The topic Stop using your TV’s built-in speakers if you actually care about movies is currently the subject of lively discussion — readers and analysts are keeping a close eye on developments.
This is taking place in a dynamic environment: companies’ decisions and competitors’ reactions can quickly change the picture.
Owning one of the best TVs, then failing to pair your mighty display with a decent surround sound system, is an AV mistake on par with trying to fight a T.rex with a twig. Many modern screens look spectacular, yet when it comes to their audio output, quality is often lacking. That’s just one reason why you should stop letting your TV speakers interfere with your expensive Dolby Atmos setup.
For years, I was fine with using the internal speakers of whatever TV I owned at the time. Looking back, that was a major mistake. With cutting-edge televisions continuing to get ever more svelte, manufacturers are faced with increasing issues when it comes to delivering convincing audio. If you’re a hardcore movie buff or are obsessed with Netflix streaming, the best gift you can ever give your TV is to pair it with a quality surround sound system.
Unlock the full potential of your soundbar with these simple tweaks.
My current home entertainment setup is slightly unhinged. After buying a 77-inch LG G3 OLED TV, I decided to pair this fabulous display with a high-end surround sound system that’s probably the new dictionary definition of “overkill”. The Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar that sits below my television is joined by a duo of Dolby Atmos Sonos Era 300 smart speakers, combined with a pair of Gen 4 Sonos Subs. And yes, you can add Dolby Atmos to your home theater without drilling a single hole.
It’s a glorious setup that effortlessly fills my lounge with ultra-immersive surround sound. Make no mistake, movies are instantly elevated when paired with a home theater setup, especially if they’ve been mastered to support Dolby Atmos or Dolby Digital Plus.
I live for movies, I truly do. As much as I love writing about PC hardware, the main love of my life will always be film. The reason I put together such an exorbitant setup is so that I could enjoy the movies that I cherish in a manner that comes as close to mimicking a cinema experience as possible.
For the purposes of this feature, I dove back into some of my silver screen favorites to remind myself just how incredible they sound through a good soundbar paired with rear speakers and a separate subwoofer.
And hoo-boy, did I treat my ears to some scintillating surround sound output. The second act police vs. heist crew gun battle in Heat is so impactful with rear speakers, I could have sworn the sounds of De Niro and co’s assault rifles were being fired mere millimeters from my head. The climactic hallway scene from The Matrix, where Neo finally discovers that he’s the bullet-stopping One, is a joy to listen to as Don Davis’ pulsating, uplifting score soars throughout my lounge.
Meanwhile, the pulsating big chase sequence in The Batman and the seismic opening convoy set piece from Mad Max: Fury Road are so incredibly resonant on a surround sound system, my neighbors (and their perforated eardrums) will probably never forgive me.
Many modern TVs are often exceptionally thin. As such, their speakers are rather small. Compared to a 46-inch Sonos Arc Ultra, it’s no wonder many televisions’ cramped internal audio options lack depth.
Folks who fail to pair their TV with a surround sound system really are hobbling movie night. TV speakers usually can’t produce satisfying bass levels, while dialogue quality can also be impacted. The best way to improve the clarity of dialogue coming from your TV? Pair it with a home theater system where the central speaker/soundbar takes care of spoken lines, while side/rear speakers deal with explosions and other audio effects.
The best shows and movies on Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and Netflix have been mastered to support formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. Even if your TV’s audio supports virtual surround sound, the effect is never going to match the true directional soundscape of a dedicated 7.1 or 5.1 home theater system. If you want to replicate the sounds of a cinema from the comfort of your front room, you have to opt for proper surround sound or built-in TV speakers.
It’s probably clear at this point that I think home theater systems absolutely rock. Yet if you live in an apartment building or semi-detached house, it’s important you think about the people you’re sharing walls with before cranking your surround sound to the max.
Take it from someone who has gotten into multiple heated arguments over the audio output of their soundbar/subwoofer setup: when you’re watching content at night, please lower the bass levels of your system.
To avoid causing all sorts of noise pollution problems with your neighbors, here are three ways to soundproof your entertainment system without ruining the layout of your room. The most important audio issue to confront is reducing your subwoofer’s bass output (especially for nighttime streaming sessions).
If you have a decent surround sound setup, there’s a good chance you’ll own a dedicated sub. On my Sonos system, I can easily tweak bass output on my phone through the company’s official app. For those of you with systems that don’t support external software, your woofer may well have dials on the back that can be tinkered with to lower all that floor-shaking resonance. Correcting overly boosted subwoofer levels is easily the most important soundproofing method to address, as I guarantee all that bass is going to infuriate the folks in your building.
Other ways you can help soundproof your system? Use speaker stands with padded foam to reduce reverberation levels, and also avoid placing your subwoofer near the corners of your room. From my experience, I get the most benefit from the bass of my Sonos sub when it’s placed next to my chair (with a hefty amount of padding separating it from my wooden floors).
For my money, audio quality matters every bit as much as image resolution when watching the most impressive 4K movies and shows. When I was using my TV’s speakers, I was depriving myself of the next level of immersion that comes from experiencing films with room-filling surround sound. My system may have given my neighbors a few headaches down the years (something I’ve subsequently addressed with sound-proofing techniques), and for that I’m sorry. Yet I can’t deny that my love of proper 5.1 audio is incredibly dear to my heart (and ears).
The Sonos Arc Ultra provides top-notch Dolby Atmos sound in a single soundbar. The 9.1.4 speaker is quick and easy to setup with any TV using an eARC or ARC port. The large soundbar should be used with TVs larger than 50 inches.