Adjusting the volume so it stays consistent while watching TV

Why the volume fluctuates when watching TV

Fluctuations in volume are rarely caused by the TV alone. They begin during sound production, continue across different channels and sources, and are amplified by the way the volume control works.

Sound mixing for films and TV series

In film and TV production, dialogue, music, and sound effects are mixed onto separate tracks. Loud scenes, such as explosions, are often intentionally made louder than quiet conversations to enhance the impact. These significant differences in volume are not technical errors, but rather a creative choice. On the speakers of a smart TV, all these factors often combine, causing the dialogue to sound relatively quiet.

Differences between broadcasters, sources, and advertising

The background level also varies between sources. Commercial breaks are often mixed to be denser and more prominent than the surrounding programming and can therefore seem louder. The difference is also noticeable when switching between channels or between TV programming and streaming apps. A recommendation from the European Broadcasting Union, EBU R 128, aims to standardize loudness across programs, measured using an internationally standardized loudness measurement method. However, it is merely a recommendation and not binding for all providers, which is why volume differences occur repeatedly and very often in practice.

Why the volume control alone isn't enough

Standard volume control acts like a fixed multiplier. It boosts or cuts the entire audio signal—including both loud and soft passages—by the same ratio, so that the changes in loudness remain intact. In addition, with some digital audio formats, the signal is simply passed through and can only be adjusted at the output device.

These settings ensure consistent volume while watching TV

Several settings on the TV are designed to standardize the volume level. They’re free, quick to enable, and a sensible first step. The following three sections cover the most common situations.

1. Enable automatic volume

Many modern TVs have an automatic volume control feature that automatically adjusts for differences in volume between programs and commercial breaks. Depending on the device, this feature may have a different name and can be found in the sound or audio menu. In addition, many devices offer a level-matching function that allows you to adjust the base volume of individual inputs in advance to minimize volume jumps when switching sources.

2. Night mode and dynamic compression for loud effects

To balance quiet dialogue with loud sound effects, there is a type of dynamic compression often referred to as "night mode." It reduces very loud parts and boosts quiet ones, narrowing the gap between whispers and explosions. The downside is that heavy compression can make the sound seem muffled, which is why a moderate level usually sounds better.

3. Check the audio format and connection

The selected audio format also affects the volume. In some setups, it can help to temporarily switch the audio output from a multichannel format to PCM. This causes the TV to process the audio signal differently, which can reduce volume jumps when switching sources. For connections via HDMI ARC or eARC, it’s worth checking which device is controlling the volume, as jumps can occur here as well.

In short, automatic volume control helps with volume fluctuations across channels, night mode helps with the balance between dialogue and sound effects, and switching to PCM helps with source changes.

Why attitudes alone are often not enough

The TV's settings do a pretty good job of smoothing out sudden jumps between sources. However, two aspects of the problem often remain, and that's exactly where we still find ourselves reaching for the remote every day.

Dialogue remains the real problem

The most common reason for constantly having to adjust the volume isn’t a change in the channel, but the balance between speech and background noise within a program. Turning up the volume amplifies voices, music, and effects equally, so that dialogue remains just as difficult to understand relative to the rest of the audio. Dynamic compression smooths out the fluctuations but does not specifically highlight speech. Audio studies show that processing that improves the balance between foreground speech and background noise increases intelligibility and reduces listening effort.

The sound has to travel through the room

Even a well-tuned signal still has to travel from the TV across the room to where you’re sitting. When the distance is greater, the room is echoey, or there are varying listening needs within the household, that’s often not enough. At this point, it’s less about volume control and more about where the sound reaches you as you listen.

OSKAR a Solution for TV Audio

When you've exhausted all the TV's settings and dialogue still sounds uneven, the OSKAR mobile soundbar OSKAR different OSKAR . Instead of just adjusting the overall volume, OSKAR processes OSKAR sound and delivers it exactly where it needs to be heard.

How OSKAR makes OSKAR volume more pleasant

OSKAR the TV audio, highlights speech-relevant parts, and reduces distracting background noise. Because this makes dialogue come through more clearly, you’ll rarely need to turn up the volume just because voices are soft. This reduces the constant need to adjust the volume between quiet conversations and loud scenes.

Optimized sound right at your listening spot

The OSKAR portable TV speaker OSKAR right next to your seat and receives audio wirelessly from a base station connected to the TV. This means the processed audio reaches you from a short distance, regardless of how loud the TV is set for the rest of the room. As a result, the TV audio can be heard more clearly and comfortably from your seat, even if the program has a dynamic mix.