I need a sound bar in order to understand the speech on TV programmes/DVD’s.
Some are ok but others I have to abandon if there are no subtitles.
Does anybody use a sound bar? Are they any good?
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I’ve just had one for Christmas as I can’t hear some of the sound on my TV. Not been installed yet but I’ll let you know probably next week.
PS - remind me late next week if you still want an opinion, otherwise I might forget to let you know.
I use my google smart speaker for the sound.
Yes. It’s a well-known fact that modern flat-screen TVs usually provide crap sound because they are not deep enough to contain decent speakers.
So yes, a sound bar should improve things immeasurably, especially if you get a good one. The best thing to do is to look at several reviews on t’internet.
I don’t know if you want it, but it’s worth getting one with a sub-woofer if you like good bass.
We originally used a pair of side/rear speakers with it, but to be honest I didn’t think the messing about running cables under the carpet was worth the effort.
I have a Sony sound bar which fits in front of my TV and blends in nicely. It has a separate sub-woofer for better base response.
I too am as deaf as a post and don’t wear my hearing aids so I have the TV turned up loud. At home I have the TV connected to a home theatre system so a soundbar is not necessary but I do have a soundbar in my camper and it definitely helps. The sound is much clearer than from the crappy little TV Speakers and can be made much louder.
If you have trouble hearing your TV a soundbar will improve the quality and the volume.
If your TV has Bluetooth and you live alone then a pair of Bluetooth headphones is an excellent alternative and won’t disturb anybody. You can also wear them out walking while listening to music or the radio from your phone
That’s something that I’ve been contemplating for a while Carol…
If you stick your head round the back of the TV you can hear it perfectly, all the sound seems to be coming from the back.
I tried using a hearing aid, but because only certain frequencies need amplification, and the the hearing aid amplifies all frequencies, it gets that noisy that it obscures the ones I can’t hear…
Perhaps a ‘Graphic Equaliser’ is what I need.
I’ve even stopped watching films because I can’t hear what they are saying most of the time, and if I turn up the sound, when the adverts come on or incidental music, it just gets unbearable.
You first then Carol, and let me know how you get on…
I think that these days they do a test on you to determine where the hearing loss is and adjust the hearing aid output accordingly. I believe even the NHS ones do that.
I’d go back and ask them.
Sometimes, there’s no need to buy a soundbar for a TV - a simple review and adjustment of built-in audio settings may make a huge difference to the listening experience:
Example:
How do I adjust the sound settings on my Samsung TV?
https://www.coolblue.nl/en/advice/how-do-i-adjust-the-sound-settings-of-my-samsung-tv.html
All modern TVs will have similar options.
Worth trying on a lazy afternoon … 
Blimey Omah!..:shock:
How did you know that I had a ‘Samsung’ TV?..:surprised:
Tried that Omah, no help for me I’m afraid…
Specsavers do an adjustable digital hearing aid JB that will only amplify the frequencies that I have trouble hearing, but it costs a King’s Ransom…
Incidentally, the frequencies I have trouble hearing are found in most women’s speaking range (I know what you’re thinking JB…:-D) and I have difficulty hearing women newsreaders and female actresses in dramas etc…
But I find most films have rubbish soundtracks these days, and I have to ramp up the volume…
Yes, I know exactly what you mean. You should be grateful for small mercies.
Do you have NHS hearing aids. I believe - no, I’m absolutely sure - that they now issue digital hearing aids and, for that reason, they should be adjustable for different frequencies.
Have you asked? Go on. They don’t bite!
As well as sound quality, think about getting one that connects with an HDMI lead and has the ‘ARC’ feature (if your TV supports it). This makes it possible to turn the sound up and down and turn the soundbar on and off using the TV remote control.
https://www.howtogeek.com/305241/what-is-this-hdmi-arc-port-on-my-tv/
I am sure that if you get a hearing aid it is adjusted to increase the frequencies that you can’t hear well. My Medicare hearing aid was made and adjusted in the Netherlands after the hearing place tested me. It actually works very well but frankly I rarely wear it - I just turn up the TV or stereo.
My daughter has told me to bring my hearing aids when I stay at her house because she is fed up with having to repeat everything she says.
In my search I came across this sound bar. It’s advertising feature is ‘It’s not about loudness - it’s about clarity’
Just what I’m looking for (I think)
I showed it to my son in law & he said ‘It looks good’
I like more than one opinion…
Will you cast your eye on it and give me an opinion please?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08NQ1FNW8/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1RNYMZI6USTZY&psc=1
The ‘Hearing Aid Technology’ and ‘12 Levels of Voice Boost’ sound interesting, though I don’t know exactly what they are.
My only criticism is that it doesn’t seem to have a sub-woofer.
What does a ‘sub-woofer’ do JBR?
It’s a dog that likes to swim underwater Carol…
Seriously though…It’s a big loudspeaker that handles all of the base below a certain frequency. Smaller speakers, the sort that you find in most TV’s can’t handle such low frequencies.
People like to hear those low basey notes, they are the ones that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up…:surprised:
And with a good one, the bass notes really shake the floorboards when you turn up the volume! Ours does anyway.
It’s a lot of money for a brand nobody’s heard of and that has no reviews.
If you’re looking at that sort of price there’s a Sony one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sony-HT-SD35-Bluetooth-Wireless-Subwoofer/dp/B07M5LWHNN/ref=sr_1_11?dchild=1&keywords=soundbar&qid=1609424966&s=electronics&sr=1-11
That’s an example BTW, not necessarily a suggestion.
Advantages?
The biggest is that it’s supplied and sold by Amazon, not a 3rd-party seller for a start - so if you have problems in future it will be easier to sort (Amazon are v.good in my experience).
It’s a known and trusted brand.
It’s a very good price for the power output.
It’s powerful.
It connects by HDMI (ARC) as well as optical.
It has a subwoofer.
Personally I use a receiver with 7 speakers and a huge subwoofer for my serious watching, or just a pair of decent speakers connected to an amplifier in the bedroom - but I recognise that we all have different circumstances, abilities and tastes.
I suspect that you’re looking at the most suitable options for your circumstances Carol and without wishing to sound condescending in any way, I’d ask you to be wary of buying a brand like the one you link to which is what we would call a “no-make”.
You might be lucky.
But it’s a lot of money when you have as an alternative well-known brands like Sony and other to choose from.
If the size of the Sony worries you (and it is quite long) there are other options, like this Panasonic:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07C7HV61V?ref=emc_p_m_6_i&th=1
Good luck with your quest; I hope I’ve helped and not hindered.