If you’ve been searching for an easy way to improve the sound of your TV, you have come to the right place. It all started with mobile phones – people loved the convenience of having a device without wires. The introduction of Bluetooth technology made it possible to make wireless headsets and headphones. Since Bluetooth connection was such a convenient way of transferring sound, the only normal thing was to start making wireless speakers.
You can place your wireless (RF, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi) speaker near you while watching TV and hear everything loud and clear. In some cases, wireless speakers feature voice enhancement software in order to make all the dialogues clearer for people with hearing issues.
You will find there a lot of soundbars and bookshelf speakers with Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi connectivity. That base has to be connected to your TV through some of the available audio output ports (usually AUX or RCA OUT) and it has to be powered (have to be plugged into a wall socket).
The bad thing is that there shouldn’t be many obstacles between the transmitter (base) and the receiver (speaker).
It is not absolutely necessary for the base and the speaker to be in line of sight – RF signal will go through one or multiple walls, but it will get much weaker and the reception won’t be great.
Because of this compression, you won’t get perfect audio quality and, even more important, you might experience some sound delays (or lags). There is no way to completely eliminate audio delay but making it imperceptible is good enough for most people.
Having a Bluetooth speaker that supports aptX low latency isn’t the only precondition. Most of the manufacturers recommend using one of the digital (or even analog) INPUT/OUTPUT ports to connect your TV to your wireless speaker and use the Bluetooth feature to stream audio content from other Bluetooth-enabled devices (phones and other Apple, Android, and Windows devices).
You can use a Bluetooth connection to pair your TV with your speaker (soundbar) but you have to know that sound won’t always be in sync with the video.
Wi-Fi speakers for TV are the next big thing when it comes to wireless audio. The same goes for any other brand – the fact that all the speakers use the same Wi-Fi network is mandatory but it isn’t the only condition for them to work together. You will find a bunch of small devices called Bluetooth transmitters (or transceivers) on the Amazon and you can buy one for $25-$60. Serene Innovations was established in 2002 in California but their products are engineered and manufactured in China. Serene Innovations does not make only audio equipment but all kinds of electronic devices for people with different disabilities (for those who are hard of hearing, for those with low vision or with limited mobility). Some of their most recognizable products are amplified phones, loud ringers, and TV speakers.
Some of the biggest flaws are construction quality, occasional static noise, and price (in our opinion, this speaker is overpriced). Depending on the type of TV you have, you might need additional equipment to make things work. The greatest part of the front side is covered with that grille that protects two 5W drivers (and 2 class-D amplifiers) On the left side, you will find TONE switch (there are three available positions – HI, MED, and LO and you can use them to adjust or enhance certain frequencies depending on your preferences), AUX input (you can use this port to connect the speaker to your TV or to any other audio source (phone, tablet, PC) through AUX cable if there is some problem with wireless connection), headphone output (in case you don’t want to disturb others with the sound, you can connect any wired headphones to the speaker), and DC input (in case you buy that AC to DC adapter you can power the speaker if the battery is running low).
You just need to connect the base to your TV with one of the cables from the box (or those digital optical or coaxial that you bought separately) and plug the adapter into the wall outlet. The speaker is very lightweight, it has a small footprint, and the range is approximately 100ft so you can take it to the kitchen, to your bedroom, or even to the bathroom and still get great reception. TONE modes will improve the listening experience for people who are hard of hearing. They say that the beauty is in the eye of the beholder but we still think that Serene Innovations should make some improvements regarding the design.
A certain number of customers (maybe some 5% of them) experienced battery issues and had troubles connecting the speaker to the base. We should also mention the fact that the base uses 2.4GHz frequency to transmit the audio signal and it might interfere with your Wi-Fi network. If you have a dual-band wireless router, you can avoid any interference by using 5GHz frequency for your Wi-Fi devices. It’s one of the oldest American audio equipment manufacturers and it’s been making all kinds of speakers, amplifiers and other electronic devices (for everyday and professional use) for decades (since the 1960s).
