There are a lot of benefits of modern technology, and TVs are arguably one of the biggest beneficiaries of that. If you think back to just 20 or so years ago, you probably remember the world ofCRT TVsand their massive backs, which made carrying them up a set of stairs a real pain. Another underrated aspect is the price changes. Just look at thisarticle from 2005that talks about a 50-inch TV going for “as little as $5,500.” To put that into perspective, it’s very easy to find a 50-inch TV for under $200 today, although the quality might be a little dubious.
Affordability is great for consumers, but it’s not a good thing when it comes at the cost of the TV itself. Going back to those CRTs, you could often find them with a set of stereo speakers built right into the shell. These days, many people opt for a soundbar or a set of speakers to get their TV audio fix. That’s not an issue you had back in the day, and I found a pair of CRT TVs in the trash that have audio that puts thenew TVs to shame. Will they be replacing every TV in my house? Of course not. However, I was surprised to see how good some of the audio is on a TV that was destined for a landfill.
I don’t care how thin a TVs is anymore, I just want this missing feature back
Whether or not that’s likely anymore is another matter.
Modern audio isn’t a priority anymore
Seems like nobody needs to hear anything
Let me be clear, these dumpster TVs don’t have a lot of modern uses thanks to their limitations. There are no HDMI hook-ups, no 4K resolution, and the screen size is paltry. They are nice for hooking up my N64 and PS2, but I don’t think I’ll use them for much else other than reliving some nostalgia.
What I have noticed, however, is that the stereo speakers that are included on the sets work perfectly. In the case of the Sony Trinitron, it sat out in the rain, but after letting it dry off for a week or so, I couldn’t notice any issues with the sound. The bigger problem with that set is that it says video in the corner, and it won’t go away. Of course, that’s a me problem, and there’s nothing wrong with the speakers themselves.
I know sound on TVs isn’t what it used to be, but I didn’t know the difference was this severe. With TVs getting slimmer and slimmer, there’s not a practical way to fit speakers on them anymore, at least to my mind, so I don’t expect that we’ll ever return to a period like this. With how big soundbars have gotten, it seems like consumers have just given up the fight for better audio in favor of external options. There are far too many choices available today that make up the ground that was lost by TV speakers becoming much worse. While there are some people out there who’d like to see actual speakers make a return, I fear those people are vastly outnumbered by people who don’t care.
To be fair, not every TV of this era had the same audio setup, so don’t expect any old CRT to blow you away. I have a set that only has mono speakers, so that’s an indication of how far the pendulum can swing in the other direction. Luckily, I had a set of old bookshelf speakers and a receiver to pair with it. However, two out of the three sets I have come with stereo speakers, so those aren’t bad odds considering I didn’t pay a dime for any of them. While they are mostly for novelty, I can’t deny the sound is a lot better than what’s coming out of my TV these days. Modern TVs are no doubt better buys for the vast majority of people today, but the older sets still have a clear edge in audio.
OLED vs mini-LED vs QLED in 2025: Which TV tech should you buy?
Today, you can get surprising image quality without spending a fortune.
I don’t think better audio is coming back
It seems like a lot of work
Many people like to go on and on about how things were better back in their day, but TV audio might be an example where that’s mostly true. Once the genie is out of the bottle, it’s nearly impossible to put it back in. We’ve already accepted a world without adequate TV speakers, so there’s no reason for manufacturers to add them back in. There are tweaks you may make tomake your TV sound better, but they’re still basic speakers at the end of the day. I don’t think people who buy higher-end TVs like OLEDs would have a problem with buying something that has better speakers, but the budget-friendly buyer likely won’t want their $300 TV to suddenly climb up to $500.
I know sound on TVs isn’t what it used to be, but I didn’t know the difference was this severe.
People have different priorities now, and there are some positives to buying an expensive soundbar or sound system. The big one is being able to use it on future TVs, so you can take audio out of the equation with your next TV purchase. Also, a decent soundbar blows TV audio out of the water, and yes, the same goes for those old CRTs with the stereo speakers. Picture quality is a bigger deal for most people now, and with the bigger screens, it’s important to prioritize a higher resolution. In 2025, it’s easier to find a 4K TV than it is to find something from a different resolution, but that’s largely a good thing.
With the growing prevalence of peoplemounting TVson their walls, having something with bulky speakers just won’t work anymore. Back in the day, nobody had to worry about mounting TVs, and it’s not even something people thought about because the weight and structure of these TVs would just make for an eyesore. I like having good audio as much as the next person, but I have to imagine that somebody who has had trouble hearing from their TV has already taken steps to fix that problem. If they did buy a soundbar, then having better speakers on their TV wouldn’t even matter unless the TV manages to surpass that. It’d be nice to see manufacturers take audio a little more seriously, but I don’t know if the incentive is there.
Your TV speakers aren’t that good and you shouldn’t be using them
Built-in speakers are limiting and can’t provide a quality audio experience.
