For those with hearing loss, the best soundbars aren’t just about volume—they’re about clarity. Let’s be real: if you’re hard of hearing, TV time often feels like a battle between “I need this louder” and “Stop blasting the volume!” But what if you could hear crisp dialogue without annoying your family? After testing top models and digging into reviews from the hearing loss community, here’s the scoop on soundbars that prioritize clarity over chaos.
After analyzing feedback from the hard-of-hearing community, we’ve identified the ZVOX Dialogue Clarifying Sound Bar and Bose Smart Soundbar 300 as standouts for their voice-boosting tech, seamless hearing aid compatibility, and customizable sound profiles. Below, we break down why these devices excel and how to choose the right one for your needs.
Top Picks
(FYI: Not all soundbars are created equal!)
🥇 ZVOX Dialogue Clarifying Sound Bar
Why it’s #1:
- Patented AccuVoice Tech boosts voices (12 levels!) while muting background noise.
- One-cable setup—no engineering degree required.
- Tiny but mighty: perfect for small spaces.
“I noticed right away that I could clearly hear the dialogue, even without my hearing aids in. ” – See Detail Report
🥈 Bose Smart Soundbar 300
Why audiophiles love it:
- Dialogue Mode sharpens speech like a knife.
- Pairs with Bose hearing aids & Alexa.
- Sleek design that won’t clash with your décor.
“I’m hard of hearing and this helped me out…Very rich sound. ” – See Detail Report
Honorable Mentions
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2): App-controlled speech enhancement (no remote juggling!). See Detail Report
- VIZIO 29” Sound Bar: Blasts 95dB clarity up to 9 feet away. See Detail Report
- Pyle Bluetooth Soundbar: Budget-friendly bass boost for action flicks. See Detail Report
Why a Soundbar?
Problem: Your flat-screen TV’s speakers are weaker than a whisper.
Solution: A soundbar amplifies voices without turning explosions into ear-splitting chaos.
Key Features for Hearing Loss:
- Voice Boost: Isolate dialogue from background music/noise.
- Bluetooth/Telecoil: Stream audio directly to hearing aids.
- Wireless Placement: Put it near your couch, not just under the TV.
Pro Tip: If closed captions feel like homework, a good soundbar is your cheat sheet.
“But Wait… What About Headsets?”
Headsets (or streaming to hearing aids) are great for solo viewing. But for family movie nights? A soundbar keeps peace in the house. Plus, you won’t miss the conversations inbetween commercials and video pauses with others “Did you hear that?!”
FAQs: What You’re Really Wondering
Q: Can I connect my hearing aids to a soundbar?
A: Yes! Look for Bluetooth compatibility (but also check your hearing aid’s Bluetooth feature for making the Bluetooth connection).
Q: Do I need an audiologist to set this up?
A: Nope—most are plug-and-play. Your hearing aids or cochlear implants should work by itself.
Q: Will this fix my TV’s garbage audio?
A: Sort of. A soundbar enhances what’s there. If your TV sounds like garbage, realize you will hear more of the same. So manage your expectations.
The Bottom Line
You don’t need a new TV or a PhD in remote controls. A solid soundbar can turn muffled dialogue into crystal-clear conversation—so you can finally enjoy The Crown without crowning your volume button.
Still unsure? Ask your audiologist about telecoil options or test one with a generous return policy. Your ears (and family) will thank you.
What is a Soundbar?
A soundbar is an external speaker that amplifies or makes the sound from the TV louder or clearer for listening. It can also act like a TV speaker for the hard of hearing when your TV alone makes it difficult to hear.
As television manufacturers developed flat-screen devices, they were made to be thinner. However, the audio components of these devices had to shrink to fit. The microphones and the sounds coming out of them are now noticeably reduced. The smaller your TV, the less sound is projected from it.
When closed captioning is not preferred
A soundbar is an excellent option if we do not want to deal with closed captioning. Perhaps you are in a situation where not all streaming content or cable shows will have the captioning you need. Owning a soundbar will allow you to get better audio from your TV.
External speakers TV for hearing impaired
The other benefit of soundbars is that they can be placed anywhere in the room and act like a wireless speaker for hard of hearing. While a soundbar is typically situated under or by the TV, a wireless soundbar can be placed anywhere around the room. So, for example, you could have a soundbar close enough to where you are sitting, and your hearing aid will be able to pick up sounds from the soundbar.
In addition, if your hearing aid has an app, you may be able to control the sound from your hearing aid and absorb the sound from the soundbar by focusing on background noise.
Buying another new TV is out of the question.
You could have chosen the best TV for hearing impaired. But if you are happy with the TV you have not, you may not want to buy another TV. The soundbar acts like a TV speaker for hard of hearing.
Yet, to get the best TV sound for the hard of hearing, you still need to buy another device. So, look at the cost and consider whether it is worth buying a new TV or soundbar.
Why use a soundbar?
Keep the volume in the room reasonable.
Soundbars are best suited for people who are hard of hearing. These TV speakers for the hearing impaired will provide the added boost of sound to hear from the television without sitting too close to the TV. We shouldn’t have to turn up the volume too loud to annoy our family or roommates who are hearing.
It isn’t the volume that’s the concern; it is clarity.
