Audio settings for TV speakers

The right audio settings are crucial for getting the most out of your TV speakers. A clean, clear sound ensures that dialogue is intelligible, bass is rich and treble is precise. Especially with modern technologies such as Dolby Atmos or surround sound systems, the sound becomes increasingly nuanced - but only if the setup is right. Whether it’s a soundbar, subwoofer or home cinema system: the right settings transform any living room into an acoustic experience. Find out everything you need to know about setting up and fine-tuning TV speakers.

Getting started: Connect the speakers to the TV

Connecting the speakers is the first and most important step towards achieving good sound. Modern TVs offer a variety of connection options, which vary depending on the type of speaker.

HDMI ARC and eARC

HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) and eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) are the best options for lossless audio transmission. HDMI ARC enables the simultaneous transmission of audio and video signals via a single cable. This reduces cable clutter and ensures easy integration into your home cinema system. With eARC, the enhanced version of ARC, it is possible to transmit high-resolution audio formats such as Dolby Atmos. This significantly improves the home cinema experience, as eARC offers greater bandwidth for complex audio formats and reproduces sound with even greater precision.

Optical connections

Optical connections offer a good alternative to HDMI, particularly for older devices that do not support HDMI ARC or eARC connections. Optical cables transmit high-quality digital audio signals and are found in many TV speaker systems and soundbars. They offer a stable connection and are a tried-and-tested way of transmitting sound from televisions to external speakers. However, optical connections do not support multi-channel audio formats such as Dolby Atmos, making them less suitable for high-resolution audio formats.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth offers a wireless way to connect speakers or soundbars to the TV. It allows for easy pairing and offers flexibility as no cables are required. Bluetooth is particularly suitable for users looking for a simple, wireless solution. However, latency can occur with Bluetooth connections, which can lead to a delay between the picture and the sound. This can be particularly distracting when watching films and TV series, as the sound does not match the actors’ lip movements exactly.

Analogue connections (RCA or AUX)

For older speaker systems, analogue connections such as RCA or AUX are a good choice. These offer a simple way to transmit audio from televisions to external speakers. Whilst the analogue connection is limited in terms of sound quality, it is still suitable for connecting older devices or speakers that do not offer digital connections. However, the sound quality is limited compared to digital connections such as HDMI or optical.

The OSKAR TV speaker

A particularly useful device for clear and intelligible dialogue is the OSKAR TV speaker. It is an excellent choice for anyone looking to improve their TV sound. The OSKAR operates wirelessly, as the signal is transmitted from the base station to the TV speaker, allowing for flexible placement without the hassle of cables. The OSKAR connects easily to any television and is particularly useful for older sets that do not support modern technologies such as HDMI eARC. Thanks to its ease of use and excellent speech intelligibility, the OSKAR offers a versatile solution for optimising the listening experience.

Basic audio settings: volume, balance and sound modes

Once the speakers are connected to the TV, it’s time to adjust the basic audio settings, which have a significant impact on the sound experience. These settings ensure that the sound is not only pleasant but also optimally adapted to the room and the content.

Volume

Volume plays a central role in a good listening experience and should be set so that the sound is clear and easily understood without straining your ears. An appropriate volume not only protects against hearing damage but also ensures that the sound is perceived as pleasant, without being too quiet or too loud.

Many televisions and speaker systems offer the option to balance volume differences. This means that the system automatically adjusts the volume to balance differences between quiet dialogue and loud sound effects. This feature ensures that dialogue in quiet scenes is just as clearly audible as the loud sound effects in action sequences, without the need to constantly adjust the volume.

Different types of content require different volume settings. Quiet dialogue, as is often found in dramas or dialogue-heavy scenes, requires a higher volume, whilst action films or scenes with lots of sound effects tend to require a lower volume to ensure a pleasant balance between the various audio elements.

Balance

The balance setting ensures that the sound comes evenly from all TV speakers and that no one side dominates. With a surround sound system, it is particularly important to adjust the balance so that the sound appears even and seamless from all directions. If the balance is not set correctly, it can result in the sound from a particular direction being perceived as louder or distorted.

