i just got a new HDTV (LG 32LB9d) and am having a couple issues with my setup. i read through this thread (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=622358) which seems related, but i'm using the built-in speakers from the tv so a lot of that information is not entirely relevant. my problem is:

-you have to turn the volume way way up in order to hear spoken words, and quiet talking is still inaudible. music and sound effects are way too loud though, there's an enormous disparity between the two. the music/effects are loud enough to bother our neighbors, while we can barely hear spoken words at a distance of 6' from the tv.

-sitting on the couch 6' from the tv, the volume seems really low, even though it is turned up very high. if you're in another room though the volume is incredibly loud, in the bathroom 20' down the hall and 2 corners away.

i imagine this is because the built-in speakers appear to be in the sides or back vents of the tv? i can't find any speaker grills, and the manual doesn't indicate where the speakers are on the tv. i am assuming the sound bounces off the wall behind the tv in such a way that it doesn't reach the couch as well as other areas in the room, or other rooms.

any ideas? i am not able for various reasons to run my tv through a receiver for surround sound, so that is not an option. is there some sort of baffle or something i could put behind the tv that would help my situation?

additional information: i have set the audio setting in the tv for 'movie' and it hasn't really helped at all.

this behavior is definitely more noticeable when playing DVD's than watching regular tv, i guess because it assumes that people have home theater setups these days. i have had similar problems with movies in the past on a standard tube tv, but not anywhere near this extent.

It is likely that NONE of the speakers is aimed at the main listening position and, therefore, you need to turn it up to levels that annoy elsewhere. Frankly, I see no solution for this other than external speakers.

I think most flat panels have very limited audio due to the lack of space, and to keep a neat appearance. I think that most manufacturers also assume that they will be used with external speakers.

Your best solution since you cannot have external speakers would be to return the TV and buy something with front firing speakers and built with sound quality as a higher priority.

any ideas? i am not able for various reasons to run my tv through a receiver for surround sound, so that is not an option.

You said no surround sound, but what about just a receiver and a left-right pair? You don't have to do surround sound.

I think an Onkyo/Denon/Yamaha unit and a bookshelf pair from a good company would be way better than the tiny speakers on most flat panels. Or is there just no room for any type?

I agree with the prior comments. I can only see an external 2.0 (or more likely 3.0 or 3.1) system solving your problem. It should be a major improvement over what you have now even if you skip the surround speakers entirely.

Have you gone into the sound options and looked at ANY sort of "Surround Sound" modes that might be enabled? If so, disable it. I had this issue on a plasma TV not too long ago, and disabling the panel's 'built-in' surround sound brought out spoken words and passified many of the extremely loud noises.

additional information: i have set the audio setting in the tv for 'movie' and it hasn't really helped at all.

this behavior is definitely more noticeable when playing DVD's than watching regular tv,


Setting the audio to movie may be making thing worse. That is a DSP mode of some type.

In addition, DVD's have a higher dynamic range than off air television programs, so expect the louder passages of a DVD to be a lot louder than standard television.

Some DVD players have a DRC (dynamic range control) setup in the players setup menu. Take a look and see what DRC options are available is in your DVD player's setup menu!

It is possible that the internal stereo speakers of your TV were wired with opposite polarity. When left and right signals are the same, the opposite polarity can actually cancel them out. Your spoken word audio would be essentially identical at both speakers, so it would be cancelled the most. The music and other stereo sounds that are unique to each speaker would be cancelled the least, and sound louder.

Just a theory.