1. < Hearing Loss

TV background music overpowers the speaker. Why do they do this?

Posted by raykraemer @raykraemer, Oct 1, 2020

So often on a TV show or commercial they play background music to sensationalize what the speaker is saying which instead overshadows what the speaker is saying. An instance is the 5:30 pm NBC news show headlines. As they announce the headlines the sensationalizing music is so loud you can't hear what the headlines are. This also happens on TV shows, movies where they play such loud sensationalizing music in the background that it blocks out what the speakers are saying; the background music becomes foreground music. Anyone else notice this?

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xnyr | @xnyr | Oct 25, 2020

ALSO HAPPENS IN RESTAURANTS WITH BACKGROUND MUSIC. i JUST STOP USING MY H-AID,

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Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Oct 25, 2020

Have you ever asked them to lower the volume? I have, and it works sometimes. Download a decibel reading app on your smartphone. It helps to be able to verify the loudness. Worth a try anyway. In most noisy situations I find my hand held BlueTooth mini mic to be helpful enough to keep me in the conversation. Not perfect, but helpful.

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Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 29, 2020

We got the new speaker, and after 5 days are declaring it a success. We bought the ZVox AV157. It has 6 levels of voice clarity, and a squelch-type function to level volume. It plugs into the digital audio output jack on the TV (so you can leave any existing speaker setup in place.)

Here are my observations:
Pros -
- Connection is very easy & straightforward if you have access to the back of the TV. The needed fiber optic cable is included.
- We have a moderate hearing loss situation, so 6 levels works well for us. If yours is more severe, you may want a 12 level version.
- Setting the voice clarity level up enhances the frequencies where voice is heard, and lowers the others.
- We have figured out we can run the surround-sound system (at a low volume) together with the Zvox speaker and get very good sound.
- The speaker itself has an output jack for a subwoofer, but we haven't tried it.
- Low profile, so sits in front of TV or can be wall-mounted easily.
- 60 day trial period so you can return if it doesn't work for you.

Cons -
- At the highest setting, sound is quite "flat" but dialogue is very clear.
- You have to turn the speaker on/off and set it every time using its own remote. Can't figure out if we can integrate it with our multi-device remote.
- Not available in stores, so you have to order it to try it.

This seems like a good fit for us. We ordered from zvox.com, where it is $299 ($100 off with Promo Code VOTE2020 until November second.) Also available on Amazon (without discount) and other models with the same technology are available in both places. Disclaimer - there are other brands available which we did not try. Bought this model on the recommendation of a local audiophile whose opinions I trust.
Sue

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2 replies
tonyinmi | @tonyinmi | Oct 29, 2020
In reply to @sueinmn "We got the new speaker, and after 5 days are declaring it a success. We bought..." + (show)
@sueinmn

We got the new speaker, and after 5 days are declaring it a success. We bought the ZVox AV157. It has 6 levels of voice clarity, and a squelch-type function to level volume. It plugs into the digital audio output jack on the TV (so you can leave any existing speaker setup in place.)

Here are my observations:
Pros -
- Connection is very easy & straightforward if you have access to the back of the TV. The needed fiber optic cable is included.
- We have a moderate hearing loss situation, so 6 levels works well for us. If yours is more severe, you may want a 12 level version.
- Setting the voice clarity level up enhances the frequencies where voice is heard, and lowers the others.
- We have figured out we can run the surround-sound system (at a low volume) together with the Zvox speaker and get very good sound.
- The speaker itself has an output jack for a subwoofer, but we haven't tried it.
- Low profile, so sits in front of TV or can be wall-mounted easily.
- 60 day trial period so you can return if it doesn't work for you.

Cons -
- At the highest setting, sound is quite "flat" but dialogue is very clear.
- You have to turn the speaker on/off and set it every time using its own remote. Can't figure out if we can integrate it with our multi-device remote.
- Not available in stores, so you have to order it to try it.

