Fancy new flat-screen TVs might be smart, or so they say, but their audio is probably worse than the old sets.
One reason: Most new TV speakers are not facing you. They are either pointing down or toward the back.
For this reason, sometimes just moving a television can help with the sound. In one test, Wall Street Journal technology columnist Geoffrey A Fowler found that simply taking a flat screen off the wall and setting it on a table made sounds easier to understand. The downward facing speakers needed something to bounce sound off of.
In fact, a TV that is very close to a wall or inside a cabinet may sound brassy.
Special audio modes can also be a culprit. So-called Surround or Sleep modes can be responsible for muddy sound. Test them to see if you agree.
TVs and TV service are expensive enough as it is, but if those tips didn't help your sound, try buying external speakers. Most televisions are manufactured today with the idea that the consumer will buy speakers. In fact, few do.
Seniors might try the Zvox AccuVoice AV200 soundbar (about $250). It works with hearing aids, making voices louder and clearer than the TV alone, Fowler says.
In fact, some premium hearing aids can also act as wireless headphones. Ask your audiologist about this if people think your television is too loud.
