Why is Netflix so quiet, and how do I hear the dialogue?
Films and series are mixed with a wide range between quiet dialogue and loud action, which laptop speakers struggle to reproduce. In Chrome, Loudness boosts the Netflix tab past 100%, its Voice switch brings dialogue forward, and its limiter keeps the loud scenes from blasting or crackling.
Set this page’s volume to 220%
Press play, then drag past 100%.
Try Voice in the popup below to hear dialogue come forward.
Best with headphones. Drag the fader, or use the arrow keys.
Why films sound quiet at home
Cinema mixes leave a lot of room between a whisper and an explosion. On big speakers that’s thrilling. On a laptop, turning the dialogue up to a comfortable level makes the action painfully loud.
Many films are also mixed for several speakers, with dialogue in the centre channel. Played on two small speakers, voices can sit underneath the music and effects.
How to make Netflix easier to hear
- Watch Netflix in Chrome and click the Loudness icon on its tab.
- Turn the tab up until the dialogue is comfortable, usually 150% to 250%.
- Turn on Voice to lift speech above music and effects.
- Leave the limiter on, so loud scenes are held down instead of blasting.
Enhance
Playing now 2
- N Lecture 7: Room Acousticslearn.northvale.edu 250%
- S The Slow Hours, Ep. 41slowhours.fm 80%
Worth knowing
- Netflix’s own volume is in the player, at the bottom of the video.
- While a tab is boosted, Chrome may keep fullscreen video inside the window. Press F11 (⌃⌘F on a Mac) to fill the screen.
- Set the tab back to 100% and Loudness hands the sound back to Chrome.