Modern TVs are so thin that there is no room left for proper speakers. The picture keeps getting better, the sound does not: voices get lost and explosions rattle. There are three ways to fix it, and they suit different rooms.
A soundbar: the simplest upgrade
One box under the screen and one HDMI cable. Look for a separate center channel: it carries the dialogue, so you stop turning the volume up for every conversation. The Sonark Beam 3.1 has one, decodes Dolby Atmos and comes with a wireless subwoofer that stands anywhere in the room.
Bookshelf speakers: for music as well
If you listen to records or streaming as much as you watch films, a pair of powered speakers sounds wider and more natural. The Sonark Shelf Duo has a built-in 2 x 60 W amplifier and phono, optical and RCA inputs, so a turntable and the TV connect at the same time.
Headphones: when the house is asleep
For late films, wireless headphones let you hear every whisper without waking anyone. The Sonark Quiet Pro last forty hours on a charge and stay connected to two devices at once, so the switch from the TV to your phone takes a second.
Three things to check before buying
- The TV has an HDMI port marked eARC or ARC: the remote then controls the volume.
- There is space under the screen: measure the console, not only the TV.
- Neighbours behind the wall: a soundbar with a night mode lowers the bass after 10 pm.
