Bryn De KocksWhether you’re watching sports, TV shows, or the latest movie release, the picture is only half of the experience. High-quality sound is just as important as a clear picture and can revolutionize how we watch TV by creating a more immersive experience that puts you in the center of the action. However, wired speakers can often look tacky and when run to different areas of the room can also create tripping hazards. That’s where wireless TV speakers come into the picture. Wireless TV speakers are a great choice for those who want high-quality sound without the mess of cables.
This article will cover the different types of wireless speakers for TV, their pros and cons, and help you find which type is best for your setup.
Note: We have a separate article if you’re looking for the best wireless TV speakers for hearing-impaired individuals.
VIZIO M-Series All-in-One 2.1
– Immersive Sound
– Wireless Subwoofer
– Sleek Design
– Easy Setup
– Broad Connectivity
– Value for Money
AudioEngine A5+
– High-Fidelity Sound
– Active Design
– Multiple Inputs
– Remote Control
– Compact Design
– Bluetooth Connectivity
JBL Bar 1000 7.1
– Powerful Surround Sound
– Dolby Atmos Compatibility
– Wireless Subwoofer and Rear Speakers
– Advanced Room Correction
– Voice Control
– Broad Connectivity
Amazon Echo Studio
– 3D Audio
– Smart Speaker
– Functionality
– High-Quality Sound
– Wireless Connectivity
– Hands-Free Voice Control
– Integration with Amazon Services
Bose SoundLink Revolve+ II
– 360-Degree Sound
– Waterproof and Dustproof
– Long Battery Life
– Voice Control
– Bluetooth Connectivity
– Portable Design
Types of Wireless TV Speakers
Television speakers have evolved over the years, with once popular large floor-standing speakers being replaced by compact wireless alternatives. There are five main types of wireless TV speakers used today:
- Soundbars
- Bookshelf Speakers
- Wireless Surround Sound Systems
- Smart Speakers
- Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Each of these speaker types has inherent advantages and disadvantages. How they connect to the TV, the audio performance, ease of use, and volume capabilities all weigh into the decision-making process and determine how good of a speaker it is for each user. Don’t rush into a speaker purchase before understanding what each of these types offers and who they’re best suited for – there’s no universal best option.
Wireless Connection Methods
The term wireless tells us more about how a speaker doesn’t connect than it tells us about how it does. This may lead some to think that all wireless TV speakers use the same type of technology, which isn’t the case. There are two common methods that speakers can connect to your television:
* Infrared and radio frequency are also supported by some devices, but are more common in wireless TV speakers for seniors and the hearing impaired.
The Best Wireless TV Speakers For Entertainment
Since wireless TV speakers are available in several different designs, we’ve provided recommendations for each style.
Wireless Soundbars
Soundbars have become the fastest-growing type of home theatre speaker, often opted for because of their ease of use and compact form factor. They are typically placed under the television and usually have several different drivers inside them. These drivers can be as simple as a left and right channel speaker on either side of the sound or may include center channel drivers for improved panning between channels. This gives the experience of sound moving from one side to the other seamlessly.
Wireless soundbars are ideal for creating a clean aesthetic and can blend in with your TV setup. Some will still have a power cable to ensure they’re always sufficiently powered, but others feature built-in batteries for added versatility.
Soundbars, by design, have an inherent limit on how much bass they can produce, given their sleek, narrow designs. This is why many wireless soundbars come with a sub-woofer. For home theatre purposes, it is advisable to ensure the soundbar is paired with a sub-woofer for the most immersion possible.
Wireless soundbars also sometimes form part of larger surround sound systems, complemented by additional satellite speakers.
Vizio’s M-Series Soundbar is a popular choice for those who want affordable, high-quality sound. Renowned for its immersive audio, it features Dolby Atmos or DTS:X for a more realistic surround sound. It includes a wireless subwoofer for enhanced bass and a sleek design that complements most TVs.
Wireless Bookshelf Speakers
Bookshelf speakers are standard left and right-channel speakers that are typically placed on either side of the television. Their affordability and sound quality make them a popular choice for those looking for a simple solution to a simple problem.