If your TV doesn’t feature any of these ports (some newer TV devices have only digital inputs and outputs), you are going to need some digital optical (or coaxial cable) and DAC device in order to connect everything properly. Also, if you want, you can buy an additional AC to DC adapter for the speaker (you will only get one for the base). There is nothing difficult about the setup process if your TV has RCA OUT ports or headphone OUT, but if it doesn’t you will need additional cable and a DAC device. Just like with Serene Innovations TV Soundbox, you will be able to pair up to 50 speakers with only one base and play the same audio on all of them (great expansion abilities).
This speaker is not as loud as Serene Innovations TV Soundbox and that’s one of the features that should be improved. Considering the number of people that are happy with this device we can’t really say this is a common issue and you will always have that 1-year warranty in case something happens (unless you break the speaker or the base). It was established in 1998 and, since then, they’ve been making hearing aid and voice clarifying devices (headphones and speakers) for TV.
The best thing about this speaker and the thing that makes it so expensive is voice clarifying technology that enhances voices and dialogues and reduces all the other noises and music making it much easier for people with all kinds of hearing impairment to hear the dialogues loud and clear.
The speaker comes in a nice branded box with different illustrations and all the important features written on it. Inside the packaging, there are one speaker and one infrared transmitter (this transmitter can be used as a charging station for TV Ears headphones but they are not included in the price and you will have to buy them separately), two power adapters (one for transmitter, the other for the speaker – speaker is not battery-powered and has to be plugged in all the time), a set of cables (3.5mm to 3.5mm auxiliary cable, 3.5mm to RCA, and digital optical cable), user manual, and 5-year warranty card. Inside the speaker, you will find two full-range drivers with two small bass ports. On the top of the transmitter, there are two charging cradles for TV ears headphones (you can buy them separately if you want).
Also, the speaker and the transmitter have to be in line of sight and if someone or something blocks a signal by standing between these two devices, the audio will stop playing. It has been part of the audio industry for less than 2 decades and, in that time, SONOS has become one of the most popular brands when it comes to wireless (Wi-Fi) speakers, soundbars, and home theater systems.
To be honest, there is not much competition in this field – there are only a few manufacturers worth mentioning that make this kind of speakers and manage to maintain certain quality (Bose, Denon, and a few more). When someone says wi-fi or multiroom speaker system, the first name that comes to mind has to be SONOS (at least, for the majority of people).
Some of the best things about this soundbar are great sound quality and clarity, fashionable and attractive design, wi-fi connectivity (and with wi-fi connectivity comes compatibility with Amazon Echo and Alexa, and with bunch of streaming services and internet radio stations), possibility of expansion to 5.1 home theater system (Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound format is supported), ease of use, and some additional modes you can activate via SONOS app (like Night Mode and Dialogue Enhancement). Downsides of this PLAYBAR are the lack of support for DTS surround sound formats, the fact that you have to use SONOS app to stream anything, and unimpressive bass-response. You will get a nice-looking box with all the important things you need to make it work (including cables).
The most of it is black and there is only nice silver strip with SONOS logo on the front side.
There is only one IR sensor on this side and it will light red when you increase or decrease the volume. There are only three control buttons on the right end of the soundbar – play/pause/mute button and two volume buttons along with LED status indicator (it will be solid white when the soundbar is on and working properly, you will see flashing white light during boot up, solid green when muted, flashing green when the soundbar is ready for setup, solid orange if it’s overheated, alternating between orange and white or if it’s flashing green it means that there is something wrong with the unit (probably overheating), if you get flashing white and green it means that your product hasn’t been registered, and if you get flashing red and white it means that the update wasn’t successful).
SONOS speakers, as well as this soundbar, are among the best-looking audio devices on the market, and when it comes to design, we think that there is probably no one who wouldn’t like this kind of simple and stylish look. You can control the volume through those buttons on the unit itself, but you can also use your TV remote (you just have to follow the instructions from the user manual), or your SONOS app that you have to install on your phone or tablet (both Android and Apple devices are supported).
