What are the differences between TV speakers and soundbars?

Choosing between built-in TV speakers and a soundbar is one of the most common decisions when it comes to optimizing the sound of your TV viewing experience. Although modern TVs impress with amazing 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 because, in many cases, they offer the perfect balance between price, space requirements, and audio quality. Everything you need to know about this topic can be found in this article.

What are TV speakers and soundbars?

TV speakers are the speakers that come built into TVs as standard. They offer a simple and functional solution for playing 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 movies, series, or news, the sound often remains flat and undifferentiated. Since they are usually placed on the back or bottom of the TV, the sound quality is further limited by their restricted position and small size. In short, even on most expensive TVs, the audio quality of TV speakersis poor.

Soundbars are standalone TV speaker systems that have been specially designed to improve the sound quality of a television. They offer a wider soundstage and enable a detailed and precise audio experience. Many soundbars also integrate subwoofers or offer the option of connecting external subwoofers, resulting in significantly better bass reproduction. Thanks to their compact or elongated design, soundbars can be easily placed in front of or below the TV without taking up much space. With advanced sound processors and technologies such as Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, soundbars often create a surround sound that takes TV sound to a new level and significantly improves the home theater experience.

Sound quality: Why soundbars are often superior

A soundbar can significantly enhance the TV viewing experience, even for people who don't want to spend a lot of money on a complex speaker system or who don't have much technical know-how. In many modern TVs, the built-in speakers are limited due to their flat design, which affects 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 that they improve dialogue clarity. Especially in movies, news programs, 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 television at night. This is especially useful for people with hearing problems or those who want 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. They also take up very little space, as they are a compact and effective solution that can be easily integrated into many living rooms. For users looking for a significant sound upgrade without a lot of effort, soundbars are an excellent choice.

Space requirements: compactness meets flexibility

TV speakers generally score points for their minimal space requirements. Since they are integrated into the TV, they do not take up any additional space. They are therefore the obvious choice for small rooms or minimalist interior design styles.

Soundbars require a little more space, but are still extremely compact compared to conventional speaker systems. Their compact or often elongated design allows them to be placed discreetly directly in front of the TV or on the wall. In combination 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 while offering the advantages 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 variety of connection options that allow for more 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 offer another digital connection option that is particularly popular with older devices. For wireless streaming, many soundbars offer Bluetooth connections that allow music or other audio content to be streamed directly from a smartphone, tablet, or laptop. Some models also offer WiFi connectivity, which allows integration into smart home systems. This means that soundbars can not only enhance the TV experience, but also serve as a versatile music system throughout the home.

The OSKAR TV speaker from Faller Audio, which can also be used as a soundbar, is a cost-effective wireless solution. 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 the sound of their TV without having to rely on cables. This wireless connection increases flexibility and allows the speaker to be easily placed anywhere in the room without any cable clutter.

Comparison of features and equipment

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, especially with dynamic soundscapes or more demanding content. Their performance is usually limited to simple tasks such as news or light entertainment, with deeper tones and complex soundscapes hardly coming into their own. While they are easy to use and require no additional setup, they do not offer particularly convincing 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 have 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 with compact devices. In addition, many soundbars offer personalized sound modes for different content such as dialogue, movies, music, or games to optimize the sound for your specific needs.

Value for money and budget considerations

TV speakers are the most cost-effective solution, as they are already integrated into the TV and do not require any additional purchases or installations. However, they often offer only inferior sound quality, which in many cases is not sufficient to provide a satisfactory listening experience, especially with complex soundscapes or clear dialogue intelligibility.

Soundbars offer significantly better quality, especially if you have higher expectations when it comes to sound quality. They cover a wide price range – from affordable entry-level models that offer a significant improvement in sound quality compared to TV speakers, to premium devices from brands such as Bose or Sonos. These high-quality models justify their higher price tag with advanced technologies such as Dolby Atmos, a wider soundstage, improved bass reproduction, and versatile connectivity options. In addition, many soundbars are characterized by their durable construction and easy integration into various setups. However, for users on a limited budget, there are also simpler soundbars that still offer a significant improvement over built-in TV speakers and greatly enhance the viewing experience.

Advantages and disadvantages: TV speakers or soundbar?

TV speakers

Advantages:

• Easy setup, no additional hardware required
• Minimal space requirements, ideal for compact rooms
• Cost-effective, as they are already integrated into the television
• No additional effort required for installation or cabling

Disadvantages:

• Limited sound quality, especially for bass and dialogue intelligibility
• Lack of expansion options for better sound
• Often not suitable for demanding film or music playback

Soundbars

Advantages:

• Significantly improved sound quality, especially for dialogue and bass
• Expandable with subwoofers or surround speakers for a more immersive sound experience
• Versatile use for home theater, 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
• Additional space required, especially for larger models
• Often requires more effort during installation and configuration

Soundbar alternatives: Sound decks and expanded systems

In addition to soundbars, there are also sound decks, which are an interesting alternative. Sound decks combine the functions of a soundbar with a compact design that also serves as a base for the TV. They are particularly space-saving and yet offer impressive sound quality that can compete with larger soundbars. Thanks to their flat design, sound decks take up little space and are ideal for users who are looking for better sound reproduction but don't want additional devices or a lot of space on their TV shelf.

For users who want an even more comprehensive home theater 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 and Sonos offer high-quality models that can be easily integrated into existing audio setups. These advanced systems are the ideal choice for home theater enthusiasts who are looking for an immersive sound experience and are willing to invest in additional speakers and subwoofers to take audio quality to the next level.

Decision-making aid: What suits which user?

The choice between built-in TV speakers and a soundbar or other audio enhancement should be an easy decision for almost any user who wants to hear dialogue more clearly and improve the overall TV sound. Even if the goal is not to create a high-end audio experience, soundbars or similar systems offer a significant improvement in sound quality, compensating for the often weak and difficult-to-understand integrated TV speakers.

Even in smaller rooms where space is limited, a soundbar can help improve dialogue clarity and make 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 role, but for the majority of users, soundbars and additional speakers are a valuable investment for a better TV experience.