Why are TV voices so muffled and hard to hear?

Do you find yourself constantly turning the television up, only to find that the voices still aren't actually any clearer?

If dialogue sounds muffled while music or background sound effects seem much louder, you're certainly not alone. It's a common frustration, and one that people with hearing loss are more susceptible to. And, while it might seem the logical solution, simply increasing the volume isn't the answer.

Whether you're trying to follow Jeremy’s exploits in Clarkson’s Farm, straining to hear commentary in the World Cup, or unable to understand the umpire’s rulings at Wimbledon, struggling to hear quickly strips the enjoyment out of TV.

The good news is that there are simple ways to make TV listening clearer and more comfortable.

Why do TV voices sound muffled?

Before we address the solutions, let’s narrow down the problem. There are several reasons why speech can be difficult to hear on modern televisions.

As we get older, it often becomes increasingly harder to hear higher-frequency sounds, which are important for understanding speech clearly. Modern televisions are also victims of technological advancement, in a way, as newer, more streamlined models tend to use much smaller built-in speakers than older models. This makes voices less distinct, while music and sound effects can easily overpower dialogue.

There’s also an annoying trend in the way films and TV shows are made, where the audio is mixed for playing on large home cinema setups that can handle a high dynamic range that smaller soundbars or TV speakers struggle with.

Room acoustics can also play a part. Large living spaces, hard floors, or simply sitting further away from the television can all combine to make speech more difficult to follow.

If you've found yourself thinking "What did they say?" or you’re putting on the captions more often than you'd like, you're likely not imagining it.

Simple signs that you're struggling to hear dialogue

If any of the following sound familiar, it may be time to consider investing in extra hearing support when watching television:

• You regularly turn the TV volume up but still miss parts of conversations

• You rewind programmes to hear what was said

• Family members complain that the television is too loud

• You find football commentary, documentaries, or fast-paced dramas difficult to follow

• You feel tired after watching television because you're concentrating so hard on listening.

Sound familiar?

What can you do to hear voices on TV more clearly?

There are a few simple steps that may improve your TV listening experience.

Start by trying to reduce background noise in the room where you're watching television. It may be that something as seemingly small as turning a fan down by a setting, closing an open window or an ajar door considerably improves the acoustics and clarity of audio in your immediate environment.

Similarly, it’s worth exploring the settings on your tv; if your television has speech enhancement, dynamic range or dialogue options, switching these may help improve voice clarity.

Of course, sitting a little closer to the television can also make conversations easier to follow.

However, if you’ve tried reasonable adjustments and are still finding no relief, a dedicated TV listening device can make a real difference.

How TV listeners can help

TV listeners are designed to deliver clear sound directly to your ears - without the need to increase the volume for everyone else in the room.

Whether you wear hearing aids or not, they can help make speech considerably easier to understand while reducing the effort of listening.

Benefits include:

• Clearer TV dialogue

• Comfortable listening without excessive volume

• Less disturbance for family members

• Easy to set up and use

• Suitable for many hearing aid and non-hearing aid users

Products such as the Sonumaxx NX System with Wireless Headset and the Earis Premium Digital Headset System are designed to help you enjoy television again, whether you're watching the latest box set, keeping up with the news, or cheering on your favourite team.

Explore Sarabec's full range of TV listeners and audio solutions to find the right option for your home. If you're unsure which product is right for you, our friendly team is always happy to help. Call us on 01642 247 789 or email mail@sarabec.co.uk.