Its not just the ROG series. Its a major problem with ASUS laptops nowadays. Bought an ASUS laptop a few years back and the speakers are loud and clear till today but the current sound and hw quality just sucks. Most of the ASUS laptops here at my college starts crackling and all that at full volume. On a different note, I have no battery issues on my GL552JX.

If youre looking for sound quality, go with MSI like damn so loud and crisp.