Poor sound quality

Auntieflo

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

I'd be interested in this as well.

Yes I struggle. I've given up on some programmes because I can't hear but I can hear old films perfectly.

Background music is often intrusive.

Flat screen TVs have smaller speakers.

I think too that in my day actors learnt on the job. Weekly rep in local theatres meant they learnt how to project their voices.

Some time ago I read something about today's poor sound quality. I've forgotten the details but it was to do with staffing - that there used to be a specific person/engineer for sound quality so I Googled Sound on films and this website has a long letter about lack of interest in sound, more emphasis on seeing rather than hearing.

filmsound.org/production-sound/openletter.htm
Below is an excerpt from the website:
Today's crafts still have pride in their jobs but it seems they NO LONGER consider sound assistance to be a part of their job description. The problems began when the in-house studio training system broke down as non-union independent films proliferated. Along the way, the process of learning what their jobs entailed changed the way they perceived sound. The other crafts now don't think they should do anything to help YOU get good sound for YOUR movie. There is no longer an apprenticeship system to pass along this knowledge. They now learn on the job under fire through osmosis.

My hearing is spot on the other half not so! I can't bare it too loud, but I agree the actors in films just mumble, so we end up putting the subtitles on just so we can desifer what is being said. And yes I get blasted out by the adverts every time, also loud sound tracks on the film's. Drives me nuts 😡

This was in the newspapers a few months ago, covering most TV stations. It stated exactly what you have said, films, TV shows etc, were of a poor sound quality but the sounds of the adverts was much too high and people have been complaining.

I have added a link which shows you what to do as it is happening much too often now.

www.techwalla.com/articles/how-to-level-the-volume-on-a-tv-when-the-commercials-come-on

I hope this helps.

The digital hearings aid I have on the NHS are as good if not better than any of the private ones I have had over the last 20 years. I watch everything on my iPad as it goes straight through to my hearing aids and is as clear as it could possibly be. It has changed my life. Sadly I cannot get Bluetooth on my smart TV.

Curtaintwitcher, you made me smile; it is often British shows that I find mumbly. I guess it is what our brains are used to hearing.

I have seen several articles regarding complaints about sound quality on movies. The conversations are quiet and the sound effect noised blast you out of your chairs. The producers do this on purpose for shock effect of the crisis moments. However it doesn't translate to television very well.

We end up putting on the subtitles so we can keep the volume at a reasonable level. You would think with so many complaints the producers would do something about it.

LovesBach: Jamaica Inn was one I truly wanted to watch but found the sound near impossible to hear. And I have excellent hearing. Around the time this was running( without me following it as I gave up after 20 minutes) there were a spate of programmes where the sound quality left a lot to be desired.
Was it due to human mismanagement or what? Often hoped I’d find out.

I find the same problem with lots of programmes and films. There is so much mumbking goes on, only tonight noticed that some actors hardly even move their lips when speaking. Sound up at about 40 then the adverts come blasting on.

The variable sound quality - or lack of -- is a known problem across channels, or certain shows. If you really have dodgy hearing, get some headphones, to save shaking the walls and winding u the neighbours. Or use subtitles, though not everyone likes them, and you can get some funny mistakes!

Other than that, keep the remote to hand, because as most have said, adverts have sound that blasts out.

I would love to know what gadget you purchased as I survive with subtitles and its very annoying sometimes especially when they lag behind 🙄

Obviously hearing deteriorates as we get older but I still maintain that the new tv's and the new tv progrsmmes have a lot to answer for.
We like watching old comedies such as 'The Likely lads' 'Sykes' and 'Steptoe and son' Do you know what ? The sound on them is crystal clear, the actors were taught then how to project properly and they have stood the test of time, so what's wrong with today's sound ??

Some scenes of Jamaica Inn were filmed in a picturesque town near us and my friend and I went to watch. So we were very keen to watch the series - what a disappointment! Unwatchable.