7 ways to improve TV sound without a soundbar

Many of the biggest upgrades to TV audio come from treating your room rather than buying expensive speakers or soundbars. Simple changes using items you already own — or can pick up inexpensively — can make a noticeable difference, and your TV may also have overlooked settings that improve audio quality.

Sound waves bounce off hard surfaces like walls, floors, and ceilings, causing echoes, tinny music and dialogue, and generally muddled audio. Filling the room with furniture and decorations made of soft materials helps: cloth, leather and other fabrics absorb sound rather than reflect it.

Couches, rugs, throw pillows, blankets and even canvas art on the walls can all play a role, and a little rearranging can massively improve TV audio for free. If outside noise is the problem, sound-deadening curtains are an affordable way to reduce some of that intrusion.

tv audio, soundbar, sound waves, hard surfaces, echoes, dialogue, furniture, rugs, throw pillows, sound-deadening curtains