Can’t bear another second of listening to low sound quality TV speakers? Want an upgrade to a better sound system but lack the funds and space to do so? Then you’re in luck, as I am going to share with you a solution that doesn’t break the bank, doesn’t need a lot of space, and will significantly enhance your movie/music experience. You will only need to get a pair of powered speakers, and not just any pair, I will be listing 10 of the best powered speakers for TV.
Table of Contents
10 Best Powered Speakers For TV
1. Audioengine A5+ Powered Speakers for TV
This is Audioengine’s flagship powered bookshelf speakers, A5+ is powered by a Class AB amplifier with a peak power output of 150 Watts. The power amp is used to drive 0.75″ silk dome tweeters with neodymium magnets and 5″ aramid fiber woofers with advanced voice coils along with tuned rear-port slots. With this combination, Audioengine A5+ is capable of reproducing clean and bold sound with high clarity. The bass is tight and rich which is great for music content but not enough bass for an exhilarating home theater experience. Do not worry, you can always connect a sub via the subwoofer output.
A5+ also comes with Bluetooth (aptX-HD, 24-bit upsampling) connectivity for high-fidelity music streaming. Remote control is included as well, which is very convenient. The build quality is superb, it has 0.5″ thick MDF cabinets that minimize unwanted resonances and distortions. To reduce unwanted sound reflections internally, Audioengine uses heavy sound-damping material. For the finish, I prefer the high-gloss white paint which makes this pair of powered speakers look elegant and modern.
This pair of powered speakers are no doubt great for music sources due to the accuracy of the highs, mids, and tight bass. It may not be suitable for movies as the sound is kind of lightweight but it can be easily solved by getting a subwoofer such as Audioengine S8.
Features
- Class AB amplifier – a peak power output of 150 Watts.
- Bluetooth (aptX-HD, 24-bit upsampling) connectivity.
- Remote control included.
- High build quality and elegant finishes: high-gloss white paint, black satin, and wood veneer.
- Tuned rear-port slots.
- Frequency Response: 50Hz – 22kHz (±1.5dB)
- Inputs: 3.5 mm stereo mini-jack, RCA L/R
- Outputs: Variable preamp audio output/Subwoofer output.
- Dimensions (HWD): 10.75″ (27 cm) x 7″ (18 cm) x 9″ (23 cm)
2. PreSonus Eris E4.5 Powered Speakers for TV
A pair of studio monitors that will reproduce clear and accurate sound, start hearing tiny details that you never knew existed. This is the strength of PreSonus Eris E4.5, a pair of powered speakers with 1″ (25mm) ultra-low mass silk dome high-frequency transducers and 4.5″ Kevlar low-frequency transducers, powered by a Class AB amplifier 50 watts (25 watts per side). There are acoustic tuning controls where you can tune the speaker and adjust the response so that it won’t be affected by the acoustics of your room. This means even if you place the speakers near to the walls, you can still adjust their response accordingly so it doesn’t compromise the sound quality.
The cleaner sound quality greatly improves the dialogue’s clarity as well as ambient sound effects, making each movie/TV show scene more intense. For music playback, the accuracy of the stereo imaging and the spaciousness of the soundstage is impressive for speakers of this size. Due to the tweeters radiating sound at a fairly wide pattern, no matter which side of the sofa I am sitting on, I am still within the sweet spot. It doesn’t have Bluetooth capability which is a pity though but you can still use your TV to stream music.
The bass is lacking the oomph but it is rich and tight. PreSonus Eris E4.5 is amazing for music and TV shows. As for movies, it is still good as it could go really loud effortlessly. If you require the thunderous bass and deep bass extension, you can always pair them with an active subwoofer. Eris E4.5 is also equipped with a headphone amplifier which you can use if you do not want to disturb others.
Features
- Class AB amplifier 50 watts (25 watts per side)
- Acoustic Tuning Controls
- Front-panel volume control for E4.5 and its headphone amplifier.
- The soft-start feature helps to eliminate popping on power-up.
