes the "piercing" quality of the tinny sound and simulates a warmer tone.
• Check HDMI Audio Format: Ensure your GPU settings (NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Settings) are set to PCM Stereo. If the source is trying to push a multi-channel 5.1 signal through the monitor's 2.0 speakers, the downmixing can cause a significant loss in volume and clarity.
• Hardware Reset: If the audio sounds distorted or crackly rather than just tinny, perform a factory reset via the OSD menu under System > Reset to clear any corrupted audio DSP settings.

Heads Up

• Avoid placing the monitor on a hollow desk or a thin wooden surface; because the speakers are down-firing, the surface can create unwanted resonance that makes the audio sound "muddy."
• Never use "Volume Boost" software that pushes the gain beyond 100%, as the EW3270U's small drivers can easily blow out or permanently distort.
• If you use a DisplayPort cable, ensure it is VESA certified; low-quality cables can occasionally introduce electronic hum or "buzzing" into the monitor's audio path.
• Remember that HDR modes on this monitor sometimes prioritize visual processing over audio latency; if you notice a lip-sync delay, disable "Game Mode" in the OSD.