Why Can't I Hear the Vocals on My TV

We often hear from clients who struggle to clearly hear vocals while watching TV. Many resort to raising the volume, which can annoy others around them, yet doesn’t solve the problem. Increasing the volume amplifies all sounds in the program, not just the vocals.

The loss of vocal clarity is often due to natural age-related hearing changes, specifically in the vocal frequency range. A typical adult male's voice ranges from 90 to 155 Hz, while a female's voice ranges from 165 to 255 Hz. Aging can diminish sensitivity to these frequencies, making dialogue harder to discern.

The solution lies in your audio system’s ability to adjust the center channel output. Most 5.1 surround sound systems and advanced soundbars include this feature. For Bose Lifestyle systems, the center channel can be adjusted in the audio settings. Sonos Beam and Arc users can enhance vocals by enabling the Speech Enhancement feature in the Sonos app. The Sonos Arc Ultra goes a step further, offering three Speech Enhancement settings: low, medium, and high.

For help with audio, video, or Smart Home systems design, sales, or service. schedule a FREE Virtual consultation, call 888-775-2673 or visit our website @ www.wbsouth.com/freeconsultation2.