March 2, 2025, 4:49 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

The new UHD TV delivers razor-sharp images with brilliant colors–almost like in the cinema, if only the sound weren’t lacking. Explosions in action spectacles become mere whispers. Films and, of course, concert recordings or musicals lack something when the sound is as flat as the TV. Manufacturers have recognized this and offer solutions for rich cinema sound in the living room.

In the video, we explain what to consider:

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Reasons for Poor TV Sound

Design of TV Sets

Another issue is the current flat-screen TVs. As they become thinner, sound quality increasingly suffers. Why? Sound needs space–a decent bass or even spatial sound is hard to achieve with small TV speakers.

Therefore, the sound on the TV often sounds as thin as the devices themselves. This phenomenon intensifies the smaller the TV set is. Additionally, a living room with doors and windows is not the best place for perfect acoustics.

Cinema Sound Not Suitable for TV

Not necessarily poor mixing–but perhaps the wrong kind? Many directors aim to replicate the cinema experience in the mixing studio, even for TV series, where a different audio dynamic can be portrayed than on TV.

“Films are mixed with a lot of dynamics for the cinema–meaning the difference between quiet and loud parts is very large. At home on the TV, this often means it’s hard to find the right volume: If you set the listening volume to the dialogues, music and effects are often too loud, and if you turn it down again, the dialogues are hard to understand,” says Hannah Baumgartner, engineer at Fraunhofer IDMT in the field of “Speech Intelligibility in Film and Television” to TECHBOOK.

How Can I Improve TV Sound?

There are several ways to achieve better sound–though some may involve additional costs.

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TV Settings

Of course, device manufacturers utilize the possibilities offered by digital technology. In the settings menu, you often find numerous options to influence the TV’s sound. For example, bass can be emphasized or speech highlighted.

Many TVs also offer different modes like “Music,” “Speech,” or “Cinema,” but don’t be misled by their names. Just check which setting suits your living room best. Nowadays, there are also TVs that use artificial intelligence (AI) to adjust the sound to the program.

Still, for perfect sound, volume is essential. Subwoofers built into the back of the TV improve sound volume, but to create surround sound like in the cinema, additional devices are necessary.

Soundbars and Soundplates

At least against the thin TV speakers, a soundbar can quickly help. The bar-shaped speaker is connected to the TV via HDMI or optical cable and often includes an external subwoofer, a small box that produces bass. Thanks to their compact design, soundbars fit well in front of the TV. If there’s no space there, sound decks are an alternative, built deeper and wider so the TV can sit on top.

Soundbars with Dolby Atmos are also interesting. They project sound not only forward into the room but also onto the ceiling, from where it reflects back down. This way, the helicopter in the movie seems to fly over the viewer’s head. Soundbars with Dolby Atmos are now available from all major manufacturers. As is often the case with consumer electronics: the more expensive, the better. However, even entry-level models offer virtual surround sound based on Dolby Atmos.

Home Theater with 5.1 Speaker System and AV Receiver

If virtual surround sound isn’t enough, an AV receiver with a complete set of speakers is needed. Only this way can a 5.1 surround sound according to Dolby or dts be realized. 5.1 stands for five speakers (front left and right, front center, and surround left and right) and a subwoofer responsible for the bass.

Even with AV receivers and 5.1 speaker systems, prices have no upper limit. Such systems can also be installed wirelessly. However, audio purists swear by high-quality cables.

Additionally, AV receivers offer a wealth of settings, allowing each speaker to be adjusted to the room or your seating position. If you just want a bit more punch for the next TV evening, a smaller solution like a soundbar might be more suitable.

Headphones

The best sound, free from any noise like rustling chip bags, is offered by over-ear headphones. For comfort, we recommend wireless headphones. If your TV doesn’t have Bluetooth, you’ll need a Bluetooth transmitter in addition to the headphones. These are available from 20 euros. They connect to the TV via the headphone jack. However, this solution is probably only suitable if you’re watching alone.

Stereo System

If you still have a music system at home, you can easily connect it to the TV and benefit from the better speakers and consequently better sound. This works via 3.5 mm jack cables or RCA. No matter which stereo system you have, the speakers are almost always better than the TV’s built-in ones.

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Bluetooth Speakers

With the growing popularity of portable Bluetooth speakers, there’s an option that many might not have considered. These popular speakers can also be wirelessly connected to the TV. A great use for the often underutilized Bluetooth speakers at home. Here too, you’ll need a TV with Bluetooth or an external transmitter.