How to Fix Low Audio on an LG Smart TV

Authored by: Support.com Tech Pro Team

1. Introduction

Today's modern Smart Television from LG does an amazing job and producing clear, life-like pictures, but not being able to hear the music or dialog leaves you with only half the experience.

This guide will help you through problems you may have with the volume on your favorite media, and what your LG Smart TV can do to help.

2. Adjust Volume

Try pressing the volume up key on your remote to make the program louder, first.

Older LG remote with Volume Up key highlighted.

Newer LG remote with Volume Up key highlighted.

3. Audio Encoding Note

Audio on Blu-Ray disks can be quite complex. Providing very clear, multi-channel audio tracks designed to be played on high-end home theater systems.

First, look on the box for your Blu-Ray disk. In many cases, it will list the type of surround sound the movie is encoded in.

There is often a symbol showing how many speakers the audio track was designed to be played back on. Each shows a basic representation of how the audio was encoded.

2.1 AudioThis type of audio is encoded for a left and right speaker, and sometimes a subwoofer. This is the configuration provided by the stereo speakers on your television.

5.1 SurroundThis means the audio is encoded for 5 speakers; left front, center, right front, back left, and back right, as well as a subwoofer for base.

7.1 SurroundThis is encoded much like the 5.1 surround audio, but with the addition of a center left, and center right channels for an even richer immersive expirience.

Your television has 2 speakers. In many cases, that means it only plays the front left and front right channels. Many movies encode the dialog, people talking, on the center channel, which does not have a speaker to play on.

If you are just using the speakers on your television, it is recommended to check the Blu-Ray menus, before you start watching, for audio options; sometimes the manufacturer will have a 2-channel audio track available so your program will sound better on the equipment you have available.

Every Blu-Ray disk has a different menu with different features, and every Blu-Ray player has a different way of accessing those menus. If you are unsure how to access the audio options menu for the specific disk you are using, check the user manual or contact the manufacturer for more information.

4. Determine Platform

We must determine which platform is loaded on your LG Smart TV before beginning. Newer TVs released after 2014 will have webOS. Older models released between 2011 and 2015 will have NetCast. See the images below to help tell the difference.

Using webOS

Using Netcast

5. Sound Settings

Push the Home button on your remote.

Select the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner.

Home menu overlay inset with settings highlighted.

Select All Settings at the bottom right.

Settings overlay inset with All Settings highlighted.

Select Sound.

Select Sound Mode, then select Standard or Clear Voice to see which sounds best to you.

Sound Mode Settings with Standard and Clear Voice highlighted.

Select Volume Mode and turn on Auto Volume to try to regulate and increase and decrease the volume automatically.

Volume Mode with auto volume on highlighted.

6. What's next?

7. Sound Settings

Push the Settings button on your remote.

Remote with settings button highlighted.

Select Audio.

Set Auto Volume to On to help regulate the volume of programs. Set Sound Mode to Standard to make sure nothing could be lowering parts of the audio you wish to hear.