Main points
- Adjust the basic settings, starting with bass and treble. Turning down the bass can help eliminate muffled sounds, and turning up the treble can improve dialogue.
- Downward-facing speakers can be a problem, so consider where you’ll place your TV and maybe even install it.
- You might even want to invest in a home theater system, starting with a quality soundbar.
TVs have come a long way in improving their sound, and the latest models are actually very good at delivering dynamic, faithful sound. Still, they’re not optimized for audiophile sound like me. The screen is filled with tiny pixels and lights that, supported by a powerful processor and intuitive intelligence, produce faithful, stunning images. It’s built into a lightweight, compact frame that’s also very good-looking for Samsung.
All of which goes to show that sound simply isn’t a priority. Still, high-end smart TVs, especially those made by Samsung, LG, and Sony, struggle to ensure that the audio quality isn’t bad. They both encourage a comprehensive home theater setup.
1 Adjust basic settings
This has something to do with the bass
The best place to start is with the two basic controls: bass and treble. For older TVs, especially those with smaller or weaker speakers, turning down the bass may relieve some stress and eliminate any tight or muffled sounds. Adding treble involving higher frequencies may improve the clarity of dialogue by just a few steps.
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Your TV may come with various other settings depending on when it was made, all of which are worth trying if you’re having trouble hearing the sound correctly. TVs may include specific audio modes, such as visual modes, designed to enhance a certain type of content, whether it’s movies, sports, or drama. Some TVs, including those made by Samsung and LG, have an auto-volume feature that essentially boosts quieter sounds while attenuating louder sounds (for ads that decide to play louder than the program you’re playing , which is a useful feature. Although the FCC in the United States and the CRTC in Canada try to prevent this intolerable practice).
2 Check your TV location
To install or not to install
Note the location of your TV speakers: this will tell you the best position for the TV itself. While mounting your TV saves space and often improves the viewing experience, if your TV has downward-facing speakers, it may result in reduced audio quality. Some older smart TVs have speakers on the back panel that fire audio toward the ground. If this is the case, you’ll need to place the TV on a flat surface to allow the sound to travel around the room.
Newer smart TVs are better at building speakers in and around the frame. These are more suitable for installation if the TV is located in the center of the wall. This will make the sound come out evenly in all directions.
3 Decorate appropriately
Some reflections are good, some not so good
The layout of your TV room may affect the sound quality of your TV. Admittedly, this is a commonly used technique for those looking to create a high-end, immersive theater experience where attention must be paid to acoustics and room setup. This may require careful planning and some monetary investment.
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Still, for casual content consumers looking for a quick solution, it might be worth considering reflective surfaces in the TV room. You need early reflections, like the surface we put under the TV, for the sound to bounce right back to you for you to listen to. However, you don’t want late reflections, which can be particularly problematic if your TV is installed in a large space or open area of your home. Be aware of exposed walls and floors, which continually reflect sound and may cause problems with hearing conversations. Rugs, rugs, curtains, wall coverings, and even indoor plants can help eliminate late reflections.
The science of sound is complex and nuanced. Keep in mind that adding carpet to the floor will only minimally help improve sound quality. Creating an audio-optimized space requires a significant investment of time, effort, and knowledge.
4 Check audio output
The solution may be right in your home all along
LG
Your TV will have any number of audio output options, any of which can help alleviate any sound issues by connecting a device that produces better sound. HDMI ARC or eARC are the best hubs: these will appear on newer TVs and allow for a wider range of home theater setups.
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However, with older TVs, sound is more likely to be an issue, with optics providing the next best sound. If you have an older TV, 3.5mm may be your only hope for improved audio.
Once you’ve noted down your output options (whether digital or analog), you can think about what you’ll connect to your TV, whether that’s simple desktop speakers, a high-fidelity speaker system, or a handy pair of earbuds.
If your TV is connected via Bluetooth (as most smart TVs are), you may find that portable speakers sound better. You can even use a suitable pair of headphones to create a more immersive, albeit lonely, experience.
5 Invest in a home theater system
Create an immersive environment that works for you
LG
The best way to improve your TV’s audio (and probably the most expensive) is to circumvent all of these issues and invest in a high-quality, comprehensive home theater system. This usually starts with a soundbar, preferably one with three channels (left, right and center) rather than just two (left and right).
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Companies like Samsung or Sony make soundbars designed to enhance the performance of their respective TVs. For example, Samsung offers soundbars that utilize certain QLED TV speakers to create a more comprehensive listening experience. TV speakers and soundbars work together. You don’t need to buy a soundbar from the same company that makes your TV, and in some cases you won’t be able to, but I admit there’s some psychological satisfaction in doing so. They often come with a separate or built-in subwoofer to produce those all-important low frequencies. Congratulations, you now have a 3.1 channel speaker system (three speakers + 1 subwoofer).
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For some people, a soundbar is enough. That was enough for me, until it wasn’t. Because what’s better than a 3.1 channel system? 7.1 channel system. Adding a pair of rear speakers (designed to be placed to the left and right behind you) will boost that stereo system to five channels, while investing in a pair of surround speakers, placed to the left and right of the room, will Plays seven channels.
Finally, you can go all-in and completely transform your home entertainment system by going with a 9.1-channel system and adding two front-facing speakers. Now that you’ve fixed your TV speakers, there may now be temporary problems with your bank account.