Ultimate TV audio upgrades

Sound is as important as pictures to a great home cinema experience these days. There’s no point having hi-res images if the sound feels like it’s being beamed from a paper bag full of cotton wool. So here are 34 ways to up your audio game

Words: John Archer

Photography: Neil Godwin

SOUNDBARS

Soundbars are the most convenient way to send your TV’s puny built-in sound system packing. Handy, then, that there are now some seriously awesome models out there

1 SAMSUNG HW-Q950A There are soundbars and there are SOUNDBAR S. The Samsung Q950A is the latter. Its four-piece system fills even large rooms with a stunningly detailed 616W of Dolby Atmos sound via 16 real (rather than virtual) channels of sound – including four upfiring speakers to deliver Dolby Atmos’s overhead effects. It’s like owning a separates surround sound system but without the hassle. £1,199, samsung.com

2 SAMSUNG HW-Q800A No brand does raw, action movie-loving aggression from an affordable soundbar better than Samsung. So if your budget won’t stretch to Samsung’s remarkable 16-channel Q950A featured to the left but you still want explosions, gun-fire, dinosaur footfalls and so on to hit hard enough to flap your trousers, this more affordable sub/ soundbar combi gets the job done brilliantly. £699, samsung.com

3 YAMAHA YAS-207 As well as being great value, this two-piece package stands out courtesy of its unusual DTS Virtual:X technology. This creates such an effective, large and convincing 3D, surround sound effect – despite only having the soundbar and a subwoofer to work with – that you’ll lose track of how many times you find yourself glancing over your shoulder looking for a side or surround speaker that isn’t actually there. £299, uk.yamaha.com

4 ROKU STREAMBAR The Streambar is much more than just a soundbar. Uniquely it’s also a fully fledged video streamer, letting you enjoy all the benefits of Roku’s famously user-friendly, incredibly content-rich smart TV platform on even the dumbest of TVs. All you need is an HDMI connection and broadband, and that’s it. To seal the deal, the Streambar also sounds better than you’ve any right to expect for its puny asking price. £130, roku.com

5 LG QP5 ECLAIR If space is at a premium or you believe sound systems should be heard and not seen, LG’s QP5 – aka the Eclair – is the soundbar for you. Despite measuring just 296 x 59.9 x 126mm, it somehow fits five potent drivers into its attractively rounded form that prove capable of both pumping out a startlingly big sound stage and blending surprisingly effectively with its equally stylish accompanying subwoofer. £700, lg.com