Arc Ultra is the first soundbar from Sonos to gain a new and improved Speech Enhancement feature, where AI is used to identify and extract voices from the audio track.
Viewers complain that dialogue in movies and series is often difficult to hear.
The challenge is compounded by the fact that especially the older generation often suffers from various levels of hearing loss. Sonos points to data from the UK showing that more than half of all adults over 50 have some form of hearing loss.
Four speech enhancement modes
The new feature from Sonos allows the user to choose between four levels of dialogue clarity on the Arc Ultra soundbar. The Max setting is intended for viewers with hearing loss.
- "By implementing machine learning into our speech extraction technology, we figured out how to separate dialogue from other sounds in the center channel and clarify speech in real time," said Harry Jones, Sound Experience Engineer at Sonos. "This lets us draw out just the dialogue at the most needed times, without overly impacting volume or taking away from the holistic cinematic experience."
Rolling out today
The improved Speech Enhancement feature, which can be controlled via the Sonos app, is rolling out starting today via a software update to Sonos Arc Ultra. The company did not comment on plans for other soundbars.
Also read: Review: Sonos Arc Ultra
The feature has been developed in collaboration with the UK’s RNID (Royal National Institute for Deaf People) and film sound mixer Chris Jenkins.
The launch from Sonos is part of a new wave of AI-based voice features being introduced in TVs from brands like Sony and Samsung, in media players such as the Apple TV 4K, or directly on the soundbar. These functions differ from traditional speech enhancement in AV receivers and soundbars, where the frequency range of voices is simply boosted – an approach that often leads to undesirable side effects.
Speech Enhancement from Sonos
| The four levels, in Sonos' own words:
- Low: A subtle, artistic nudge that emphasizes dialogue while maintaining the original experience and creator intent.
- Medium: A medium enhancement that provides better dialogue clarity and a tasteful balance of the surrounding mix elements.
- High: A higher setting that makes dialogue obviously prominent while reducing other mix elements.
- Max: The most pronounced setting where dialogue clarity takes full priority, designed for those with hearing loss. Unlike the more balanced approach of Low, Medium and High levels, Max level further controls the dynamic range of non-speech elements, placing dialogue firmly at the forefront of the experience. |
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