I think some of the issue are that the speakers in flat screen TVs are not great for sound quality and that there are some variations in the sound transmission between mono, stereo and 5.1 surround sound. I know that at the moment with my setup the sound level volume varies when switching from an SD channel to the same broadcast in HD and also between different channels with the same definition.

Martin C

I find it so bad that I have to resort to subtitles in order to follow the plot. And if subtitles are missing then it becomes very difficult. To be fair, I do have hearing issues, but it's noticeable that for example Rob Bell is usually satisfactory whilst Tim ??? is often drowned out by the background so-called music.

As it happens I do like the Morse/Lewis/Endeavor series which tend to use classical music which I quite like, but in general in this series of programmes, I find the background music is usually unobtrusive.

Soaps? Frankly I couldn't care less! Make it as loud as you want!

Historical programmes don't usually interest me so programme errors don't bother me, but one non-historical programme we do like to watch is the Heartbeat serires, and here I find it quite interesting the number of mistakes in regard to telephones, eg pay tone (the beeps that arrived in the 60's with the grey telephone boxes) being used on the Button A & B boxes. Unfortunately, as a telephone technician of that era, I find this particularly grating.

Peter G. Shaw

If they think the background music enhances the "drama" of the moment or improves my view of the background scenery then they are very wrong and like others I sometime just switch off, either the TV of my ears!

Must be a young thing and I am too old for their new style of presentation?

There's not much I can watch on TV now, there's so much noise, it's like an infants school

I'm not exactly sophisticated either

We seem to be going slowly in the direction of TV in the usa

I've noticed the main channels have suddenly started putting oldie stuff on a lot more in the afternoons, probably because they were losing ground to talking pictures

Agree with all of the above, my constant bugbear is indistinct speech, so much mumbling and poor diction. My hearing is not perfect, who's is at 79, I have excellent Bernafon aids but still struggle. I know for certain that is not just me, any 'old' programme will not have such problems. That is not because everybody spoke like royalty either, listen to any old film or tv programme, I love the Carry On films (revel in the non pc) and whatever the accent never miss a word. Modern electronics should make sound quality far superior to the old mikes used in tv and film studios but in the main it is not or is it today's actors, don't they have speech training these days.

Saw someone on the beeb a while ago responding to such complaints, say they go to great trouble to ensure sound quality, don't they actually listen to it afterwards.Listening to something with my 30 year old son a couple of years ago I asked him if he heard what someone had said and the answer was no, I rest my case.

Bill D.

What's 'so called' about a regional, accent. We have to put up with southern accents, and believe you me, some are pretty impenetrable.

However I do agree that in old films the actors spoke much more clearly, probably because they were trained for theatre where they didn't have microphones, whereas now a lot of them mumble to give 'atmosphere'.

I have no TV but I can sympathise due to the ever-increasing use by BBC R4 to add tinkly-squeak "music" or supposedly-relevant sound-effects to speech programmes.

Usually the background aural clutter is quieter than the oral text, but still neeeless, intrusive and distracting. I have though heard instances where it made the speech hard to follow, especially if in a strong British or foreign accent.

This complaint has been aired quite often on Feedback but anyone deigning to be " available for comment " or even just "sending a statement", is usually some media-studies type who cannot understand why we don't want it, and just fobs us off with pseudo-intellectual excuses.

'

(Tee-hee… just had a wonderful thought of one of said media studies types being a regular on here… and hiding his or her guilty blushes by being " unavailable for comment" .)

'

Regarding British accents, I think to be fair the BBC Drama Department has largely moved on from its days of stereotyping by vaguely-regional accent to tell you if the character was the seaman or farmer (Ooh arrgh), military-officer (splendid chaps, wot), army other-ranks or copper (Lunnon, guv), or the factory worker (By 'eck lad), etc.

I've never had a TV but I find that Radio 4 in particular is getting more {so called} music on it

Roy

TV sound was always compromised in the past with the use of the ubiquitous 7 x 4 elliptical on table models and 5" dia in consuls. Picture quality being far more important than sound reproduction.. Since the introduction of Nicam and sound bars, there is no excuse for garbage renditions of noise. Sadly everyone and their dogs in broadcasting seem to have to put their own arty farty interpretations of what we, the great unwashed should appreciate.

Pre S/B concerts etc. lacked a bass content and was rather squarky but now with the improvement we seem to have gone full circle and coupled with the Youf outlook of LOUD IS GOOD for musick, we are expected to accept mumbling "conversations" as the norm.

No matter what the quality or expense of our sound reproduction systems, garbage in = garbage out.

Regards Ian.

Edited By Circlip on 05/11/2021 10:43:14

The music over any speech is really annoying. I find it difficult to differentiate between the two when the music is loud. I never watch tv unless it is a wildlife documentary or F1 these days. What I really find annoying are the Youtube creators who think we need music over everthing especially engineering/modelmaking videos. STOP IT. I/we dont want hear your taste in music.

regards

And what about the (sometimes?) ugly music from the other side when you are in a phone waiting queue?

When the phone was answered I more than once asked the quuestion: “which person (in your company) chooses the music? I never got a proper answer. 😉