Though a top-quality picture from one of the best TVs of the year is wonderful, experiencing exceptional sound to fill your lounge with awe and suspense might be even more important for your home cinema experience. Getting the best TV for sound is a must for those who value atmosphere over all aspects of the home cinema.
Thrilling bassy rumbles, searing violins, and crisp voices – if you're not watching your favourite films and shows with an appropriately brilliant TV for sound, you're not doing it right. And yet, figuring out what TVs have great hardware is an uphill challenge.
The best TVs for sound at a glance:
• Best overall: LG Electronics OLED65G36LA 65 inch - View on Amazon
• Best budget: Sony BRAVIA KD-43X75WL 43-inch- View on Amazon
• Best QLED: Samsung 50 Inch QN90C- View on Amazon
• Best OLED: Panasonic MZ800 48-inch TV - View on Currys
Audio post-processing, the number of built-in speakers, the overall audio output, and being able to distinguish these specifications will make the difference between a hair-raising, epic cinematic experience or a flat and otherwise uninteresting one. And it's not just the great sound we're looking for; a great television for sound is the full package – great sound, gorgeous visuals, and brilliant build quality. Considering everything when buying the best TV for sound is a must.
Since we're such enthusiasts of the best TVs and next-level sound, we've found the best TVs for sound in 2024. Ranging from the very best 4K TVs under £500 to some gargantuan OLED powerhouses, our favourite picks of the year have been carefully considered to cater towards the most dedicated of audiophiles.
The best TVs for sound in 2024
Please note: All prices are correct at the time of writing. Deals are subject to change at short notice.
Best overall TV for sound
LG www.currys.co.uk
A truly next-generation smart TV that pushes the possibilities of 4K to their heights, the LG G36 TV delivers top-notch visuals and sensational sound. Packed with a robust array of sound-enhancing post-processing technologies such as AI Sound Pro, Dolby Atmos, and AI Acoustic tuning, the sound is as perfect as could be on LG's G36 OLED TV.
Despite its slim profile, the LG OLED65G36LA packs a 60W punch – triple the power of typical budget televisions on the market. The result of this extra power? Richer sound, entrancing bass, and a wide enough soundstage to convince anyone you've got a speaker system hidden somewhere.
If there's any nitpicking to be made, it surrounds OLED technology in general. That is, OLED TVs can't achieve the brightness that a QLED television can at a fraction of the cost. Nevertheless, LG's G36 OLED television is one of the best OLED TVs on the market – there's no denying it.
Pros
- Gorgeous cutting-edge OLED screen
- Whopping 60W audio output
- Beautiful user interface with plenty of customisation and speed
Cons
- Perhaps not the best value for money compared to other OLED televisions
Best budget TV for sound
Sony Easily one of the most affordable yet remarkable televisions of the year, the Sony BRAVIA 43X75WL 43-inch TV offers cinema enthusiasts, gamers and casual binge-watchers a terrific amount of value for their money.
Under the hood, Sony's manufacturing quality shines bright, with clever visual sharpening post-processing, audio refinement and Google-integrated browsing for the most seamless useability imaginable.
The KD-43X75WL's speaker setup is particularly bold, with a dual setup at 20W heightened by plenty of Dolby DTS audio enhancement. For a television under £600, the Sony BRAVIA KD-43X75WL is truly wonderful.
Pros
- Solid bassy speakers for 20W audio output
- Excellent value television
- Great LED screen with sharp visuals
Cons
- 20W audio output is low compared to other TVs on the list
Best QLED TV for sound
Samsung Looking for high-end sound and visuals? You've found them. Samsung's 50-inch QN90C 4K TV is designed for those cravings that require searing QLED brightness and some glorious sound to create a home cinema experience you'll find difficult to tear yourself away from.
First and foremost, this is a high-end QLED television with an ultra-high 144Hz refresh rate, an unfathomably bright 2,000 nits peak brightness screen, and enough Samsung features to keep you satiated and enthralled.
Truly bursting with post-processing features, AI upscaling and more, our only nitpick of the QN90C is its lack of Dolby Vision, which is surprising on a smart TV of this calibre. Nonetheless, visuals appear bright, balanced and eye-drawing thanks to the almost bezel-less design of the QN90C; this is one of the best QLED TVs on the market.