They are readily available in both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi options but tend to have fewer added features than wireless soundbars and surround sound systems. While a good pair of bookshelf speakers can work great for movies, the lack of a center channel and a more limited combination of drivers means dialogue can sometimes be harder to hear than a soundbar or surround sound system. Thankfully, many bookshelf speakers also have built-in controls that allow for the adjustment of different frequencies so you can tone down the bass and increase the mids to improve vocal clarity, for instance.
Bookshelf speakers are best suited to those who don’t watch a lot of action movies, instead excelling at casual use.
The AudioEngine A5+ is a pair of high-quality wireless bookshelf speakers that support low latency audio transfer with AptX-HD codecs. These versatile speakers offer excellent sound quality, with unrivaled clarity and balance.
Wireless Surround Sound Systems
Wireless surround sound systems are the most comprehensive speaker systems for home audio and are excellent at bringing scenes to life with powerful bass that places you in the center of an action scene or gets you feeling like you’re in the stadium while watching sports games.
These comprehensive systems use multiple speakers, placed around the listener to offer incredible immersion that cannot be attained through traditional speaker setups. The separation of channels and their location to the viewer creates an enhanced soundstage. This is a fancy way of saying that the sound effects in the movie are going to sound more real, as the audio comes from different areas of the room and not from a single location.
These systems are best for anyone who is looking to be further immersed in what they’re watching. Whether you’re watching a movie, a sports game, or gaming – surround sound can make the experience feel much more lifelike. They will also often feature a center channel speaker for enhanced clarity of dialog.
Keep in mind that the numbers used in surround sound systems refer to the channels used and not the speakers themselves. This means that a 7.1 system may have fewer speakers, but will still have 7 different channels and a subwoofer. Here’s what the numbers mean:
The JBL Bar 1000 7.1 is a high-end wireless surround sound system designed for immersive home theater experiences. It features 7.1-channel surround sound setup, Dolby Atmos compatibility, and advanced room correction technology. The system includes a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers for a full, cinematic audio experience.
Smart Speakers
Smart speakers are one of the latest innovations in home audio, with a strong focus on versatility. These home assistant devices can do a lot more than just play sound. They use Wi-Fi connectivity to integrate with your home network and can do everything from responding to voice commands to assisting in home automation and multi-room audio setups. Despite supporting Wi-Fi, smart speakers aren’t typically able to connect to the TV using this method and instead will need to be connected via direct Bluetooth or Google Chromecast.
Smart speakers are a great choice for those with an interest in modern technology and who enjoy integrating their home technology.
While these speakers excel in modern innovation, they aren’t going to give the best sound quality possible, frequently consisting of a single speaker driver. Some smart speakers support stereo, while others only produce mono audio, which limits the soundstage and immersion.
These devices are better suited for casual listening, such as for those watching YouTube. Still, some high-quality smart speakers can produce good sound quality with sufficient bass.
The Amazon Echo can be used as an effective wireless TV speaker by pairing it with your TV via Bluetooth or using an HDMI ARC cable. It offers voice control, music streaming, and smart home integration.
Portable Bluetooth Speakers
Most Bluetooth speakers are built around portability and don’t have the same wide stereo separation that we get from other TV speakers. This makes them less suitable for an immersive experience and better suited for casual listening. However, this can often be improved by using two portable Bluetooth speakers in a TWS (True Wireless Stereo) pairing so that each speaker becomes a separate channel.
The effectiveness of a portable Bluetooth speaker as a wireless TV speaker often comes down to its latency. Until recently, Bluetooth speakers were plagued by latency issues as codecs weren’t able to effectively compress the audio data to a size where it was quickly transferable between the transmitter and the receiver.
However, aptX and aptX HD have allowed supported speakers to transmit audio with much lower latency than in the past, making some modern Bluetooth speakers a viable choice for TV use. Ensure that the speaker is supported by low-latency codecs.
The Soundlink Revolve+ II uses aptX Bluetooth codecs for low latency, ideal for TV use. It also features a 360-degree audio design for improved soundstage. It is both water and dust resistant and has a powerful battery that lasts for up to 17 hours.
