My MIL in her 90's is having hearing issues, so the thought is to hang a soundbar under the panel to some power.

As it is, using a Roku stick, the audio level is terrible, and I'm hoping a soundbar will get her some additional volume.

It's a newer LG "smart" TV, with the worst remote known to man. I got one of my old MX900's set up for her so she can go direct to Antenna, or Roku with ease.

Now we just need more volume. Lot's of volume...

Opinions on a budget friendly bar?

Since bad hearing is involved, you need to look at soundbars that address those issues specifically.

The most popular of these is the ZVOX soundbars. They sound like crap to anyone with normal hearing. But the few that I have installed, the customer (with hearing problems) love them. And say they sound great to them, because they can actually hear the words now.

They seem to have a good price on their AV357 right now. For $135, free shipping, and 60 day return window - can't hurt to try it.
[Link: zvox.com]

Brad's spot on. I set up a sound system for a friend's mother, and was able to have the mother sit in the room and tell me what she wanted to hear as I adjusted the bass and treble controls. It was not flat, to say the least, but it allowed her to hear her programs.

I had a client call and say his soundbar stopped working. At the service call I could hear his soundbar in the parking lot of his apartment building. The sound bar was fine. His hearing wasn’t. I don’t know what your situation is like but hearing aids might be the solution vs a louder sound bar.

If you’re set on getting a sound bar there’s a used focal+sub on eBay right now for $650. It has ARC and sounds great.

Mac,

Her hearing aid doesn't work so well most of the time, even if it is turned on....LOL


The real problem is rear firing TV speakers. if the speakers fired forward it would help.

And then there's the issue with the low output, and non adjustable level, from a Roku stick.

There is also the issue of users not wanting to wear their hearing aid. We had that issue with my father. "Don't shout, I can hear you" (not). His comfortable TV sound level was not so comfortable for the rest of us. Fortunately, I was not living with him.

Are Bluetooth headphones an option? My father has Bluetooth hearing aids that come with this little TV audio transmitter device (for non-Bluetooth TVs), but sometimes prefers to use headphones to listen to TV.

Almost anything will be better than today’s built-in speakers. While I’m between homes I’m using this old higher-end JVC micro system with “wood cone” speakers that kinda sat unused for a decade, and damn if it doesn’t sound pretty good for what it is. It also does a hell of a job pumping out bass for speakers the size of a coaster.

I’ve also been shocked by how good a mid-range pair of recent Creative Bluetooth stereo speakers I got for a retro PC sound, so perhaps their soundbars might be decent.

There are bluetooth hearing aids that can pair directly to the TV.  I believe this is the best option.

I bought some really nice Sennheisers for my FIL, and they worked. For him.

Sad to say she will not use them.


Got a soundbar on the way, and will program a remote to operate it all. The Roku remote doesn't get used, and that joke LG SMART remote is going into a dark drawer....

Might be. Not sure hers has bluetooth, but regardless, she doesn't use it most of the time anyway...

As well as the fact that poor hearing is not linearly poor.

A cheap stereo sound bar will work the best. Myself, I am slowly losing my hearing. I have Meniere's disease, which means I randomly go through bouts of tinnitus and about 80% hearing loss. That might last a day or two, or it might last a month Currently, I'm about 60% in my right ear permanently.

Take it from me that any kind of surround sound or other noises in the room only makes it worse. The headphones are the best option. I use mine all the time. Problem is getting older people to use them.