It was better than I expected.

I think I've only caught parts of it on TV... I remember a pretty cool blood soaked fight scene, maybe in the rain... Was pretty bad ass, so to speak...

Subtitles vs hearing loss.

That is the choice, so I use subtitles. Like many modern movies, this one features the "very soft speaking at low volume technique" alternating with the "sudden loud noises and background music" technique.

So in order to hear the quiet speakers' voices well enough to discern the dialogue, the viewer must raise the volume on the TV set quite a bit. Sometimes the volume of the soft voices is loud enough to understand, but other times the TV volume must be raised so the viewer can hear what is said.

Later there is a fight scene which has very loud cries, background music, sound effects, and so on. Since the volume was already set high to hear the soft voices, the fight scene sounds are loud enough now to hurt the ears.

This causes viewers to sometimes say things like "Goddammit!" while searching for the remote in order to lower the volume to a safe hearing level.

@write2topcat said:

Subtitles vs hearing loss.

That is the choice, so I use subtitles. Like many modern movies, this one features the "very soft speaking at low volume technique" alternating with the "sudden loud noises and background music" technique.

So in order to hear the quiet speakers' voices well enough to discern the dialogue, the viewer must raise the volume on the TV set quite a bit. Sometimes the volume of the soft voices is loud enough to understand, but other times the TV volume must be raised so the viewer can hear what is said.

Later there is a fight scene which has very loud cries, background music, sound effects, and so on. Since the volume was already set high to hear the soft voices, the fight scene sounds are loud enough now to hurt the ears.

This causes viewers to sometimes say things like "Goddammit!" while searching for the remote in order to lower the volume to a safe hearing level.

Theres a fix for that. Its called a soundbar. Huge difference and no need to turn the volume up or down. You welcome.

Cool. OK, so how does that work? Obviously it isn't simply extra speakers. You're saying there is a way to select for dampening background noise and bringing out the dialogue better, something like that?

Any tips or information you can provide are greatly appreciated. And thanks for the advice.

@write2topcat said:

Cool. OK, so how does that work? Obviously it isn't simply extra speakers. You're saying there is a way to select for dampening background noise and bringing out the dialogue better, something like that?

Any tips or information you can provide are greatly appreciated. And thanks for the advice.

I bought a Bose SoundTouch 300 for my Sony x900e and I didnt have to touch a thing. Its able to bring out the lower dialogue to the front and dampen/redirect the background noise. Its not a surround sound system since you need the Bose Surround Speakers and the subwoofer to go with it for a full 'experience' but if you just want to be able to hear the dialogue than the Soundbar alone will do you well. Its expensive but worth it. I also think Sony makes some cheaper alternatives. Ill never go back to watching TV/films without one.

@write2topcat said:

Cool. OK, so how does that work?

Most TVs have fairly pathetic speakers as they're too slim to fit anything with a decent range in there, so a soundbar or surround system will greatly improve the sound anyway.

Also, dialogue tends to be on the (front) centre channel. Most soundbars or surround systems have the ability to alter levels either manually or with a built-in "Clear Voice" or similar setting that promotes the centre channel. Mme LeMarchand has poor hearing and finds it helps; I turn it off when it's just me as I don't like to sacrifice the "other" sound.

Obviously, the more you pay, the better the sound (generally). A cheap bar will still have larger speakers than your set could accommodate, and will likely be an improvement. Paying more will net you better sound, possibly some audio trickery to simulate more speakers, and a subwoofer for bass (mine is wireless).