Pros
- Brilliant QLED picture quality
- Excellent breathtaking visuals
- 40W audio output is particularly strong
Cons
- Lacking Dolby Vision
Best OLED TV for sound
Panasonic www.currys.co.uk
Panasonic's MZ800 TV is a phenomenal OLED TV that offers gorgeous visuals, wonderful build quality and excellent response times for intrepid gamers searching for a next-generation experience.
Equipped with all manner of AI picture sharpening, audio processing and performance-heightening software to shave milliseconds off of gaming response times, the Panasonic MZ800 smart TV is an impressive television that isn't lacking in audio power whatsoever. If we were to criticise the speaker setup, however, we'd note that the dual speaker setup doesn't do much for audio depth, leaving films slightly flat compared with other options.
Still – an undeniably impressive television for its price, the Panasonic MZ800 is quite easily one of the best OLED TVs on the market.
Pros
- Easy to adjust settings
- Breathtaking OLED contrast
- Smart and accessible
Cons
- The dual speaker setup doesn't give you a particularly convincing depth
Best gaming TV for sound
SONY For gaming, great sound will make or break your setup; luckily, the Sony Bravia OLED TV does pretty much everything.
A phenomenal 120Hz refresh rate, paired with OLED visuals, great sound and a seamless user interface, makes the Sony Bravia XR-55A80LU a competitor as one of the best TVs of the year and one of the best TVs for gaming.
In a strange yet remarkable move, Sony's XR-55A80LU emits sound not from the back or bottom of the television but from the screen itself, making sound centralised and acoustics much better. Sony also includes options for simultaneous soundbar and screen speaker use, giving the sound a centralised quality that builds depth in the most innovative way possible.
Of course, as an OLED TV, you're not getting the 2,000+ nits brightness that you'll find on a QLED television, but this is a limitation of the technology, not of the Sony, and what it does with those limitations is extraordinary.
Pros
- Excellent gaming optimisation
- Terrific 50 W speaker with precise Acoustic Surface Audio+
- Amazingly designed and manufactured
Cons
- Not as bright as QLED competitors
Best 65-inch TV for sound
TCL Combining QLED and mini LED technology, TCL's awe-inspiring smart TV looks brilliant, and at less than £1,000, is priced brilliantly too.
Combined screen technologies, an impressive array of user features, and, to top it off - a truly impressive 70W audio output, TCL's 65QM8B is an unexpected but welcome surprise to TCL's budget roster. The booming sound and excellent support from Dolby's post-processing audio create a heart-pumping, mind-racing quality to films and television; you'll never need a soundbar again.
If we had anything to nitpick about the TCL 65QM8B, it would be the interface, which doesn't chalk up to the competition. Certain Freeview apps are inaccessible on this 65-inch smart QLED TV, giving you fewer streaming options than you would often have.
Pros
- Fantastic price for a large TV screen
- Gorgeous Mini QLED visuals
- Jaw-dropping 70W audio output
Cons
- Lacking streaming support of BBC iPlayer and other FreeView apps
Best 77-inch OLED TV for sound
SAMSUNG www.currys.co.uk
For some, a 32-inch television just doesn't cut it; if this sounds familiar, behold the Samsung S90C, one of the rare OLED TVs developed by Samsung.
Combining Samsung's brilliant user interface with OLED panel technology is a recipe for success, which is made even more successful at 77 inches. This massive television is perfect for those seriously creating a true home cinema, so you'll need plenty of space to enjoy.
For speakers, however, you may not need to bother with surround sound, the S90C's monstrous 40W sound is enough to impress most film fanatics, and with Dolby Audio processing, you won't be short on high-quality audio either.
Pros
- Huge 77-inch OLED TV
- Unbeatable OLED visuals
- Solid 40W audio output
Cons
- Size is perhaps too much for most homes
Best QLED TV for sound under £600
Samsung QLED TV technology is typically pricey, but Samsung's Q60C is so reasonably priced it's hard to ignore. If you're looking for those iconic, bright visuals from QLED technology but don't have the funds, the Q60C is a wonderful choice for your money.
