TV speaker or soundbar

The choice between TV speakers and soundbars significantly influences the sound experience when watching TV. While the built-in speakers of modern TVs offer a simple solution, they often reach their limits when it comes to clear dialog and impressive soundscapes. Soundbars, on the other hand, promise a significant improvement in audio quality and offer advanced features such as surround sound and deeper bass. This article looks at the differences between TV speakers and soundbars, discusses their pros and cons and provides buying advice to help you find the best solution for your individual needs. Further detailed information can be found in the individual sections, each of which leads to more comprehensive and in-depth explanations if required.

Differences between TV speakers & soundbar

Integrated TV speakers are the standard built-in speakers in televisions that are responsible for basic audio output. These speakers offer a simple solution for reproducing the TV's sound without the need for additional devices. However, due to their limited size and often unfavorable positioning in the TV (e.g. on the back or bottom), they struggle to accurately reproduce deeper tones or complex soundscapes. The sound quality is usually flat and undifferentiated, which often leads to an unsatisfactory experience, especially with films and series.

Soundbars are specially designed speaker systems that aim to significantly improve the audio quality of a TV. They provide a wider sound stage and enable a more detailed and precise audio experience. Many soundbars integrate additional subwoofers or offer the option of connecting external subwoofers, resulting in significantly better bass reproduction. Thanks to their compact design, soundbars can be easily placed under or in front of the TV without taking up much space. With advanced technologies such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, many soundbars even offer a kind of surround sound that significantly improves the viewing experience.

A soundbar as an external TV speaker can significantly improve the viewing experience, even for those who don't need complex speaker systems or a lot of technical knowledge. The built-in speakers of modern TVs are often inadequate in terms of sound quality due to their flat design. A soundbar solves this problem by providing clearer and more powerful sound reproduction without taking up much space. The improvement in dialog intelligibility is particularly beneficial. In many movies, series or news, dialog is often overlaid by background noise or music, but a soundbar ensures that voices remain clear and intelligible, even at low volumes. This is particularly useful for people with hearing problems.

Compared to TV speakers, soundbars offer a number of advantages, including significantly improved sound quality, the ability to customize the sound depending on the content and flexibility in placement. They are easy to install and offer a cost-effective solution for enhancing the viewing experience. They also take up very little space and are easy to integrate into many living spaces.

When it comes to space requirements, TV speakers have an advantage as they are integrated directly into the TV and do not take up any additional space. They are ideal for smaller rooms or minimalist furnishing styles. Soundbars require a little more space, but still remain compact and offer flexible placement in front of or under the TV.

In terms of connectivity, soundbars offer significantly more options than TV speakers. While TV speakers often rely on the TV's internal connections, soundbars offer a variety of connectivity options, such as HDMI ARC, optical inputs and Bluetooth, making them versatile and compatible with a wide range of devices.

The choice between TV speakers and soundbars depends on individual needs and budget. For users looking for a simple and cost-effective solution that does not require additional equipment or cabling, TV speakers are sufficient. However, for those who value better sound quality and more flexibility, soundbars offer an excellent solution that significantly improves TV sound and enhances the home theater experience.

Advantages and disadvantages of TV speakers & soundbar

TV speakers and soundbars offer different approaches to improving the viewing experience, with each approach having its own advantages and disadvantages. TV speakers are integrated directly into the TV and offer a simple, straightforward solution for audio playback. Their main advantage is integration, as they take up no extra space in the room and require no additional devices or connections. They are ready for immediate use and offer a space-saving solution that is particularly advantageous in small rooms. As TV speakers are built into the TV, there are no additional costs and their design makes them relatively easy to maintain. There are no moving parts that need to be replaced regularly, resulting in a long service life for the device. For simple applications such as watching the news or listening to dialog, they serve their purpose well and are particularly suitable if there are no major sound requirements.