Setup takes some time but it’s actually really simple and you just have to follow all the steps to connect the soundbar to your home wi-fi network. The soundbar has to be connected to your TV through a digital optical cable which kind of ruins wireless nature of this device. The great thing about this soundbar is that it allows expansion to a real home theater system by adding a subwoofer (SONOS calls it simply SUB) and/or two PLAY:1, PLAY:3 or PLAY:5 speakers. So, if you like SONOS devices and you don’t have enough money for all of them at once, you can buy each unit separately (start from PLAYBAR and then make upgrades).
The soundbar doesn’t support any of DTS surround sound audio formats and if you buy any of those upgrades (SUB or SONOS speakers) you won’t get much use of these upgrades when playing some Blu-ray video with DTS surround sound. It’s been one of the biggest players in the audio industry for more than 5 decades and it has a huge fan base, especially in the US.
It’s more like something that you can use to slightly improve the sound of your TV if your room is not big enough for something stronger (bigger) or for home theater system. Like all the BOSE products, Solo 5 comes in a premium box, nicely packed and protected.
Inside the box, you will find your soundbar, a universal remote with 2 AAA batteries (you can use that remote not only for the soundbar but also for your TV, Blu-ray or DVD player), power cable, digital optical cable, user manual, and 1-year warranty card. The front side is covered with black aluminum grille with BOSE logo in the middle of it. There is also a power input and a USB port (can’t be used for music playback, only for firmware updates). Today’s audio equipment becomes more and more complicated with a bunch of buttons and different modes.
BOSE didn’t put any control buttons on the soundbar and made it look really elegant. Of course, this is only one point of view – some people might actually like having a bunch of control buttons on the soundbar and if you are one of them, you won’t be impressed with Solo 5. You can do all the basic stuff (increase and decrease the volume or activate dialogue mode) immediately but if you want to program the remote and use it for your TV (or some other device), you will have to read the manual carefully and follow the instructions. You can pair Solo 5 even with your TV but you can’t use it to watch movies because the soundbar doesn’t feature support for aptX low latency codec and there will be significant sound lag.
There is a bunch of cheaper options on the market that sound better (more balanced and accurate) than this Solo 5. Everything from the mid-range sounds pretty good, voices are loud and clear even without Dialogue Enhancement mode but the lack of bass and high frequencies is a bit too obvious. There are only 2 full-range drivers in the middle and that’s not the way to make a wide soundstage or to achieve great sound imaging. Bass is really weak so don’t expect explosions or special effects to sound good.
Yamaha is one of the most popular brands when it comes to home theater systems, TV speakers and soundbars, and AV receivers. Yamaha offers great sound quality and performance for a decent price. Yamaha products are usually not too pricey and they do tend to offer very good quality for the price. Some of the upsides of this soundbar are very good sound quality with built-in ‘’subwoofers’’ (they are not really subwoofers since they are small (3 inches diameter) and for a good bass response you need at least 8 inches), 2 woofers and 2 tweeters, possibility of adding one more (external) active subwoofer, HDMI input and output ports with HDCP 2.2, HDR, CEC, and ARC support, Bluetooth connectivity, simplicity of use, different audio filters and Voice Enhancement mode. It is made of plastic, but everything is wrapped in some kind of soft fabric that makes it look much less plasticky and maybe more expensive. You can see that it’s made of plastic only if you look at the back (or if you look at bass reflex ports on both ends of the soundbar).
There is a control bar with really small LED status indicators (DD/DTS, DPL, HDMI, TV, ANALOG, BLUETOOTH, SURROUND, BASS EXTENSION, CLEAR VOICE) and touch-sensitive control buttons (SOURCE, MUTE, VOLUME UP/DOWN, POWER ON/OFF) near the bottom. The design of this soundbar is visually appealing – it’s super-slim, simple, it’s not flashy or distracting, but it still brings a small touch of elegance to your room.
