Laptop to TV via HDMI - poor audio quality

Hello,

I've read all the info around "no-sound" via HDMI from laptop to TV but I have a different problem. Visual is great but the sound quality is terrible. I've selected to use the TV speakers but I get very muffled and intermitent sound from the TV. HDMI cable is new - its a cheap technika but other advise I've read seems to lead to this not being a problem. One HDMI is as good as another? Can anyone help or give me any guidance on how to resolve this? Laptop is HP and has the latest NVidia drivers, TV is Samsung.

Thanks