I’ve always wondered if the acoustics of a room play a bigger role than we think. In my living room, high ceilings and hardwood floors seem to bounce sound everywhere, and I swear the TV’s mic gets confused when I’m not sitting right in front of it. Retraining it with background noise helped a little, but the dishwasher throws it off every time—maybe something about the pitch or rhythm?
I poked around in the audio settings after reading about noise reduction features, but mine just had a basic “voice clarity” toggle. Flipped it on, didn’t notice much difference. Maybe newer models have smarter filtering baked in.
Funny thing, I find myself talking to the TV like it’s a stubborn pet—slow, clear commands, sometimes repeating myself with weirdly exaggerated enunciation. My partner laughs at me for it. But honestly, when it finally gets it right, there’s this tiny sense of accomplishment... which is kind of ridiculous when you think about it.
Has anyone tried moving their TV or even just repositioning where they give commands from? I’m half-convinced that standing in the kitchen doorway works better than sitting on the couch. Maybe that’s just my imagination—or maybe the angle matters more than I realize.
ANYONE ELSE FEEL AWKWARD TALKING TO THEIR TV?
- I’ve tried moving around the room, but honestly, I think my TV just hates my voice.
- Not convinced the angle matters much—mine seems to ignore me equally from every direction.
- Hardwood floors definitely don’t help. I tossed a cheap rug down and it seemed to cut the echo a bit, but not a miracle fix.
- I refuse to buy a newer model just for “smarter” mics... feels like a trap.
- Still, yelling at the TV from the kitchen is now my cardio.
Still, yelling at the TV from the kitchen is now my cardio.
Haha, I feel this so much. When we moved in, I was convinced the open floor plan would be a dream... until I realized my voice just bounces around like a lost balloon. Tried the rug trick too—helped a bit, but yeah, not magic. Honestly, half the time I end up using the remote anyway. At least you’re getting your steps in—silver linings, right?
Open Floor Plan Echo Chamber
Not sure I totally agree about the rugs—when we moved into our place, I thought a couple area rugs would fix the echo, but honestly, it still sounds like I’m yelling into a canyon. I actually started using those foam wall panels (the kind you see in recording studios) in a few spots. Looks a little goofy, but it’s helped. I kinda miss having actual walls sometimes... but yeah, cardio from yelling is a plus, I guess.
I thought a couple area rugs would fix the echo, but honestly, it still sounds like I’m yelling into a canyon.
I hear you on the rugs not cutting it. Honestly, I think a lot of folks underestimate just how much sound bounces around in these open layouts. Rugs help a bit, but unless you’re layering them or going wall-to-wall, they’re not a silver bullet. What’s worked for me is breaking up the space with bookshelves or even tall plants—anything that interrupts those big, flat surfaces. It’s not quite the same as having real walls, but it can make a noticeable difference.
Those foam panels are a solid move, even if they look a bit out of place. If you want something less obvious, there are some fabric-wrapped acoustic panels that blend in better with regular decor (not cheap, but effective). Or try hanging heavy curtains—even if you don’t have windows everywhere, just putting them up on a blank wall can absorb a surprising amount of sound.
It’s funny how these modern designs look great in photos but come with all these weird little trade-offs...
