Buying guide: TV speakers or soundbars

Choosing between TV speakers and soundbars is one of the most important decisions when it comes to enhancing your TV viewing experience. Whilst modern TVs offer impressive picture quality, the sound often falls short. Built-in TV speakers are generally functional, but rarely offer the sound quality required for a satisfactory TV audio experience. Soundbars represent an excellent and cost-effective option; they offer significantly improved audio quality and are a flexible solution for taking your TV sound to the next level.

But which solution is best? Here, you’ll learn how to understand the differences between TV speakers and soundbars, and discover which criteria should be considered when making your choice. Whether it’s sound quality, space requirements, flexibility of use or budget, the right choice depends on your individual needs and circumstances. We’ll look at the pros and cons of both options and provide valuable tips to help you find the right solution for every home.

Why choose TV speakers or a soundbar at all?

The built-in speakers in modern TVs are often insufficient to provide an optimal sound experience. Their small size and placement on the TV significantly limit sound quality. This becomes particularly apparent with more complex audio content such as films or series; dialogue can be difficult to understand, and action scenes often lose their dynamism. For a truly impressive TV experience, external audio solutions are a sensible choice.

The decision between TV speakers and soundbars depends on your own needs. TV speakers can be a simple solution for clear dialogue in smaller rooms and offer a basic improvement over the built-in speakers. Soundbars, on the other hand, offer a far more comprehensive improvement in audio quality. They deliver a balanced soundstage that, with modern technologies such as Dolby Atmos and optional subwoofers, ensures a more dynamic experience. Both options are designed to optimise the TV viewing experience; depending on your requirements and the size of the room, they offer different solutions.

Key buying criteria for TV speakers or soundbars

Sound quality

Sound quality is one of the most important purchasing criteria, as it directly influences the listening experience. TV speakers are generally not designed to deliver satisfactory sound quality. They are often too flat, lack deep bass and make it difficult to understand dialogue clearly, particularly in complex soundscapes. They are only suitable for basic requirements, simply providing sound to accompany the picture. In comparison, soundbars offer significantly better sound quality. They cover a much wider sound spectrum, with clear highs, precise mids and powerful bass. Many models feature subwoofers or the option to add them, and technologies such as Dolby Atmos provide an impressive surround sound experience that extends the sound beyond the speakers and makes it audible from different directions.

Connections

Connectivity options are another important factor when choosing between TV speakers and soundbars. TV speakers rely on the TV’s internal connections, which limits flexibility. In contrast, soundbars offer a variety of connection options, including HDMI ARC for lossless audio transmission, Bluetooth for wireless streaming, and optical inputs for older devices. HDMI ARC not only enables excellent sound quality but also allows for easy control via the TV remote. Bluetooth additionally offers the ability to stream music directly from a smartphone or tablet, ensuring versatile use.

Size and space requirements

Another key factor is space requirements. TV speakers take up no extra space as they are built directly into the television. This compact solution is ideal for users with limited space. However, due to their flat design, the built-in speakers are often unable to deliver high sound quality. Soundbars require slightly more space but offer significantly greater flexibility in terms of placement. They can be positioned either in front of or beneath the TV and provide better sound reproduction. For even more compact solutions, there are models that function as sound decks and can support the TV, which is particularly practical where space is limited.

Compatibility

Compatibility is another important factor to consider. TV speakers are only ever compatible with the specific TV they come with and offer no scope for expansion. With soundbars, you should ensure they are compatible with your own TV. Modern TVs generally support HDMI ARC or Bluetooth, which allows for easy connection to a soundbar. Older TVs that do not offer these connection options can be retrofitted using adapters or transmitters. This provides a solution for making even older models compatible with modern audio systems.

TV speakers: strengths, weaknesses and areas of use

TV speakers offer a simple and space-saving solution for users who do not wish to integrate additional devices. They are built directly into the television, making setup quick and straightforward. For simple uses, such as listening to the news or occasionally watching talk shows, they are perfectly adequate. The biggest advantage of TV speakers lies in their user-friendliness and low price, as no further investment in external speakers or systems is required.

However, the weaknesses of TV speakers are particularly evident in terms of sound quality. Due to the limited size and placement of the speakers, usually on the back or underside of the TV, the sound is often flat and lacks dynamics. Deep bass and precise treble are virtually non-existent, and the clarity of dialogue can suffer, particularly with music or complex sound effects. These limitations make them unsuitable for an immersive viewing experience, especially for films, series or music, where more detailed sound reproduction is required.

TV speakers are ideal for users who do not have high expectations regarding sound quality and who mainly watch in small rooms or for simple applications such as news or sports broadcasts. However, those who value clearer dialogue or an enhanced sound experience would be better off with external speakers or soundbars.

Soundbars: What sets them apart and what to look out for

Soundbars are specifically designed to enhance the TV viewing experience with a significant improvement in sound quality. They offer considerably better audio quality than built-in TV speakers, which often sound flat and inadequate. Many soundbars can be combined with subwoofers and surround speakers to deliver powerful, deep bass and a spatial sound experience. Technologies such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X extend the sound beyond the room, creating an immersive experience that places the viewer right at the heart of the action.

A major advantage of soundbars is their ease of installation. They can be connected to the TV in a matter of minutes, either via HDMI ARC, optical cables or Bluetooth. For even greater flexibility, many models offer wireless subwoofers, allowing for flexible placement in the room without the hassle of cables.

