What are the differences between TV speakers and soundbars?

Choosing between a TV’s built-in speakers and a soundbar is one of the most common decisions when it comes to optimising the audio quality of your TV viewing experience. Although modern TVs impress with stunning picture quality and advanced technologies such as OLED and QLED, the sound often falls short of visual expectations. Built-in TV speakers are generally unable to deliver the deep bass, clear dialogue and balanced soundscape required for a true cinema experience. Soundbars, on the other hand, offer a compact and powerful solution for improving audio playback. They are particularly popular as, in many cases, they offer the perfect balance between price, space requirements and audio quality. Everything you need to know is covered in this article.

What are TV speakers and soundbars?

TV speakers are the speakers built into televisions as standard. They offer a simple and functional solution for reproducing TV sound without the need for additional devices. However, due to their limited size and positioning, these speakers are often unable to accurately reproduce deeper tones or complex soundscapes. Whether it’s films, series or news, the sound often remains flat and undifferentiated. As they are usually placed on the back or underside of the TV, sound quality is further limited by their restricted position and small size. In short, even on most expensive TVs, the audio quality of the TV speakers is poor.

Soundbars are standalone TV speaker systems specifically designed to enhance a television’s sound quality. They offer a wider soundstage and deliver a detailed and precise audio experience. Many soundbars also incorporate subwoofers or allow for the connection of external subwoofers, resulting in significantly better bass reproduction. Thanks to their compact or elongated design, soundbars can be easily placed in front of or beneath the TV without taking up much space. With advanced sound processors and technologies such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, soundbars often produce surround sound that takes TV audio to a new level and significantly enhances the home cinema experience.

Sound quality: Why soundbars are often superior

A soundbar can significantly improve the TV viewing experience, even for those who don’t want to spend a lot of money on a complex speaker system or have little technical know-how. In many modern TVs, the built-in speakers are limited by the flat design, which compromises sound quality. A soundbar solves this problem by delivering clearer and more powerful sound reproduction without taking up much space.

Another major advantage of soundbars is improved dialogue clarity. Particularly with films, news programmes or series where dialogue is often drowned out by background noise or music, a soundbar ensures that voices are clearer and easier to understand. Even at low volumes, the sound remains clearly audible, which is particularly advantageous in quiet environments or when watching TV at night. This is especially useful for people with hearing difficulties or those who wish to understand dialogue more easily.

Soundbars are also easy to install and offer a cost-effective solution for improving TV sound. They can usually be connected to the TV without any problems, mostly via HDMI ARC or optical cables, and quickly deliver a significant improvement in sound quality. Furthermore, they take up very little space, as they can be seamlessly integrated into many living rooms as a compact and effective solution. For users looking for a significant improvement in sound quality without much effort, soundbars are an excellent choice.

Space requirements: Compactness meets flexibility

TV speakers generally score highly for their minimal space requirements. As they are integrated into the TV, they take up no additional space. They are therefore the obvious choice for small rooms or minimalist interior styles.

Although soundbars require slightly more space, they remain extremely compact compared to conventional speaker systems. Their compact or often elongated design allows for discreet placement directly in front of the TV or on the wall. Combined with a wireless subwoofer, they can easily fill larger rooms with sound without cluttering the living room with speakers. Sound decks are particularly interesting, as they serve as a flat base for the TV whilst offering the benefits of a soundbar.

Connectivity: A wide range of options for every setup

Connectivity plays a crucial role when choosing between TV speakers and soundbars. Built-in TV speakers usually rely on the TV’s internal connections, which severely limits their connectivity options.

Soundbars, on the other hand, offer a wide range of connection options, allowing for greater flexibility and better adaptation to different setups. HDMI ARC enables lossless transmission of audio signals and also allows you to control the volume and other settings directly via the TV remote control. Optical inputs provide another digital connection option, which is particularly popular with older devices. For wireless streaming, many soundbars offer Bluetooth connectivity, allowing music or other audio content to be streamed directly from a smartphone, tablet or laptop. Some models also offer Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling integration into smart home systems. This means that soundbars can not only enhance the TV viewing experience but also serve as a versatile music system throughout the home.

An affordable wireless solution is the OSKAR TV speaker from Faller Audio, which can also be used as a soundbar. This wireless technology transmits the signal from the base station directly to the speaker without the need for additional cables. The OSKAR TV speaker offers a straightforward, flexible solution for users who want to improve their TV’s sound without relying on wired connections. This wireless connection increases flexibility and allows the speaker to be easily positioned in the room without the hassle of tangled cables.

