Electronics

[glb613]

Have you paired a Bluetooth speaker to a Smart TV?  I have hearing loss in my right ear which is in the voice frequency.  Hearing the dialogue with TV shows is becoming more and more difficult.  I don't want to be like my mother was and have the TV volume up into the deafening mode.  I'm thinking about pairing a Bluetooth speaker with my TV so I have it closer to me when I watch a program.  I have a Sony XBR-49X800D which has built in Bluetooth.  Before I go out and buy a Bluetooth speaker, I'd like to hear from someone who has done it and if it helps.  Thanks.  

[Lilysmom]

@glb613 , I have never done it...could it be this easy? ...LM

Pair Bluetooth Sound Devices. ... Navigate to Settings using the directional pad on your remote, and then select Sound. Next, select Sound Output, and select SpeakerList or Bluetooth Audio, depending on your TV model. Select the Bluetooth audio device that you would like to connect to your TV.

[glb613]

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@Lilysmom wrote:

@glb613 , I have never done it...could it be this easy? ...LM

Pair Bluetooth Sound Devices. ... Navigate to Settings using the directional pad on your remote, and then select Sound. Next, select Sound Output, and select SpeakerList or Bluetooth Audio, depending on your TV model. Select the Bluetooth audio device that you would like to connect to your TV.

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My Bose Soundlink won't pair.  I wouldn't be surprised to find out it's too old. I read online somewhere there is a dialog speaker you can use to hear the spoken word better.  Before I buy anything I have to return, I want to know if having a speaker next to your chair or couch makes it easier to hear what is said.  

[Mz iMac]

@glb613 

Have you looked into bluetooth earplugs?

[glb613]

I don't want earplugs or headphones.  Thanks anyway. 

[gardenman]

I haven't done it. I have paired ear buds using bluetooth, but never a bluetooth speaker. I think putting a speaker by you is pretty smart. You will lose localization so you might want to go with mono sound instead of stereo. I'm generally pretty happy with the sound volume out of my TV's, but I know a lot of people aren't. 

[glb613]

I don't think it can be done. The bluetooth device needs to be a certain type, according to the owner's manual, and most of the compatible devices are ear buds or head phones.  What I did find is a voice enhanced sound bar.  It's called "ZVOX AccuVoice AV200 Sound Bar TV Speaker with Hearing Aid Technology" and you can buy it online or at BB.  Since I also wanted to use the bluetooth speaker with my notebook computer, I may buy one for that reason alone.  Thanks for your reply. 

[gardenman]

Dialog is mostly handled by the center channel of a surround sound system, so you could try buying a cheaper surround sound system and just connecting the center channel speaker. Modern surround sound systems are typically 5.1 or 7.1/7.2 systems with five or seven main speakers (the 5 or 7 of 5.1/7.1) and one or two subwoofers (the .1 and .2). A single speaker wire from the receiver to the speaker isn't terribly hard to hide under a throw rug or something and you could then put the center channel speaker right by your bad ear. Cheaper surround sound systems can be had for $150 and up these days, and you can often find used stuff at Goodwill or similar stores for even less. Most surround sound systems also let you adjust the balance between speakers, so you could connect everything, but favor the center channel, so that one, which has the dialogue, is louder. It's something else to consider.