The best TVs for sound deliver great picture quality and dynamic, room-filling sound to go with it. This might seem like something you’d expect from the best TVs on the market. But as the picture performance of TVs advances, sound tends to suffer.
As TVs have gotten thinner over the years, there is less space in the display’s physical frame for adding speakers. The end result—in some cases—has been sound that’s as thin as the TV itself, which makes hearing voices particularly difficult, especially when they are mixed with music soundtracks and movie sound effects.
This is why we highly recommend you invest in one of the best soundbars or the best surround sound systems, even with many of the best TVs you can buy today. However, going down that route requires more research—checking you have enough space and the right connections—and extra budget.
Luckily there are several TVs on the market that come with superb sound systems as standard. You’ll get good sound quality from each of these TVs with no extra gear or work necessary. What’s more, sales season is nearly here. You might find one of the best TVs for sound in our round-up of Black Friday deals as the big day approaches on Friday 25 November.
We’ve tested hundreds of TVs over the years, so we know what makes a great package. Rest assured, each of the TV displays on our list don’t just sound good, they look fantastic and have much of the best TV tech built-in too. Whether it’s a Hollywood blockbuster or just back episodes of Friends, the TVs we’ve selected below will make sure that whatever you’re watching sounds as good as it can.
Best TVs for sound in 2022—our top picks
(Image credit: Panasonic)
The best TV for sound for most people
Specifications
Screen sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel technology: OLED
Dolby Atmos: Yes
eARC: Yes
Audio output: 125W
Reasons to buy
+
Universal HDR with Dolby Vision IQ
+
Dolby Atmos sound system
+
Sensational OLED picture
Reasons to avoid
–
Expensive
–
Needs some picture tweaking
Panasonic owns the Technics audio brand (every DJ’s favourite), and it’s put that know-how to good use on this set. The built-in 360 Soundscape Pro sound system is tuned by Technics, providing Hi-Fi quality sound for all your films, games, TV shows and music content. Also onboard are upwards and side-firing speakers to direct the sound more towards the viewer for rich Dolby Atmos results.
Indeed, in our five-star review, we said “The JZ2000’s speakers are truly incredible for built-in audio, being capable of recreating both the delicate footstep on a stairway and roaring explosion of a car crash in equal measure. You’re getting precise audio detail as well as a strong bass response.”
The image quality is just as mind-blowing, with tuning by Hollywood specialists helping to make things as accurate and cinematic as you’ll see in any TV. A brighter-than-average OLED panel with complete HDR support (both Dolby Vision and HDR10+) only helps with that.
And it’s good for gamers, with HDMI 2.1 support including 4K 120Hz and VRR. It’s a shame about the high price – as ever, though, you get what you pay for. Audiophiles, take note!
Read our full Panasonic JZ2000 review
(Image credit: Sony)
A good option for mid-range budgets
Specifications
Screen sizes: 50-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch, 75-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel technology: LED
Dolby Atmos: Yes
eARC: Yes
Audio output: 20W
Reasons to buy
+
Clever positional audio
+
Best-in-class image quality
+
Excellent upscaling
Reasons to avoid
–
Slight screen glare
–
Mediocre off-axis viewing
The Sony X90J is nearly everything we’d want from a mid-range 4K LED-LCD TV. For the money, there are few TVs that can match it in terms of picture quality and feature set, making it top of its class for mid-range models—and this is still the case even though it was released in 2021.
For a mid-range TV without any attached soundbar, the Sony X90J is surprisingly powerful in the sound category. Using only two 10W full range drivers and two side tweeters, the X90J delivers convincing and clear audio that, largely, sounds very good. It’s one of the more powerful TV speaker systems we’ve heard on a mid-range 4K TV.
Like other Sony TVs, the X90J uses Sony’s new X-Balanced Speaker to deliver clearer sound with less distortion at high volumes and the tweeters help broaden the soundstage of the TV — although it does make some compromises on the bass response.
Shows, movies and games we played on the TV all sounded crisp and clear with easy-to-understand dialogue and solid simulated 3D sound. While the simulated 3D audio is never quite as good as a full Dolby Atmos setup—it’s not even close, really—it is a nice feature to have while you’re waiting to install a more fully featured AV solution.
