{"id":25430,"date":"2022-12-22T20:24:34","date_gmt":"2022-12-22T20:24:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/22\/cant-hear-dialogue-on-tv-heres-how-to-fix-it-review-geek\/"},"modified":"2022-12-22T20:24:34","modified_gmt":"2022-12-22T20:24:34","slug":"cant-hear-dialogue-on-tv-heres-how-to-fix-it-review-geek","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mailinvest.blog\/index.php\/2022\/12\/22\/cant-hear-dialogue-on-tv-heres-how-to-fix-it-review-geek\/","title":{"rendered":"Can\u2019t Hear Dialogue on TV? Here\u2019s How to Fix It \u2013 Review Geek"},"content":{"rendered":"

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If you’re having trouble hearing the dialogue on TV, a soundbar is usually the best and cheapest solution. Not only will a soundbar improve your TV’s audio quality, but it will give you the option to boost dialogue or normalize volume levels.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a timeless complaint\u2014you can\u2019t hear the dialogue on your TV, and cranking up the volume doesn\u2019t really help. Everybody runs into this situation at some point in their life. Thankfully, there are several things you can do to fix this problem.<\/p>\n

Why Is Dialogue So Quiet on My TV?<\/h2>\n

Televisions are thinner and lighter than ever before. They can\u2019t accommodate large speakers, so they produce a very thin and tinny sound. Turning up the volume\u00a0should<\/em> help, but instead, the audio distorts and resonates inside the lightweight TV, creating a blanket that muffles the dialogue.<\/p>\n

Plus, modern TVs usually point their speakers\u00a0away<\/em> from the viewer. And as you may know, speakers sound best when they\u2019re pointed at your ears, not the floor or the wall.<\/p>\n

But TVs aren\u2019t the only problem. Movies tend to have very \u201cquiet\u201d dialogue because they\u2019re intended for a theatrical setting. The dialogue may sound crystal-clear in a movie theater with a proper Dolby Atmos setup, but it sounds murky or quiet when played through a TV\u2019s stereo speakers. (New shows are also trending in this direction, for better or worse.)<\/p>\n

We should also acknowledge that hearing loss and tinnitus are fairly common, especially among men. Mild hearing loss may reduce your ability to hear certain frequencies, including the high and mid-high frequencies that give voices their clarity. And while tinnitus doesn\u2019t contribute to hearing loss, severe tinnitus can interfere with your hearing.<\/p>\n

Adjust the Settings on Your TV or Streaming Stick<\/h2>\n
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Your TV\u2019s speakers will never sound amazing. But if you play with your TV\u2019s settings, you might be able to boost dialogue in shows and movies. It\u2019s worth a shot, and if you\u2019re happy with the results, you can avoid buying a soundbar or a pair of headphones.<\/p>\n

Open your TV\u2019s settings and navigate to \u201cAudio.\u201d Before you tinker with anything, look for a \u201csurround sound\u201d option and make sure that it\u2019s disabled. Platforms like Netflix are\u00a0really<\/em> bad at guessing which audio format you need, and by disabling this setting, we can ensure that you\u2019re only getting stereo audio.<\/p>\n

Now, check your TV\u2019s settings for \u201caudio presets\u201d or \u201clistening modes.\u201d If you\u2019re lucky, you\u2019ll see an option titled \u201cdialogue boost\u201d or \u201cclear voices.\u201d Enable this option if it\u2019s available. You could also try adjusting your TV\u2019s EQ\u2014a boost in the mid-highs is your best bet (though not all TVs have this option).<\/p>\n

Are you using a streaming stick? Dig through its audio settings to disable surround sound, and see if it offers some kind of dialogue boost mode. Don\u2019t skip this step, as there\u2019s a decent chance that your streaming stick (rather than your TV) is the root of the problem. (Android TV is the worst offender, in my experience.)<\/p>\n

You may also find a \u201cloudness normalization,\u201d \u201cAuto Volume,\u201d or \u201cTruVolume\u201d mode on your smart TV. This setting reduces the dynamic range of a show or movie\u2014the quiet parts get louder, but the loud parts get quieter. I suggest that you give this setting a quick test, but you may not like how it sounds. (Night Mode can also normalize volume levels, by the way.)<\/p>\n

After taking these steps, dialogue should<\/em> sound clearer on your TV. But the improvement may not be enough. If you\u2019re still unhappy, I suggest buying a soundbar.<\/p>\n

Or Just Buy a Soundbar<\/h2>\n
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Again, modern TVs have pretty awful speakers. The quickest and easiest fix is a soundbar\u2014nearly any soundbar will provide an immediate improvement in sound quality and dialogue clarity, even if it\u2019s a cheaper model.<\/p>\n

People are intimidated by soundbars, but really, they\u2019re very easy to set up. Most soundbars connect to your TV via HDMI, optical cable, or Bluetooth. I suggest using HDMI, as it provides the smoothest experience and delivers the highest-quality audio. (Don\u2019t worry, soundbars usually have an extra HDMI input, which makes up for the one you lose on your TV.)<\/p>\n