- Rear-firing acoustic port
- Frequency Response: 70Hz – 20kHz
- Inputs: Stereo 1/8″, Balanced ¼” TRS, Unbalanced RCA
- Outputs: Headphone out
- Dimensions (HWD): 9.5″ (241 mm) x 6.4″ (163 mm) x 7.” (180 mm)
3. Kanto YU6 Powered Speakers for TV
Elegant and stylish-looking powered speakers, Kanto YU6 looks good and sounds even better. YU6 is packed with features such as a phono preamp which you can easily connect to your turntable. If you prefer music streaming, then you will be delighted to know it comes with Bluetooth (Qualcomm aptX technology) connectivity, enabling you to enjoy high-quality music streaming. It even has a subwoofer output to connect an active sub which is essential for an exhilarating home cinema experience.
Kanto YU6 has 1″ silk dome tweeters and 5.25″ Kevlar drivers with rear-firing bass ports. These drivers are powered by a Class D amplifier with a Total RMS of 100 Watts and 200 Watts Peak Power. It is a bright-sounding speaker that reproduces clear and refined sound quality. Vocals are crystal clear as well. The tight and agile bass response is impressive for its size. The tweeters are dome-shaped which improves the dispersion of sound and provides a wider sweet spot.
It also comes with remote control. Kanto YU6 has the sound quality and features to satisfy almost everyone at this price point and range. This powered speaker can go really deep (50Hz) but doesn’t have the ferocity of a subwoofer and also subs can reach even deeper bass extension. You can always connect a subwoofer to the speaker though.
Features
- Phono preamp
- Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity – Qualcomm aptX technology
- Class D amplifier – 100 Watts Total RMS, 200 Watts Peak Power
- Comes with remote control.
- Automatic standby and power-up modes.
- Frequency Response: 50Hz – 20kHz
- Inputs: 3.5mm mini-jack AUX, RCA with Phono Switch, 2 x Optical (TOSLINK)
- Outputs: Subwoofer out, USB Charge 5V 1A
- Dimensions (HWD): 10.7″ (272 mm) x 6.9″ (175 mm) x 8.1″ (205 mm)
4. Edifier R2000DB Powered Bluetooth Speakers for TV
Edifier R2000DB is a pair of powered speakers that are built for versatility, meant to be used for movies, gaming, and music. At first glance, you will notice a peculiar slanted speaker cabinet which does makes it look a little futuristic. Edifier uses 1″ (25mm) silk dome “Eagle Eye” tweeters, the main function is to reproduce the tiniest of sound with clarity. Then there’s the 5″ alloy full-range driver. With an inbuilt amp that has 120 Watts RMS power, R2000DB is capable of reproducing clear, refined, and warm sound. The tuned rear port of the speaker does pump out ample amounts of bass, as there are no acoustic adjustments, so you might want to give it some space to tame the bass.
There are bass and treble adjustment settings though, where you can adjust them accordingly to tailor the sound to your preference. R2000DB comes with a remote control which is absolutely handy as the volume, bass, and treble controls are located at the back of the speaker. You can also stream music via Bluetooth connectivity. To reduce distortion and enhance user listening experience, Edifier has integrated Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and Dynamic Range Control (DRC).
With the number of inputs, you can connect multiple sources into Edifier R2000DB which is useful. The sound quality is revealing but not clinical which is good and enjoyable. The bass response is as expected from bookshelf speakers and is quite impressive thus you may not need to supplement your sound system with a subwoofer. Overall the sound quality may not be as refined and clean as some of the powered speakers listed here but for the asking price, Edifier R2000DB is definitely worth every penny.
Features
- 120 Watts RMS power
- 1″ (25mm) silk dome “Eagle Eye” tweeters.
- Bass and treble adjustment settings.
- Integrated Digital Signal Processing (DSP) and Dynamic Range Control (DRC).
- Bluetooth connectivity is available.
