Sometimes, it feels like producers of movies and shows intentionally make their dialogue as quiet as possible. And if you’re missing important information thanks to your TV’s subpar speakers, it may be time for an upgrade. There are plenty of clever solutions out there that can make your TV sound better, but buying a soundbar designed to improve vocals is a sure-fire fix.
Many brands offer soundbars that come with a dedicated speech mode, though some do it better than others. One company that really stands out is Zvox — it specializes in dialogue, and most of its products have at least one voice enhancement mode (and some as many as 12). Competitor Polk is also notable for its excellent VoiceAdjust feature, while Yamaha makes an affordable soundbar with similar options, too.
Read more: Best Home Theater Systems of 2022
A soundbar can cost a lot less than some other home theater systems, but can have just as much impact on improving your TV’s sound. Whether you’re looking for a budget speaker or something a little more premium, these are the best speakers for making your TV more understandable.
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If you’re looking for a soundbar which offers plenty of bass as well as crisp dialogue without using a subwoofer, then the Zvox SB500 is a great buy. Even better, the company has added more levels of sound enhancement since I reviewed the SB500, which should make it even easier to dial in the dialogue the way you want it.
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The Zvox AV357 may not have many features as the larger SB500, but it is an excellent performer nonetheless. The speaker comes in a wood-grain veneer, and the remote control is friendly. If you want to connect more than just a TV though — like a phone via Bluetooth — the other options listed here are better for that.
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The Polk React is a follow-up to the Command Bar — the first soundbar that had Amazon Alexa on board — and it offers an excellent mix of features and performance. Polk’s VoiceAdjust is one of the better dialogue enhancement systems, and it’s put to good use on this speaker.
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The Zvox soundbars are great, but they lack HDMI connectivity. The compact Yamaha SR-C20A not only offers the ease of HDMI ARC hookup — which is found on most newer TVs — but also has a dedicated Clear Voice mode to make dialogue a little easier to understand. It’s also the least-expensive option on this list.
