Help - Need a music = "OFF" filtering device.

[mikefike]

Help please
- I would like in purchase a device that I could hook up to my TV that would allow me to "filter out" all music from movies and TV. I am having a hard time understanding dialogue when it is being overpowered by music - in movies especially.
Does anyone know if such a device exists and what it might be?
I'm sure there is a huge market for it from talking to other folks who would prefer movies without the music (Franky I'm surprised that DVD options don't include a "music off" set up feature!). Thanks in advance for your help!

[akirby]

If you're not using surround sound, go get a surround sound receiver and speakers. Even in Pro Logic II mode you should only get dialogue out of the center channel and most definitely with 5.1/6.1/7.1 surround modes. Turn up the center channel volume and turn down the front left and right volume.

I don't know of any other technology that would work in non-surround stereo mode except maybe an equalizer.

[mikefike]

Thank you. I didn't know that about the center channel. I have an HDTV with Surroundsound, but I doubt that it's "true" surround as it has no external speakers. I'll go out tonight and look as some surround sound systems that are 5.1 or better that do have center speakers and give it a listen. Thanks again..Mike

[akirby]

I've always liked Yamaha and Denon but Sony, Onkyo and Pioneer are usually cheaper if you're trying to save money.

I wouldn't consider any satellite speakers. At least get bookshelf sized speakers - they sound so much better than the little satellites.

[catbird777]

akirby's recommendation is the solution but until then you can try the option of pulling up the TV menu, select audio, and turn off the surround sound. You'll still have regular sound and the music will now be in normal background format. I have a full external surround sound system and tried to include the TV surround with it and had the same problem you described. I turned off the TV surround and solved the problem. I suspect that the TV system is of minimal quality and not calibrated to most broadcasts.

[regman]

Another aspect of this is the that the center channel is the most important, sonically speaking, and where you should make your greatest investment. Most new A/V receivers have a "nightime" mode to turn down the surrounds and enhance the center dialog channel (so you won't wake your wife up -and in the process hear far less music. explosions, etc.).

Recalibrating the entire surround system is another alternative you may wish to consider.

This, assuming of course, that you are going to invest in a decent sound system. There are just too many physical limitations with what you can do with the built in speakers anyway.

[Richard]

I have an HDTV with Surroundsound, but I doubt that it's "true" surround as it has no external speakers.

It isn't. It uses audio processing to create a pseudo and clearly fake surround that nearly always does what you experienced - makes dialog difficult to understand. As suggested, turn it off.

For our upstairs system we run it in stereo with an external PC speaker setup connected to the TV audio out connection and the TV does the A/V switching. It may not be surround but it works like a charm and sounds very nice!