I used my TV's built-in speakers for a week and it was a huge mistake — here's why

(Image credit: Samsung)

Generally, I use a pair of speakers attached to the TV that lives in my office. I find they sound better than a soundbar, and look better too — especially the orange pair of Kanto Rens that sat either side of my screen.

At the moment, however, there's nothing to the side or the front of my 65-inch Samsung S90D. While my house is reorganized, I've had to move my speakers out of place. That's left me using the speakers built into my TV, and I am not having a good time.

So while I have one of the best 65-inch TV experiences in terms of wonderful OLED picture quality, I do not have the cinematic audio experience that my big screen deserves. Let me tell you why that's more of a problem than you might think.

Where's the "Dolby Atmos" Samsung?

Samsung S90D OLED TV on table in living room — (Image credit: Tom's Guide)

Apparently, the 65-inch Samsung S90D that sits atop my office TV stand has eight speakers inside it, capable of pumping out Dolby Atmos sound. That should mean that they're able to make the sound of my movies, TV and games sound like they're coming from all around — but they don't. What gives, Samsung?

Maybe it's the room layout. Maybe it's too close to the wall, and the speakers aren't able to bounce the sound around properly. Or, maybe the Dolby Atmos accreditation only means they're capable of decoding a soundtrack, instead of recreating it properly in my space.

Whatever may be the case, I'm certainly not getting the advertised surround sound out of the TV, no matter how many speakers Samsung has packed in behind its large panel.

But beyond the lack of Dolby Atmos, there's another significant problem that plagues my otherwise stunning piece of office equipment. Not only is the surround sound lackluster, but the built-in TV speakers simply don't sound very good.

Why do TV speakers sound so bad?

Samsung's Smart TV interface — (Image credit: Future)

It is a truth universally known — your TV speakers sound bad. Unless you've bought a Philips TV with a built-in soundbar, the speakers that come built into your TV aren't very good for much at all. I've found it's true for the very cheapest sets, all the way up to the flagship models that will cost you thousands and thousands of dollars.

Why? You'd have to ask the companies that make the TVs. I've my own suspicions that sound a lot like "how else are we going to get you to spend more money on a matching soundbar?" but this is a potentially misleading statement that could get me in trouble.

Instead, we're left with one, simple, unfortunate fact. If you want your movies and TV to sound any good, you're going to need something extra. Something I've become uniquely aware of while my usual speakers sit in a box in the attic. I can hear them, sometimes. Calling out to me.

There is a solution

Sonos Arc Ultra under a TV — (Image credit: Future)

As I'm rapidly learning, there is but one way to get decent sound. Or several, if you break it down. You need one of the best soundbars or best home cinema receivers and some speakers if you want to get the very best sound out of your TV. That adds on extra expense to what are already incredibly expensive products — something I don't feel is entirely fair.

I am pleased to see that there are options out there looking to buck the trend. The aforementioned Philips options with at least semi-competent audio to make sure you don't have to spend extra, for example.

Audio add-ons should be for weirdos. Home cinema aficionados who want to add multiple speakers around the room for physical surround sound. Not Christine from down the road, who just wants to be able to hear what's being said on the news clearly.

I can't see it happening any time soon. The best cheap soundbars are going to be your best bet for upping the sound quality of your TV for the time being — but I'm really not sure that should be the case.

As for me and my current predicament, I await with baited breath the moment I can pull my speakers out of semi-retirement and enjoy my content to its fullest again. But, until then, I am restricted to the speakers built into my TV. And I hate it.

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Tammy and her generous collection of headphones have found a new home — Tom's Guide! After a two-and-a-half-year stint as iMore's resident audiophile, Tammy's reviews and buying guide expertise have more focus than ever on Tom's Guide, helping buyers find the audio gear that works best for them. Tammy has worked with some of the most desirable audio brands on the planet in her time writing about headphones, speakers, and more, bringing a consumer focussed approach to critique and buying advice. Away from her desk, you'll probably find her in the countryside writing (extremely bad) poetry, or putting her screenwriting Masters to good use creating screenplays that'll never see the light of day.

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