When fine-tuning the balance, it is important to position the central sound source - the centre speaker - correctly. This speaker is primarily responsible for dialogue and should be aligned so that the sound travels directly to the listening position. A correctly positioned centre speaker ensures that dialogue is clear and easily understood, without being drowned out by other speakers or ambient noise.

Sound modes

Modern televisions and speaker systems offer various sound modes that adapt the audio experience to the content being watched. These modes allow you to personalise the listening experience by emphasising specific audio elements as required.

The Film mode is ideal for highlighting dialogue and emphasising surround effects. This ensures that in film scenes featuring a mix of dialogue and action, both the voices and the ambient sounds and sound effects are reproduced clearly and precisely.

Music mode delivers clear highs and rich bass to emphasise the dynamic sound of music tracks. This mode is particularly well-suited for playing music, as it balances the various frequencies and makes the sound feel more lively and spacious.

Sports mode is designed to emphasise clear commentary and ambient sounds. This mode is ideal for sports broadcasts where the intelligibility of voices and the sounds of the game take centre stage, whilst background music and other distracting noises are minimised.

In addition to these three, many televisions offer further modes, such as Standard, Dialogue or Dolby Digital. These basic audio settings make it easy to optimise the sound experience, ensuring the audio is always tailored to the content and the room’s acoustics.

Configuring Dolby Atmos and surround sound

For a true home cinema experience, technologies such as Dolby Atmos or surround sound systems are essential. The right setup makes all the difference here and ensures that the sound is tailored to the overall feel of the room.

Dolby Atmos

Atmos-enabled speakers or soundbars produce three-dimensional sound that simulates sounds coming from above and from all directions. This creates an immersive listening experience where the sound comes not only from the front or the sides, but also from above, providing a special sense of depth, particularly with action films or 3D audio formats. A prerequisite for using Dolby Atmos is a compatible TV or receiver that supports Atmos. In addition, content that utilises Dolby Atmos must be available to fully exploit the technology. Many streaming services now offer films and series in Dolby Atmos that can unlock the full potential of this technology.

Surround sound systems

With 5.1 or 7.1 systems, which enable an even wider soundstage, the placement of the speakers is crucial for the surround sound. The front speakers should be positioned to the left and right of the TV to direct the main sound straight towards the listening position. The centre speaker, which is primarily responsible for reproducing dialogue, should be placed centrally and at ear level. The rear speakers, which are responsible for background and ambient sounds, should be positioned behind the seating position to complete the surround sound and create a sense of immersion.

The placement of the speakers plays a key role here, as it directly influences the sound. Incorrect positioning of the speakers can lead to an unbalanced sound image, where, for example, dialogue is difficult to understand or surround effects are distorted.

Use calibration microphones

Many receivers offer automatic calibration functions that adapt the system’s sound to the room’s acoustics. A calibration microphone is used to analyse the room’s acoustics. The receiver then adjusts the speaker levels, delay times and speaker positions to ensure optimal sound reproduction. This allows the sound to be precisely tailored to the room’s size and shape, as well as the specific speaker arrangement. Using a calibration microphone is a quick and easy way to perfectly set up your home cinema system without any manual effort.

Fine-tuning: Equaliser and bass management

Custom sound adjustment is key to tailoring the audio experience to personal preferences and adapting the sound to the room acoustics and the media content.

Using an equaliser

An equaliser allows you to adjust the treble, midrange and bass individually to shape the sound to your liking. Particularly in rooms with challenging acoustics, such as those with many hard surfaces or an irregular layout, the equaliser can help to balance the sound. Such rooms often tend to amplify or dampen certain frequencies, which can lead to an unbalanced sound. The equaliser allows you to make the treble clearer and the midrange more precise without the bass dominating, ensuring the sound remains full and balanced even in challenging acoustic conditions.

By adjusting the various frequency ranges, the sound can be optimally tailored to the room and the listener’s preferences. Using the equaliser helps ensure that all elements of the sound system harmonise with one another, creating a pleasant listening experience.

Bass management

The subwoofer is responsible for the low frequencies and contributes significantly to the richness of the sound. To integrate the bass optimally into the overall system, targeted bass management is required. The subwoofer should be set so that the low frequencies are present but do not overpower the other sound ranges. An excessively high bass level can make dialogue difficult to understand and cause important details in the sound to be lost. If the bass becomes too dominant, the overall sound becomes unbalanced and distorted.

