Hahaha! Thanks for this info. I switch between the different modes. Night mode works well. I’ll try keeping it on. Still need subtitles for some PBS shows, especially out of Scotland.
Thank you, Ty! I thought it was my 75 year old brain's decreasing ability to comprehend what's being said on the screen. No more feeling of shame when the subtitles get turned on!
If only an occasional line or phrase, I like the AppleTV box Siri feature: “What did they say?” Rewind 30” and plays back with captions, then proceeds, dropping captions after that. But I second the comment on Scottish shows —THEY’VE GONE PLAID!
Yup, it’s definitely an issue with our newer TVs. I also thought it was my hearing. We have a Sonos surround system for our 2022 Samsung 65” TV - sound bar, back speakers, sub woofer is coming, but we still sometimes need the subtitles depending on the show. Thank you Burr for once again figuring out what “our” problem is.
So glad this sound issue article by Ty Burr has come across my eyes. I thought the fact that we "of a certain age" having to kick on subtitles to hear diaglog clearly was due to aging ears. I Personally feel that the sound quality of contemporary TV has not at all kept up with picture quality for obvious marketing reasons; to keep cost down and perhaps create another sub category of sound bars to purchase. If anyone out there knows of integrated high quality sound in the latest HDTV options out there please post. I would prefer not to purchase a separate sound bar and deal with another remote.
Thank you Ty writing about this issue and the information.
Thank you for this! I watch a lot of stuff on my iPad and it's hit or miss if I need the subtitles. When we watch the TV it's with my 94yo mother so we always have the subtitles on. It does help with the Brit mysteries she and my wife love. Agreed with another comment here that it distracts from the visual. I avoid subtitles whenever I can and yes, just hope I catch 85% of it.
My sound complaints go beyond TV, though. I often have a hard time in live theater. I saw an opera based on Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" on Sunday at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, ME. The lyrics in the first half were incomprehensible and I know the story. It wasn't just me and it's not just at this venue. And don't get me started on concerts, even pricey ones. I expect bad sound at a dive bar but not a name band at a big venue. Sound seems to have taken a backseat lots of places.
Even with a new top of the line Sony TV paired with an expensive soundbar, the poor (or a least unfocused) state of modern audio mixing can sometimes bite. But at least the subtitles stand out against the muddy darkness that is so popular right now with film makers and cinematographers!
Watching classic, well mixed media is a mitigation. One extra thing that sometimes helps with sound--go with physical discs rather than streaming--blu rays for a permanent collection and DVDs from the library.
Good post! I bit the bullet years ago when we bought our current LG TV and bought a good Klipsch sound bar and subwoofer. Before that, most dialogue was incomprehensible due the mixing issues you highlighted. We mostly get by without subtitles now, but turn them on for our Britbox shows. Our kids almost insist on subtitles for everything, but I find them mostly distracting.
I've got significant hearing loss. I always try adjusting the sound first but often switch to subtitles to use as needed. Movies vary quite a bit in terms of sound quality. Sometimes characters seem to be whispering to each other in the dark. Sometimes actors chew up their words while speaking. Now I know how my parents felt when they first encountered what they called "mumble movies," starting with The Godfather. The best modern series in terms of sound is "Breaking Bad." Not only good acoustics but dramatic pauses: "Jesse . . . what does . . . a blowfish . . . do?" "Is THIS . . . what you want to be known as . . . Hector? A crippled . . . little . . .. RATA?"
We have tried so many times to watch The Wire, and have been defeated by not understanding it. Just this week we put on the closed captions, and have watched the first 2 episodes.
I've learned to live with subtitles by basically treating them in my mind like those for foreign films, where I have years of practice reading the subtitles while trying to simultaneously absorb what are often far richer visuals than certainly most Hollywood films.
OMG. Thank you I thought it was just me going deaf as I get older. Sound is the main reason I prefer my iPad and a good set of headphones. I will go looking for that menu!
Sorry, off point. I need to know how to replace Netflix dvd’s after this service disappears in September! And thanks for reassuring me that I’m not the only crank who actually wants to hear what actors are saying!
Hahaha! Thanks for this info. I switch between the different modes. Night mode works well. I’ll try keeping it on. Still need subtitles for some PBS shows, especially out of Scotland.
Thank you, Ty! I thought it was my 75 year old brain's decreasing ability to comprehend what's being said on the screen. No more feeling of shame when the subtitles get turned on!
If only an occasional line or phrase, I like the AppleTV box Siri feature: “What did they say?” Rewind 30” and plays back with captions, then proceeds, dropping captions after that. But I second the comment on Scottish shows —THEY’VE GONE PLAID!
