Night mode reduces the dynamic range, that's how it functions, but typically you have variety of settings, from off, low medium high etc.
Dialogue enhance works well.
Not sure what soundbars have those options, some AVR's do. My old av pre amp had dialogue enhance you could enhance speech by upto 6db. This isn't simply "turning up the center louder" it only boosted vocal frequencies and it worked really well for Tenet and other Nolan movie. But I'd certainly look for a audio product with both of those.
I never used night mode.
AI answers
"Night Mode" on an Audio-Visual Receiver (AVR) is a function that compresses the dynamic range of audio signals, making loud sounds quieter and soft sounds louder to allow for clearer dialogue and an immersive theater-like experience at low volume levels without disturbing others. This feature, also known as Dynamic Range Control, is especially useful for late-night movie watching, reducing the need to constantly adjust the volume. You can typically enable it from the receiver's main menu or directly from the remote.
How it Works
Compresses Volume Swings:
The primary function of Night Mode is to reduce the difference (or swing) between the loudest and quietest sounds in a movie or show.
Boosts Soft Sounds:
It increases the volume of quiet sounds, such as dialogue or footsteps, to make them more audible.
Maintains Dialogue Clarity:
By raising soft sounds and keeping sound effects from being overly loud, Night Mode ensures you can still hear important dialogue even at low volume settings.
When to Use It
Late-Night Listening:
The most common use is when watching movies or shows late at night, allowing you to enjoy the experience without disturbing others who are sleeping.
Low-Volume Environments:
It helps retain a theater-like experience when you need to keep the overall volume low, for example, in an apartment or shared living space.
To improve dialogue in movies and TV on an AVR, use the "Dialog Enhancer" feature, which increases the center channel's frequency band to make voices clearer. To activate it, go to the AVR's option menu and select the feature, then choose a level like Low, Medium, or High. However, some factors like poor room acoustics, speaker placement, and complex film mixes can also affect dialogue clarity, so addressing these issues can also significantly help.