- Frequency Response: 55Hz – 20kHz (±3dB)
- Inputs: 2x RCA, Optical, Coaxial
- Outputs: N/A
- Dimensions (HWD): 10.7″ (272 mm) x 6.9″ (175 mm) x 8.1″ (205 mm)
5. Klipsch R-51PM Powered Bluetooth Speakers for TV
First look at these powered speakers, you will immediately know is from Klipsch, as they seem to have their own distinctive look and design. Unlike the powered speakers I have mentioned earlier, Klipsch R-51PM uses 90° x 90° square Tractrix Horns for their 1″ Aluminum LTS tweeters, this is to ensure high-frequency energy is aimed at the listener thus reducing artificial reverbs, giving you clarity, dynamics, and detail from your playback source. R-51PM uses 5.25″ Spun-Copper IMG Woofers that provide you with accurate, remarkable, and rich low-frequency response. These speakers are driven by a built-in amplifier that is custom-tuned and built for R-51PM.
It also has a phono pre-amp which is good news for turntable owners. Bluetooth connectivity for wireless music streaming and other direct inputs. It has rear bass ports, you might want to give some distance between the speaker and rear walls/sidewalls, as it doesn’t have acoustic tuning adjustments. Klipsch R-51PM has a unique feature which is Dynamic Bass EQ where it will dynamically boost lower frequencies when listening to lower volumes. If you want more bass, there is a subwoofer output for you.
There are removable magnetic grills which are convenient and also useful to protect your drivers. The way the sound is projected to you makes it quite bright-sounding but due to this, it provides you with accuracy and clean sound quality. The bass response is impressive, this is why you must take ample care on speaker positioning and placements. Klipsch R-51PM is highly efficient and could go very loud without much effort.
Features
- 140 Watts Peak Power
- 90° x 90° square Tractrix Horns
- Dynamic Bass EQ
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Phono Pre-amp
- Frequency Response: 68Hz – 21kHz
- Inputs: Phono/Line analog, 3.5mm analog mini jack, USB, Optical
- Outputs: Single RCA line level output/Subwoofer output
- Dimensions (HWD): 13.3” (33.8 cm) x 7” (17.78 cm) x 9.12” (23.16 cm)
6. Swans Speakers M200MKII Powered Bluetooth Speakers for TV
There’s this classy look to it, with the beautiful slope and finish, it fits elegantly into home decors. Swans Speakers M200MII is a premium quality powered speaker that has a CES award under its’ belt. Integrated with 1″ silk dome tweeters, 5.25″ woofers, and vented ports, driven by an amplifier that has 80 Watts total RMS power. It delivers sweet-sounding highs, dynamic mids, and tight punchy lows, with clarity and precision. The speaker cabinet design has an important purpose as well, the Heavy MDF cabinet reduces resonances and the sloping front baffle ensures phase coherence. The braced enclosure also minimizes vibration and reducing sound coloration.
These powered speakers also come with Bluetooth connectivity and remote control, this enables you to control and play music without moving away from your comfy chair. There’s another amazing feature, M200MII can be connected via Wi-Fi or AirPlay, DLNA, etc. It uses stylish black fiber screens to protect the drivers which can be easily removed if you want to.
The pristine sound quality is terrific for music, the bass is agile and rich but may not be enough for bass fanatics. Overall, the sound quality of Swans Speakers M200MKII is way above TV speakers, and with the plethora of features, this is definitely an ideal choice for powered speakers to be used as a TV sound upgrade.
Features
- 80 Watts total RMS power, the amplifier is equipped with a mini DSP chip.
- Award-winning speaker.
- Premium build quality.
- Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity.
- Remote control included.
