The best TVs deserve the best soundbars, but your budget or mid-range TV will actually benefit the most from some additional audio power.
As great as TV tech is today, the actual audio output of even top-of-the-line TVs leaves a lot to be desired. Most speakers are built into the back or bottom of a flat-screen, which aren’t exactly optimal locations for quality audio. This means you’re making a tradeoff between having a thin TV mounted flush to your wall (aesthetic AF) or basking in rich, multi-directional audio while streaming your favorite shows.
The best TV soundbars are the finishing touch that transform your living room into a personal movie theater — minus the equipment, installation, and tedious setup that used to go into building a home theater. Your new soundbar can easily be mounted right underneath your TV for a neat, cord-free look. It should also be small enough to sit directly in front of your TV if you’re hoping for a less permanent, but still clean-looking, solution.
To help Mashable readers find the best soundbars for TVs, I took it upon myself to test some of the most popular soundbars from brands like Sonos and Roku.
Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable
Credit: Stacia Datskovska / Mashable
What does a TV soundbar actually do?
A TV soundbar is the easiest way to improve the sound of your television. Think of it as a speaker extension that helps create a cinematic listening experience for everything from blockbuster films to live music performances.
According to Mashable’s sister publication PCMag (owned by the same publisher Ziff Davis), soundbars are essentially “long, somewhat thin speakers that incorporate stereo, left/center/right surround sound, and even spatial audio drivers in an easy-to-set-up device.” The best soundbars “add much-needed power, range, and clarity to your audio experience.” What’s not to love?
The typical TV soundbar takes up very little space, is very easy to set up (usually through the HDMI port of your TV), and offers high frequency/deep bass that eclipses the audio capacities of pretty much every TV on the market right now. More expensive soundbars may also come with an additional subwoofer for fuller, more balanced sound.
Finally, some soundbars (like the Roku ones below) perform the double-duty of upgrading older TVs into streaming-friendly smart TVs by providing instant access to Netflix, HBO Max, Hulu, and other streaming apps. Top-of-the-line soundbars also come with the advantage of voice control, meaning they can serve as yet another way of making your home tech smarter.
Do you even need a soundbar?
OK, I’m never gonna tell someone they absolutely, positively, undoubtedly need something, but a new soundbar will certainly optimize your TV-watching experience. Ultra-thin TVs don’t leave much space for high-quality speakers, so if you want a true surround sound-style listening experience (and who wouldn’t?), you’ll need to invest in a soundbar. The same goes for anyone who finds that their regular television volume is just too damn quiet. Indeed, as my review of the ZVOX AV157 AccuVoice TV Speaker proves, sometimes soundbars are downright essential for helping those with hearing problems actually comprehend what people on TV are saying.
Yes, you are technically able to connect a Bluetooth speaker to your TV or pair it with a computer-friendly speaker instead. But neither of these methods is likely to be as powerful and produce as wide of a “sound field” as a soundbar.
If you’re set on treating your TV to a much-needed sound makeover, here are Mashable’s top suggestions for soundbars that are worth your time in 2023:
