While the move to flat-panel TVs has mostly been great (though tube TVs still have some advantages), one area where things have taken a nosedive is in sound quality. Most flatscreen TVs today have tinny, weak sound that’s frankly unusable.
Honestly, I think they throw these speakers in because technically a TV needs to have speakers, but the assumption is that everyone will just buy a soundbar, so why bother? However, as you start moving up to larger TV sizes, you may notice the quality of the built-in sound increase dramatically. That’s no coincidence!
Why Small TVs Sound Bad
Most small TVs, which these days mean 65-inches and smaller, are simply too flat and too small to accommodate decent speakers. This isn’t always true. For example, my LG CS OLED has a fat bottom and LG saw fit to put some pretty decent speakers in that space, but by and large TVs in the lower size bracket have tiny downward- or backward-firing speakers that sound like a pair of earbuds inside a tin can.
It’s not entirely the fault of the speakers either, since there’s simply no room to build bass response solutions. On the other hand, every CRT TV I’ve encountered in my life, even the smaller portable ones, had usable sound with fairly full-range reproduction. Simply because there’s enough depth in the chassis to add proper speakers and enclosures.
Bigger Screens Mean Bigger Cabinets
It’s just physics that as you increase the diagonal size of a TV, you need a significantly larger and sturdier frame to prevent the panel from flexing or the TV breaking under its own weight. If you’re going to have a boxier frame, then you might as well have bigger speakers to take advantage of the room.
It doesn’t take much either. A TV doesn’t need enormous, high-wattage speakers to have sound equal to a typical entry-level or even mid-range soundbar.
This is a good time to point out that, just because a TV is larger and has the room for better speakers, doesn’t mean every large TV takes advantage of this. Some budget brands that make more affordable large-format TVs just end up using the same tinny speakers as their smaller TVs, so double-check the specifications. While a bigger TV allows for better speakers, someone still needs to put those speakers in the TV!
Premium Models Double as Sound Systems
If we’re looking at high-end large format TVs (e.g. 100-inch models), then all bets are off when it comes to what can be squeezed in behind that thin panel. Multiple subwoofers, upward firing speakers for Dolby Atmos, and multiple speakers to fill out the sound.
This obviously still won’t give you the same experience as a proper surround-sound system or high-end soundbar, but it turns these additional audio components from a necessity to an optional extra. It makes it possible to have an ultra-clean setup, which is exactly what I was able to do with my old mid-range 75-inch Samsung TV, which had honking big speakers that sounded perfectly good for TV shows and movies.
- Display Technology
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LED LCD
- Connectivity Technology
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Bluetooth, Ethernet, HDMI, RF, USB
- What’s Included
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Power Cable, Remote Control, Stand, Remote Batteries, Quick Start Guide
- Brand
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TCL
- Refresh Rate
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120Hz
- Resolution
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4k UHD
A large TV for a small price. Perfect for movie nights or watching the football event that shall not be named for copyright reasons.
Placement Works in Their Favor
Another nice advantage of built-in sound that larger TVs have is speaker placement. There’s more stereo separation because the TV is physically wider and so you can do more with the staging of the audio. It also means you have all that room to play with multiple speaker systems on higher-end models. It also allows for better speaker angles, rather than being limited to rear-firing, or downward-firing drivers.
When You Still Need a Soundbar or Surround Setup
As I mentioned above, entry-level large-format TVs might still have exactly the same poor sound as their smaller cousins, in which case you’ll be forking out for some sort of soundbar or external audio anyway. This is why it’s a good idea to add the cost of such a soundbar to your TV budget and perhaps get a better model with better sound, and probably better specifications in other areas as well. You might end up spending the same money overall, but get a cleaner setup with a better overall TV by going down the other path.
If you want the highest-fidelity, thumping audio, however, you’ll need to get a soundbar with a woofer, or a full-on surround system. There’s no replacement for displacement when it comes to speakers, and if “good enough” isn’t good enough for you, then the allure of big speakers in a big TV doesn’t really factor into it.
If you do like the sound of a TV that doesn’t need a soundbar to sound good, then you can save money on external audio gear, have a beautiful clean setup, and just watch TV without thinking about how much your TV speakers suck.
