TV Sound and Streaming: An Overview

Modern televisions are thin, often only a few centimetres deep, which leaves very little room for speaker drivers or the enclosure volume needed to produce deep bass and high volume without distortion. Speakers are also usually rear or downward firing, aimed away from the viewer, since there is no space to angle them forward. The result is sound that can cover dialogue adequately at moderate volume but struggles with the dynamic range of movies, sports crowds or music heavy content, and this is one of the main reasons many owners add external speakers at some point.

A soundbar is a single long speaker unit, usually placed below or in front of the TV, that combines several drivers to widen the stereo image and add clearer dialogue and stronger bass than built in TV speakers. Many soundbars include or pair with a separate wireless subwoofer for low frequency output. Soundbars connect most reliably through an eARC enabled HDMI port, which allows every source connected to the TV to pass its audio to the soundbar automatically. See our soundbar guide for a closer look at features and placement.

Dolby Atmos is an object based audio format that positions individual sounds in three dimensional space, including height, rather than assigning sound only to fixed left, right and centre channels. Many current soundbars use upward firing or virtual processing to simulate height effects without ceiling speakers. To receive Dolby Atmos from a TV, the connection needs enough bandwidth, which is why an eARC connection matters for passing this format through in full from streaming apps or connected devices.

An AV receiver is a central hub that connects multiple sources and drives a set of separate speakers, offering the most control over sound placement and volume, along with room calibration features on many models. This setup requires more space, more cabling and more initial configuration than a soundbar, but suits people who want a dedicated home cinema style setup or who already own separate speakers. Devices typically connect to the receiver, which then connects to the TV, or connect directly to the TV with eARC returning sound to the receiver.

HbbTV is a broadcast standard that adds interactive features to regular television channels received through an aerial, satellite or cable tuner, such as catch up programming, additional information overlays or access to a broadcaster's own app without switching to a separate smart TV app. Availability and the exact features offered depend on the broadcaster and country, and the feature can usually be turned on or off in the TV's settings menu if you prefer not to see the prompts.

The picture and sound quality delivered by a streaming app depends on more than the TV itself. Your internet connection speed and stability, the streaming service's chosen bitrate for a given title, and occasionally server side factors on busy evenings can all affect whether you see the sharpest available version of a show. A TV with strong hardware can still show a lower quality stream if the network connection to it is weak, which is another reason a wired Ethernet connection or a strong Wi-Fi signal matters for streaming as much as it does for other network tasks.

Casting sends audio or video from a phone, tablet or computer to the TV over the home network, letting you start playback on a small screen and continue watching on the television without physically connecting a cable. Several casting standards exist, often tied to a particular ecosystem, and TV compatibility varies by platform and manufacturer, so check which casting method your devices support before relying on it as your main way of watching content.

Many smart TVs support connecting headphones, either through a companion app on a phone, a Bluetooth pairing directly with the TV, or a receiver and transmitter set, useful for watching late at night without disturbing others. Bluetooth audio can introduce a small delay between picture and sound on some TVs, so if you notice lips slightly out of sync with dialogue, check the settings menu for an audio delay or lip sync adjustment.

Beyond the hardware you connect, the TV's own sound mode settings affect what you hear. A dialogue enhancement or voice clarity mode can make speech easier to follow at lower volume, useful for viewers who find background music and effects overpowering. Night or compressed modes reduce the gap between quiet and loud passages, helpful for late evening viewing when you do not want sudden loud effects. These modes work on both built in speakers and many external soundbars, so it is worth checking the audio settings menu on whichever device is producing the sound rather than assuming only the TV controls the result.

Some households extend TV sound beyond a single soundbar using a wireless multiroom speaker system, where a compatible TV or streaming device sends audio to speakers in the same room or elsewhere in the home. This differs from a traditional home cinema setup in that speakers are usually wireless and controlled through an app rather than wired to a central receiver, trading some of the precision of a wired system for flexibility and simpler installation. Compatibility between a TV and a particular wireless speaker ecosystem varies, so check this before assuming any wireless speaker will work as TV audio.

Do I need both a soundbar and an AV receiver?

No, they serve a similar purpose at different levels of complexity. A soundbar is a simpler, more compact upgrade over TV speakers, while an AV receiver with separate speakers offers more flexibility and power for those who want to build a larger system.

Will any soundbar give me Dolby Atmos?

Only soundbars designed to decode and reproduce Dolby Atmos, whether through dedicated upward firing drivers or virtual processing, will provide the format's height effects. Check the product's supported audio formats before assuming Atmos is included.

Is a streaming stick better than built in apps?

Neither is universally better. A streaming stick can offer a more familiar interface or more frequent updates, while built in apps avoid extra hardware and typically integrate well with the TV's own settings. The right choice depends on personal preference and how current your TV's built in software is.

Why is my casted video out of sync with the sound?

This is often related to network conditions or Bluetooth audio delay rather than casting itself. Check for a lip sync or audio delay setting on the TV or connected speaker, and ensure a stable network connection for smoother casting.