Wondering why are Hulu commercials so loud even when the volume is low? There could be numerous reasons for that to happen. I know it’s frustrating to adjust the volume every time a commercial appears on Hulu. Fortunately, there are some methods you can try to resolve this issue. Here’s a guide to figuring out why Hulu commercials are loud and how to reduce the volume.
Why Are Hulu Commercials So Loud?
Hulu commercials are loud, mainly for marketing purposes and to grab viewers’ attention. You can get a Hulu ad-free subscription to get rid of ads. If you don’t want to subscribe, install an ad blocker, purchase an audio limiter, enable automatic volume on your streaming device or TV, or mute the television.
The issue of loud commercials has existed for years on Hulu but not on other streaming platforms like Amazon Prime, Disney+, or Netflix. Moreover, many customers have raised complaints regarding the concern. But there’s not been much progress on this issue.
Hulu claims they know about it and are trying to provide an optimal solution.
Also, there’s a law called CALM (Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act) that regulates the loudness of TV ads. The law passed in 2010 states that TV commercials can’t be louder than the average volume of a channel.
But this law only applies to cable TV and doesn’t cover online streaming services like Hulu. That’s why Hulu continues to air loud commercials without getting into trouble.
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How to Fix Loud Hulu Commercials?
Now that you know, Hulu is not restricted from showing loud commercials because the law does not regulate it. However, you can try these methods to resolve the Hulu commercials loud problem.
1. Get a Hulu Ad-Free Subscription
The easiest way to eliminate Hulu’s loud commercials is to get an ad-free subscription. You’ll have to pay $14.99 per month to get the Hulu ad-free base plan. The best part is that you get a 30-day free trial to see whether or not it benefits you.
You can also subscribe to their bundle plan, where you get Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN+ (with ads) for just $19.99 per month.
You should know one thing about the base plan: it’s not completely ad-free. You’ll still see ads when the show or movie begins or ends.
You can try other workaround methods if you don’t want to spend money on a Hulu subscription.
2. Turn on Automatic Volume Leveling on Your Streaming Device
Some streaming devices have automatic volume leveling that adjusts the volume every time it detects major variations.
It’s a useful feature that can help you reduce the volume of Hulu commercials by about 10–12 decibels.
To enable this feature, follow these steps:
A. Apple TV
- Go to Settings and select Video & Audio.
- Locate the “Reduce Loud Sounds” option and enable it.
That’s it!
B. Amazon Fire TVs or Fire Sticks
- Head to Settings and select Display & Sounds > Audio.
- Now, choose Advanced Audio and look for the Volume Leveler option.
- Once found, turn it on.
If you’re at it, turn on Dialogue Enhancer as well to boost speech volume.
C. Roku Devices
1. Adjust Volume Modes During Playback
- Play any video and press the * button on the remote.
- Select Sound Settings > Volume Mode, and select the Leveling option.
Note: On some devices, you may not see the “Sound Settings” option; instead, you’ll see the “Volume Mode” option.
- Take your Roku remote and press the Home button.
- Go to Settings > Audio > Volume Modes and choose the Leveling option.
Turning on the automatic volume leveling feature doesn’t guarantee reducing the volume of every ad you see on Hulu. It may work on particular ads, but not all.
Moreover, the sound quality you got earlier while streaming content on Hulu may not remain the same after you enable the leveling feature.
If you don’t have a streaming device or yours doesn’t support this feature, don’t worry. You can still figure out why are Hulu commercials so loud by setting up auto volume on your TV.
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3. Set Up Auto Volume on Your TV
The auto volume feature also helps reduce loud noises by automatically lowering or raising the sound output when the sound modulation signal is high or low. Simply put, it helps maintain a similar sound output on each channel.
To turn on the auto volume, follow these steps:
A. Sony Smart TVs
- Go to Settings > Audio Settings > Advanced Auto Volume and turn it on.
B. Vizio Smart Cast TVs
- To adjust audio settings, go to Menu > Audio > Volume Leveling and turn it on.
C. LG WebOS TVs
- Press the Settings button on your TV remote.
- Select Sound > Volume Mode > Auto Volume, then turn it on.
