Your speaker might already be loud, but is it truly giving you its best performance? Most soundbars and home theater systems come with built-in sound modes like Movie, Music, Game, and Voice. Each of these is designed to highlight certain audio features for different experiences.

Do not just leave it on “Standard” and forget about it. Switch to Movie mode when watching Netflix or Prime Video, use Music mode when you are playing your favourite music, and pick Voice mode when watching the news or dialogue-heavy shows.

Techmall Tip:
Some speaker models allow you to manually adjust the bass and treble. If the bass feels too heavy and is shaking your ceiling, dial it down a bit. If voices sound too soft or muffled, increase the treble or voice enhancement. You are in full control—tune it the way you like it.

Even the best speaker in the world cannot work magic if the sound source is poor. If you are playing music from low-quality files or watching old, scratched DVDs, do not expect top-tier sound. Your audio system can only perform as well as the content you give it.

Try to use high-quality sources like Blu-ray discs, HD movie downloads, Spotify Premium, Apple Music, or other streaming platforms that support good sound. If you are watching YouTube videos, pick ones with at least 720p or 1080p resolution—the audio quality usually improves with the video.

Techmall Tip:
Whenever you can, download your songs or movies in high quality. Stay away from over-compressed MP3 files or pirated movies from random websites. They might save data, but they will kill your sound. Better audio sources always give better results.

Sometimes the issue is not your speaker, it is that cheap cable you picked up from the junction shop for ₦500. Bad or low-quality cables can mess up your sound, reduce clarity, or even cause the audio to cut in and out like NEPA light during the rainy season. If you want your speakers to perform well, then you need to feed them well, with the right connections.

Go for HDMI ARC, optical cables, or good-quality RCA connections if your speaker supports them. Yes, Bluetooth is okay when you do not want wire stress, but truth be told, wired connections still give stronger and more consistent sound.

Techmall Tip:
If your TV and speaker both support HDMI ARC, that is your best bet. It gives you better audio, lets them ‘talk’ to each other properly, and you can even control the whole thing with just one remote. Peace of mind, zero stress.

We know, anything that sounds like “firmware update” can feel like IT department stress. But this one is important. Brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony push small updates that improve how your speaker sounds, fix hidden issues, and even add new features you did not know were missing.

If your soundbar or home theater connects to Wi-Fi or works with a mobile app, just check for updates once in a while. That simple update can make everything sharper, sound better, have smoother control, and have fewer wahala moments.

Techmall Tip:
Download the official app for your speaker brand if they have one, like the LG Soundbar App or Sony Music Center. It makes life easier. You can use it to adjust sound, update firmware, or even control the speaker from your phone. Smooth like that.

Even if your speaker is top-notch, if you connect it to a weak TV or an old media player from the Stone Age, the sound will still disappoint you. Speakers need partners who can keep up. So, try to connect your soundbar or home theater to a TV or media device that supports HDMI ARC, Dolby Audio, or DTS—that way, the sound quality can reach its full potential.

If your TV does not have great sound features, no problem. Devices like Fire TV Stick, Apple TV, or Chromecast can help boost things. These small but mighty gadgets are built to deliver better audio and give your speaker the right signal to shine.

Techmall Tip:
Some TVs behave like they have pride; they will still use their speaker even after you connect external ones. Enter your TV settings and change the audio option to “External Speakers” or “Audio Out.” Once you do that, your sound system will start doing the real work.

Let us be honest, using a small speaker in a big room is like trying to fill a swimming pool with sachet water. It will not reach anywhere. At the same time, blasting 1000 watts in a tiny room is how you get a landlord warning letter and neighbours knocking on your door like the police.

Your speaker should match your space. If you live in a student hostel or a small room, a compact soundbar or Bluetooth speaker will do just fine. But if you have a big parlour, tiled floors, and you enjoy that chest-thumping bass, feel free to go all out with a proper home theater setup.

Techmall Tip:
Tiled or empty rooms can make sound bounce too much, like an echo inside an incomplete building. To fix that, just add a rug, curtain, or even hang something on the wall. It helps the sound stay focused and feel richer.

If you have a home theater system, this tip is very important. Surround sound is not just about owning plenty of speakers; it is about arranging them well. That is what creates the cinema experience, where sound moves from left to right, front to back, and even behind you.

Your front left and right speakers should face directly towards your seat. The center speaker should stay right under the TV. Then place the rear speakers either behind you or beside your sitting area, not in front. That is how you get real surround sound.

Techmall Tip:
Do not go and arrange all your speakers in one corner like you are doing a showroom display. Spread them out around the room. And do not forget to use the settings to balance volume between speakers, some can be louder than others. Fine-tuning makes a big difference.

Good speakers can tempt you to raise the volume like you are inside a club, but please, protect your ears and respect your neighbours. Loud sound is sweet, but too much of it can damage your hearing over time. Plus, not everyone in your compound wants to hear Burna Boy at 2 AM.

Play your music or movies at a level that is enjoyable, not disturbing. If you love heavy bass or loud explosions in action films, use headphones at night or look for speakers that have “Night Mode” to reduce the blast without spoiling the sound.

Techmall Tip:
If your speaker has features like Night Mode or Dialogue Boost, turn them on at night. You will still hear everything clearly, just without shaking window frames or waking your neighbour’s baby.