Charles Esther
These days, it’s pretty much a given that you need a soundbar or some other external audio system for a flat-panel TV.
That’s because TV speakers today generally suck!
However, that wasn’t always the case.
My recent retro TV purchase reminded me that some TVs had sound quality that could rival a Hi-Fi system right out of the box.
Specifically, the gem of a TV I lucked into buying proved this perfectly.
I Bought an Enormous 34-Inch Sony Trinitron
A few months ago, I finally fulfilled my goal of buying a CRT TV.
I had been scanning sites like Facebook Marketplace daily for almost two years until I found a TV that met all my criteria.
It’s the Sony KV-L34MF1 — a massive 34-inch, 150-pound beast that gave me a sore back for weeks after hauling it upstairs.
At first, I had to place it on two old flight crates until I could buy a table sturdy enough to hold its bulk.
To give you an idea of its size, it completely fills the rear of my KIA Sportage without the speaker pods attached.
Setting it up took time, involving buying many cables, adapters, and testing different consoles and media players.
Since the last CRT I owned was a 21-inch flatscreen I sold nearly 20 years ago, this was a whole new experience for me.
I Was Just Looking for a Retro Gaming TV
The speaker pods on this TV caught my attention, but they weren’t the main reason I bought it.
I never even considered whether the audio would be any good.
My primary goal was to enjoy the unique visual benefits of CRT technology, especially for retro gaming.
I wanted to play PlayStation and PlayStation 2 games, along with classic 8-bit and 16-bit consoles.
Since the PS2 doubles as a great DVD player, I also watched some 4:3 aspect ratio DVDs, like the Transformers cartoon box set and the complete Tintin collection.
To my surprise, these shows look more attractive on this Sony Trinitron than even on my 2022 OLED TV.
While the OLED does a competent job of upscaling DVD footage, the CRT masks many flaws that appear more obvious on modern flat panels.
The Speakers on This Thing Are Next-Level
I expected a smooth, nostalgic CRT viewing experience but didn’t expect the pure sonic power of this TV.
Sony should never be underestimated when it comes to sound quality.
The speaker pods attached to the sides of the TV genuinely sound better than almost all speakers I’ve heard — TV or otherwise.
Each pod is mounted on a dampened base and contains a side-facing woofer plus front-facing mid and high-frequency speakers.
The amplifier is built into the TV, with speaker wires running from the pods to the rear.
You could replace these pods with other speakers if you want, but honestly, they sound so good that most people wouldn’t bother.
At around 50-75% volume, the sound is punchy, clear, and fills the room.
Above 75%, distortion appears, but that volume is already very loud.
This makes sense since such a large TV was designed for spacious living rooms with multiple viewers.
If you sit in the sweet spot, the soundstage is crystal clear.
Better Virtual Surround Than a Modern Soundbar?
I own two soundbars — entry-level and mid-range — but the virtual surround on this old Sony blows them both out of the water.
When you activate the virtual surround feature, the soundstage expands and creates a wide audio field.
Though it’s not true surround sound, playing PS2 games on this TV feels incredibly immersive.
Bass You Can Feel in Your Chest
I’m so used to modern TVs having thin, weak bass that I was shocked when I could actually feel the bass buzz in my chest from several feet away.
The TV sits on a wood and metal desk, which transfers the bass vibrations through the legs and into the floor.
Explosions in games, gunfire in movies, and heavy drum beats in music literally move the air in the room.
Some Modern TVs Are Trying
Modern TVs usually have poor sound for two main reasons.
First, they are so thin that there’s no room for decent speakers or amplifiers.
Second, most speakers are down-firing or backfiring, designed to reflect sound off walls rather than direct it at viewers.
A third reason is that TV makers assume you’ll buy a soundbar anyway, so why invest in better built-in speakers?
That said, not all modern TVs are bad.
My 2022 LG CS OLED, for example, has a very adequate speaker system that doesn’t strictly need a soundbar.
My old 70-inch Samsung TV also had decent speakers with no need for extra audio gear.
Very large TVs, like the 98-inch Samsung NEO QLED, have thick bodies that allow space for multi-speaker setups with woofers and more.
Of course, buyers of such premium TVs usually buy surround sound systems anyway.
Conclusion
I’m going to enjoy the incredible audio bonus of this Sony Trinitron until it eventually dies (or collapses the floor).
I hope that as technology progresses, TV makers will return to including awesome built-in sound systems that don’t require separate speakers.
Because nothing beats having a TV with truly great sound and picture right out of the box.
