How to avoid ‘mumblegate’ with the Bose SoundTouch 300

Whether it’s Doctor Who, Jamaica Inn, or, most recently, SS-GB, over the years many TV fans have been infuriated by those shows that haven’t made their actors audible enough for them to understand.

There are a couple of factors that cause this. Firstly in many cases actors and directors are prioritising realism over audible dialogue. Secondly, a lot of shows are making the background audio simply too loud to be able to clearly distinguish the actor’s lines in the first place.

Thankfully a dedicated soundbar like the Bose SoundTouch 300 can do wonders for improving the clarity of the dialogue in the hottest new TV dramas.

Here are five steps you can take to make sure you can hear every syllable in the latest and greatest shows.

Step 1: Use a soundbar

Using a soundbar in the first place is the single biggest step towards improving the audibility of your TV’s dialogue.

Modern flatscreen televisions are great, but in their pursuit of ever-slimmer designs, some pretty significant compromises have to be made on the speaker front.

Good speakers need space, and this is often more than the slim bezels of modern slimline televisions are able to provide.

A soundbar like the Bose SoundTouch 300 dedicates far more space to its speakers, and this pays dividends for the sounds clarity.

Not only will individual lines of dialogue be crisper and clearer, but the improved sound separation will mean that background noise won’t get in the way of an actors lines, in a way that it might do when listened to through a TV’s built-in speakers.

Step 2: Use the right connector

Having the best soundbar in the world isn’t going to matter if you’re not using the right connection to attach it to your television.

Thankfully the Bose SoundTouch 300 supports the two best connectors out there, HDMI and Optical audio.

Both cables have their strengths, which will allow you to get the most out of your soundbar no matter what your setup.

The biggest strength of Optical audio cables is that almost every television supports them, meaning that your older TV will work with the soundbar with no issues.

Meanwhile, HDMI is a more recent standard, but supports Dolby TrueHD and DTS HD Master Audio. If your TV is slightly older then it might not be equipped to handle the connector, but HDMI is certainly the one to go for if you have the option.

Step 3: Position your soundbar correctly

One you’ve got your SoundTouch 300 connected to your TV, you’ll want to make sure it’s positioned correctly.

Try to keep its back close to a rear wall if possible, since this helps with keeping its bass levels nice and full.

However corners can amplify bass a little too much, so be sure not to tuck the soundbar away where the sound has too many walls to bounce off.

Thankfully it’s a lovely looking piece of equipment, so you’re going to want to show it off by placing it in pride of place.

Step 4: Use the soundbar's ADAPTiQ feature

Every room is different, and this means every audio setup should be altered to take this into account.

This can be a complex and arduous process, but the SoundTouch 300 makes it a breeze with its ADAPTiQ functionality.

Simply plug in the included microphone, position it in the centre of your viewing space, and the soundbar will play a number of sounds to allow it to automatically calibrate itself to your room.

So whether you’re listening in a cozy little bedroom or a cavernous living room you’ll be able to enjoy the same crystal clear sound from your TV viewing.

Step 5: Expand your setup with optional extras

The SoundTouch sounds great on its own, but you can boost its performance even further with the addition of a couple of optional extras.

First you’ve got the Acoustimass 300 wireless bass module. This is a subwoofer that connects wirelessly to your soundbar to improve its bass output.

But it won’t just make your bass louder; it will also offer much more clarity for lower frequency sounds, which is handy when the action really jumps up a notch.

The second optional extra you can add to your setup are Bose’s Virtually Invisible 300 wireless surround speakers. These are small speakers that you can mount behind your listening position to improve the surround sound experience.

More sound sources mean that each speaker can concentrate on a smaller selection of audio, which increases its ability to provide nice clear audio.

Conclusion

So there you have it, five easy steps to ensure you never have to sit through another inaudible drama again.

So whether you’re keeping up with big budget action shows, or small scale dramas, give your TV’s audio the boost it deserves with the Bose SoundTouch 300.