This seems like a good fit for us. We ordered from zvox.com, where it is $299 ($100 off with Promo Code VOTE2020 until November second.) Also available on Amazon (without discount) and other models with the same technology are available in both places. Disclaimer - there are other brands available which we did not try. Bought this model on the recommendation of a local audiophile whose opinions I trust.
Sue

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@sueinmn, thanks for the feedback. I've been skeptical on how well these would work for me. I have severe to profound loss so my guess is that it would help, since I would still be able to use this with my hearing aids. I know that my TV is sometimes a bit loud for my wife so I ended up buying the TV streamer for my hearing aids. I bought it used, from eBay so I'm hoping it works well. I just ordered it last night so it's not in my possession yet. I did have to order a digital audio cable since it will be missing when the product arrives.
Tony in Michigan

REPLY
Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Oct 29, 2020
In reply to @sueinmn "We got the new speaker, and after 5 days are declaring it a success. We bought..." + (show)
@sueinmn

We got the new speaker, and after 5 days are declaring it a success. We bought the ZVox AV157. It has 6 levels of voice clarity, and a squelch-type function to level volume. It plugs into the digital audio output jack on the TV (so you can leave any existing speaker setup in place.)

Here are my observations:
Pros -
- Connection is very easy & straightforward if you have access to the back of the TV. The needed fiber optic cable is included.
- We have a moderate hearing loss situation, so 6 levels works well for us. If yours is more severe, you may want a 12 level version.
- Setting the voice clarity level up enhances the frequencies where voice is heard, and lowers the others.
- We have figured out we can run the surround-sound system (at a low volume) together with the Zvox speaker and get very good sound.
- The speaker itself has an output jack for a subwoofer, but we haven't tried it.
- Low profile, so sits in front of TV or can be wall-mounted easily.
- 60 day trial period so you can return if it doesn't work for you.

Cons -
- At the highest setting, sound is quite "flat" but dialogue is very clear.
- You have to turn the speaker on/off and set it every time using its own remote. Can't figure out if we can integrate it with our multi-device remote.
- Not available in stores, so you have to order it to try it.

This seems like a good fit for us. We ordered from zvox.com, where it is $299 ($100 off with Promo Code VOTE2020 until November second.) Also available on Amazon (without discount) and other models with the same technology are available in both places. Disclaimer - there are other brands available which we did not try. Bought this model on the recommendation of a local audiophile whose opinions I trust.
Sue

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing this. Do you have a photo you could share? I'm unfamiliar with this technology, so need to learn. There is so much tech that can help people with hearing loss. Why don't the audiologists who sell us hearing aids tell us more about these things?

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 29, 2020
In reply to @julieo4 "Thank you for sharing this. Do you have a photo you could share? I'm unfamiliar with..." + (show)
@julieo4

Thank you for sharing this. Do you have a photo you could share? I'm unfamiliar with this technology, so need to learn. There is so much tech that can help people with hearing loss. Why don't the audiologists who sell us hearing aids tell us more about these things?

Jump to this post

Sure Julie - Here is an explanation on their Web site about how it works. https://zvox.com/collections/accuvoice The device is about 3"x3"x17"
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1 reply
azteacher7 | @azteacher7 | Oct 29, 2020

I also notice this and can’t understand the purpose! It does nothing for the show except make it difficult to hearthe actors dialogue. I hate it!!

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Mentor
Julie, Volunteer Mentor | @julieo4 | Oct 29, 2020
In reply to @sueinmn "Sure Julie - Here is an explanation on their Web site about how it works. https://zvox.com/collections/accuvoice..." + (show)
@sueinmn

Sure Julie - Here is an explanation on their Web site about how it works. https://zvox.com/collections/accuvoice The device is about 3"x3"x17"

Jump to this post

Thank you for sharing this, There is so much technology out there. Some better than others. Always good to try something that can be returned if it doesn't do the trick.

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lucky1038 | @lucky1038 | Oct 29, 2020

Yes I notice this and I HATE it. I've no hearing issues. It seems to be de rigueur today to slap stupid, irrelevant, annoying sounds (aka music) in all videos.

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1 reply
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Oct 30, 2020
In reply to @lucky1038 "Yes I notice this and I HATE it. I've no hearing issues. It seems to be..." + (show)
@lucky1038

Yes I notice this and I HATE it. I've no hearing issues. It seems to be de rigueur today to slap stupid, irrelevant, annoying sounds (aka music) in all videos.

Jump to this post

And laugh tracks! But this device pulls the voices out nicely and makes the dialogue so much easier to follow - even in my husband's shoot-em-up shows.
Sue

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