Soundbars are excellent to amplify output you would normally get from your TV or stereo’s sound and finally achieve that quality and clarity of sound you had envisioned. However, if a soundbar meant to help you enjoy movies and concerts better has an echo, what can you do?
The most common reason for a soundbar to produce an echo is because the TV speakers are also on. Indeed, if out of sync, the two listening devices will cause you to hear the sound from different sources with a little delay, producing an echo. Switching off the TV speakers will eliminate the echo. If you still have an echo, your soundbar may be out of phase or require new cabling.
Are you still not sure what the cause of your soundbar producing an echo might be? Find out more below!
Table of Contents
Analyze the Situation: When Does the Echo Happen?
If you have just bought a new soundbar, the first thing you would want to do with it is to try it. And, if you have decided to use it to make your favorite movie or concert sound even better, you are probably making the most out of your investment. However, if you have linked your listening device to the TV, it is common for you to hear an echo.
Expert musicians and sound technicians would have a precise definition of echo to help them differentiate it from a delay or reverberation. However, if you are trying to identify the sound issue you are experiencing, then an echo is a delay in how the sound is reproduced.
This issue happens when two or more speakers are not tuned in. This can happen between two speakers of the same device or between the speakers of two different devices.
If you have noticed that your soundbar does not help to create a clear and powerful sound, but it produces an echo instead—especially when your TV is also on—you could blame the TV speakers. Let’s see what to do!
The Most Common Issue: TV Speaker Interference
As we have seen, the most common issue for soundbar owners to deal with is echo and delays in the sound. Since soundbars are specifically used to increase any home theater system’s quality, this issue might be extremely counterproductive.
Hearing an echo can not only ruin the movie night you had planned but also make you doubt the efficacy and quality of your soundbar.
However, the echo is often due to a simple reason: Both your TV’s and your soundbar’s speakers are on.
And soundbars are one of the best additions to any home theater, and they can definitely help you achieve higher-quality sound when watching TV or listening to music. It is all a matter of setting them up properly! Check out the best solution for this issue below!
Solution: Turn Your TV Speakers Off
As a general rule, when your soundbar is on, your TV speakers should be off. Indeed, your TV speakers might be positioned at the back of the device or away from the soundbar.
Due to this difference and the way the sound is projected, keeping your TV speakers and your soundbar can cause you to hear an echo or delay.
If you are scared that turning them off will cause you not to hear as well or that the quality of the sound will decrease, you can be sure that the TV speakers don’t do much to increase the sound’s quality.
Indeed, these are only the speakers that come with the device and allow you to listen to TV and films without having to invest in another product. Yet, their quality is not comparable to the ones of a high-tech soundbar!
So, once you are ready to start setting up for the best movie night, make sure the TV speakers are off and let your soundbar do the rest!
How to Turn Off Your TV Speakers
As you have seen, if you are using your soundbar, your TV speakers should be set to minimum volume. Ideally, it is recommended to switch them off completely while using other listening and home theater devices.
To regulate their volume and functioning, you should:
- Start by accessing the menu on your smart TV.
- Select the “audio menu” for more settings.
- Regulate the volume of the speakers through your remote control or TV buttons.
- If possible, switch them off entirely (if possible, there should be an option for it) or change the output.
You can check out a brief guide to this process in the video below!
Extra Tip: Set the Audio Output to “Variable”
Once the TV speakers are set up properly, you can now enjoy the soundbar without an echo. However, it can be annoying having to reach over for the device every time you wish to increase or decrease its volume. That’s why I included an extra tip that you might find useful, and it can help you achieve that seamless viewing and listening experience you wished for!
The trick is to head over to the “audio menu” section of your TV or smart TV. Then, click on the “analog audio” settings. On this menu on your TV, you will be able to change the output from the standard-setting to “variable.”
Once you have done so and the TV is connected to the soundbar, you will be able to regulate your device’s audio through the remote controller of your TV. This will help you have full control over your viewing experience.
Soundbar Echo: Other Causes and Solutions
The most common issue affecting a soundbar that produces an echo is the fact that the TV speakers are also on. However, there could also be other mild issues that you can easily solve that might be affecting the sound’s quality.
These include speakers that are out of phase or damaged wiring. Let’s have a look at These issues and possible solutions below.
Speakers That Are Out of Phase
If you are wondering how your soundbar can create that surround sound that makes all of your movies so enjoyable, the answer is the different integrated speakers. Just like most audio systems, soundbars include a right, left, and center channel.
Due to these three systems linked together and synced, you might experience the sound you love so much. Conversely, if they fall out of phase or are not tuned in, you might experience certain delays between a speaker and others.
To determine whether your soundbar’s problem relates to the speakers’ wiring, perform a left and right speakers test. You can also perform a center balance test that allows you to ensure that everything is now in sync.
I also like this phase test (polarity check) video below:
Poor Wiring
In modern soundbars, there are often over five ways to connect it to your TV. HDMI cables are among the most popular options, but analog audio cables and optical digital audio cables are common too.
Independently on what method you have picked to fix your soundbar to your TV, you should always make sure that the wiring is stable and efficient. And, remember, sometimes investing in a new cable to fully enjoy the sound quality produced by your soundbar is a wise choice!
Conclusion
Spending much money on the latest generation soundbar just to find out that it creates an echo when switched on can be frustrating. However, often, what triggers this issue is that the TV speakers are also on.
If you have noticed that your soundbar creates an echo only when connected with a TV, you should immediately access the “audio menu” selection and set your TV speakers to minimum volume. If possible, you should try to turn them off completely!
Also, setting the analog audio settings to “variable” allows you to control the soundbar’s volume through the TV remote.
