Chances are the built-in speakers of your TV aren’t great. They typically lack the detail, depth, and immersion that make movies and series exciting. They also disperse sound in a way that can make it challenging for the hearing impaired, and when you turn up the volume, you may hear spikes in particular frequencies while others sound too soft. Wireless TV speakers can improve your multimedia experience and help those with hearing difficulties.
Best Wireless TV Speaker
For Seniors
Simolio
The Simolio is a reliable choice for seniors. It features easy-to-use controls, good audio quality, and includes earbuds. Its small size lets you place it nearly anywhere.
See More Recommendations
Best Wireless TV Speaker
For Home Entertainment
Sonos ARC
The Sonos ARC is our pick for the best wireless TV speaker for entertainment purposes. It has rich, wide sound with a balanced sound signature that caters to critical listeners, too.
See More Recommendations
Because wireless TV speakers are portable, you can place them anywhere in the room. Wireless soundbars, particularly those with wireless surround sound speakers, are a great choice for entertainment. Since they can be moved closer to the listener, they are also well-suited to the hearing impaired. Alternatively, dedicated wireless TV speakers for seniors bring the sound closer to the listener, sometimes allowing them to be fitted around the neck or placed on nightstands and coffee tables.
The Best Wireless TV Speakers For Seniors
Primarily used by the elderly or hearing impaired.
These wireless TV speakers are usually ultra-compact and portable. They are not particularly loud and are meant to bring the sound towards someone’s ears, so the listener doesn’t have to put the volume on full blast on the TV to hear. Most wireless TV speakers for seniors and the hard of hearing have a headphone output so the listener can use the speaker or headphones.
These speakers may utilize low-latency Bluetooth or RF for their connectivity. If you’re unsure which is right for you, we discuss the topic more in our buyer’s guide at the bottom of the page.
Warning: RF connections can interfere with pacemakers. If you have a pacemaker, avoid radio frequency devices or speak with your doctor first.
1. Simolio Wireless TV Speaker
Headphones
Yes
Battery
6 Hours
Weight
2.8 lbs
Size
10″ x 9″ x4″
The SIMOLIO is our pick for the best wireless TV. It is a popular choice for seniors and those with hearing impairments. Its versatile design can be used in the living room or bedroom, and its ease of use won’t leave you searching for the manual.
Connectivity
One of the SIMOLIO’s standout features is its versatile connectivity options, which include digital optical output, RCA, and 3.5mm aux. The built-in digital transmission eliminates wires, so you won’t have to worry about tripping over cables or having an untidy collection of wiring around your TV. Consider purchasing an optical splitter if your TV’s optical port is frequently used by other hardware.
It uses FHSS (Frequency-Hopping Spread Spectrum) technology, a type of radio frequency for its wireless transmission, providing high-quality stereo sound with no interference. This RF signal transmits at a 2.4GHz frequency. The low latency from this connection ensures the audio is synced with the video.
Sound Control & Performance
The large dial controls the volume and makes it easy for those with limited mobility or arthritis to make adjustments. There are tone adjustments for the treble, midrange, and bass. This can create a comfortable audio presentation tailored to your hearing. The ability to tweak these settings allows you to adjust the sound qualities to whatever program you’re watching. You can turn up the bass for action movies while increasing dialogue intelligibility for talk shows.
It includes a pair of stethoscope-style earphones, which can be used for private listening when your partner is asleep or when you’re sharing the television with other viewers.
Lithium-Ion Battery Powered
The SIMOLIO has a built-in rechargeable Lithium-ion battery, so you won’t need to factor recurring battery costs into your purchase. The built-in battery provides up to 6 hours of continuous usage from a single charge. It can be easily charged on the base while plugged in.
Conclusion
The SIMOLIO Wireless TV speaker system is great for those seeking an enhanced TV audio experience. Its easy-to-use design and versatile controls make it ideal for elderly individuals. It doesn’t get very loud, but it does provide an effective solution with good clarity and definition.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Very good sound
Cons
- Lacks some depth compared to left/right speakers
- Limited battery life
2. Sereonic TV Speaker
Headphones
Yes
Battery
8 Hours
Weight
1.7 lbs
Size
9″ x 7″ x 3.25″
If you’ve got hearing difficulties and want to improve your TV experience, the SEREONIC is another top choice in bringing the audio to you, the listener. It is similar to the SIMOLIO in design, with a dedicated base stand and detachable speaker. It is ideal for placement on nightstands and tables.
Connectivity
The SEREONIC wireless TV speaker uses radio frequency as its connection type, providing extremely low latency. Like the SIMOLIO, it has additional outputs, including a 3.5mm aux, RCA, and a digital optical jack. A wide range of connection types will improve the compatibility between television models. Like other speakers in this style, the base station transmits the signal to the speaker.
