TV Sound: Soundbar, Speakers and Bluetooth Headphones
Thin TVs have small speakers, so sound is often the weak point. This guide explains what the built-in watts mean, how to connect a soundbar, old speakers or Bluetooth headphones, and how to fix common sound issues.
Updated 11 November 2026
How good is the TV's own sound?
Speaker power in our list ranges from about 10 W on small budget TVs to 70 W on top models:
- 10 to 16 W: fine for news and dramas in a bedroom, such as Xiaomi TV A 32 2025 32 Inch Smart LED TV.
- 20 to 30 W: enough for most lounges. Many 43 to 65 inch models sit here.
- 40 W and up: fuller sound with more bass, for example Samsung QA65Q80DAUSWK 65 Inch QLED TV at 40 W and Haier H100S90FUX 100 Inch Mini LED TV at 50 W.
Watts are not everything. Dolby Atmos, Dolby Audio and DTS processing make voices clearer and spread sound wider. Dolby Atmos is listed on models such as Haier H55S80EUX 55 Inch QLED TV and TCL 55C6K 55 Inch Mini LED TV.
Ways to connect external speakers to an LED TV
- HDMI ARC or eARC: one HDMI cable carries sound to a soundbar or home theatre, and the TV remote controls the volume. The best option if both devices have it.
- Optical (digital audio out): a thin cable for soundbars and receivers without HDMI ARC.
- Bluetooth: wireless link to Bluetooth speakers, soundbars or headphones. Most smart TVs in our list have Bluetooth.
- Headphone or 3.5 mm out: on some models, for simple computer speakers.
Check the ports on the back of your TV or in its specs before buying a speaker.
Soundbar, home theatre or computer speakers?
- Soundbar: one slim bar under the TV, often with a wireless subwoofer. The easiest big upgrade.
- Home theatre (5.1): separate speakers around the room for a cinema feel. More cables and space needed.
- 2.1 computer speakers: cheap and simple, good for a small room, but connect only by 3.5 mm, optical adapter or Bluetooth.
For cricket and dramas a soundbar is usually enough. For films on a 75 inch or bigger TV, consider a home theatre.
How to connect Bluetooth headphones or a speaker to a smart TV
- Put the headphones or speaker in pairing mode.
- On Google TV: Settings, Remotes and accessories, Pair accessory. On Samsung: Settings, Sound, Sound Output, Bluetooth Speaker List. On LG: Settings, Sound, Sound Out, Bluetooth.
- Pick the device from the list.
Bluetooth can add a small delay between picture and sound. If lips do not match the voice, look for an audio delay or AV sync setting in the sound menu.
How to set up HDMI ARC with a soundbar
- Plug the HDMI cable into the port marked ARC or eARC on the TV and into the HDMI ARC port on the soundbar.
- Turn on HDMI-CEC in the TV settings (brands call it Anynet+, SimpLink, T-Link or similar).
- Set the TV sound output to HDMI ARC or receiver.
Now the TV remote controls the soundbar volume and both switch on together.
Change audio language or dual audio
Films and channels with two languages let you switch the soundtrack. During playback, open the options or settings menu and choose Audio track or Audio language. For a USB video, use the audio option in the TV's media player. If a video plays with no sound, its audio format may not be supported; converting it to AAC usually fixes it.
No sound or bad sound: quick checks
- Check mute, then the sound output: it should say TV speakers unless you use a soundbar.
- If a soundbar or Bluetooth device was connected before, the TV may still be sending sound to it.
- Turn off sound modes like Night or Clear Voice to test.
- Try another app or channel to rule out the source.
For power, picture and remote faults, see LED TV problems and fixes.
Best sound settings for dramas, cricket and films
- Dramas and news: use a Clear Voice or Dialogue mode so speech stands out.
- Cricket and football: Standard or Sports mode keeps crowd noise and commentary balanced.
- Films: Movie or Cinema mode, or Dolby Atmos if the TV lists it, for wider sound.
- Night: a Night or Auto Volume mode keeps loud ads and explosions from waking the house.
If the TV is wall-mounted, choose the wall setting if the menu offers one; it adjusts the bass for a wall behind the TV. See the TV wall mount guide.
TVs with strong built-in sound in our list
If you do not want extra speakers, pick a TV that lists Dolby Atmos and 24 W or more, such as Philips 55PQT8169 55 Inch QLED TV or Hisense 50Q6N 50 Inch QLED TV. Browse the QLED TV and Mini LED TV pages, where Dolby Atmos is common, or see our picks in best LED TV in Pakistan.
