...so what you need is a soundbar. The very best TV speakers can pack great, meaty sound into a package small enough to sit in front of your TV. They might also boast wireless subwoofers, Bluetooth, 4K-friendly HDMI inputs and even Dolby Atmos audio.
These are our picks of the best soundbars for a range of different budgets.
MORE: Best soundbar deals
Under £100
JBL Bar Studio The JBL Bar Studio soundbar is a solid affordable upgrade to your TV speakers.
SPECIFICATIONS
Bluetooth | JBL Surround Sound | Dimensions (hwd): 6 x 61 x 9cm
Reasons to Buy Solid and punchy sound
Plenty of bass
Decent detail
Good range of features
Reasons to Avoid Hardens slightly at higher volumes
Lacks timing and dynamics with music
Under £500
Sonos Beam Small, adaptable and - most crucially - great-sounding, the Beam could be Sonos' best product so far.
SPECIFICATIONS
Dolby Digital 5.1 | HDMI ARC | Amazon Alexa
Reasons to Buy Impressively open, spacious, three-dimensional sound
Surprising bass weight and depth
Simple setup
Compact and stylish
Usual Sonos music streaming and multi-room capabilities
Reasons to Avoid A little bright and sibilant at high volumes and with poor audio
More HDMI inputs would be nice
Under £750
Yamaha YSP-2700 Another Yamaha soundbar that does a very convincing job of immersing you in movie soundtracks.
SPECIFICATIONS
Wireless subwoofer | 3 HDMI inputs | Bluetooth
Reasons to Buy Wide, spacious surround sound
Tonally well balanced
Good dynamics
Slim design
Great connectivity
Reasons to Avoid Needs careful placement to get the most from it
Back surround effects not as well pronounced
Treble could have a touch more bite
Under £1000
Dali Kubik One One of the best premium soundbars we've tested - the sound is hugely engaging, and it looks very dapper to boot.
SPECIFICATIONS
2 optical inputs | 24bit/96kHz support | aptX Bluetooth
Reasons to Buy Involving, engaging sound
Good number of connections
Easy to use
Good looks
Under £1500
Sony HT-ST5000 Accomplished Dolby Atmos soundbars are few and far between. The HT-ST5000 is one of them. It makes film soundtracks so immersive you'll think you're inside the movie.
SPECIFICATIONS
Dolby Atmos sound | 4K HDR passthrough | Wireless subwoofer
Reasons to Buy Excellent integration
Weighty bass
Fine detail
Chromecast compatible
Reasons to Avoid Remote could be better designed