A 50-inch TV screen with plenty to offer in terms of features – of which Samsung TVs are rarely short – this QLED TV has a solid 20W audio output, which is greatly enhanced and deepened by Adaptive Sound technology.
Our only gripe with the Samsung Q60C is the lack of HDR support, which is vital for a QLED television, which occasionally leaves darker tones as a washed-out grey. If, however, the effectiveness of bright tones greatly outshines the need for contrast, the Q60C is most certainly for you.
Pros
- Great entry-level QLED TV screen
- Good 20 W audio output for price
- Great build quality and gorgeous visuals
Cons
- Lacking HDR support
Best high refresh rate TV for sound
HISENSE www.currys.co.uk
Hisense is known for its low-budget, high-quality televisions that surpass its price point, but the 55E7KQTUK is an exception. More expensive than its budget TV versions but still altogether a cheap TV thanks to some impressive technology, the Hisense 55E7KQTUK 55-inch smart TV surpasses expectations dramatically, making it one of our favourite televisions of the year so far.
A gorgeous QLED picture, 120Hz refresh rate (which for a television under £700 is unheard of, and, to top it off – a 40W dual speaker output that delivers brilliant sound for the price. Hisense's 55-inch budget QLED is a brilliant choice for all because of its value.
However, remember that Hisense's VIDAA OS is slower than its Samsung counterparts and looks far less polished and intuitive – it's a small price to pay for quality pictures at a great price, however.
Pros
- Excellent value high refresh rate TV
- Great picture
- Fantastic 40W audio output
Cons
- Slower Hisense UI doesn't compete with Samsung Tizen UI
Best QD-OLED TV for sound
Samsung S95CThe best of both worlds: the stunning Samsung s95C is in a class of its own when it comes to stellar picture quality, and it's all thanks to its mesmerising QD-OLED technology. Combining the brightness and vibrancy of QLED with the depth and speed of OLED, you truly get the best of both world with the S95C OLED TV, and it shows.
The picture on the S95C is outstanding, and its performance is second to none with a 144Hz refresh rate, making it a highly viable gaming smart TV. It's design, unlike most smart TVs on the market is completely flat, with a thickness of 11mm.
When it comes to sound, the S95C knocks it out of the park with a whopping 70W sound system, complete with Dolby Atmos Surround, giving your home a cinematic feel unlike any other. Clear, rich and very loud, your favourite films and television shows will look and sound as they never have before, without the need to purchase pricey speakers whatsoever.
Our only gripe with this television is its price, which is certainly higher than its competition, but with superior visuals, phenomenal performance and earth-shattering sound, you're certainly getting a lot for your money.
The Samsung S95C is one of the best cutting-edge smart TVs on the market right now, and is well worth investing in if you truly love cinema, just make sure you have deep enough pockets.
Pros
- Incredible 70W audio output
- Gorgeously bright, deep picture
- Ultra-slim design which is stunning
Cons
- Particularly pricey compared to other smart TVs on the market
The best TVs for sound: buyer's guide
Key terms you should know:
Resolution:
Resolution is a measure of the number of pixels on your TV screen at one time, the higher the number of pixels, the better the resolution. Each pixel is responsible for generating colour which creates the image you see on your television screen.
4K:
You'll notice that all of our selections on this list are 4K, which is a resolution of 3840 x 2160p. It's known as 4K because it is four times the resolution of standard full-HD.
Refresh rate:
Refresh rate refers to the rate at which a new image is produced per second on your television screen. A standard refresh rate is around 50-60Hz, which offers smooth viewing of films and television. For better gaming performance, however, a 120Hz screen is even smoother, offering an incredibly responsive experience that is especially useful for competitive gamers.
OLED:
Organic Light Emitting Diode, or OLED, refers to a TV's screen panel technology. OLED displays don't use a backlight as standard LED or QLED televisions do. The result is a much faster response time and refresh rate, which are often incredibly quick, as well as infinite contrast.
QLED:
Quantum-dot Light Emitting Diode, or QLED technology uses special diodes to create an enormous amount of vibrancy and rich colour range, creating an eye-catching visual experience for viewers. QLED television use a backlight, and are therefore brighter than standard LED TVs, some of them ten times the brightness in fact.