If you’re looking for an exceptional 4K HDR TV with Dolby Vision and impressive on-board audio, the Sony X90J’s appeal is that it delivers everything you need for a phenomenal 4K HDR performance at a reasonable price.
Read our full Sony X90J review
(Image credit: Samsung)
The best 8K TV for sound
Specifications
Screen sizes: 65-inch, 75-inch, 85-inch
Resolution: 8K
Panel technology: Neo QLED / Mini LED
Dolby Atmos: Yes
eARC: Yes
Audio output: 90W
Screen Size
65-inch – 85-inch
Reasons to buy
+
Increased backlighting accuracy
+
Built-in Dolby Atmos
Reasons to avoid
–
Lacks Dolby Vision support
–
New ‘Smart Hub’ UI a step backwards
Once again, Samsung’s QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV has set the benchmark for Mini LED television technology, improving on its predecessor in a number of important ways, such as a noticeable reduction in light blooming, along with better image processing, brightness, and even design. While we have some reservations about Samsung’s new (but not necessarily improved) user interface, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better LCD television this year.
Samsung’s QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV boasts a variety of audio improvements over its predecessor, the QN900A (previously featured in this guide), most notably the inclusion of up-firing speakers that make it possible to (technically) achieve Dolby Atmos sound. Additionally, Samsung’s newest Neo QLED flagship now boasts the rather impressive ability to transmit Dolby Atmos audio to compatible Samsung soundbars over Wi-Fi.
It’s the flagship 8K TV for sound quality in 2022.
Read our full Samsung QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV review
(Image credit: Philips)
The best TV for sound with Bowers & Wilkins audio built-in
Specifications
Screen sizes: 48-inch, 55-inch, 65-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel technology: OLED
Dolby Atmos: Yes
eARC: Yes
Audio output: 70W
Reasons to buy
+
Stellar audio performance
+
Four-sided Ambilight
Reasons to avoid
–
Not the easiest TV to use
–
Android TV won’t suit everyone
This is part of Philips’ OLED+ range, which means it has a speaker enclosure made by legendary British hi-fi firm Bowers & Wilkins – and it’s been redesigned for even better audio performance.
The tweeter-on-top design – used in B&W’s high-end speakers – means the tweeter is kept separate from the speaker enclosure, eliminating interference from other speaker parts. Throw in four 50mm midrange drive units, a racetrack-style subwoofer unit, and twin upward-firing Dolby Atmos ‘Elevation’ units mounted on the top of the enclosure, and you’ve got a complete audio package.
It’s compatible with Dolby Atmos-encoded audio, and it will even up-mix non-Atmos multi-channel content too, giving older content three-dimensional immersion.
You can select different audio modes depending on how you place the TV, too. So whether it’s sitting on a TV cabinet, or wall-mounted, you can rest assured you’ll get the best possible sound quality.
The Philips OLED+936 certainly looks the part. The speaker enclosure takes design cues from B&W’s critically-acclaimed speaker range, with the tweeter grilles resembling those developed for B&W’s 800 Series Diamond range – while the bass enclosure is ported to the rear and uses Flowport technology, as developed by Bowers & Wilkins for its core loudspeakers. It’s essentially a hi-fi system that happens to have a TV attached – and an Ambilight TV at that!
Read our full Philips OLED+936 review
(Image credit: Sony)
An all-rounder TV with great sound and a fantastic picture
Specifications
Screen sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, 83-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel technology: OLED
Dolby Atmos: Yes
eARC: Yes
Audio output: 70W
Reasons to buy
+
Exquisite picture quality
+
Robust sound
Reasons to avoid
–
No HDR10+ support
–
Not exactly cheap
By combining Sony’s premium OLED picture performance with a powerful and direct sound system, the Sony A90J OLED TV manages to be a compelling TV option for serious home cinema fans.
It carries Sony’s top-line Cognitive Processor XR, Sony’s Pixel Contrast Booster (for more intense image highlights), and a new OLED version of the X-Motion Clarity feature Sony initially developed for its FALD LCD smart TVs.
On the audio side, meanwhile, Sony’s customary Acoustic Surface Audio system (where the TV’s screen is actually ‘excited’ into producing sound) is joined by a two-subwoofer bass system, and an Acoustic Auto Calibration system that can optimize the TV’s sound to your room with just a couple of quick test pulses.