Making sound loud may not bring the clarity you need. That’s why the best soundbar for dialogue will help clarify the speech.
There are other options instead.
Another option if the soundbar is not interesting to you is using a headset or streaming audio to your hearing aids or cochlear implants, using some type of hearing impaired TV speakers which use telecoil connectivity or Bluetooth. This allows you to have the sound directly into your ears without any background noise.
Plus, soundbars may not provide amplification, depending on the size of the room. In addition, you’ll have the flexibility to choose your own volume without negotiating with others in the house.
First, your TV audio needs to be reasonably good because soundbars do not replace poor audio. The soundbar’s only capability is to enhance the audio available from the TV. Soundbars provide the best wireless speakers for hearing impaired people only if the TV speaker is of good quality.
If there’s garbage in, garbage will be out. Without the quality sound from the TV, the soundbar cannot fix it.
Reviewing five brands – Best soundbar for hard of hearing
This post contains affiliate links, meaning Lisnen earns a small commission if you purchase from these links. Please read the disclosure for more details.
I will share five different brands of soundbars used by people with hearing loss. In addition, I’ve gathered insights and comments from the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities online and reviews from people with hearing loss to help you find the best TV speakers for hard of hearing for you. Note these can also be the best soundbar for seniors as well.
Pyle 3D Surround Bluetooth Soundbar
The Pyle soundbar offers good audio for your money. The brand may not be a household name. Still, the functionality and sound quality make this a favourite for people with hearing loss. Even though this device is quite large, many people compare this product’s performance to that of top brand names like Bose.
Key Features
- Uses Bluetooth connectivity, USB and other standard wire connections
- Links up to smartphones, desktop computers, Alexa and other Bluetooth-enabled devices
- Includes an FM radio
- Comes with a remote control with features to adjust the audio, like increasing bass sounds
Pros
Cons
ZVOX Dialogue Clarifying Sound Bar
No matter what your hearing loss, if you have mild or severe hearing loss, this speaker was designed to focus on voice and help you better hear the TV. Amplifying sounds sometimes doesn’t give you the clarity you need. ZVOX provides a small and lightweight design that offers enough sound boost without turning up the volume.
Key Features
- Connects to TV with one wire
- Easy installation
- Setting features to boost voice clarity.
- Remote control
Pros
Cons
Vizio
Vizio matches the length of a 36″ TV screen, and with this size device, you can get good hearing within the range of 10 feet away from this soundbar. In addition, the base gives a nice vibration feel. Overall, many people with hearing loss talked about how this device can provide a clear dialogue when watching movies or TV shows.
Key Features
- Projects sound as high as 96 dB
- Battery operated with Bluetooth connection to be 100% wireless
- Remote control features allow adjusting the bass and treble
- Option to connect to other devices other than TV
ZVOX Dialogue Clarifying Sound Bar
No matter what your hearing loss, if you have a mild or severe hearing loss, this speaker was designed to focus on voice and help you better hear the TV. Amplifying sounds sometimes don’t give you the clarity you need. ZVOX provides a small and lightweight design that offers enough sound boost without turning up the volume.
Pros
Cons
Bose
Bose is a higher-end speaker and a favourite among all the audiophiles. It can do more than amplify your TV’s sounds but provide extra volume with other smart devices or speakers like Alexa or Echo. In addition, the attractive design makes it easy to fit right into the home.
Key Features
- Connect with other Bose devices, speakers, headsets, hearing aids
- App provides more Dialogue Mode features to provide clarity to voices
- One connection between tv and soundbar via Bluetooth and WiFi connectivity
- Remote control option as well
Pros
Cons
Sonos
Sonos is a brand with a compact design speaker that many find appealing. Using your smartphone to control your Sonos soundbar, this device will allow you to skip having another remote. In addition, the app settings will enable you to benefit from the speech enhancement feature.
Key Features
- WiFi connection only. No Bluetooth option.
- Only need to use the TV remote control. All setup occurs on an app.
- The setting includes a speech enhancement feature.
- Simple setup, but customer service can remotely connect for troubleshooting.
Pros
Cons
ZVOX Dialogue Clarifying Sound Bar
No matter what your hearing loss, if you have a mild or severe hearing loss, this speaker was designed to focus on voice and help you better hear the TV. Amplifying sounds sometimes don’t give you the clarity you need. ZVOX provides a small and lightweight design that offers enough sound boost without turning up the volume.
Key Features
- Uses Bluetooth connectivity, USB and other standard wire connections
- Links up to smartphones, desktop computers, Alexa and other Bluetooth-enabled devices
- Includes an FM radio
- Comes with a remote control with features to adjust the audio, like increasing bass sounds
Pros
Cons
ZVOX Dialogue Clarifying Sound Bar
No matter what your hearing loss, if you have a mild or severe hearing loss, this speaker was designed to focus on voice and help you better hear the TV. Amplifying sounds sometimes don’t give you the clarity you need. ZVOX provides a small and lightweight design that offers enough sound boost without turning up the volume.
Key Features
- Uses Bluetooth connectivity, USB and other standard wire connections
- Links up to smartphones, desktop computers, Alexa and other Bluetooth-enabled devices
- Includes an FM radio
- Comes with a remote control with features to adjust the audio, like increasing bass sounds
Pros
Cons