When choosing TV speakers, it's important to consider how you will use them. Are you looking for a sound bar to enhance the audio in film and TV? Or do you want some background music while doing the housework? Maybe you want to listen to music with the clearest possible sound. Read on to find out more.
Continue
TV Speakers by Use
Home Theatre Systems
Home theatres are multichannel (2/3/4/5/7.1) active TV speaker systems that often include a DVD or Blu-ray player. They provide superior sound to enhance your film and TV watching experience. If you mainly want to listen to music, it's better to get Hi-Fi speakers with a separate multichannel receiver. Wireless rear speakers make installing 5/7.1 channel systems much easier.
Sound Bars
Sound bars are additional TV speakers that deliver enhanced sound and require only a minimal amount of wiring. Though sound bars can replace multichannel TV speaker systems, they are not really suitable for listening to music. If you're getting a sound system for a larger room, and you want to enjoy movie sound effects to the max, treat yourself to a sound bar with a subwoofer.
Hi-Fi TV Speakers (Loudspeakers)
Typically these are passive speakers that require an amplifier or multichannel receiver. Hi-Fi speakers take up quite a lot of space, and top-quality multichannel setups can be quite expensive. However, you will get what you pay for—a higher purchase price will give you premium sound. Hi-Fi speakers are perfect for reproducing film and TV sounds, and also for listening to music in detail.
TIP: an active speaker has a built-in amplifier in its body, while a passive speaker requires an external amplifier or receiver.
Number of Channels (Speakers)
-
2.0 speakers—two stereo speakers—perfect for listening to music. Remember that you'll need an amplifier or receiver to go with the passive speakers.
-
2.1/3.1 speakers—two/three speakers with a subwoofer, which can be combined in the body of a soundbar.
-
5.1 speakers and more—the most common multichannel speaker system for television. They make awesome home cinema speakers with Dolby Digital and DTS standards or their lossless variants. Some effect channels, especially in 7.1 channel sets, are known as virtual surround.
TIP: Active subwoofers with a large diaphragm and sound enclosure provide solid and powerful bass.
TV Speakers—Other Features
- Optical drives play content from CD, DVD and Blu-Ray.
- Speakers with LAN/WiFi support play content from the internet (internet radio, Spotify, Deezer, etc.), (NAS, computers, smartphones and tablets.
- Bluetooth connectivity allows you to play content directly from mobile phones and tablets. You may be limited by a range of around 10m, plus reduced sound quality.
- HDMI (with ARC) digitally transmits audio and video content. The audio return channel (ARC) allows a two-way connection to the TV with one cable (as long as your TV supports ARC).
- Digital optical/coaxial output is an alternative option for transmitting audio if your TV does not have an HDMI port with ARC support.
- WiDi/Miracast wirelessly mirrors content from your mobile phone or tablet directly onto your TV screen.
- 3.5mm line-in (AUX, line-in) gives you a wired connection to audio sources, such as a mobile phone or MP3/CD/DVD/MM player.
- 2× RCA (cinch) input - performs the same function as a 3.5mm line-in and can be converted to a 3.5mm jack using an adapter.
- A headphone output (3.5mm) lets you plug in headphones directly to the speaker body—ideal if you want to listen without hearing surrounding noise.
- USB plays music and video from external drives and flash drives.