After selecting the source, you can adjust the volume, select one of the audio filters, shift between stereo and surround sound modes, adjust the amount of bass or mute the subwoofers (this comes in handy if you decide to buy an additional subwoofer), etc. 3D surround sound is a way of simulating different effects in order to make your listening experience more lifelike and it works with DTS:X object-based audio (you have to install firmware update in order to make your soundbar capable of playing this audio format). In surround sound mode you can choose one of the audio filters – Music, Sports, TV Program, Game, Movie.
The soundbar also features Bluetooth version 4.1 but unfortunately, you can’t connect it wirelessly to your TV because there is no aptX Low Latency codec support.
In Bluetooth mode, there is also an audio filter called Clear Voice that really improves the sound quality of streamed music by reducing the noise. What is really interesting is that Yamaha already predicted that some of the users may not be happy with the amount of bass the unit produces and they included additional subwoofer output so you can extend your home audio system from soundbar to soundbar + active subwoofer.
This unit struggled with bass heavy music and with some explosions and gunshots during movies and there was a noticeable distortion at higher volumes. It’s affordable and it offers some audio improvement compared to your TV speakers, but do not raise your expectations too high.
If you have a smaller TV (30-40 inches), you will experience more noticeable improvement in loudness and sound quality. It looks quite stylish – the front and top side are wrapped in some nice-looking fabric with an aluminum part with controls and LED status indicators in the middle. Digital optical input is always preferred connection but you will have to buy the cables separately since you won’t get any. Connecting the unit to your TV is quite simple – you can use one of the inputs depending on the output ports on your TV (most of today’s TVs feature only digital outputs so you will have to buy digital or coaxial optical cable).
You can use the Bluetooth to stream music from Bluetooth-supported devices (phones, tablets, PCs). You can’t use your TV remote to control the soundbar unless it features Infrared learning option. Also, the unit won’t remember your device after you turn it off and you will have to go through pairing process every time. Edifier is a Chinese company but it’s not like a bunch of others that make cheap products with mediocre quality.
Edifier manufactures high-quality audio equipment (different types of speakers and headphones) for everyday and professional use. Edifier exists for more than two decades and it is one of our favorite brands when it comes to mid-end affordable products. Edifier’s speakers are definitely not cheap but they maintain a perfect ratio between the price and quality. The best things about Edifier S1000DB are great audio clarity with detailed mids and highs, great loudness, a bunch of connection options along with Bluetooth connectivity, premium design with wooden finish, and simple installation and use.
The biggest downsides are unresponsive remote buttons and maybe a bit weaker bass for our taste.
The front side of the passive and active speaker is very similar – it’s covered with removable and transparent black grille and you can see the drivers through it.
The only difference between two speakers is that the active one has IR receiver with LED status indicators at the bottom. You can connect multiple devices to the speaker (your PC, TV, DVD player, gaming console, etc.
The installation process is very simple and you shouldn’t have any problems connecting the speakers to your TV, PC, or any other device. In order to connect the TV, you should use either digital optical or coaxial inputs, and you can use LINE IN for your PC. Make the initial volume, bass, and treble adjustments and you are ready to use the unit.
The buttons are not responsive and you have to press them twice or three times to get the input you want or to adjust the volume.
The company is best known for its TVs but they also make mobile phones, tablets, soundbars, speakers, and home theater systems. The greatest highlight in terms of sound quality is the reproduction of mid-range frequencies.
We were also not completely happy with the ease of use (we have experienced some issues regarding LED status indicators, remote, and source changing) but the worst thing was the bass – it is incredibly weak, almost nonexistent. Along with the soundbar, you will get a remote, power adapter, digital optical, coaxial, RCA to 3.5mm cable, wall mount brackets, screws, and template, a quick start guide, and 1-year warranty card. On the front side, in the left corner, there are 12 small LED status indicators.
Inside the speaker, there are two 2.5-inch full-range drivers (this is basically 2.0 stereo sound system).