The results are nothing short of gorgeous. While this set could be beaten by the upcoming A95K QD-OLED, it’s currently the best TV to buy in the Sony range.
Read our full Sony A90J OLED TV review
(Image credit: Future)
The best TV for sound on a budget
Specifications
Screen sizes: 55-inch, 65-inch, 77-inch
Resolution: 4K
Panel technology: OLED
Dolby Atmos: Yes
eARC: Yes
Audio output: 50-60W
Screen Size
55-inch – 77-inch
Reasons to buy
+
Two full-spec HDMI 2.1 ports
+
Strong built-in sound
Reasons to avoid
–
Not as bright as higher-end TVs
–
No HDR10+ support
The Sony A80K is an exquisite-looking OLED TV, packing the latest image processing tech and a high-quality OLED screen. The screen doesn’t go as bright as the Philips or Panasonic TVs further up, but in terms of overall quality, it’s very hard to fault. 4K detail is sharp, motion and upscaling is as good as it gets, and the colors are rich and accurate.
But behind the screen is Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ tech, which uses three actuators behind the panel to create sound by vibrating the screen itself, creating a big open sound. There are two more actuators at the side to add width, while two woofer drivers add bass.
In our full review, we were “surprised at how clear dialogue was and how loud the speakers could get without sounding strained. Switching to the Dolby Atmos sound mode, we also noted distinct vertical and overhead effects coming from the TV.” It’s good enough to mean you don’t need a separate soundbar, assuming you don’t want full surround sound.
The Sony A80K is great for gaming too, with HDMI 2.1 features (4K 120Hz, VRR and Auto HDR Tone Mapping on the PS5). It’s a great package, especially if you want a focus on sound quality.
Read our full Sony A80K review
(Image credit: LG)
The best ultra slim TV for sound
Specifications
Screen sizes: 42, 48, 55, 65, 77, 83 inches
Resolution: 4K
Panel technology: OLED
Dolby Atmos: Yes
eARC: Yes
Audio output: 40W
Screen Size
42-inch – 77-inch
Read more ▼
Reasons to buy
+
Superbly bright screen
+
Great sound for such a thin TV
+
Excellent connectivity options
Reasons to avoid
–
No HDR10+ support
–
Virtual surround sound isn’t super convincing
The LG C2 OLED comes with the company’s a9 Gen 5 AI Processor, which is capable of upmixing stereo audio into virtual 7.1.2-channel surround sound – something LG calls AI Sound Pro. That means this OLED TV houses a 2.2-channel system with 40W of power. That’s not as powerful as a separate soundbar, nor as immersive as a true surround sound system, but the LG C2 OLED does a good job of providing a clear and fairly spacious listening experience. It’s a surprisingly good audio experience from such a thin TV.
Watching dynamic blockbusters like 1917 using the AI Sound Pro setting shows off the TV’s sense of sonic direction, with the sound of planes and bullets whizzing around the screen. You don’t get the overhead height as you would from a Dolby Atmos soundbar or surround system with upwards firing speakers, but it’s still immersive and impressively clear with enough dynamism to emphasize the loudest and quiet moments in the film.
We didn’t have any issues hearing dialogue in movies, but if you’re going to watch something like a Christopher Nolan mumblefest then you might appreciate Clear Voice Pro, a setting that makes spoken dialogue much clearer. Sports Mode has a rather tinny quality but the Music mode is more naturalistic, with no huge emphasis on any frequency band. There are also Cinema, Game Optimization and Standard listening modes to choose from, so you should be able to find an audio profile you like.
This is a very impressive all-rounder. The only reason it’s so far down in our table here is because as a very new model it’s still relatively expensive compared to many of its rivals.
Read our full LG C2 review
How to choose the best TV for sound
What’s the best sound quality in a TV?
DTS:X and Dolby Atmos are the main home cinema audio formats. These rival technologies are both audio compression technologies that create a surround sound effect both in cinemas and in the home.
So which is better? Opinion is divided. DTS:X is encoded in a higher bitrate so should technically be better quality audio. But Atmos claims to be more advanced, and capable of producing a higher quality sound at a lower bitrate. As is often the case, it comes down to personal taste.
Atmos is more widely supported – by Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, among others – and most modern TVs are compatible with it, whereas DTS:X requires a separate audio system.
Read more in our DTS:X vs Dolby Atmos vs DTS Play-Fi guide.
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