The built-in speakers that come with your TV are often insufficient to complete an entertainment setup. Whether you love film or gaming, choosing the best external speakers for TV will help take your audio listening experience to a new level.
While there are multiple options available for TVs that can offer the best video quality possible, only limited external speaker brands offer excellent sound output that will amaze an audiophile.
When choosing an external speaker, the market is flooded with various options. An analysis of features you need on a speaker will help you narrow down a suitable brand for you. For that, you will need to consider parameters such as compatibility with your TV.
If it is your first time buying an external speaker, this buyer’s guide will definitely help you. I have picked different speaker brands in different categories to make the selection process easier for you.
If you are in the market for an external wireless TV speaker, then SIMILIO Clear Dialogue TV speakers will be the right fit for you. They give you the wireless experience that many people want.
The speaker can connect to your television on a long range of up to 100 ft, this will give you room to place it in whatever position you feel comfortable in.
Although it is wireless, it also offers an array of connection options. It is 3.5 AUX, RCA, and Optical supported to offer you premium sound.
The speaker’s tone can be easily adjusted to the preferred setting for customized sound. It is a recommended brand for people with hearing problems.
The speaker also has an independent volume control to set the desired sound level. It is powered by Li-ion rechargeable batteries that offer up to 6 hours of playback on a single charge.
Bobot Home Theater is a pretty new brand in the world of the best external speakers for TV, but it will definitely amaze you as it offers all sorts of features that are not common in its price range.
The speaker’s pro surround function will provide a premium listening experience for more enjoyment.
The TV speaker’s peak power is 800 watts offering professional sound quality and excellent bass. The home theater system will definitely bring you the full cinema experience in the comfort of your home.
Unlike other premium speaker brands, Bobot supports a variety of connectivity options such as Bluetooth 5.0. It also has other input modes such as TV ARC, AUX, USB, and more. Easily plug the speakers and play.
If you are looking for a good-looking premium TV speaker that offers multiple features, then Audioengine A5+ is the best fit. The premium speakers come in 3 different colors: a natural bamboo finish, matte black, or high gloss white.
Though wireless audio is convenient and most audiophiles prefer the wired version, this speaker combines the company’s proprietary Bluetooth receiver and transmitter to provide a great audio performance.
Audioengine A5+ delivers a powerful bass depth that is extremely loud. This is enabled through its in-built analog class A/B monoblock powerful amplifiers. The speakers come with additional cables, which offer an alternative way to connect to your TV.
The speakers measure 9 x 7 x 10.75 inches making them compact enough to blend in any position you place in your living room.
The Bose Solo T soundbar has a compact and lightweight design made from high-quality materials. It measures a total length of 21.6 inches, fitting perfectly in front of your TV without obstructing the view.
The external speaker has no buttons or displays, but it has a remote control to change the settings to your liking. It also features two angled drivers to create a broader and more immersive listening experience.
The soundbar also does not come with a subwoofer. It will bring audio clarity from the multiple modes it has. Switching it to dialogue mode will make sure each word stands out.
The sound bar has Bluetooth connectivity, offering wireless audio streaming on all your Bluetooth-enabled devices. It also offers alternate connectivity options to your TV, such as Coaxial, 3.5 mm AUX, and Optical.
Even when you are on a tight budget when purchasing external speakers for your TV, you shouldn’t compromise on the features or quality.
For that reason, Tosima TV-8000 wireless speakers offer some of the best features at an affordable price, making it the primary choice for thousands of buyers.
The external speaker offers professional and qualified sound quality through its wireless transfer technology with no time delay. The device’s Bluetooth has a range of up to 100 ft.
It has a volume knob that works independently from the television’s volume so you can amplify your listening experience.
The Tosima speaker has a built-in 1000mA rechargeable battery that delivers up to 8 hours of back-to-back high-quality sound. It also offers multi-function wide compatibility with other home theater systems and multimedia players.
To connect it with your television other than the wireless option, plug in the RCA or 3.5 mm AUX cable. They are pretty lightweight and easy to use.
Edifier is one of the top brands that offer the best external speakers for TV, and their R1280T does not disappoint.
