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TV, radio, film, Arts

Poor sound quality

(24 Posts)
Armynanny Tue 01-Mar-22 20:53:25

For anyone struggling with hearing television programmes it’s worth trying Bluetooth headphones to help, makes a big difference. My hearing was recently checked and it was fine.

shysal Wed 02-Mar-22 07:40:56

I have to have subtitles permanently turned on although my hearing is fine too.

Curlywhirly Wed 02-Mar-22 07:48:42

I read somewhere that the sound quality on TV has deteriorated since the new slimline screens were introduced; the old-style TVs had large speakers incorporated in the TV, but the slimline ones of today don't. I have to resort to subtitles too - so annoying ?

Josieann Wed 02-Mar-22 07:49:22

I have a friend who has just bought a cheaper tinnier TV, and she says the sound from it is far better!

Franbern Wed 02-Mar-22 08:34:22

TV Screens got bigger and bigger and thinner and thinner. However, audio technology did not keep up with that. So the large very flat screen tv's that most of us have in our main room just cannot support anything like a decent sound quality. The best way of dealing with this is to add on a Sound Bar.

I do think that as sound quality on these tv's is so poor, sound bars should included as standard when purchasing a new tv.

Sara1954 Wed 02-Mar-22 08:35:08

Oh, so it’s not just me.
I don’t watch much television, but the last series of Vera I found the sound quality very poor.

Lucca Wed 02-Mar-22 08:44:56

A blessing not to have to hear Vera and her phoney accent !!
I watched one episode and couldn’t take any more !

I too have subtitles on a lot even though my hearing is pretty good,

DiscoDancer1975 Wed 02-Mar-22 08:51:33

Dramas and films are apparently being recorded differently. They want a more natural sound! The result is....no one can here anything!

My recent hearing test was excellent, yet when it comes to tv...everyone turns into my husband, and mumbles.

Subtitles have been a necessity. It’s a shame, because it takes the enjoyment away. Luckily, we’ve watched so many foreign dramas, we’ve got used to subtitles.

Su22 Wed 02-Mar-22 09:32:16

Does anyone else find that the music in the programmes and the adverts are always come across louder I find myself having to turn the volume down? Also, so many tv programmes seem to be filmed in the semi-dark.

MiniMoon Wed 02-Mar-22 09:43:36

Even with a good sound bar with our TV I often struggle to hear all the dialogue. I've been thinking about buying headphones, but I'm struggling to justify the expense as they can be quite pricey.
I use the subtitles when my tinnitus is loud.

henetha Wed 02-Mar-22 10:35:23

I'm so glad to read all the above, as I thought it was just me!
Yes, the sound quality is quite bad these days, and I often turn sub-titles on.

Jane43 Wed 02-Mar-22 11:54:56

Difficulty in understanding what is being said and the increasing number of scenes being shot in the dark is really frustrating for me. I have stopped watching two series recently because of constant dark scenes.

Esspee Wed 02-Mar-22 12:14:37

As we are all piling in to admit to having problems hearing the TV my excuse like MiniMoon is tinnitus.
But I am also prepared to admit that age might just have something to do with it. ?

ayse Wed 02-Mar-22 12:19:43

Some programmes are fine but dramas suffer from too loud mood music and mumbling. If it was my hearing I’d be struggling to hear most programmes, but it’s not.

I generally find my iPad is better for listening to more difficult to hear dramas.

Daisend1 Wed 02-Mar-22 12:32:06

I turn on full volume. Fortunatly I have a detached property so no neighbours to disturb were the walls between inadequate in preventing noise as so many, usually 'new builds'. experience.

Katyj Wed 02-Mar-22 14:03:08

I have tinnitus too caused by my hearing going ? I have some blue tooth headphones, but does anyone know how to connect them to the tv. I’m losing interest in the tv lately because I can’t hear we’ll enough.

Happygirl79 Wed 02-Mar-22 14:26:25

Su22

Does anyone else find that the music in the programmes and the adverts are always come across louder I find myself having to turn the volume down? Also, so many tv programmes seem to be filmed in the semi-dark.

My complaint exactly

Yammy Wed 02-Mar-22 14:39:19

Lucca

A blessing not to have to hear Vera and her phoney accent !!
I watched one episode and couldn’t take any more !

I too have subtitles on a lot even though my hearing is pretty good,

Vera's mock Geordie grates on anyones ears who has lived in the North East.Though I find Sharon Barber's Aussie/Geordie on "Look North",even worse and her use of The Great North with everything she talks about in her "Knowledgable", way drives me crazy.
We can both hear quite well but often use the subtitles lots seemed to blur with the slim line T.V.

sharon103 Wed 02-Mar-22 14:46:05

Su22

Does anyone else find that the music in the programmes and the adverts are always come across louder I find myself having to turn the volume down? Also, so many tv programmes seem to be filmed in the semi-dark.

Yes Su 22. I'm forever turning the sound up and down a notch when the adverts coming on. More so late at night when every one has gone to bed so they don't hear it.

Pudding123 Wed 02-Mar-22 19:25:49

So glad to read these posts,we have had our Sony TV for about 3 years and OH thinks if we buy another TV it will solve the problem even though I have told him this is a common problem due to all the things that have been brought to light on this thread.

Armynanny Thu 03-Mar-22 10:41:56

Pudding123

So glad to read these posts,we have had our Sony TV for about 3 years and OH thinks if we buy another TV it will solve the problem even though I have told him this is a common problem due to all the things that have been brought to light on this thread.

Glad its helped. Thing is, I don’t have any problems hearing the news or radio which I play through the television.

Granny23 Thu 03-Mar-22 10:59:25

I can explain the annoying 'every thing happens in the dark' phenonium. My DD who works in the film industry has told me that there is a huge saving in set dressing costs if the scene is shot in semi darkness. Sometimes, a supposedly outdoor scene is actually shot in the studio with a projected backdrop. This doesn't work in well in bright light but looks realistic in semi darkness. Again a huge saving in costs and time wasted if the weather outside is not what is needed.

hollysteers Thu 03-Mar-22 11:01:25

My son has fixed up 2 loudspeakers near my chair for the tv, excellent but I notice even he uses the subtitles for some films!

Jane71 Thu 03-Mar-22 12:32:00

I'm so glad to read this thread as we have constant problems with sound quality. Watching the news or similar live program is no problem. It's when it comes to recorded dramas or films that we start saying 'what did she say'?
Do sound bars really help if it's the programs sound itself?

Su22 Does anyone else find that the music in the programmes and the adverts are always come across louder I find myself having to turn the volume down?

I must say that I agree with this. Our answer is to mute the sound when adverts come on, and unmute when the program restarts - very annoying.