Correct subwoofer settings ensure that the bass is powerful and precise without compromising the clarity of the mid and high frequencies. Particularly with action films or music featuring deep bass, it is important to find the right balance so that the bass enhances the atmosphere without overpowering the other sound components.

Troubleshooting: Solving audio settings issues

Even with the best setup, minor issues can arise that affect the sound experience. Fortunately, many of these problems can be resolved with simple steps. Here are common issues and detailed solutions:

No sound

• Check connections: Ensure that all cables are securely plugged in and show no signs of physical damage. Damaged HDMI or optical cables cannot transmit sound.
• Select audio source in the TV menu: Adjust the audio settings in the TV menu. Ensure that the correct source (e.g. HDMI ARC, optical or Bluetooth) is selected. For soundbars or surround sound systems, often enable the ‘external speakers’ option.
• Restart devices: Switch the TV and speakers off and then back on to resolve connection issues.
• Test the hardware: If there is still no sound, connect the speaker to another device to rule out a fault.

Out-of-sync sound

• Use audio delay settings: Modern TVs and receivers offer an option to adjust the audio delay. This setting ensures that picture and sound are synchronised again.
• Check Bluetooth connections: With wireless connections, latency can cause out-of-sync audio. Devices with aptX Low Latency or wired connections are often the better choice.
• Install firmware updates: Some devices resolve synchronisation issues through software updates. Check for updates regularly and install them.

Poor sound quality

• Optimise room acoustics: Reflections and echoes in the room can affect the sound. Carpets, curtains and furniture help to reduce unwanted resonance.
• Adjust equaliser settings: Adjust treble, midrange and bass individually to tailor the sound to the room acoustics and your own preferences. Dialogue can be made clearer by boosting the midrange.
• Check speaker placement: Speakers should be at ear level and not placed directly against walls or in corners. Incorrect placement can significantly distort the sound.

Interference or distortion

• Check the signal source: Distorted sound may be caused by a faulty signal source, e.g. a damaged HDMI cable or a disrupted Bluetooth connection.
• Adjust the volume: Volume settings on the TV or speakers that are too high can cause clipping. The volume should be set so that the sound remains clear.
• Test cables and connections: Use high-quality, well-shielded cables to prevent interference from other devices.

Bluetooth connection issues

• Unpair and reconnect: If the Bluetooth connection is unstable, unpair the devices and pair them again.
• Maintain range: Bluetooth generally only works within a radius of 10 metres without obstacles. Walls and furniture can weaken the connection.
• Reduce interference: Other wireless devices such as Wi-Fi routers or smartphones can cause interference. Increase the distance from these devices.

Subwoofer or speakers not working

• Check connections: Ensure that the subwoofer or individual speakers are connected correctly, particularly with wireless systems.
• Check the settings on the receiver or TV: Some devices put individual speakers or the subwoofer into standby mode when they are not actively in use. This function can be disabled.

Firmware errors

• Update the software: Many sound issues are caused by faulty firmware. Regular updates not only bring new features but often fix known bugs as well.
• Reset the device to factory settings: If nothing else works, the TV or speakers can be reset to their factory settings. This removes faulty configurations and allows for a fresh setup.

Firmware updates: Keeping devices up to date

Firmware updates are important for unlocking new features and fixing bugs that could affect a device’s performance. They help ensure that both TVs and speakers are always equipped with the latest technologies and improvements.

Why updates are important

Many TVs and external TV speakers receive regular software updates that not only improve sound quality but can also add new features. A good example of this is the introduction of Dolby Atmos via a firmware update, which enhances the sound experience by making the sound more three-dimensional and immersive. These updates can also fix existing bugs, such as connection or synchronisation issues, and ensure that devices work together optimally. Without regular updates, devices could see their performance stagnate and potential bugs might not be resolved.

Tips for updates

It is advisable to check regularly for available updates in the menu of your TV or speakers. Many devices offer an automatic update function that ensures the latest versions are always installed. However, it is also a good idea to check for updates manually, especially if the device has not been updated for some time. Installing the latest firmware updates usually takes only a few minutes and ensures that the devices are equipped with the latest features and improvements.