One disadvantage of soundbars compared to TV speakers is the price. Models equipped with advanced sound technologies or subwoofers, in particular, can require a significant investment. However, this cost is justified, as soundbars offer a significant improvement in sound quality that greatly enhances the TV viewing experience. They are particularly suitable for larger rooms, home cinemas or for users who want a high-quality, immersive audio experience.

For users who want to significantly improve the sound quality when watching TV but don’t have space for a full surround sound system, a soundbar is an excellent choice. It offers high-quality audio performance at a reasonable price and can be easily integrated into most home cinema setups.

Usage scenario: What is it intended for?

The choice between TV speakers and a soundbar should always be tailored to the specific usage scenario. For simple uses such as watching the news, talk shows or series, TV speakers are usually sufficient. They provide the necessary clarity for dialogue and are adequate if there are no high demands on sound quality. However, in many cases, TV speakers do not offer the necessary precision and depth, particularly with more complex soundscapes or quiet dialogue that can be drowned out by background noise.

For a more immersive and precise sound experience, particularly with films, music or video games, a soundbar should be considered. Soundbars offer a wide sound spectrum that TV speakers cannot cover due to their limited size and positioning. Soundbars really come into their own during action scenes or dynamic musical effects, as they offer deeper bass and improved clarity. Combined with a subwoofer or surround speakers, a soundbar can deliver a true home cinema experience that far surpasses the sound quality of TV speakers.

Furthermore, soundbars are an excellent choice for users who want the TV sound to be clearer and easier to understand. Particularly at lower volumes or with difficult dialogue, as found in many modern films or series, soundbars can help to make speech stand out more clearly. This is especially beneficial for people who struggle to understand the audio, whether due to hearing difficulties or the general clarity of the built-in speakers.

In summary, it can be said that a soundbar not only provides an enhanced cinema experience, but also serves as a useful addition for everyday TV viewing and for people who value clear and easily intelligible dialogue.

Room size: How much sound is needed?

Room size plays an important role when choosing between TV speakers and an external solution such as a soundbar. TV speakers that are built directly into the television are severely limited in their performance. They offer only basic sound reproduction and, due to their limited size and positioning within the television, are often unable to produce lower frequencies or a balanced soundstage; therefore, they are really only suitable for very small rooms.

External solutions such as soundbars, however, are always the better choice if you want to hear the TV sound more clearly. They offer significantly improved sound quality, even if the room is not particularly large. Soundbars have the advantage of being specifically designed to enhance sound, and they are capable of delivering a clearer, more balanced sound that makes dialogue easier to understand and optimises overall audio quality.

In larger rooms or open-plan living areas, a soundbar really comes into its own. It ensures better sound distribution throughout the room and offers higher volume levels as well as deeper bass frequencies that TV speakers lack. Models with subwoofers are particularly advantageous here, as they provide a fuller and more dynamic soundstage, which is crucial in larger rooms for delivering a balanced and powerful listening experience.

Needs: Individual requirements matter

The choice between TV speakers and a soundbar should always depend on the user’s individual needs and requirements. For people with good hearing who do not place a high value on TV sound, TV speakers may suffice. They offer a basic level of sound quality that meets modest expectations for those with good hearing. However, for those who value clearly intelligible dialogue - for example, in news programmes, talk shows, films or series - or for people who have difficulty understanding the sound clearly, external solutions such as soundbars offer a significant improvement.

Soundbars not only improve overall sound quality but often offer special features such as dialogue enhancement modes, which ensure that voices stand out more clearly and distinctly. These features make them an ideal choice for anyone who wants to get more out of their TV viewing experience without installing a complex surround sound system.

Furthermore, music lovers who value high-quality music playback as well as watching TV can also benefit from a soundbar. Thanks to the option of combining them with subwoofers, they deliver a balanced sound that perfectly showcases both deep bass and clear treble.

Ultimately, the choice between TV speakers and soundbars comes down to how important high-quality or at least improved sound is for your TV viewing, and which specific features - such as speech clarity, bass reproduction or multi-device compatibility - are required. Those looking for a simple setup will be satisfied with TV speakers, whilst soundbars are a worthwhile choice for anyone who prioritises flexibility, sound enhancement and an immersive experience.

Budget: What is feasible?

Budget plays a key role in deciding between TV speakers and soundbars. TV speakers are generally the most cost-effective option, as they are already built into the TV or incur only a small additional cost for basic functions. They offer a simple solution for users who do not have high sound requirements and prioritise minimal cost and simplicity above all else.

Soundbars, on the other hand, vary greatly in price. Entry-level models, which offer a significant improvement over the built-in speakers, are available from around €150. These models offer basic features and enhance the sound for users seeking a noticeable improvement in audio quality. For those looking for even more power and advanced features such as Dolby Atmos or subwoofers, prices rise significantly, with premium models costing up to €1,000 or more.

Anyone looking for good value for money should also keep an eye out for special offers or bundle options that include subwoofers or additional speakers in the set. With the right choice and a suitable budget, you can find a soundbar that meets your individual requirements and fits within your price range. A high-quality yet affordable solution is the OSKAR TV speaker from Faller Audio, which can be used much like a soundbar, priced at €269.

Ultimately, the decision between TV speakers and soundbars depends not only on the available budget, but also on how important sound quality is in relation to price. Those who value an optimised listening experience can make a solid choice with a soundbar, even on a limited budget, whilst TV speakers represent a cost-effective, simple solution for users who do not have high expectations regarding sound quality.