- Frequency Response: 56Hz – 20kHz (±3dB)
- Inputs: Line 1, Line 2, Optical, Coaxial, and AUX
- Outputs: N/A
- Dimensions (HWD): 9.5” (24.13 cm) x 7.2” (18.29 cm) x 12.5” (31.75 cm)
7. Alesis Elevate 5 MKII Powered Speakers for TV
Alesis Elevate 5 MKII is a studio-grade powered speaker that will reveal every tiny detail of the music/movie source, delivering a comprehensive and spacious soundstage with high clarity. You will hear every dialogue including whispers. Elevate 5 MKII delivers precise stereo imaging and natural bass reproduction. Consists of 1″ silk dome tweeters and 5″ low-frequency drivers in a ported enclosure, driven by a closely matched amplifier with 80 Watts total. Furthermore, Alesis’s elliptical tweeter waveguide optimizes dispersion and stereo imaging. All these drivers working in unison, creating an unprecedented sound quality, way beyond what TV speakers can reach.
There is a bass boost function but don’t expect thunderous and rumbling bass. If you need subterranean bass, there is a subwoofer output that you can use to connect an active sub. It does lack in Bluetooth connectivity feature but is not as important as sound quality. Another important ‘feature’, will be affordability. For the price and the level of sound quality, Alesis Elevate 5 MKII beats many speakers in the same range.
The bass ports are located at the front panel, so it is easier to place the speakers (comparing to the rear-ported) but you’ll still need enough breathing space for them. Also, Alesis Elevate 5 MKII doesn’t have acoustics tuning controls, which can be quite a hassle if your listening room has a lot of acoustics problems.
Features
- 80 Watts total
- Elliptical tweeter waveguide which will optimize dispersion and stereo imaging.
- Bass Boost
- Studio-Grade Sound Quality
- Affordable
- Frequency Response: 56Hz – 20kHz
- Inputs: 2x 1/4″, 2x RCA
- Outputs: 1x 1/4″ (powered out), 1x 1/8″ (headphones)
- Dimensions (HWD): 10.6” (26.92 cm) x 7.25” (18.42 cm) x 8.7” (22.1 cm)
8. Audioengine A2+ Powered Speakers for TV
Another Audioengine powered speakers but smaller and more affordable than its bigger brother (A5+). The advantage of having a small footprint will be that it is a lot easier to fit them in your room. The A2+ lacks punchy bass but you can always add a subwoofer to supplement the low frequency. It is neutral sounding and tonally balanced, the soundstage is smaller but it still has accurate stereo imaging. Audioengine A2+ uses a Class AB amplifier with 60 Watts peak power total, to drive its’ 0.75″ silk dome tweeters and 2.75″ aramid fiber woofers in front-ported enclosures.
A2+ has Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity and support aptX, AAC and SBC codecs. An impressive wireless range of up to 100ft (30 m). It also has USB Audio input, up to 16 bit/48 kHz. Even though is cheaper than A5+, Audioengine doesn’t short-change you on the build quality, A2+ uses 0.7″ (18 mm) thick MDF cabinets with extensive internal bracing and heavy internal sound-damping material thus reducing resonances and distortion, improving the overall sound quality. There is also an integrated 16 bit DAC (PCM 2704C).
They do have decent bass output for their size but the sound quality is still quite lightweight. For music playback and watching TV shows, A2+ are definitely ideal powered speakers but for movies and gaming, you may want to add in an active subwoofer. Other than the sound quality, this pair of powered speakers are packed with features and for the price, Audioengine A2+ is certainly worth your consideration.
Features
- Class AB amplifier – 60 Watts peak power total
- Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity – wireless range of up to 100ft (30 m).
- USB Audio input, up to 16 bit/48 kHz
- Integrated 16 bit DAC (PCM 2704C)
- Affordable
- Frequency Response: 65Hz – 22kHz (±2.0dB)
- Inputs: 3.5 mm stereo mini-jack, RCA L/R, USB
- Outputs: RCA variable line-out/Subwoofer output
- Dimensions (HWD): 10.5” (26.7 cm) x 7” (17.8 cm) x 15” (38.1 cm)
9. JBL Professional 1 Series 104-BT for TV
For users having a tight budget and space constraints, JBL Professional 1 Series 104-BT might be a perfect choice. To make these powered speakers compact, JBL uses an innovative coaxial driver design where it combines a 0.75″ (19 mm) soft-dome tweeter and 4.5″ (118 mm) woofer, delivering a natural and cohesive sound reproduction. With a built-in Class D amplifier that provides 30 watts to each speaker, 104-BT can reach an unexpected level of loudness with exceptional details and an accurate representation of the source. The JBL’s patented low-frequency port is able to deliver a low bass extension down to 60 Hz, an impressive feat for such a small speaker.
