Unballanced sound on my HDTV

[Lightsped]

I have a Philips 43pp9202 HDTV. I am happy with the TV, but I am unable to get the sound just right.

My problem is that the voives are so much quieter than the rest of the sound effects. I have played around with the bass, treble, and the preset sound modes.

I need to get the voices louder and more ballanced with the rest of the sounds. Any ideas?

Thanks

[57U]

I've noticed this too on a lot of programmes. They're trying to make them more dramatic with the "surround sound" and drowning out the voices.

You can't do this on the TV, but I've boosted the center channel (which contains all the voice material) on my receiver by about 4dB. Perhaps you could consider a surround sound system (anything that allows independent setting of the center channel)?

[Ratman]

Also... does the audio setup on the TV have a setting for "Dynamic Noise Reduction" or "Nighttime" mode... or something along those lines?

This option is usually in surround recievers and some TV's. This will help to reduce the "dynamics" that sometime overpower dialog.

[Lightsped]

Currently I am at work. I honestly don't know all the diffeent sound modes the TV has. I am still a HDTV newbiee. :/

This is my TV and specs below:
http://www.consumer.philips.com/global/b2c/ce/catalog/product.jhtml;jsessionid=2L0HD4B1BYNSWCRQNAVRYVIKGBUTSHD0?divId=0&groupId=TV_GR&catId=PROJECTION_TV_CA&subCatId=PROJECTION_TV_SU&productId=43PP9202

Thanks for any help.

[EvanRude]

Lightspeed.
Are you using the 2 speakers on the plasma for front left, front right and center powered buy the TV?

If so, without an the adjustment 57U spoke of, you might not be able to get the sound much better. TV speakers and thier amps are "generally" not vary good. Which is good. I would not want to pay for great sound on my TV if I'm using a nice receiver.

The speakers do sometimes sound good as center channel speakers when powered by a receiver ( check the Ohms 4,6,8 before connecting).

[sc40094]

Yeah, EvanRude is right, if you have a receiver, you can use the TV's speakers as your center speaker. It especially good for my case because my RPTV doesn't have space for me to put my center speaker.

[57U]

Most TVs require a "line level" input (like for a subwoofer) if you want to use the TV's speakers as a center channel.

Most receivers don't have a line-level output (they are typically powered and you cannot mix the two).

If you have a "high end" receiver that does have a line level output for the center channel, then it's unlikely that you'll want to use the TV speakers for the center channel, you'll want something better, otherwise you've wasted the receiver. Catch 22.

[EvanRude]

Sorry, I was thinking of my non-HD Akai Plasma.
It has two "add on" speakers that came with it "free" at costco. Sence these are removable they have high level inputs.

Now don't do this.
A few systems ago I disconnected the TV speakers and wired them to the receiver. Don't laugh 57U, it worked... well kinda.

[57U]

Originally posted by EvanRude A few systems ago I disconnected the TV speakers and wired them to the receiver. Don't laugh 57U, it worked... well kinda. Sounds familiar. I did it the other way around, about 20 years ago. Since TV speakers usually cost about 50 cents, I went into my cabinet and disconnected them, spliced in some longer speaker wire and wired that to some good external speakers. Since speakers are usually the weakest link, I had excellent sound from my "bedroom" TV. I've always had an A/V receiver in conjunction with my "main" TV for the best possible sound.

[EvanRude]

Changing the speakers was why I started the TV cannibalization. But I could not find speakers that would fit. They were an odd shaped oval. Which led me on to my next idea of rewiring them.

[Lightsped]

I do not have any external speakers. I thought I could get better sound by setting the sound settings up differently. Seems like the TV sounded better in the store. You could hear the voices better.

I am just looking for help on the TVs settings, not any external speakers.

Thanks

[sillygoose]

Ratman mentioned the tv settings you should look for. Also some STBs have sound settings. I know the moto 5100 from comcast has sound compression settings. (I say from comcast because it is a user menu feature so it may or may not be there with other cable co.s)