When looking for a new TV, it can be easy getting caught up too much in what screen tech it has. OLED, QLED, Mini LED — there are loads of options to think about. And while picture performance is super important, audio quality matters too. There's no point watching a big blockbuster movie without the cinema-style sound to match!
That's why in this article, we're going to list a few sound features you should consider before upgrading to a brand new TV.
Why sound quality is sometimes an issue
TVs have gotten a whole lot thinner over the years. This is so they take up less space in your lounge and can be easily mounted to walls. But this has made it harder for manufacturers to equip their screens with speakers big and powerful enough fill a room with clear and immersive sound.
With so much focus on picture quality in particular these days, audio is often overlooked. But it's still a huge part of the viewing experience, and poor sound can make amazing movies and shows feel a whole lot less epic.
This is why many people beef up their TV's audio with home cinema systems and soundbars (more on these later). But if those aren't an option for you because of a lack of space, a limited budget — or you just want a TV that does it all — then it's worth looking at tellys praised for their built-in speakers and sound features instead. Speaking of...
Built-in TV speakers
Fortunately, sound quality standards have improved across most modern flat-screen TVs in the last few years. The same couldn't be said about a decade ago! Many now come fitted with superb built-in speakers that'll fill your entire living room with detailed audio, so you won't be missing out on any important dialogue in your favourite dramas.
Take the Hisense U7K. It comes equipped with a bass-boosting subwoofer that'll let you feel all those rumbling lows in your favourite flicks. Love a Friday night thriller? Explosions and engine revs will sound far more realistic!
Or if you've got a bit more money to play with and are looking for a TV with the best sound, there's the Panasonic MZ2000. Its 360° Soundscape Pro audio system puts you right in the middle of the action with upward and side-firing speakers immersing you with stellar sonics. Don't want to disturb anyone else? Its clever Beam Forming Function makes use of smaller built-in speakers to create a zone of sound. That way, you can experience precise audio without waking up the family when binging a series into the small hours.
Advanced sound technologies
Big TV brands don't just fit decent speakers in some of their tellys and leave it at that. They go a step further and use clever sound-enhancing technologies to deliver richer audio and take your viewing experience to the next level:
Dolby Atmos
Lots of speaker systems in modern smart TVs now feature cutting-edge surround sound tech like Dolby Atmos. This audio standard makes it feel like detailed audio is coming at you from all directions, so films, TV shows, and video games feel more immersive with extra spatial depth.
It does this by adding channels and sounds from overhead and boosts whatever speaker equipment you have — whether that's the built-in speakers in your telly, or a connected soundbar.
To learn more, check out our article: What is Dolby Atmos and why do I need it?
Smart Ai sound features
Some TVs released in the last few years even use Ai to improve their sound in real-time. Like isolating dialogue from background noise or a film's soundtrack to make it easier to hear what characters are saying.
LG TVs with Ai Sound Pro tech can automatically optimise the audio based on what you're watching. Checking out a live performance from your favourite band? It'll fine-tune a few things to make sure you can hear every instrument. This deep learning tech means that you won't have to menu dive to choose the best sound option every time either, as it'll do it for you. It can also transform 2-channel audio into virtual 9.1.2 surround sound for that cool movie theatre experience in your home.
Samsung's Ai Sound tech is super clever too, with some of their tellys equipped with spatial recognition tech that analyses the layout of your room and calibrates the TV to the most ideal sound settings. In other words, it’ll make sure you'll always get the best sound no matter where and how your TV is installed.
Samsung TVs: Object Tracking Sound
Many Samsung TVs also feature proprietary Object Tracking Sound (OTS) tech that "recognises where the action is happening on screen, and plays the sound through that speaker" — according to the tech giants themselves.
So, if you're watching an action-packed chase scene, you'll hear the protagonist's motorbike zoom across the screen and the helicopter in pursuit from above. These are easily some of the best TVs for sound out there!
Soundbars
If a bigger and bolder cinematic sound from a small package is what you want, then pair up your TV with a soundbar. These are typically slim, oblong-shaped speaker systems that plug straight into your TV via an HDMI cable. Soundbars can be placed just under your telly on a TV stand, or you can wall-mount them too if that's how you've got your television set up.
The beauty of soundbars is that they make a dramatic difference to the sound of your TV without taking up that much space — certainly not as much as a whole cinema sound system. Yes, it's an extra accessory you'll have to buy with your new telly, but you can now get some great soundbars for around £100.
What's more, lots of these feature Bluetooth so you can stream music from a smartphone. That way, you won't have to buy a separate Bluetooth speaker for your lounge too. Win-win! TVs that support Dolby Atmos can also pass it through to an external soundbar if compatible. Fortunately, most of these now have Atmos audio processing and upward firing speakers to give you an even more immersive sound — getting more out of Dolby's surround sound tech.
If you reckon a soundbar is the best solution for you, learn more by reading our guide: What is a soundbar?
Home cinema systems
A complete home cinema system is the ultimate way to maximise your enjoyment of Hollywood movies, a hit series, and high-octane console games. These audio systems often include a soundbar along with a subwoofer and a couple of smaller rear speakers you can place behind you for real, stereo surround sound. Especially as loads support Dolby Atmos too!
Some of the more high-end home cinema systems even have wireless subs and rear speakers, so there’ll be no cable clutter in your lounge. And with built-in Chromecast and AirPlay in a few options out there, you can also stream tunes and podcasts from your phone. They're just a great way of bringing entertainment to life in your living space.
Check out our tips for a great home cinema setup if you really want to indulge in classic movies and big boxsets.
Need more advice?
We hope you're now armed with all the info you need to pick out an amazing TV with the audio quality to suit you and your space. You can now start by browsing our huge range of TVs with good sound!
