guteksk7 \/ Shutterstock.com<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nIf 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 normalized volume levels.<\/p>\n
It’s a timeless complaint\u2014you can’t hear the dialogue on your TV, and cranking up the volume doesn’t 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’t accommodate large speakers, so they produce a very thin and tiny sound. Turning up the volume should<\/em> help, but instead, the audio distortions and resonates inside the lightweight TV, creating a blanket that muffles the dialogue.<\/p>\nPlus, modern TVs usually point their speakers away<\/em> from the viewer. And as you may know, speakers sound best when they’re pointed at your ears, not the floor or the wall.<\/p>\nBut TVs aren’t the only problem. Movies tend to have very \u201cquiet\u201d dialogue because they’re 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’s 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’t contribute to hearing loss, severe tinnitus can interfere with your hearing.<\/p>\n
Adjust the Settings on Your TV or Streaming Stick<\/h2>\nAndrew Heinzman \/ Review Geek<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nYour TV’s speakers will never sound amazing. But if you play with your TV’s settings, you might be able to boost dialogue in shows and movies. It’s worth a shot, and if you’re happy with the results, you can avoid buying a soundbar or a pair of headphones.<\/p>\n
Open your TV’s settings and navigate to \u201cAudio.\u201d Before you tinker with anything, look for a \u201csurround sound\u201d option and make sure that it’s disabled. Platforms like Netflix are really<\/em> bad at guessing which audio format you need, and by disabling this setting, we can ensure that you’re only getting stereo audio.<\/p>\nNow, check your TV’s settings for \u201caudio presets\u201d or \u201clistening modes.\u201d If you’re lucky, you’ll see an option titled \u201cdialogue boost\u201d or \u201cclear voices.\u201d Enable this option if it’s available. You could also try adjusting your TV’s 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’t skip this step, as there’s 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’re still unhappy, I suggest buying a soundbar.<\/p>\nOr Just Buy a Soundbar<\/h2>\nSonos<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAgain, modern TVs have pretty awful speakers. The quickest and easiest fix is \u200b\u200ba soundbar\u2014nearly any soundbar will provide an immediate improvement in sound quality and dialogue clarity, even if it’s a cheaper model.<\/p>\n
People are intimidated by soundbars, but really, they’re 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’t 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’t need<\/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>\nIf 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’s manufacturer will provide the smoothest experience. If you’re on a budget, I suggest avoiding no-name brands and buying a soundbar from VIZIO or YAMAHA, 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’s audio quality. Also, brands like Bose, Sonos, Sony, and Klipsch sell add-on speakers for select soundbars.<\/p>\n
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