Important Considerations When Buying Wireless TV Speakers
Regardless of the type of speaker you choose, there are some common considerations to keep in mind that relate to all wireless TV speakers.
Room Size
The size of your room will influence which speaker is best. Larger rooms require more volume, while smaller rooms have less intense volume requirements and may also be limited in space. Soundbars can range from about the length of a ruler to the same width as the TV and surround sound systems by nature require a fair bit of space. This is especially true for larger 7.1, 9.1, and 11.1 systems where you may also need to have space behind you to place the satellite speakers.
Sound Quality Considerations
The thing about sound quality is that it describes several different sonic elements. A speaker can have excellent bass, but lack vocal clarity or have a broad soundstage but lack the volume needed to cover your room. Or sound clear, but have a narrow soundstage that reduces immersion. Here’s what speakers we recommend, depending on how you use your TV.
Sports
If you’re primarily watching sports or news, you’ll want speakers that have excellent dialog clarity, allowing you to hear the commentators well. A deep bass isn’t essential for sports but can add more atmosphere because of the crowd. Keep in mind that too much bass will take away from the clarity of voices. Soundbars and bookshelf speakers are both good options.
Twitch Streaming & YouTube
If you find yourself mostly watching Twitch or YouTube, with a focus on streaming content. Consider the types of streams and content that you watch. If you’re primarily watching podcast-style streams, there isn’t a need for much bass and instead, dialog clarity is essential. Soundbars do great for this type of content.
Alternatively, assume you’re a high-octane gameplay viewer. Then you’ll benefit from a wireless speaker that can produce immersive sound with broad soundstage and sufficient bass. A 2.1-channel surround sound system or soundbar with a subwoofer can help you retain the clarity of dialog while also ensuring your experience is immersive.
Movies & TV Shows
Die-hard movie buffs should ensure that their sound system balanced dialog clarity with a broad soundstage and deep bass. The powerful lows can immediately put one front and center of the action and help to create a truly immersive experience that can rival movie theatres. If you’ve ever wondered why a theatre often feels more immersive, it’s in part due to their comprehensive audio installations that have outstanding soundstage and imaging. Soundbars can do the trick for many, but I recommend a surround sound system for the best movie-watching experience.
Gaming
If you’re using your TV primarily for gaming, or if gaming forms a large part of what you do – you’ll want to maximize soundstage (especially for competitive shooters where enemy location is vital) and ensure the lows are powerful enough to make explosions sound as though they’re happening all around you. Surround sound systems, soundbars and bookshelf speakers are all viable options, consider pairing them with a subwoofer for deeper lows.
Music
If you’re using your television as a way to play music, bookshelf speakers are reliable and affordable. They tend to sound better than soundbars for music, and can also sometimes be paired with a subwoofer. If you fancy bass-heavy genres of music such as house, drum and bass, hip-hop, etc, you’ll want to make sure the speakers have enough low-end. Going for a 2.1 system that includes a subwoofer is a great option.
Compatibility
Before buying a wireless speaker for your TV, first check and see which speakers your TV supports. Not all TVs are the same and you may find yourself limited on the types of connectivity used.
For example, to use Wi-Fi speakers your TV will need to have built-in Wi-Fi so that it can send the audio signal through your network and to your speakers. Similarly, not all televisions have Bluetooth support, and if you want to use Bluetooth speakers you’ll need to buy a separate transmitter for the TV so it can transfer the audio.
Budget
Set out a clear budget before going in to buy, your budget will determine your options. Give yourself a bit of leeway, as spending a little bit more for a speaker that’s going to last and not need replacing after a year or two can save money in the long run.
Soundbars are available at a wide range of prices, with budget options often lacking the quality of similarly priced bookshelf speakers, so make sure you weigh out the limitations of your budget.
Some speaker models offer good quality bare-bone performance but lack the modern features offered by higher-end models. If you’re looking to save money you may have to cut back on what kind of additional features you have available to you.
Surround sound systems for instance, can be expensive, and in general, you’re going to be getting what you pay for. For casual use, you can get away with spending between $100 and $200, but for true immersive sound that offers good volume and performance, you’ll likely be looking at spending between $300-$500, or up to $1000 for larger systems
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