Built in speakers for new 4K TVs

[Blu-21]

Has anyone noticed that the next generation new 4K TVs seem to be putting extra effort into making the built in TV speakers sound good? Not that I've heard the quality of the sound from one in person, but it seems that as the years have gone by in the development of LCD/LED and plasma that the built in speakers would take a back seat and if anything get worse and worse to make the designs look slicker. It seems by looking at pictures that they are trying something different with 4K Tvs. Can anyone verify this or at least understand what I'm talking about?

[AccordTR]

Originally Posted by Blu-21

Has anyone noticed that the next generation new 4K TVs seem to be putting extra effort into making the built in TV speakers sound good? Not that I've heard the quality of the sound from one in person, but it seems that as the years have gone by in the development of LCD/LED and plasma that the built in speakers would take a back seat and if anything get worse and worse to make the designs look slicker. It seems by looking at pictures that they are trying something different with 4K Tvs. Can anyone verify this or at least understand what I'm talking about?

I have the samsung un65f9000. It actually decodes and outputs dts to the built in speakers. While it isn't as good as my receiver and home theater, it def is a HUGE improvement over regular led/lcd speakers of a few years ago.

[SlmShdy1]

Mitsubishi made their built-in speakers a priority on their LCD's. They sounded great. 16 little speakers, all forward facing. It was even one of their key selling features. Hell, I was impressed by the speakers in the VT60. Much better than the speakers in my GT50, which had speakers in the back and would very commonly distort at high volumes.

I haven't had a chance to listen to the built-in speakers on the Sony 4K panels, but they sure do look good. I guess, with higher-end products, the manufacturers just assume that the consumer is going to have a kick-ass sound system to go along with their $2,000+ TV. So why even bother with speakers at all? Like the Pioneer KRP models.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by SlmShdy1

I guess, with higher-end products, the manufacturers just assume that the consumer is going to have a kick-ass sound system to go along with their $2,000+ TV. So why even bother with speakers at all? Like the Pioneer KRP models.

Because that's not the case. Relatively few consumers, even at the high end, have true home theatre. Soundbars outsell receivers.

And when you pay $2000+ for a TV, you don't want to hear, "oh, by the way..it doesn't have speakers" or "oh, by the way, the sound sucks". (The sound in my Sony XBR55HX929 does suck.) Pioneer was an exception due to the extraordinarily high picture quality, although some models had optional speakers you could hang on the set.

When you go into a showroom, in most cases the TVs aren't hooked to anything. So when they demo the TV, it's got to sound good. And the newer sets do have much better sound.

For me personally, I generally play back via the sound system, but late at night or if it's just a talk show, I shut the receiver off. I would love it if my TV had better sound than it did. The newer sets do.