Modern thin TVs with poor sound

[monoman]

Modern thin TVs now have poorly performing down firing speakers. So, why no more designs with forward facing (and great sounding) speakers like on my 4yr old Panasonic 32 inch LXD70? The speakers on this set are at the bottom of the screen so do make the face of the TV bigger but I am not concerned about this.

I understand that the manufacturers want the sets to look more like a 'frame' but not everyone will be putting their TV on a wall.

I will be updating my tv soon but don't think I'll do it until I can find one has forward firing speakers for better sound and therefore will avoid my personal need to hook it up to a home cinema system.

Anyone know of anything in the pipeline that will satisfy my requirement?

Not including that new Bose TV with all the speakers around the edge - which is truly awful looking, and not the current Bang and Olufsen tv - because I am not a millionaire.

 

[Lee H]

Yet oddly, I'd be happy if my next TV had no speakers at all.

Why not consider one of those speaker sets that bolt on to the back to TV?

 

[The_Lhc]

Yet oddly, I'd be happy if my next TV had no speakers at all.

Yes my TV has no speakers (how does it smell? Terrible...), but that's mainly because the dealer wanted an extra 250 quid for them...

 

[Anonymous]

Think personally most flat screen TV's have mediocre sound to some extent but thats never bothered me really. Its okay for News and soaps but anything half decent on the telly has me putting the sound from my Freeview box through my stereo. Problem is finding anything half decent to watch these days!

Also theres loads of those sound bar things around now some of which slot on the TV sound.

 

[chebby]

We have last year's model Panasonic TX-L32D25B.

The review was spot on...

"a perfectly inoffensive and well-behaved sound" and "Sound is decent by TV standards".

I would add...

No rattling or distortion and - with the 'distance from wall' set correctly - very clear.

 

[dave_k]

I have a Panasonic TV from a few years ago and the built in speakers are ok, but no more. Vocals are clear and there is no harshness or tinniness really, it's just a very 'thin' sound i.e. no bass and very narrow as the speakers are quite close together at the bottom.

After much deliberation I bought Q Acoustics TV2 (actually the X model, but it's the same just longer) and the improvement is really remarkable. Much more weight, better placing of sound effects, clear dialogue etc and good with music too. It was also available a while back online for £250. I'm very happy with mine.

 

[MajorFubar]

It's just a simple case of style over function and tbh most people who want good sound from their TV have always been better off listening through their HiFi.

TV speakers are for listening to the news, documentaries and other programmes consisting mainly of dialogue spoken directly to the fourth wall.

Personally I don't really want the size of my set ballooned by large speakers I wouldn't always use, but equally I like the idea of my TV at least having *some* speakers. Needing to use the HiFi every time I watch something even as mundane as the news would become a nuisance very quickly.

 

[DandyCobalt]

Just bought a Samsung UE32D5000 LED (5 stars from WHFSV) and really unimpressed - sound is poor and picture is worse than previous Sony Bravia 32 LCD - the Sony had a proper front speaker, and so am going to put the Sony back in place and pass the Samsung to elderly parent to replace an ageing CRT.

The Samsung looks great style-wise, but with standard tv, the sound, image and motion is very poor.

 

[Anonymous]

Hello....I very rarely use the TV (mostly absolutely awful) sound as I always use phono out QED leads to my Arcam amplifier underneath the TV which output to my KEF Model 1-2 floor standing speakers which sit a little either side of my 50" Panasonic Plasma TV.

The resulting sound is the difference between chalk and cheese, paricularly if something like last night at the proms or any music :rockout: is on.

Some people do like you say of course using a surround sound set up, but I have no wish to go that far.

Happy listening .....Boozercruiser

 

[Anonymous]

Apologies to one and all for bouncing this thread open again but if anyone can assist it would be appreciated.

I am going to get a second TV for use in our conservatory (probably get a Samsung 32" LED). I am interested in using some small powered speakers to try and improve the sound. I am looking at some audio engine A2 speakers mainly because of their small size (Mrs McBain doesn't like big speakers and I already have my Tanny R3s in there with my Cyrus gear). My question is - how do you wire the powered speakers in? From the digi-box or from the TV itself?

 

[bigboss]

Apologies to one and all for bouncing this thread open again but if anyone can assist it would be appreciated.

I am going to get a second TV for use in our conservatory (probably get a Samsung 32" LED). I am interested in using some small powered speakers to try and improve the sound. I am looking at some audio engine A2 speakers mainly because of their small size (Mrs McBain doesn't like big speakers and I already have my Tanny R3s in there with my Cyrus gear). My question is - how do you wire the powered speakers in? From the digi-box or from the TV itself?

I've connected my Samsung TV in the bedroom with Audioengine A2 via the TV's headphone jack.

 

[Anonymous]

In the lounge I have a 50GT30B and it's sound is really bad, I would have been happy if they did a version without any speakers at all. In my bedroom I have a pioneer LX5080, the sound from its bolt under speaker is awesome, deep bass and everything.

 

[Anonymous]

@bigboss

Thank you for that, I thought it was going to be a major headache but that sounds almost too simple