However, TV speakers also have their limitations. Their sound quality often falls short of expectations due to their limited size and placement. Especially with more demanding content such as movies or music, there is a lack of deep bass and the dialog often seems blurred or difficult to understand, especially with background noise or music that covers up the speech reproduction. Another problem is that TV speakers are not expandable. If you want a home theater experience or better bass reproduction, you have to use external speakers such as soundbars or surround systems. TV speakers are often not sufficient for larger rooms, as they do not distribute the sound evenly throughout the room and the volume is not sufficient everywhere in the room. They also do not offer dynamic adjustment of the sound to different content, which can lead to unpleasant volume fluctuations.

Soundbars offer a significant improvement in sound quality here. They deliver a broad sound spectrum that includes clear highs, precise mids and deeper bass, which is particularly beneficial for action movies or music. Many models are equipped with integrated subwoofers or offer the option of connecting an external subwoofer, which significantly improves bass reproduction. Soundbars use advanced technologies such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X to create a surround sound experience that fills the room with sound and immerses the viewer in the action. Compared to TV speakers, soundbars offer much better sound quality, especially when reproducing dialog. They are easy to install and do not require complex cabling. Many models offer HDMI ARC or optical inputs for audio transmission and Bluetooth for wireless streaming of music or other content.

Another advantage of soundbars as external TV speakers is their flexible placement. They can be positioned either under or in front of the TV and take up little space. In larger rooms or for more precise sound reproduction, soundbars offer a much better solution than the built-in TV speakers. Even if the price is higher for high-quality models such as those with Dolby Atmos or an external subwoofer, soundbars offer a significant improvement in audio quality compared to most TV speakers. They are particularly suitable for users who are looking for a better sound experience but do not need a complex home theater system.

Buying advice for TV speakers & soundbar

The choice between TV speakers and soundbars depends heavily on your own needs and the desired sound experience. TV speakers, which are integrated into modern televisions, offer an uncomplicated solution for users who do not require additional devices and are dependent on simple audio playback. They offer sufficient sound quality, especially in small rooms or for simple applications such as watching the news or sports broadcasts. The greatest strength of TV speakers lies in their integration - they take up no extra space in the room and require no cables or external devices. Their ease of use and low price make them a practical option if you don't have high demands on sound quality. They are ready for immediate use and require no installation or configuration.

However, TV speakers are limited in their sound quality. Due to the flat design of the TV, they often only offer a flat sound without deeper bass and clear reproduction of dialog. Especially with more demanding content such as films or music, the sound can quickly be perceived as fuzzy or weak. Another drawback is that TV speakers are not expandable. If you want a home cinema experience or better bass reproduction, you will quickly reach your limits here. They are also unable to create a wide sound stage, which would be particularly beneficial in larger rooms.

In comparison, soundbars as external TV speakers offer significantly improved sound quality. Soundbars are designed to cover a wider sound spectrum, with clear highs, precise mids and powerful bass. Many models are equipped with subwoofers or offer the option of connecting an external subwoofer, which significantly improves bass reproduction. Technologies such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X extend the sound beyond the room and create an immersive experience that puts the viewer right in the middle of the action. Another advantage of soundbars is the ease of installation - they can usually be easily connected to the TV via HDMI ARC, optical cable or Bluetooth. Many models also offer wireless subwoofers, which reduces cable clutter and allows flexible placement in the room.

However, soundbars are generally more expensive than TV speakers, especially the models with advanced sound technologies or subwoofers. Prices vary widely, from affordable entry-level models to premium products. Soundbars also offer more flexibility in placement, but are sometimes not as effective as a full surround system in large rooms with lots of furniture. Although the space required is minimal, it is not quite as compact as a TV's integrated speakers.

The choice between TV speakers and soundbars therefore depends on the size of the room, the individual sound requirements and the budget. For simple applications or smaller rooms, TV speakers are a practical and cost-effective solution. For a much better sound experience, especially for movies, series or music, soundbars are a worthwhile investment that significantly improves the audio quality and enhances the overall viewing experience. If you are looking for a home cinema feel or clear speech intelligibility, a soundbar is the better choice.