It is sometimes nearly impossible to get an economically priced speaker that offers decent playback as they will have some limitations, but this external television speaker is not the case.
It will provide you with studio sound quality, which has a rich profile compared to speakers of a similar price range.
The speakers look fantastic; the wood grain finish provides a retro-modern appeal that will complement your TV.
The build quality is also great; it is quite solid and well put together. The back of the bookshelf speaker offers multiple ports with alternate means of connecting to a television, such as RCA and AUX.
As one of the top brands in the audio industry for decades, Bose has a number of speakers that are ideal for every situation.
The Bose Surround Speakers 700 set themselves apart from the others as I find them the most suitable companion for a TV. The speakers come in 2 colors; you can choose between white and black.
The surround speakers are designed to enhance your audio listening experience and match your sound bar’s aesthetics, as it has a premium look.
Its need for fewer wires makes it easier to set up. The wireless receivers will give you a theater experience in the comfort of your home.
The speaker’s sound is unbelievably loud and pristine, creating a 360-degree sound. If you want to take the audio setup of your home to the next level, connect them to the Bose Soundbar 700.
SEREONIC portable speakers are one of the best external speakers on this list as it is both affordable and stylish.
It also has many other features that speakers of a similar range might lack. One of the most important specs is its compatibility to wirelessly connect to nearly all smart television brands.
The speaker’s sound quality is also great, providing high-definition sound, which means you can experience clarity at high volumes.
The speaker is designed to be portable, meaning it can wirelessly connect and transmit sound up to 100 ft from the connected device.
Its high-quality batteries will give you continuous 8 hours of playtime per charge. The battery can be charged for about 3 hours through its USB power base connected to a standard charger. SERENOIC also supports wired connectivity: AUX, RCA, and Optical.
To keep up with Samsung’s signature style, this soundbar has a rectangular-shaped design. Its building materials are high-quality, hard, and durable.
A subwoofer is included and made from wood, similar to the soundbar, and is covered in fabric on its front side. The size of the sound bar is longer than that of other brands (it’s almost 34 inches), making it a suitable fit if you have a bigger TV.
These external speakers for TV have very simple controls. The soundbar contains a few buttons at the top middle to easily control the volume, switch inputs, and turn off and on.
The stereo frequency of the speakers is great as it has Dolby Audio, providing neutral sound and deep bass. It also has adjustable EQ modes, allowing the user to fine-tune to their preferences.
Elevate your television’s sound with the GEOYEAO soundbar through its 4 full-range speakers and one powerful bass woofer that delivers great surround sound.
The high-quality sound will allow you to experience 3D effects similar to that of a theater in the comfort of your home.
The versatile sound system can connect to your television in several ways, including an optical cable and auxiliary cables. The most common method of the speaker’s connection is through Bluetooth, which pairs with most devices.
GEOYEAO is one of my top choices as the best external speaker for TV if you are buying one for the first time as you will not need to invest a lot of money but will be able to experience great features.
One of the most incredible features as it can be split into two speakers. It comes with two bases to support it when split. This offers an alternate way of setting up instead of the usual method of a long bar beneath a TV.
Things to Consider When Buying External Speakers for TV
Here is a look at five factors you should consider before purchasing an external speaker for your television.
Sound Quality
Sound quality is the first feature you should look into for your new speakers since everyone has different tastes, there are multiple brands to cater to nearly all ways you might want to experience audio. What is fantastic to someone can underwhelm or overwhelm the other.
First, listen to different models to see if they have what you are looking for. If you are looking for bass, ensure the brand you select is your preferred sound quality at high volumes without any distortion.
A great way to do this is to listen to live music on the speakers. Live music is a great way of testing your speakers as a great brand would offer balanced tones, which is easy on your ears over a long time. The other way is to seek recommendations and reviews from audio experts.
Type of Speaker
There are a variety of external speakers for TV. Some of the common ones are home theaters, soundbars, and bookshelf speakers. While there are other types, choosing one for your TV shouldn’t be an intimidating experience.
Narrowing down a specific type can be based on its sound quality, use, and appearance. Other brands are versatile as they can change from being a soundbar to a standing speaker through simple steps.