There is a possibility that your TV remote will work with the soundbar without any additional settings, but VIZIO doesn’t provide any info on this. With this remote, you can turn on or off the soundbar, choose input or go to Bluetooth pairing, adjust the volume, control the playback (in Bluetooth mode), activate DTS TruVolume (TVOL button) or DTS TruSurround HD (TSHD), mute the unit, or adjust the bass or treble.
The setup of the unit should not take more than half an hour (even if you want to mount it on the wall). The soundbar features a Bluetooth connection and you can use it to stream music from your Bluetooth-enabled devices.
You can’t connect your smart TV to the soundbar wirelessly via Bluetooth and watch video content since it doesn’t support aptX low latency (sound delay is too big). Pairing is simple (you just have to press Bluetooth button on the remote or on the soundbar, find SB2920 on your phone, tablet, etc.
One more good thing we have to notice is that voices and mid-range frequencies really sound loud and clear, even at high volumes. You can’t expect something with only two small drivers sitting in front of you to imitate cinematic surround sound experience. You can adjust (add) the bass through the remote, but the reproduction of mids will suffer a lot. In general, that’s a good thing but you probably don’t want it to turn off if there is no signal for a few minutes.
A group of former Cambridge SoundWorks employees led by Tom Hannaher (the CEO of the ZVOX) decided to start their own business.
ZVOX is one of the pioneers when it comes to soundbars and sound base home theater systems. In 2008, ZVOX made the first ever sound base – low profile cabinet with a bunch of drivers packed inside in order to offer perfect home theater sound in one small device that goes under your TV. The best features of this soundbar are extraordinary build quality, great sound quality (when it comes to soundbars, this one is comparable only to SONOS PLAYBAR), AccuVoice and Output Leveling features along with different surround settings, digital inputs, Bluetooth connectivity, and subwoofer output.
We didn’t find a lot of bad things to complain about – the remote and the display look like they came from the 1980s and some improvements in this area could be beneficial. Bass on this device is better than on any other soundbar we’ve reviewed but you can’t expect extremely deep and rich lows. That’s why you have the option to expand this system by adding a powered subwoofer (preferably one with a low-pass filter).
The presentation doesn’t really match ZVOX 500 quality but everything is nicely packed and protected and that’s the most important.
You can use it to turn on/off the soundbar, shift between 4 different inputs (one analog, two digital, and Bluetooth), turn on the AccuVoice feature, choose one of the three surround sound modes, adjust bass and treble, adjust or mute the volume. Depending on the position, you should choose a different type of sound profile from the PS menu.
You can activate this menu by pressing Power and Volume Up button (on the unit itself, not on the remote) for five seconds. It’s not perfect, and it won’t leave you speechless, but you can’t expect a mind-blowing bass from a soundbar anyway.
It comes in handy during the commercial breaks, but it’s not perfect and we preferred watching movies with Output Leveling turned off. Without the additional subwoofer, this unit is not a great choice for music, but it is perfect for any TV content.
If you didn’t find the right speaker for your TV on this list and you are planning to keep on with your search, we have a few pieces of advice for you. The Most Important Characteristics You Should Pay Attention to When Buying Wireless Speakers for TV
If you are hard of hearing, you are going to need a speaker that’s able to enhance some frequencies (voices and dialogues, for example). If your hearing is fine and you just need something that’s going to improve your listening experience and immerse you in the content you’re watching (movies, series, etc.)
you will need something with a stronger and punchier bass (in order to bring all those special sound effects to life).
If you are buying RF speaker you should always check which inputs are available on the base and which outputs are available on your TV (usually, you will have to use AUX or RCA). If you have a Bluetooth speaker (and if it features aptX low latency support) and a TV with built-in Bluetooth (with aptX low latency support), you don’t really need any wires and inputs but it’s always nice to have a backup option. Wi-Fi speakers (especially the unit that gets connected to your TV) usually have one or more inputs (digital optical, coaxial, RCA, AUX, etc.). Bluetooth and RF speakers have batteries and most of them are portable which means that you don’t have to use them only indoors. Wireless speakers have been available for more than 10 years and they are getting better every day but still, if you need a great audiophile experience you should always go for wired ones.
