[Crimson Dynamo]

I spent half the show on sat trying to turn up the volume, reduce the bass, increase the treble but I still could not hear folk sing

It seems this year that I am hearing them as if they were singing in a public toilet

what gives?

[Smithy]

for some acts, they have really loud backing tracks to cover the shocking vocals, louis did it last year with Jedward, and apparently this year it's caught on :/

[Ammi]

Yes I thought that, more so the first week though, it was hard to tell what the contestants vocals were like. It still didn't seem as though they got the sound right on Saturday its very off putting

[Zippy]

The choruses are certainly beefed up. But other times the vocals are very raw and you hear every offkey note.

Certainly when the big stars come on the sound is very unforgiving. Cue Katy Perry.

[Crimson Dynamo]

Katy Perry was bad

[JEJ]

We've the same problem, can hardly hear them at all. I thought we had the sound on the wrong setting (movie rather than music) but not so. It seems a little clearer when they play snips at the end, like their sound engineer has sorted it as a recording rather than live.

And yes, Katy Perry was abysmal.

[setanta]

I think the opposite actually, apart from Simon's groups who've been totally drowned out - intentionally - by their backing tracks and recorded voices, particularly during the chorus. Sure did you see One Direction? Half of them weren't singing at times.

As for the rest, it's fairly obvious that autotune has gone.