Ok... it's not my problem... it's my mom.

She is older and has a hearing problem, more or less she is tone deaf.

The problem (as I understand it):

Modern cable TV signals are embedded with Dolby Pro-Logic sound encoding. Most TVs barf on this signal, so they also send an embedded stereo signal. That signal is the result of the Dolby based signal compressed into a stereo signal and the end result is the dialog gets beaten to death by the music track.

This stereo track is junk... the dialog and details get clobbered by the music, turn up the volume to hear the dialog, and you get beaten to death by the music.

I know this problem, and I know it can be resolved by a good surround sound system, properly installed and configured. This is something I could easily do, except I am 2200 miles away.

Now mom steps in and asks: Can I get a TV that sounds correct, where I can hear the dialog and not be deafened by the music?

So I guess the question is that does a TV exist that decodes Pro Logic and presents, at the very least, dialog and center channel content clearly and without getting killed by the music tracks.

Brands are not an issue here, I am concerned about sound quality.

The other problem, she bought, on my recommendation, a Sony Dream System. It sounded fine to me, but she could not hear dialog. but the thing is, most, hell, all of the cheap shit (you know, modular single box home theater systems that cost $600 and less) do not have the ability to tune the various delays to knock some of these peaks down. My system can do it (Yamaha/Mirage), but I don't see her spending the required $1500.00 in home theater equipment to do it.

Any thoughts will be appreciated, except I am pretty sure I know the answers....

Hey Bogus, does the cable box have a digital out? Fiber optic out?

My mom is having the same problem. My mom's cable does not have a box, she just has RF.

Pick up a cheap pro logic receiver and a nice, cheap set of speakers. You can do it for a few hundred bucks, turn the center speaker up real loud in the config of the receiver.

Here's a $150 receiver.

http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Onkyo- ... rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

two of these:
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Boston ... rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

and a cheap center.
http://www.circuitcity.com/ssm/Bose-C ... rpem/ccd/productDetail.do

So, that is what is happening.
I hate the fact that the music (and especially the commercials) are so damn loud. Then when someone actually talks you can't hear em.

I guess I am old too.

My Sherwood amp will knock any of the sound levels up and down as well as adjustable delays for all 6 speakers. I thought most of them would do that these days.

The Panasonic rear projection TVs i had (1 GAOO and 1 TAU GIGA) both had dolby decoding, the GAOO had 2 speakers built in, but had outputs on the rear for center and 2 rears, where as the TAU GIGA had 3 speakers built in, and outputs for 2 rears.

If the signal coming in is in prologic, all that really is is a matrix stereo mode, its only 2 discrete channels, so as long as the TV has stereo it shouldnt be an issue. If it is, switch it to mono and that will fix it.

Here's a set of speakers, more than you need, for $380.

With the receiver you're in it for $500, not too bad....

Wish my mom would give up her archaic cable so she'd stop bitching about the audio.

My mom's cable isn't that bad. No box, just a coax coming in the wall.

hm... I wonder if switching it to mono would help.

I will suggest it tomorrow. Won't hurt one bit if it does.

Thanks for the tips... I already started the cheap surround sound setup, but she is one stubborn old bird and will fight it tooth and nail.

Bogus, I hate what you are describing. I hate worse the fact that I have to spend $200-$380 just to fix some shit that we had worked out just fine in 1950

I know what you mean... This is where the new tech really does rock, but the added complexity means that simple doesn't do it anymore.

Thanks for the info. This was one of the things that make you go hhhmmmmmmm around my house. At least now I know why.

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My mom says the only shows she can understand are the old movies from the 50s and 60s.

Bogus, Has you mon had her hearing checked? And does she wear a hearing aid ?

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oh, dear God no. the last time I suggested that, she turned into a weaping pile of death, claiming I was trying to destroy her being. I am not kidding.

With that said, a hearing aide is an amplifier, which means it is still amplifying a bad signal.

It is not her Hearing. it is the way the sound track is recorded for Surround sound.

And it sux for regular TV......I really don't want to bother turning all that crap on so I can hear "Dumbledoor". Instead I get him "whispering" for three hours.

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ah, but there is no trouble for me, hit one power button, the cable box (HD DVD), the TV (Visio 37" HD) and the reciever (Yamaha) all come on. Perfect.

Since I retuned the receiver (several years ago) to better fit the rooms acoustics, it flat out rocks. Before, it was muddy and the music was killing it, but once I adjusted the various delays, the dialog is perfect.

I would like to send more music to the front stage speakers, tho... maybe I will play some more.

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Cause they are in mono sound.

right... and that's why I like Casey's idea... I will be calling her tomorrow.

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That's too bad and apparently a lot of people feel the same way and won't have their hearing checked.
I know a lot about hearing loss, it put me into early retirement and cost me my career in electronics.

Hearing aids are way beyond just being an amplifier now. I started out with an analog that was just able to adjust the frequency gains and had a noise filter. The difference in todays digital is mind blowing, speech recoqinition, directional speech detection. acoustic signature switching and enviromental data logging are just part of it. The changes in just the last 3 years are amazing.
There are aids now that are damn near invisable, go up into the canal and can't be seen unless you look directly into the ear from about 2 inches.

Switching to mono helps me. And the crappier the speakers, the better I can understand them.

Ok! The mono setting has helped a bunch!

She is no longer rushing to buy something... this is good, cause now I have time to do research and visit a couple of shops.

Thanks, Casey! Brilliant idea!!!

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Cool. I'll tell my mom.....

No worries mate, glad to help anytime