The Best Equalizer Settings For Movies
By Robert Jones · 2020-11-24
Watching movies on TV is really exciting but what if the sound
Alright, let's talk about getting your movie sound just right. I've been messing about with equalizers for decades now, and honestly, it's made all the difference to how I enjoy films at home. You can have the best speakers in the world, but if your EQ isn't dialled in, you're really missing out. ### Why Bother With EQ for Movies? Think about it. Movies aren't just dialogue. You've got explosions, quiet whispers, car chases, soaring musical scores – a whole lot of different sounds going on. A flat EQ, or one set up for music, often just doesn't cut it for film. I've lost count of how many times I've been trying to follow a quiet conversation in a film, only for it to be drowned out by the background music or some loud effect. Annoying, that is. What we're trying to do with EQ for movies is create a more immersive experience. We want the dialogue to be clear, the action to have impact, and the overall soundscape to draw you into the story. It's not about making everything louder; it's about making everything *better* balanced. ### Where to Find Your EQ Settings Most modern AV receivers have some form of equaliser built-in. Some are quite basic, just offering bass and treble controls, whilst others give you full parametric EQ across multiple bands. You might also find EQ settings on soundbars, some TVs (though I'd generally advise against using them there, as they can mess with other things), and even media players like Apple TV or certain Blu-ray players. I always recommend starting with your AV receiver if you have one. They usually offer the most full control. If you're running a soundbar, check its app or remote for options. Don't forget to look at your subwoofer's crossover and phase controls too; they're not strictly EQ, but they play a massive part in how your bass integrates with the rest of the sound, and that's key for movies. ### My Go-To Movie EQ Settings (A Starting Point) Now, there's no magic "one size fits all" setting, as every room and speaker setup is different. But I can give you a solid foundation based on years of fiddling about in my own home cinema and workshop. Start with these, then tweak them to your liking. #### The Low Frequencies (Under 100Hz) This is where your explosions and deep rumbles live. For movies, I often give this a bit of a boost, but be careful not to overdo it. Too much, and everything just sounds muddy and boomy. You want impact, not a throbbing headache. * **20-40Hz:** Slight boost, maybe +2dB to +4dB. This gives you that physical rumble you feel. Great for those big action scenes. Don't go mad; you don't want to rattle your house down. * **40-80Hz:** Flat, or a very slight boost, +1dB to +2dB. This provides the punch and body to explosions and deeper male voices. #### The Mid-Range (100Hz - 2000Hz) This is absolutely critical for dialogue clarity. Most human voices sit squarely in this region. If this area is off, you'll struggle to hear what anyone is saying. * **100-250Hz:** Flat to a slight cut, -1dB. Sometimes, a bit too much here can make male voices sound a bit chesty or boomy. Experiment. * **250-1000Hz:** Flat, or a slight boost around +1dB to +2dB if dialogue sounds thin. This range is the heart of most dialogue. * **1000-2000Hz:** Flat, or a slight cut -1dB. Too much here can make things sound a bit