Before You Buy a Soundbar, Try These 5 Free TV Sound Fixes

The relentless pursuit of thinner screens has resulted in a sorry state of affairs for home entertainment. Even the most expensive OLED TVs struggle to fill a room with anything but a thin, reedy imitation of sound. This is not just a problem with budget sets; it’s a design compromise that affects all TVs.

For years, manufacturers have prioritized aesthetics over speaker quality. The result is a cacophony of muffled dialogue and tinny treble that consumers are supposed to fix with pricey external solutions. However, there are simple fixes for these problems – fixes that cost nothing and take mere minutes to implement.

Consumers bear some responsibility for accepting subpar audio as the norm. We’ve become desensitized to the tinny sound of our TVs and no longer demand better. But what if we refused to accept that a device capable of producing high-definition video must also sacrifice audio quality?

To improve your TV’s sound without spending a dime, consider these five fixes: Enable dialogue enhancement mode, which can make a significant difference in vocal clarity. Adjust the equalizer to emphasize midrange frequencies by tweaking the sliders for bass and treble. Check that your streaming device is set to stereo mode instead of surround sound, which can cause dialogue to get muddy. Reposition your TV – where it sits has a significant impact on its sound quality. Experiment with different placements to find the sweet spot. Finally, enable automatic volume control to regulate loud and quiet moments in movies and shows.

These fixes are not only free but also relatively easy to implement. So why do we still feel compelled to spend hundreds of dollars on separate soundbars? The answer lies in marketing: manufacturers have convinced us that our TVs can’t possibly produce good sound, and that an external solution is the only way to go.

A deeper issue is at play here – one that speaks to our relationship with technology. We’ve become so enamored with the latest gadgets and gizmos that we’re willing to overlook fundamental flaws in design. We accept that thinner screens are a necessary evil, even if it means sacrificing audio quality. And when manufacturers offer us “solutions” like soundbars, we lap them up without question.

The TV industry’s willingness to sacrifice audio quality in favor of aesthetics is not new. In the early days of home entertainment, there was a similar obsession with thin screens and sleek designs. However, this time around, manufacturers have been more brazen in their pursuit of profit over performance.

We’ve seen it before – companies prioritizing style over substance in other areas of technology. Think back to the smartphone wars of the 2010s, where devices were designed to be thinner and lighter rather than more durable or functional. It’s a pattern that repeats itself across industries: manufacturers chasing after the latest trends while compromising on what truly matters.

To change this dynamic, let’s start demanding better from our TV makers. We should expect more from these devices – not just in terms of picture quality but also audio performance. Manufacturers must be held accountable for prioritizing sound over style.