Why do TV speakers suck?

TV manufacturers have come a long way in making their products ultra-thin—some models are just 1 cm thick. But while this sleek design often makes a TV ultra premium and a thing of beauty in its own right, it presents a significant challenge: sound quality.

Ever noticed that the audio from your TV sounds flat, muffled, or distorted? The problem lies in the limitations of these slim designs.

The struggle of tiny TV speakers

The main issue is space. Modern TVs prioritise being thin and stylish over having room for a set of robust, high-quality speakers. As a result, most TVs use tiny, low-powered drivers, often placed in non-optimal positions. In many cases, these speakers face downward or backward, with sound bouncing off walls or surfaces. This placement is meant to fill the room with sound, but it usually results in muffled audio and a lack of clarity, especially when it comes to dialogue.

The physics behind weak TV Sound

To understand why TV speakers sound so bad, we need to dive into a bit of physics. For speakers to produce deep bass and clear dialogue, they need space to move air. In traditional home theater systems, drivers can be as large as 6 inches. These larger drivers are capable of producing a richer, fuller sound. In contrast, the drivers in most modern TVs are less than 1 inch in size. This drastic size difference leads to weak bass, tinny treble, and, often, muddled speech that’s hard to understand, especially during quiet scenes.

The fix: Soundbars and external speakers

So, what’s the solution? If you’re tired of your TV's subpar audio, a simple fix is to invest in a good soundbar or external speakers. Even a budget soundbar can drastically improve your TV’s sound quality, bringing clarity, depth, and a more immersive experience. Soundbars, in particular, are designed to improve dialogue and provide a more balanced sound profile, making them a must-have for anyone who wants to enhance their TV-watching experience.

Conclusion

TV speakers have to make compromises due to the slim designs of modern televisions. The physics behind speaker size and placement means that most TVs cannot deliver the deep, clear sound that we desire. Fortunately, adding a soundbar or external speakers can remedy this issue, ensuring that your TV sounds as good as it looks.