The past decade has seen incredible improvements in the picture quality of TVs.
However, whilst TV screens have been getting bigger, flatter, and unequivocally better, the quality of audio systems hasn’t enjoyed quite the same trajectory.
Today’s flat screens, with their super-slim profiles may look great on the eye, but they don’t offer the space necessary to give you high-quality audio.
So the question then is: are Bluetooth speakers better than TV?
In short, yes.
If you’re wanting a large, punchy sound from your TV to enjoy a big sporting event or an action-packed thriller, you’ll likely be left disappointed. Not so with Bluetooth speakers.
Not only do they offer far superior sound quality, they’re also incredibly easy to operate.
Most TVs have their speakers positioned either at the bottom of the screen or in the middle on the rear of the device to help spread the sound.
Regardless of which position your TV has its speakers, it’s never going to produce the most immersive sound.
Yes, Bluetooth speakers are an additional cost, but they’ll completely galvanize your TV-watching experience.
They offer both flexibility and exciting potential in the sense that you can connect multiple speakers to your TV at the same time from a range of different positions in the room.
This is great if you want to create a surround-sound system in your living room.
Another advantage of Bluetooth speakers is the ability to mix and match different brands of speakers.
So, if you already own a couple, there’s no need to go out and buy an entire set in order to create your surround-sound system.
And to connect your TV to a typical Bluetooth speaker, all you’ll need to do is position the devices close together, find your speaker in the TV settings, pair the two, and then you’ll be good to go.
What are the best wireless speakers for TV?
Wireless TV speakers are incredibly popular in contemporary society, with a wide range of impressive options on the market.
However, finding the “best” or most complete speakers can be quite a challenge, as everyone will prioritize certain qualities over others.
There are three main types of connection:
- Radio Frequency (RF)
- Bluetooth
- and Wi-Fi.
All three have their own distinct strengths and weaknesses, so it all depends on exactly what you’re looking for.
RF speakers use radio frequencies to receive the sound from the TV.
Along with the speaker itself, you’ll get a base which has the dual-purpose of working as a transmitter and a charging station.
The base has to be connected to your TV through an audio output port, as well as being plugged into a power source (a plug socket).
There’s no sound delay when you watch TV through an RF speaker, unlike many of the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi products.
However, the signal provided by the RF transmitter (base) to the speaker isn’t the strongest, so there shouldn’t be too many obstacles in the line of sight between the two.
Bluetooth speakers don’t require a transmitter like RF speakers, since your TV will work as one.
As mentioned above, all audio transmitted via Bluetooth has to be compressed which means you may well experience some sound delays.
However, a simple solution to this problem is to find a speaker that supports aptX low latency. This is a unique way of compression and will cause your sound delay to be imperceptible.
For many people, this is good enough. Bluetooth speakers and soundbars are the most common, as well as the most popular wireless speakers for TV.
Wi-Fi speakers are great for creating multi-room systems, although you’ll usually have to connect your TV to one of the speakers through a digital or analogue port.
The slightly frustrating thing with Wi-Fi speakers is that when you buy one brand, you have to stick with it moving forwards.
So, if you buy a Bose speaker first and then decide you want an upgrade, you can’t buy a wireless speaker from another brand - it has to be a Bose wireless speaker.
This is highly restrictive and makes your initial decision selecting the first speaker all the more important.
What is the difference between a soundbar and a Bluetooth speaker?
Bluetooth speakers are much more compact audio devices and can be placed pretty much anywhere in the room giving you the ultimate flexibility.
You can also connect multiple speakers to your TV if you’re looking to create a surround-sound system.
Most of the latest brands of Bluetooth speakers also tend to be weather-resistant, portable and have a long battery life, making them perfect for using both indoors and outdoors.
Bluetooth soundbars on the other hand, are usually positioned right below your TV.
They are long speakers and provide audio very similar to how the TV would sound if it had space for a proper audio system as the sound comes straight from the TV’s direction.
Soundbars can operate efficiently on their own, as well with a subwoofer.
There are a few notable differences between the two:
- The first is the price, with soundbars typically much cheaper than their speaker counterparts. Added to this, the fact that speakers are best when there’s many of them, soundbars will definitely be the better option if you’re working to a tight budget.
- In terms of audio quality, Bluetooth speakers, despite being smaller, offer far superior sound quality than soundbars. This is mainly due to the fact that speakers can be arranged all over the room, while soundbars are restricted to just one place.
- Finally, if you’re looking for the most practical audio device, look no further than the Bluetooth speaker. Soundbars are singular and much longer, so take up more space below your TV. While, speakers are smaller, more compact, and only require a small area to be set up.