JBL Professional 1 Series 104-BT is acoustically optimized for desktop placement so you’ll just need to provide some distance between the speakers to the walls, and it will do just fine. It uses Bluetooth 5.0 for music streaming. The volume knob control is located at the front of the speaker and you will also notice a headphone output.
The oval shape cabinet design looks unique but does look a bit industrial. Overall, is still an amazing compact monitor with good audio quality with Bluetooth connectivity. For movie playback, it won’t be able to deliver the low-end oomph and it doesn’t have a subwoofer output.
Features
- Innovative coaxial driver design
- Integrated Class D amplifier distributes 30 watts to each speaker.
- JBL’s patented low-frequency port (down to 60 Hz).
- Bluetooth 5.0
- Affordable
- Frequency Response: 88Hz – 20kHz (-3.0dB)
- Inputs: 1/8″ Aux, RCA, 1/4″ TRS balanced
- Outputs: 1/8″ stereo headphone with auto speaker mute
- Dimensions (HWD): 9.72” (24.7 cm) x 6.02” (15.3 cm) x 4.88” (12.4 cm)
10. Mackie CR4-XBT Multimedia Monitors for TV
Mackie CR4-XBT is a pair of powered speakers with good sound quality. It will reproduce sound that is as faithful to what the artist has intended, an accurate representation of your music and songs. The sound quality is crisp and clear, no details are missed. It is amazing for gaming as well due to the accuracy of these speakers, you can listen to your enemy footsteps and pinpoint exactly where they are. CR4-XBT has 0.75″ ferrofluid-cooled silk-dome tweeters and 4″ polypropylene-coated woofers in a rear bass reflex enclosure, driven by 50 watts of power.
The speaker design and the green lines do show is targeting younger audiences, as it got quite a bold gamer look. Bluetooth connectivity is an added feature for this model (CR4-XBT). It doesn’t have any acoustics and audio adjustment settings, which does gives a headache to users with very tight spaces. It doesn’t have a remote control but fortunately, the volume control knob is located at the front panel along with the headphone output which will automatically mute the speaker once it is plugged in.
It would have been one of the very best but the constant hissing can be annoying especially when you are listening to the speaker closely. Since you may be quite far away from your TV and most likely playing at medium volume, the hissing sound won’t be audible. Mackie CR4-XBT is a pair of powered speakers that are made for all-around usage and for the asking price, it is actually quite attractive.
Features
- 50 Watts of power
- Bluetooth connectivity
- Headphone output – automatically mutes the speaker once it is plugged in.
- Affordable
- Frequency Response: 65Hz – 20kHz (-3.0dB)
- Inputs: 1/4″, RCA
- Outputs: Headphone output
- Dimensions (HWD): 8.9” (22.6 cm) x 6.1” (15.5 cm) x 8.3” (21.1 cm)
Overall Best Powered Speakers For TV
Kanto YU6 will be my top pick as it has all the features you will ever need from a pair of powered speakers. The sound quality is impeccable as well, and to sweeten the deal, YU6 has a phono preamp which makes these speakers very versatile. Kanto YU6 will elevate your experience to the next level, you will definitely hear the difference in sound quality when comparing them to your television speakers. If you need more bass, you can always add a subwoofer and connect it to your powered speakers.