D. Hisense TVs
- Press the Menu button on your remote.
- Navigate to Sound > Auto Volume Level and turn it on.
E. Samsung smart TVs
- Go to Settings > All Settings > Sound > Expert Settings.
- Scroll down and enable the Auto Volume feature.
- If your Samsung TV was manufactured in 2021 or before, you might not see the All Settings option.
By enabling the Auto Volume feature, you can reduce the chances of experiencing the Hulu commercials loud problem. However, not all TVs have this feature, and you might not see it under the same name in your TV settings.
Sometimes, using this feature may cause conflict with your external speakers. So, if it doesn’t help reduce the Hulu ad volume, turn it off.
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4. Use an Ad Blocker
Now that you’ve tried a few quick ways to lower the ad volume but haven’t discovered how to fix loud Hulu commercials, use an ad blocker.
You can only install an ad blocker if you stream Hulu in a web browser on Microsoft Windows.
Ublock Origin and AdBlock are two ad blockers that restrict almost all Hulu commercials. With these, you can stream your favorite movie or show without interruptions.
Moreover, you can also try Hulu Ad Skipper, specifically created for blocking ads on Hulu.
Note: Ad blockers don’t work on the Hulu app. You’ll need a laptop or computer to stream the web version of Hulu. However, if you want to watch your favorite show or movie on TV, connect your laptop via HDMI to your TV and stream Hulu using an ad blocker.
5. Use an Audio Limiter
If you’ve not found an optimal solution for Hulu commercials loud problem, consider purchasing an audio limiter or external audio compressor. It’ll help you regulate your TV’s volume by automatically adjusting the audio levels.
Moreover, it lowers loud noises and enhances quiet sounds, providing control over the volume limits through adjustable knobs.
The device can be a bit expensive, but there are some second-hand options available that may cost you around $100.
Using an audio limiter ensures the audio stays within a specific volume range. However, buying one solely to reduce Hulu commercials’ volume might be inconvenient.
It would be a better choice to install an ad blocker or get a Hulu ad-free subscription rather than an audio limiter. Although it comes at a cost, it eliminates the need to deal with commercials altogether.
If you want an audio limiter, you can take help from this tutorial on how to set it up.
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6. Subscribe to a Cheaper Hulu Alternative
If you’re tired of Hulu commercials, consider subscribing to its alternatives. The best Hulu alternative is Peacock. It’s a streaming service that offers a range of TV shows, movies, original content, and local NBC channels.
The best part is that its ads are not as loud as Hulu’s. You can subscribe to its Premium plan, which costs $4.99 per month with ads, or its Plus plan, which costs $9.99 without ads. However, the Plus plan will still show some ads due to streaming rights.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Is Hulu Without Commercials?
You can get the base Hulu ad-free subscription for just $14.99 per month, along with a 30-day free trial. Moreover, there’s a bundle pack that will cost you $19.99 per month, where you get Hulu (no ads), Disney+ (no ads), and ESPN+ (with ads).
Why Does Hulu Have Ads Even Though I Pay?
You may see ads on Hulu even if you pay for the ad-free plan. It’s because there may be an agreement with content providers or studios that requires ads to be shown, even in ad-free subscription plans. You can see the list of excluded shows and on-demand content on Hulu that may contain ads.
The Bottom Line
Hulu ads can often ruin the viewing experience as they are 10–20 dB louder than the original content. Fortunately, with these methods, you can get rid of the ads or reduce the audio levels:
- Get a Hulu Ad-Free Subscription
- Turn on Automatic Volume Leveling on Your Streaming Device
- Set Up Auto Volume on Your TV
- Use an Ad Blocker
- Use an Audio Limiter
- Subscribe to a Cheaper Hulu Alternative
Subscribing to a Hulu ad-free plan is the easiest way to eliminate the most unnecessary ads. Moreover, you can cancel it at any time if you don’t like it.
Hulu is well aware of the loud commercials and has been actively exploring potential solutions. However, they have not made significant progress in addressing the concern.
Hopefully, now you know why are Hulu commercials so loud and how to fix them. Were you able to lower the commercial volume on Hulu? If so, let us know what worked for you in the comments below!
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