Modern TV Sound Capabilities Vs. Soundbar

coldazure on 02/12/2024 - 16:48
Last edited 02/12/2024 - 16:50

I haven't purchased any TV related electronics for over 12 years now and am looking to finally refresh. I've just started doing my research and it's been a real blast learning about all of the new technologies, but there's so much to absorb I'm hoping to get some additional advice from seasoned vets.

One of my first questions is whether I should look to include a soundbar in my new living room set up so would like to know if people have a general view of how is the general quality of modern TVs, and whether it's a huge upgrade to use a sound bar?

We are a regular family of non-audiophiles. We would use the TV for "general everyday use", which is a bit of everything as opposed to anything specialised and specific. News, sports, movies, games, tv shows, cartoons etc. I am only considering a sound bar for an audio upgrade because I want a minimalistic living room and don't want to clutter it with any other audio appliances. The viewing distance will be approximately 3 meters, but it's an open floor living/dining/kitchen and the dining/kitchen are further away. Not super important that we can hear everything super crisp from those distances but higher volumes without the sound cracking is obviously also a factor for consideration.

If we need to be specific, based on my research so far it looks like I am likely to end up with a 75" TCL 855 or 755 as I can't really afford any OLED varieties from the big 3 brands and this seemed to be the next best thing with the mini LEDs. Feel free to also give me any advice on other brand/models I should consider, and thanks to everyone for your help.

Electrical & Electronics Soundbar

Comments

  • jv on 02/12/2024 - 16:51
    -2

    I've always ever used my TV speakers and never had a problems with them…

    One of our TVs is a TCL and it sounds fine.

    This looks like a good deal

    • coldazure on 02/12/2024 - 16:58
      +1

      classic jv. thanks for your input.

    • MS Paint on 02/12/2024 - 17:09

      I've always ever used my TV speakers

      These don't count in 2024 jv.

      Modern ultra thin TVs <$1.5k have shit sound quality in my experience. Nearly any sound bar and sub is an improvement.

      • jv on 02/12/2024 - 17:13

        Not quite that model… This is our main tv…

        • Protractor on 02/12/2024 - 18:47

          Are they a couple of your prisoners?

          • jv on 02/12/2024 - 18:49

            @Protractor: No, Dan's…

            He keeps them in the basement in between Netflix shows.

            • Protractor on 02/12/2024 - 19:20

              @jv: Nice of him to share keys with you. Or is it vice versa?

              • jv on 02/12/2024 - 19:47

                @Protractor:

                Nice of him to share keys with you.

                He and Albo have the master keys.

    • AustriaBargain on 02/12/2024 - 17:29

      Yeah, but you're jv.

  • rabid_monkey on 02/12/2024 - 17:11

    From what I hear the sound on the C855 is pretty good with some decent bass (which tv speakers usually lack). If you watch plenty of movies I’d say the soundbar would be a good upgrade for more punchy and immersive sound (you’d want a soundbar with a sub), but otherwise try the tv sound to start and you can always add a soundbar later if you feel it’s lacking.

    • Browsers on 03/12/2024 - 23:31

      Yes, sound on the C855 is likely good enough for the use described by OP.

  • andresampras on 02/12/2024 - 17:13
    +1

    If you have time, buy TV then gauge its audio quality in your home.

    If you're in a hurry, buy a decent soundbar along with the TV - money aside you won't go wrong.

    I've got some cheap stereo speakers and they are way better than the built-in speakers on my TV.

    • coldazure on 02/12/2024 - 20:54

      thanks, yeah I think i'll ultimately go down that route. the other question that i should've asked in my post is whether there are good mounting racks for 75" tv's that also have extensions for soundbars, because if I want to get one later then i'll need a rack that has that option.

  • Sal in SA on 02/12/2024 - 17:39

    If you have no concern for any quality at all they will be fine.

  • loropy9 on 02/12/2024 - 19:09
    +1

    The old hisense at work died, we replaced it with 55 inch tcl 655. The sound on the tcl is sooo much better. Clear and loud. No need for soundbar at all and it's used in a 80sqm hall with 4m ceiling.

  • rumblytangara on 02/12/2024 - 19:38

    One of my first questions is whether I should look to include a soundbar in my new living room set up so would like to know if people have a general view of how is the general quality of modern TVs, and whether it's a huge upgrade to use a sound bar?

    One of the fundamental requirements to having good sound is decent drivers for the speakers. The physics of speakers… don't really change regardless of fancy technology buzzwords. Decent speakers firstly means big enough drivers (tiny speakers are incapable of doing lower frequencies well). And secondly pointing in the correct direction (forwards towards the listener).

    Slimline TVs simply cannot house big enough drivers, and will have drivers that point down into the TV cabinet, or backwards against the wall. This means 1) they can't do a good range of frequencies and 2) the sound they produce gets bounced around and echoed like crazy before it hits your ears (think of someone speaking through a tube - the voice has reflected off a load of surfaces before escaping the tube).

    Soundbars have their own compromises (tiny drivers) but they will generally be better than TV speakers.

    • AustriaBargain on 02/12/2024 - 20:05

      Some soundbars are huge, at least as big as two bookshelf speakers.

      • rumblytangara on 02/12/2024 - 20:26

        Huge, but with a bunch of small drivers that don't add up to much air displacement. So they need a 'sub' to compensate.

  • samcro on 02/12/2024 - 21:10

    I recently bought a 65" Tcl. Have paired it with tcl soundbar with sub. Transformed the TV sound. Modern TV's are too thin to produce decent sound.

  • stickingly on 03/12/2024 - 09:37
    +1

    Modern TV speakers work fine but is the sound good enough?? Depends on you.

    I have my main TV hooked up to a receiver and good speakers. Occasionally when turning on the TV it doesn't wake up the receiver like it's meant to and you end up using the TV speakers.

    My wife and one child will watch for hours like this and not even notice
    I will notice immediately how bad it sounds and turn on the receiver

    • coldazure on 03/12/2024 - 09:54

      thanks for the input. yeah I recognise all of this is mostly subjective but there might be value in observing a mass of opinions.

    • Naigrabzo on 04/12/2024 - 12:46

      Yeah I know the feeling. Soon, once you age enough, you won't hear any difference.

      • rumblytangara on 04/12/2024 - 13:36

        It's the other way round, the worse your hearing gets the more important clear sound is so that you make out dialogue.

  • FezMonkey on 05/12/2024 - 13:35

    Def get a sound bar. When we moved house we didn't have the sound bar connected for a while and using the TV speakers again was terrible by comparison.

    And if you're in a large open plan family room it will help get better volume and clearer.

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