Yup, it’s definitely an issue with our newer TVs. I also thought it was my hearing. We have a Sonos surround system for our 2022 Samsung 65” TV - sound bar, back speakers, sub woofer is coming, but we still sometimes need the subtitles depending on the show. Thank you Burr for once again figuring out what “our” problem is.
So glad this sound issue article by Ty Burr has come across my eyes. I thought the fact that we "of a certain age" having to kick on subtitles to hear diaglog clearly was due to aging ears. I Personally feel that the sound quality of contemporary TV has not at all kept up with picture quality for obvious marketing reasons; to keep cost down and perhaps create another sub category of sound bars to purchase. If anyone out there knows of integrated high quality sound in the latest HDTV options out there please post. I would prefer not to purchase a separate sound bar and deal with another remote.
Thank you Ty writing about this issue and the information.
I really enjoy the visual and emotional experience and dislike the distraction of subtitles.
Even I get 85% of the actual dialogue I get the point and feeling of what I’m watching without subtitles blocking my view.
We’ve made an agreement when we watch Ted Lasso, we watch first and if we (she) wants to watch again with subtitles we will.
I’ll mess around with the sound settings more carefully, thanks for the tips, Ty.
Thank you for this! I watch a lot of stuff on my iPad and it's hit or miss if I need the subtitles. When we watch the TV it's with my 94yo mother so we always have the subtitles on. It does help with the Brit mysteries she and my wife love. Agreed with another comment here that it distracts from the visual. I avoid subtitles whenever I can and yes, just hope I catch 85% of it.
My sound complaints go beyond TV, though. I often have a hard time in live theater. I saw an opera based on Octavia Butler's "Parable of the Sower" on Sunday at Merrill Auditorium in Portland, ME. The lyrics in the first half were incomprehensible and I know the story. It wasn't just me and it's not just at this venue. And don't get me started on concerts, even pricey ones. I expect bad sound at a dive bar but not a name band at a big venue. Sound seems to have taken a backseat lots of places.
Great topic!
Even with a new top of the line Sony TV paired with an expensive soundbar, the poor (or a least unfocused) state of modern audio mixing can sometimes bite. But at least the subtitles stand out against the muddy darkness that is so popular right now with film makers and cinematographers!
Watching classic, well mixed media is a mitigation. One extra thing that sometimes helps with sound--go with physical discs rather than streaming--blu rays for a permanent collection and DVDs from the library.
Good post! I bit the bullet years ago when we bought our current LG TV and bought a good Klipsch sound bar and subwoofer. Before that, most dialogue was incomprehensible due the mixing issues you highlighted. We mostly get by without subtitles now, but turn them on for our Britbox shows. Our kids almost insist on subtitles for everything, but I find them mostly distracting.
I've got significant hearing loss. I always try adjusting the sound first but often switch to subtitles to use as needed. Movies vary quite a bit in terms of sound quality. Sometimes characters seem to be whispering to each other in the dark. Sometimes actors chew up their words while speaking. Now I know how my parents felt when they first encountered what they called "mumble movies," starting with The Godfather. The best modern series in terms of sound is "Breaking Bad." Not only good acoustics but dramatic pauses: "Jesse . . . what does . . . a blowfish . . . do?" "Is THIS . . . what you want to be known as . . . Hector? A crippled . . . little . . .. RATA?"
We have tried so many times to watch The Wire, and have been defeated by not understanding it. Just this week we put on the closed captions, and have watched the first 2 episodes.
It’s the worst. Sometimes it’s a relief simply to watch a foreign language film or even a silent to bypass this entire question.
Relatedly, it annoys me to no end that a lot of media companies now don’t bother to distinguish between subtitles and closed captions anymore.
Ty
Thanks for writing about this.
I agree completely, hearing dialogue is a challenge at best.
We have a Sonos soundbar with Dialogue enhancement turned on and bass turned down.
Even this doesn't solve the problem
I've learned to live with subtitles by basically treating them in my mind like those for foreign films, where I have years of practice reading the subtitles while trying to simultaneously absorb what are often far richer visuals than certainly most Hollywood films.
OMG. Thank you I thought it was just me going deaf as I get older. Sound is the main reason I prefer my iPad and a good set of headphones. I will go looking for that menu!
Sorry, off point. I need to know how to replace Netflix dvd’s after this service disappears in September! And thanks for reassuring me that I’m not the only crank who actually wants to hear what actors are saying!