Some of them have base (charging station) that has to be connected to your TV and has to be plugged into the wall socket all the time (like RF speakers).
How to Connect a Bluetooth Speaker to a TV
To help support our mission, we may earn affiliate commissions from links contained on this page. LG has been offering Bluetooth on its TVs for a few years, so check your manual to see if your TV supports it. Sony XBR series TVs, starting in 2017, support Bluetooth. How to connect a Bluetooth speaker to your Fire TV (Toshiba and Insignia models) Most Fire TVs, both Toshiba and Insignia brands, support Bluetooth. At this time, you cannot pair a Bluetooth speaker with a standalone Roku TV.
We like the Avantree Audiokast Plus, which can connect up to two devices ($49.99, check price on Amazon). For the past 20+ years, Suzanne Kantra has been exploring and writing about the world’s most exciting and important science and technology issues.
Ten years ago, she founded Techlicious, which serves the role of that tech-savvy friend you can count on to share tips and tricks to get the most out of technology; whether that’s saving time in our hectic schedules, discovering new ways to enjoy our personal interests, or keeping up with the latest technology trends and styles.
Previously, she served as Technology Editor for Popular Science Magazine.
You want to output sound from both the headphones/Bluetooth audio device/audio system and the TV speakers.
Sound can be output from both headphones or Bluetooth audio device and TV speakers by performing the setting below. Press the HOME button, then select [ Settings ] — [ Display & Sound ] — [ Audio output ] — [ Headphone speaker link ] — [ Off ] to output sound from both the device connected to the headphone jack and the TV speakers. To output sound from both an audio system connected via ARC and TV speakers
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The Movie mode lets you hear the dialogue with precise clarity and feel the impact of punches or explosions in intense action scenes.
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The SoundLink Flex Bluetooth speaker is engineered to deliver clear, deep sound that’s powerful enough to fill a room and loud enough for outdoor adventures. Whether hanging from a backpack or lying flat by the pool, the speaker’s PositionIQ technology optimizes the sound for natural audio.
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Enjoy Polk’s exclusive Voice Adjust technology for increased vocal clarity no matter what you’re watching. The compact wireless subwoofer delivers deep bass to your favorite movies, TV, games, sports and music too.
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Whether you’re relaxing at the beach or taking in the views on an adrenaline-filled hiking expedition, your Bluetooth speaker can be confidently placed beside you thanks to the non-slip rubberized base. The dual 1.8” full range drivers deliver a huge musical punch and rich bass for such a small speaker.
You can place your Beosound on a rock behind you, in the middle of a circle of people, or use the strap to hang it from a tent pole and the sound performance will be equally authentic.
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Inside there are two full-range drivers angled to deliver wide, spatial sound, while the center tweeter specifically focuses on clarifying speech. And built-in Dolby decoding enhances the audio capabilities of your TV Speaker to deliver a more realistic and satisfying listening experience. On it, you can pair your Bluetooth device to wirelessly stream your favorite music or podcasts, enable Dialogue Mode™ to further elevate center vocals, or add a bass boost for some extra depth.
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With a sleek interface, the Beats Pill+ is intuitive to use and brings people together with engaging features for a unique shared listening experience. Tweeter and woofer separation uses the same acoustic mechanics found in professional recording studios around the world.
Play, pause, skip tracks, and control your phone calls with a touch of the multifunction ‘b’ button.
PUT IT IN STEREO Sync two Beats Pill+ speakers together for dedicated left and right playback and an even more dynamic sound experience.
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Or set it near a wall and sound will radiate and reflect around the room, immersing you in that same feeling you felt at your favorite show. The tapered cylindrical shape makes this wireless speaker easy to grab and go, while a durable aluminum body provides worry-free protection.
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