>I was a sound engineer who’s recorded and mixed live events and low budget independent films.

OK?

You being a sound engineer doesn't change any of the shit I was talking about. (It wasn't even directed AT you, I was responding to someone else). Also, you complaining about sound engineering and then conveniently leaving out for absolutely zero reason that you're a SOUND ENGINEER for "low budget independent films" in the OP where you're making it sound like it's novel that you're complaining about bad audio at home is a wild choice.

Movies older than 15 years ago still actually had people behind those boards who gave a shit about mixing for stereo at home because they knew a lot of folks would be listening that way. Now, that still happens (maybe to a lesser degree) today, and those mixes are still made available. What's happening a lot more NOW is that Consumers now have a habit of forcing 5.1 shit through terrible soundbars, shitty TV speakers, or not great speakers, or less speakers than needed, with processing they're not really aware of happening by automatic process inside their TV and their soundbar.

Again - none of this has shit to do with whether you run the board at concerts or not. It's not awkward that we didn't stop to acknowledge that our discussion didn't note you mix live concerts (which is really different than what we're talking about anyway, and what you're complaining about isn't really "sound engineering" either.)

And if you have a 5.1 system at home and you're having problems hearing dialog - or anything - try the stereo mix. Even if you don't WANT to try the stereo mix because "ewww, Stereo," and then see if you don't hear what's happening a little better.

90% of the time you do.