HDR:
High Dynamic Range is a means of creating even greater contrast than is typically possible on a TV. Making dark tones darker, and bright tones brighter, HDR helps you get the most out of your smart TV, and is crucial on LED TVs for getting great picture.
Smart assistant:
A smart assistant, much like Siri, Google, or Alexa, is a means of controlling your television via voice commands. By saying: "go to YouTube", your device can take you to YouTube for example. It's a handy device that can undoubtedly be quicker than using a TV remote to type.
Audio output power:
Audio output power gives users an idea of the power of the speakers. Measured in Watts, the audio output power is the best gauge for telling just how loud and bassy your smart TV will be.
How do I get the most out of my TV's sound?
To maximise your television's sound output, there are a number of ways to improve your smart TV's sound system.
If your television has Dolby Atmos, you need to make sure it's activated, navigate to the sound section of your smart TV and enable Dolby Atmos. This will greatly improve the immersion of your television's sound.
There are likely to be sound modes to toggle through, which are more suited to various forms of entertainment: Cinema, however, has to be our favourite.
Is higher wattage better for sound?
Generally speaking, a higher wattage television means that there is greater audio output power and the television is therefore more capable of producing louder, fuller sound.
This isn't always the case, however: a television may have weaker audio output power, but might also have better audio technology, efficiently utilising its power to create a fuller, more accurate sound. Look for Object Tracking Sound, Dolby Atmos, and other cutting-edge technologies to get the most out of your smart TV.
FAQs: your questions answered
Is a soundbar worth it?
Although modern TVs tend to have some pretty reliable speakers, adding a soundbar to your setup can greatly enhance your listening experience, delivering rich, powerful sound that draws you into films and shows instantaneously. Most soundbars typically require an HDMI connection, but Bluetooth is often an option for those preferring a cable-free setup.
With many modern smart TVs, including many of them mentioned in the list, soundbars can work alongside television speakers to create a soundscape with a directionality that is otherwise impossible, even on a TV with a horde of built-in speakers at its disposal.
Can TV speakers go bad?
Unfortunately, TV speakers can go bad over time. Although it may take a little bit of use for the speakers to be at their best performance, eventually the volume and quality of the audio will deteriorate. You'll be able to tell when a speaker is dying as the sound will be more distorted, and you may need to turn the volume up higher to match what it previously sounded like. This is another case for getting a soundbar, as it can pick up the slack from worn-out speakers.
How do I choose a TV with the best sound?
A great TV has all the bells and whistles you could want - HDR, an ultra-thin design, visual post-processing and more, but sound is crucial for a TV to be truly excellent.
But not all televisions have exceptional sound, and several factors determine this;
Audio output: A television's audio output, or RMS, measures just how much sound a TV can continuously output. This is typically measured in Watts, and generally speaking - the more the merrier.
Number of speakers: An especially important quality for gamers and cinema buffs alike - the number of speakers creates a surround sound effect, with sounds having a directional quality. More speakers doesn't necessarily indicate quality, but a greater number of speakers generally improves the precision of audio direction.
Post-processing: Audio post-processing not only makes sounds and music clearer, it can also greatly enhance sound on a television that might not otherwise have the audio output potential to create a truly resonant sound. Dolby Digital Surround makes directional sound ultra-precise, clean and realistic. There are some truly impressive technologies to explore on the market; we've barely scratched the surface.
Ryan Houghton is a commercial content writer for What’s The Best, known best for his expertise in gaming, with a particular soft spot for PC gaming, audio tech, televisions and smartphones.
Diligently writing for What’s The Best for almost two years, there are very few tech products Ryan hasn’t had his hands on to review; televisions, headphones, folding phones and even LEGO, if it’s nerdy, he’ll be there.
His well-versed history as one of the resident techies at What’s The Best has kept him keen to uncover the very best deals, savings and offers for those in need of a cracking deal to upgrade their setup.
In his downtime, Ryan most likely has his nose buried in a fantasy book, or his eyes glued to a screen whilst playing a tough-as-nails Soulslike or leisurely RPG, indulging in most forms of escapism where possible.
Subscribe to the What’s The Best Newsletter to keep up to date with more of the latest reviews and recommendations from the rest of the What’s The Best team.