1.4.7: Low or No Background Audio

What it means

For prerecorded audio-only content, background sounds should be at least 20 dB lower than foreground speech, absent, or switchable off. Background music behind narration makes speech hard to follow.

This AAA criterion targets podcasts, narrated tours, and similar media.

How to fix it

• Mix narration clearly above background music and ambient noise.
• Offer a version without background music when music is decorative.
• Let users turn off background tracks independently of main speech.
• Review audio in headphones — if you strain to hear words, rebalance the mix.

Quick examples

• Good: A narrated tour lets listeners mute background music while keeping the voice.
• Bad: Promo audio plays loud music at the same level as the spoken message.
• Good: Podcast intro music dips automatically when speaking starts.
• Bad: Continuous café noise sits as loud as the presenter in a training clip.