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Poor sound quality

(37 Posts)
Oldnproud Sun 14-Jan-24 18:10:23

Right now, I am trying to watch The Greatest Showman on Channel 4, but I can't hear what is being said. Usually, volume 10 is about right for me on our TV, but I have this up at 32 and am still struggling to hear what is being said.
Is it just me? 😕

While typing this, the adverts have come on and suddenly the volume is so loud that our neighbours can almost certainly hear our TV.

Wouldn't you think that a civilization that can sent man into space could get something as basic as volume on TV right?
Grrrr!

BigBertha1 Sun 14-Jan-24 18:34:59

As my husband ahs severe hearing difficulties anyway we have recently purchased a new better quality soundbar which has helped both of us to enjoy TV and streaming services.

Harris27 Sun 14-Jan-24 18:42:56

We recently went over to virgin. Every time we put bbc 1 on we have to turn the volume right up?

Floradora9 Sun 14-Jan-24 21:39:03

BigBertha1

As my husband ahs severe hearing difficulties anyway we have recently purchased a new better quality soundbar which has helped both of us to enjoy TV and streaming services.

We have just purchased a gadget that you attach to your TV for sound and DH can now hear perfectly through Bluetooth on his hearing aids. I must point out they were expensive hearing aids but now we do not need the sound up higher than I am comfortable with and no need for subtitles and he hears the TV perfectly .

Oldbat1 Sun 14-Jan-24 21:45:41

I often send emails to BBC and ITV to complain about different volumes even within same news programmes. Never get a response. Films on Netflix can either be far too loud or too quiet. There is a lack of human intervention which is due to AI ive decided. How difficult can it be to monitor the sound output? The adverts are always extremely loud no matter which streaming service is used!

LovesBach Sun 14-Jan-24 22:11:08

Does anyone remember 'Jamaica Inn', dramatised by the BBC some years ago? The mumbling and sound quality were so poor that hundreds of complaints were made; there were comments to the effect that the BBC didn't seem too troubled by the poor sound quality of its productions, and also that the slimline TVs we all have now can't provide decent sound as the speakers have had to be made smaller. I use subtitles for all programmes except the news and documentaries - I can hear those perfectly, as the presenters look at the camera and speak clearly.

Oldnproud Sun 14-Jan-24 22:11:12

In the end, I gave up on The Greatest Showman precisely because of the constantly fluctuating volume, though the t
sound quality was terrible too.
Q OK, it looked like a load of rubbish anyway, but I might have watched it all the way through if only they had got those basic things right.

Harris27 Sun 14-Jan-24 22:13:02

You haven’t missed much. I didn’t quite grasp it when I saw it.

Curtaintwitcher Mon 15-Jan-24 06:50:21

It's reassuring to know that it isn't just me! I was wondering whether it was my tv, my hearing or the actual quality of the soundtrack. I have a problem with American voices, they all seem to mumble. The volume does go up when the ads come on.
I often find myself sitting on the floor in front of the tv, just so that I can hear.
This is a separate problem from the 'background' music which drowns out the dialogue.

Sara1954 Mon 15-Jan-24 07:43:41

It’s not so much the volume for me, it’s more the sound quality, I was watching Vera last night, and every time one character spoke I had to rewind it and listen again.
Some programs I just switch off because the sound quality is so poor.

Greyisnotmycolour Mon 15-Jan-24 10:53:33

Have you got a sound bar for your TV? If not, Id suggest buying one. I have a 3 yr old Samsung smart TV but the built in speakers on it are hopeless. The sound bar makes an amazing difference to most prorammes, however, I bought a DVD of Mr Turner a few years back and despite having the sound bar, the quality was so bad I couldn't watch it.

Greyisnotmycolour Mon 15-Jan-24 10:57:53

Another suggestion is buying some Bluetooth headphones. I use mine frequently as husband rarely watches TV and prefers to read. They are very simple to use once they are set up & even that bit is quite straightforward.

Puzzlelove Mon 15-Jan-24 14:32:17

We often struggle to hear programmes. I can hear better using my Bluetooth headphones but have been searching to find a way for the two of us to be able to connect Bluetooth headphones at the same time.

shysal Mon 15-Jan-24 17:23:39

I have subtitles permanently turned on as I don't want to disturb the neighbours.

chelseababy Mon 15-Jan-24 17:42:53

@greyisnotmycolour I had the same problem with the Mr Turner dvd, I gave up.

petra Mon 15-Jan-24 17:54:02

I watch several old films over Xmas and the new year.
The first thing I noticed ( especially in Gone With the Wind) was the sound quality.

Greyisnotmycolour Mon 15-Jan-24 21:02:36

Chelseababy I wonder how many other copies were binned. I thought I'd just bought a faulty one.

Oldnproud Tue 16-Jan-24 11:32:03

I suppose after trying to watch the Greatest Showman, I really should have a lot more sympathy for my OH. Generally, I can hear most things on TV OK, whereas his hearing loss makes everything except the clear tones of news presenters extremely difficult to hear, even with his hearing aids and subtitles.

Suggestions of a sound bar are something I will ask ds about look into, so thanks to those of you who have mentioned them.

Petra, it is interesting what you said about the sound quality on old films. There have been a few occasions when we have watched a short snippet of a fils or shows dating from the 'sixties, before switchin off and wondering how we could possibly have understand it back then with no difficulty. I didn't dwell on it long enough for it to occur to me that the quality had deteriorated.

Oldbat1 Tue 16-Jan-24 12:56:10

We have a sound bar and we both are hearing aid users and we still require subtitles apart from the news.

Grannytwoshoes Thu 18-Jan-24 11:18:38

We all seem to have a problem one way or another with the sound but what annoys me is the quality of the sound and the actors mumbling! I watched Love Island for five minutes and their accents and screeching was like torture to the ears!! I know…. Don’t watch it!! I won’t!! But when it’s a good drama it is really annoying!

ExDancer Thu 18-Jan-24 11:40:36

One of my friends bought a sound bar (and she doesn't buy cheap) and neither of us can hear any difference.
Has anyone else found this?

Gwenisgreat Thu 18-Jan-24 11:59:43

I have a bluetooth microphone with my hearing aid, it only makes a slight difference to the volume

Parky Thu 18-Jan-24 12:10:37

What soundbar did you upgrade to bigbertha?

Auntieflo Thu 18-Jan-24 14:04:05

Floradora9, could you let us know the gadget you purchased to attach to your sound bar, please?

MillieBoris Thu 18-Jan-24 15:56:38

Would love to know what make of soundbar - flat screen tv is driving me mad. My hearing isn’t tga