The cost of the best external speakers for TV will vary depending on the size and features. It can be from as low as $80 to several thousand, but it is crucial to note that expensive does not necessarily mean better.
At the same time, it does not mean a cheap speaker will provide the immersive sound that a home theater will produce in a small room.
Before setting eyes on any external speaker, you should know your budget. The price range of your purchasing power will guide you to know what you will expect from a quality speaker.
If you are willing to spend a lot of money on a speaker, the best option would be going for name brands as they will have good customer service available.
Power Requirement
Power is an important factor that most buyers ignore. To avoid high energy bills, avoid high-watt audio systems as they then tend to consume more energy. If you need a basic speaker for your TV, check the power requirements.
It is also important to make sure that the amplifier you use on your speaker will be able to perform to its full potential when connected. If the speakers you are considering buying have a built-in amplifier, it will be an added advantage to you.
Room and Acoustics
Not each and every type of speaker is suitable for any chosen room. Small speakers can be great for a small area but will offer a pale sound when placed in a big living room.
It is the same case with large external speakers, as they can overwhelm tiny spaces making your listening experience underwhelming.
The room’s dimensions, number of speakers, and the contents of the room are important factors to consider when choosing an external speaker brand.
This is because sound bounces on walls, furniture, and floors and is even absorbed in cushions.
FAQs
How can I use both speakers and external speakers on my TV?
It is quite possible to play audio through multiple devices simultaneously. The setting will vary depending on the different TV and external speaker brand. The most common procedure for turning both speakers on is as follows:
On your remote, select the Setting button
Under the TV category, select Sound, then Audio out
Under Audio output, select Audio to both TV speakers and other devices
Turn it on
In other TV models connecting an external speaker does not automatically turn off the television’s speaker. You will not have to change the setting if that is your preference.
It is also important to note using both speakers simultaneously causes echoes, and you will not have an enjoyable listening experience.
Do soundbars sound better than TV speakers?
In most cases, soundbars are some of the best external speakers for TV; most of the brands are optimized to produce better sound quality than built-in TV speakers.
While the latest modern TVs can range in size, most brands focus on improving their picture quality rather than their audio.
On the other hand, a soundbar has better sound quality as the audio companies specifically design them for it, offering immersive sound and flexible position.
Only a few cases of cheap soundbar brands produce lower-quality sound than a TV speaker.
How do I get sound from my TV to external speakers?
There are multiple ways to connect your TV to your external speakers. Your preferred method will depend on the features of both your TV and external speakers.
The fastest and most common way is through a wireless connection. If both your devices have Bluetooth, with a few steps you’ll be good to go.
The other method involves the use of cables to connect the TV to your speakers. The TVs and external speakers’ manual will come in handy. Some of the common wired connection methods between TV and external speakers include:
Optical cable
HDMI-ARC cable
3.5mm analog cable
RCA cables
Can I connect speakers to the TV with HDMI?
For you to be able to connect external speakers to a TV with an HDMI cable, both of the devices first need to have HDMI ports.
It is also crucial to know if your TV has an Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature as it will enable the transmission of high-quality sound without any quality loss.
If your TV has an HDMI port but lacks the ARC feature, you will need an additional composite audio or optical cable for the connection. Older TV models might lack an HDMI-ARC port; an RCA or 3.5m AUX connector is the way to go.
Conclusion
If you are not satisfied with the audio output of your TV’s speakers, you probably won’t enjoy the content you are watching. It is better to connect your TV with a set of powerful speakers to amplify its sound output.
The speakers on this list come in different shapes and sizes but are all up to the task. If you are looking for the best external speakers for TV to enjoy watching movies, shows, music videos, or gaming, they will offer you the best listening experience.
The most important factor to consider when buying an external speaker is the audio quality and the acoustics; it should work without any distortion. This review consists of various external speakers to suit your needs.
Whether you are on a budget or looking for a premium brand, our list is perfect for you. Though it is not easy to pick a speaker for your TV, I have narrowed down the 10 best brands our there.
Is a musician and journalist with over 13 years of experience writing for some of the music world's biggest brands. Ray loves getting nerdy about everything from guitar gear and synths, to microphones and music production hardware.