Best Sound Quality Powered Speakers For TV
PreSonus Eris E4.5 will take this spot, it is after all a studio-grade powered speaker that will playback any source as close to what the artists have intended. The clear pristine trebles and rich bass is more than enough to win you over, not to mention, the expansive soundstage and accurate stereo imaging. The Acoustic Tuning Controls make this speaker even more unmatched in this top 10 list as you can tune Eris E4.5, adjust the response so that it won’t be affected by the acoustics of your room thus better sound quality. PreSonus Eris E4.5 would have taken the Overall Best Category If it wouldn’t for the lack of other vital features.
Best Budget Powered Speakers For TV
For this category, the price point is important but the sound quality is equally important too. This is why I have picked Alesis Elevate 5 MKII for the best budget powered speakers for TV. It has a studio-grade sound quality which is amazing to have at such an affordable price. Elevate 5 MKII also has a subwoofer output which is an upgrade path for you. Meaning you can just take your time to save a bit of money and purchase an active subwoofer to supplement the bass. The subwoofer is essential for a satisfying home cinema experience.
How to connect Powered Speakers to TV
Most TVs have optical output and RCA L/R audio out (White & Red), you need to check if these outputs are available on your TV.
I will recommend using an external DAC with optical input. External DAC is usually better than most TVs’ DAC thus providing you better sound quality. Connect the DAC to your TV using an optical cable, then connect your powered speakers to the DAC. Some powered speaker models have integrated DAC which allows optical connections between the speakers and TV without any external DAC device in between.
You can also connect powered speakers directly to your TV using RCA audio cables. The digital-to-analog conversion will be processed by your TV for this case.
Connecting your powered speakers to your TV via a 3.5mm audio jack, which is usually your television’s headphone output.
Do note that the two best methods to connect your powered speakers to your TV will be via Optical or RCA. You should always check the available output connections that your TV has, and use that as a reference when buying your speakers/DAC.
Powered Speakers Vs Soundbars
Both powered speakers and soundbars are usually self-powered, meaning they have built-in amplifiers but which is a better option? If we are talking about stereo mode only. In terms of sound quality and at the same price range, a pair of powered speakers will always beat the soundbar. Firstly they are designed and tuned to reproduce sound in stereo. As the price range goes up, these powered speakers will start to fall into the studio monitors category. Studio monitors are used by professionals/audio engineers in recording studios, radio, television stations, and more. These professionals need speakers that can reveal every tiny detail and reproduce the music/soundtrack sources as close to the way they intended them to sound.
This is why powered speakers are usually a lot better than soundbar in terms of music playback. Even for movies or multi-channel music playback, if there is a downmix to stereo version, a pair of powered speakers can be better than some multi-drivers soundbars. Powered speakers can deliver very accurate stereo imaging and a spacious soundstage, allowing the listener to hear surround sound effects without using rear surround speakers. But if we are talking about surround sound only, then powered speakers won’t be a challenge. Then again, you can always use powered speakers as your front LCR and even as rear surround speakers in a home theater setup with an AV receiver. The surround sound quality will definitely beat a multi-channel soundbar at the same price range.
Soundbars are easier to set up and connect to your TV. As for powered speakers, you may need an external DAC or a Mixer to channel the left and right stereo audio signal to each speaker accordingly. Some soundbars may have a 4K passthrough, the latest surround sound formats/codecs such as Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, etc., and other features.
Ultimately it really depends on what you want, whether stereo will suffice or surround sound formats are more important, and how much are you willing to spend. Once you have answered your own questions and know what you really want, along with this article, you most probably could decide whether if you want to go for powered speakers or soundbars.
In Conclusion
You can usually get high sound quality powered speakers without the need for deep pockets, they are great for music and definitely better sounding than your TV speakers. They are also versatile, for instance, you can use them as speakers for your future home surround setup and since they already have their own power amplifiers, they can ease the load off your AVR thus allowing more power to be driven to your other passive speakers.
Like always, you should shortlist the potential powered speakers and audition them either at your local dealers or at home. Whether the sound quality is good or bad, you will be the one to judge. Of course, you can also use my top picks as a reference. You might also be interested in soundbase for TV, which is another alternative to TV speakers.