Once you plug in a soundbar, you don\u2019t\u00a0need<\/em> to do any setup. That said, you may want to read the instruction manual to see if there are any settings to boost dialogue.<\/p>\n

If you buy a soundbar with virtualized Dolby Atmos, be sure to enable surround sound on your TV, streaming sticks, and game consoles. Virtualized Dolby Atmos mimics a surround sound system, and it may provide greater audio clarity than stereo.<\/p>\n

Any brand of soundbar will work with your TV. That said, a soundbar from your TV\u2019s manufacturer will provide the smoothest experience. If you\u2019re on a budget, I suggest avoiding no-name brands and buying a soundbar from VIZIO<\/a> or YAMAHA<\/a>, as these brands tend to offer the best quality at a sub-$200 price.<\/p>\n

Note that some soundbars come with additional speakers, which will further improve your TV\u2019s audio quality. Also, brands like Bose, Sonos, Sony, and Klipsch sell add-on speakers for select soundbars.<\/p>\n

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Try Wireless Headphones or a Neck Speaker<\/h2>\n
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Sarah Chaney \/ Review Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Some people have no trouble hearing dialogue when their TV\u2019s volume is cranked. But let\u2019s face the facts; turning up the volume isn\u2019t always an option. Your spouse or family may not appreciate the noise, and if you have children, you may find yourself bending over backwards to avoid profanity.<\/p>\n

A personal audio solution, like a pair of wireless headphones<\/a> or earbuds<\/a>, can eliminate this problem. When you want to enjoy something on TV, just throw on a pair of headphones and enjoy the ride.<\/p>\n

Most smart TVs support Bluetooth, and they\u2019ll work with any pair of Bluetooth headphones or earbuds you\u2019ve got lying around. For a more seamless experience, I suggest using a set of RF headphones<\/a>\u2014they deliver better audio quality than Bluetooth with much less latency. Plus, RF headphones don\u2019t have the awkward pairing process the plagues Bluetooth devices.<\/p>\n

You could also try a wireless neck speaker<\/a>. Basically, it\u2019s a speaker that sits around your shoulders and directs audio toward your ears. Neck speakers are more comfortable than headphones, and they allow you to hear your surroundings without bothering the people around you.<\/p>\n

If You\u2019re a Film Buff, Build a Home Theater System<\/h2>\n
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Do you regularly watch movies at home? If so, consider building a home theater. It may sound like a big investment, but the components you use in a home theater are easy to upgrade and resell. Plus, you can start small and slowly build your way to something incredible\u2014nobody\u2019s forcing you to come out with guns blazing, and even the most basic setup will give you a better viewing experience.<\/p>\n

Since we\u2019re starting small, let\u2019s focus on the audio. You\u2019ll need an A\/V receiver<\/a> and a set of passive speakers. This stuff can be purchased new or used. If you shop on eBay, hit up a garage sale, or stroll through a thrift store, you might be able to set things up for $150 or less.<\/p>\n

The A\/V receiver is basically the brains of your home theater. It features multiple HDMI ports for all your devices, plus audio inputs for CD players, record players, and so on. Your A\/V receiver may also feature Bluetooth or Wi-Fi audio support, which allows you to stream audio from your phone to your home theater\u2019s speakers.<\/p>\n

Because the A\/V receiver provides amplification, you can (and usually should) use passive speakers in your home theater. Passive speakers don\u2019t require power from an outlet, and they\u2019re usually more affordable than active speakers. (Note that passive speakers haven\u2019t changed much over the last few decades, so they\u2019re easy to find at any thrift store, garage sale, or flea market.)<\/p>\n

The only hard part is the wiring. You\u2019ll need a spool of speaker wire<\/a> to connect all the speakers with your A\/V receiver. You may also need some cable runners<\/a> to keep everything nice and tidy. (If you\u2019re feeling bold, you could run these wires through your walls.)<\/p>\n

If you choose to go down this route, I suggest buying a modern A\/V receiver that supports 4K video and HDMI ARC (to save you from upgrading later). You should also pay close attention to the number of audio channels supported by a receiver\u2014if you want something simple, a 5.2-channel system<\/a> is fine. It\u2019ll provide plenty of upgradability and support Dolby Atmos surround sound.<\/p>\n

You can buy home theater speakers from anywhere. It\u2019s usually best to start simple, so my advice is to buy a pair of bookshelf speakers<\/a> from a brand like Klipsch. Adding a center-channel speaker<\/a> to the mix will give dialogue a lot more clarity, but a simple pair of speakers may be all you need.<\/p>\n

And as I previously stated, you can buy used speakers at any flea market, thrift store, or garage sale. Keep an eye out for speakers that feel dense or heavy, as this is usually a sign of quality.<\/p>\n

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