Improving the sound of your Smart TV should be one of your main goals if you want to enjoy series, movies and video games optimally. Something that you can do in various ways, even without the need to make any additional investment. So that’s what we’re going to tell you, how to optimize the sound on your TV.
Sound vs image
For us , sound is responsible for at least 50% of any audiovisual experience . Sometimes it can even go further, because some emotions can only be generated with those sound effects that hit you, surprise you or simply introduce you in a more intimate way to what is happening on the screen.
Therefore, this section should not be forgotten if you want to have the best multimedia experience. The problem is how to do it, how to improve it if you don’t have much knowledge of the subject. And most importantly, how to achieve it without having to resort to an additional financial outlay. Is the latter possible? We go step by step.
The acoustics of the room
If you have noticed, both the movie theaters and many rooms prepared to fully enjoy the seventh art share something in common: a good acoustic treatment .
Acoustic treatment is nothing more than studying how sound travels in a room. Be clear about the areas where it bounces and how it does it, etc. Thanks to this, very annoying problems such as echo or reverberation can be avoided.
Inside the house these aspects are not always easy to solve, because aspects such as decoration, furniture that must be in that location and not in others, etc. Still, there are always small changes that can be made to improve sound quality.
As we told you a while ago, furniture, curtains, rugs and other decorative elements affect the acoustics of the room. Therefore, it is not about changing the entire room, but if you can apply certain variations you will improve significantly. And always avoiding having a “clean” room of furniture, because the sound will be horrible.
Make the most of your team’s software options
Once you have controlled something as basic as the acoustics of the room, the next step is to know and squeeze the options at the software level that your television or sound equipment can offer.
As the normal thing is to look for the improvement of the audio without investing in an external sound equipment, the first thing is to go to the sound settings of the television. To do this, if you don’t know where they are, consult the instruction manual. You will see that you can set different sound modes that may vary depending on the manufacturer, although the normal thing is to have the following:
- Standard mode, makes no noticeable changes
- Cinema or movies mode, give prominence to sound effects
- Music mode, highlight the music above the voice
- Voice mode, makes voices clearer
- Amplified mode, highlights both high and mid frequencies
Depending on each one, the settings that affect the equalization of the sound vary , boosting or not certain frequencies. Here it is important to try to find the one with which we appreciate a substantial improvement. Of course, you have to use appropriate content and preferably that we know well.
For example, if you are a fan of war movies, put a movie that you have seen several times and that combines both scenes with many sound effects such as explosions, shots, etc., with dialogue parts. So you can see how it changes and if everything is heard correctly. Because using the voice mode that gives more preference to dialogue can cause the explosions to lose force and end up sounding a bit canned.
If after trying the different modes you cannot find the idea option, then the next step is to resort to the advanced equalization settings. There are smartphone applications that can help you adjust each of the available frequency bars. Although just by going up or down each one of them you will already appreciate changes. You must remember that voices usually start from the 2kHz frequency while the lower tones are 500Hz downwards.
Finally, many televisions today include an option that automatically adjusts the volume as you see fit. It is a kind of dynamic processor like the one used to reduce noise and image defects. We do not deny that it will have some usefulness, but sometimes it worsens more than it improves the experience.
Therefore, check the advanced settings and if you see options such as Advance Auto Volume, AI Sound, Adjust automatic sound levels, etc., deactivate them.
Connect external equipment
Assuming you have reached this point and still do not appreciate any improvement, the next and inevitable step is to bet on an external sound equipment. As you can imagine, there are many options here, from simple PC speakers to 5.1, 7.1 or sound bars. Although you shouldn’t ignore the possibility of connecting headphones, preferably Bluetooth for when you want to enjoy the experience without disturbing others.
Recommendations? Well, it is complicated, because again it depends on how much you want to invest. But some interesting options would be:
Creative GigaWorks T20 Series II
PC speakers can also be a good solution to sound problems. If they also have options to control certain frequencies even better. Creativa’s T-series speakers are a good choice. In particular the GigaWorks T20 Series II are a good option at a competitive price.
Sony WH-1000X M4 or Bose 700
These are the two most interesting headband speakers today. We’ve both reviewed them here and they offer optimal performance in every way plus an outstanding noise cancellation system. Whichever you choose, you are sure to be right. Here’s our opinion.
Sonos Beam and Sonos Arc
These two soundbars from Sonos are very good options for those looking for performance and extra options. Because they can be paired with other speakers of the brand, they integrate support for the Amazon assistant and many additional options. Although they are not the only ones and you can even find options with great sound and design.
Logically, it is already a question of assessing to what extent you need or can invest in these equipment. Also remind you that you can use speakers like the Echo, Google Home or Home By making use of their stereo settings next to your television. Options there are as many as you want. But the important and basic thing is that the acoustics of the room and the sound settings are controlled.