Comparison of features and specifications

TV speakers are generally designed for basic audio playback and are often unable to deliver decent sound or clear dialogue intelligibility. They quickly reach their limits, particularly with dynamic soundscapes or more demanding content. Their performance is usually limited to simple tasks such as news or light entertainment, whilst deeper tones and complex soundscapes are barely audible. Whilst they are easy to use and require no additional setup, they do not offer particularly impressive sound quality.

In contrast, soundbars offer a significant improvement in sound quality. They are equipped with numerous features that enhance the TV viewing experience. Many models feature built-in subwoofers or the option to connect external subwoofers, resulting in powerful bass reproduction. Technologies such as Dolby Atmos provide virtual 3D sound, which intensifies the audio experience even on compact devices. Furthermore, many soundbars offer personalised sound modes for different content such as dialogue, films, music or games, to optimally adapt the sound to specific needs.

Value for money and budget considerations

TV speakers are the most cost-effective solution, as they are already built into the television and require no additional purchases or installations. However, they often offer only inferior sound quality, which in many cases is insufficient to provide a satisfactory listening experience, particularly when it comes to complex soundscapes or clear dialogue intelligibility.

Soundbars offer significantly better quality, particularly when higher standards of sound quality are required. They cover a wide price range, from affordable entry-level models that offer a significant improvement in sound quality compared to TV speakers, right through to premium devices from brands such as Bose or Sonos. These high-quality models justify their higher price through advanced technologies such as Dolby Atmos, a wider soundstage, improved bass reproduction and versatile connectivity options. Furthermore, many soundbars stand out for their durable construction and easy integration into various setups. For users on a limited budget, however, there are also simpler soundbars that still offer a significant improvement over built-in TV speakers and greatly enhance the viewing experience.

Pros and cons: TV speakers or soundbar?

TV speakers

Advantages:

• Easy to set up, no additional hardware required
• Minimal space requirements, ideal for compact rooms
• Cost-effective, as they are already built into the TV
• No additional effort required for installation or cabling

Disadvantages:

• Limited sound quality, particularly regarding bass and dialogue clarity
• No option to upgrade for better sound
• Often unsuitable for high-quality film or music playback

Soundbars

Advantages:

• Significantly improved sound quality, particularly for dialogue and bass
• Can be expanded with subwoofers or surround speakers for a more immersive sound experience
• Versatile for home cinema, music and more
• Modern technologies such as Dolby Atmos for a more immersive experience
• Flexible placement and numerous connection options

Disadvantages:

• Higher price compared to TV speakers
• Requires additional space, particularly with larger models
• Often requires more effort to install and configure

Soundbar alternatives: sound decks and extended systems

As well as soundbars, there are also sound decks, which offer an interesting alternative. Sounddecks combine the functions of a soundbar with a compact design that also serves as a stand for the TV. They are particularly space-saving yet offer impressive sound quality that can compete with larger soundbars. Thanks to their slim design, sounddecks take up little space and are ideal for users seeking better sound reproduction but who do not want additional devices or much space on their TV stand.

For users who want an even more comprehensive home cinema experience, there are advanced systems that offer a combination of soundbars, surround speakers and subwoofers. These systems deliver even more realistic sound reproduction and can fill the room with clear surround sound and powerful bass. Brands such as Bose or Sonos offer high-quality models that can be easily integrated into existing audio setups. These advanced systems are the ideal choice for home cinema enthusiasts seeking an immersive sound experience and who are willing to invest in additional speakers and subwoofers to take audio quality to the next level.

Decision guide: What suits which user?

The choice between built-in TV speakers and a soundbar or other audio supplement should be a clear-cut decision for virtually any user who wants to understand dialogue more clearly and improve the overall TV sound. Even if the aim isn’t to create a high-end audio experience, soundbars or similar systems offer a significant improvement in sound quality that compensates for the often weak and hard-to-understand built-in TV speakers.

Even in smaller rooms where space is limited, a soundbar can help improve dialogue intelligibility and make the TV sound clearer and more precise. So, if you’re looking for a simple and efficient solution to significantly improve your TV sound without needing an expensive high-end system, a soundbar or similar solution is a sensible choice. Room size, budget and personal requirements all play a part, but for the majority of users, soundbars and additional speakers are a worthwhile investment for a better TV viewing experience.