Because RF connections retain their stability well through walls, you don’t need to be in the same room as the base station, letting you listen to your television from other rooms. This can be useful when watching news or when you need to pop out of the room for a while but don’t want to miss what’s happening on the screen.
Dual 5W Drivers
It has two 5W speaker drivers, reliably providing clear bass, midtones, and treble. These tones can be tweaked individually to accomplish the sound best suited for your use. SEREONIC advertises this speaker as loud, and while the volume levels are sufficient for most use scenarios, it’s not particularly loud.
Quick-Charging Battery
You can enjoy up to 8 hours of playtime using the speaker at 50%, and it can be fully recharged in just 3 hours using the base station. It can be plugged into either a USB connection or a power outlet.
Read our full review of the Sereonic Portable Wireless TV Speaker.
Conclusion
The SEREONIC features a classic, portable, versatile design and provides easy-to-use controls. The radio frequency connection allows you to use the speaker up to 100 feet away from the base.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Portable
- Good sound
- Stable connectivity
Cons
- Lacks some depth compared to left/right speakers
3. Audio Fox
Headphones
No
Battery
None
Weight
2.74 lbs
Size
24″ x 3.96″ x 3″
Audio Fox designed this wireless TV speaker for people who need individual volume control without the inconvenience and segregation of earphones. The customizable steel ties encased in vinyl hold and positioned the speakers on the rear of your seat at the ideal distance from your ears.
Connectivity
It utilizes broad-spectrum hopping technology between 30 channels to find the clearest 2.4 MHz recurrence and provide a frequency range of up to 100 feet. These speakers do not need a view of the transmitter like numerous items available that use infrared innovation.
The base transmitter is smaller than the Sereonic and the Similio but still supports RCA, digital coax, and PCM optical audio connections.
Build & Design
It was designed with the hard-on-hearing, those with contrasting volume inclinations, gamers, and the afternoon dozers in mind. The design incorporates volume control and mute buttons found on each speaker. You have individual volume control; others can tune in at their ideal level. It is compatible with any TV audio.
Conclusion
Because these speakers can be placed next to your head on either side, they offer an improved soundstage and listening experience over a single speaker solution where all sound comes from one direction. They are also an excellent option for those who find earbuds annoying.
Pros
- Individual volume control
- Easy to use
- No comfort issues
Cons
- Fairly expensive
- Lacks versatility
4. Avantree Torus
Headphones
Yes
Battery
14 Hours
Weight
0.57 lbs
Size
8″x 7″ x 0.98″
The Avantree Torus has a different design from other wireless TV speakers on this list. It is placed around the listener’s neck and can provide audio through the built-in speakers or the attached earbuds, which can be pulled out to a preferred length. The around-the-neck design style lets you continue listening to your television even when walking around.
Connectivity
Unlike other hearing aid TV speakers on this list, the Avantree Torus doesn’t use a radio frequency for its wireless connection. Instead, it utilizes Bluetooth 5.0, a modern wireless protocol that supports the aptX-HD codec and supports high transfer speeds, creating a low-latency experience for better audio and video sync.
Because it uses Bluetooth, it is compatible with more than just your television. You can easily pair these speakers to your smartphone or tablet to listen to music or watch YouTube.
Considering that this wireless TV speaker will require your television to have Bluetooth support, it is important. If it doesn’t, you must purchase an additional transmitter; we recommend the Avantree Oasis Plus. It should be noted that there is less range with a Bluetooth connection, and you can typically get around 30 feet of distance between you and your transmitter. Bluetooth connections are also less effective when used in a room different from the receiver.
Built-in Controls
The Torus doesn’t have tone adjustments like the Similio, but it allows you to control the volume levels and play/pause videos and music using built-in controls.
A stand-out feature of these speakers is their outstanding battery life, lasting more than 12 hours.
Conclusion
The Avantree Torus is best for those who are hard of hearing and want a low-latency wireless speaker. The design is unique and may not be to everyone’s tastes, but for many users, it’s greatly enhanced their TV viewing experience.
Pros
- Low latency aptX codecs
- Clear audio
- Versatile
- Lengthy battery life
Cons
- Some may find the design approach uncomfortable
- Limited range
The Best Wireless TV Speakers For Entertainment
For those looking to enhance the sound of their TV
This selection of wireless TV speakers comprises is comprised of soundbars and home theater systems that offer wireless input connectivity. In most cases, this is a Bluetooth or WiFi connection. For multi-speaker systems, the wireless connectivity extends to the speakers, meaning reduced or no speaker cables.
6. Sonos Arc
Wireless
WiFi
Inputs
HDMI
Weight
24.6 lbs
Size
3.4 x 45 x 4.5″
The Arc soundbar is one of the larger soundbars Sonos offers and one of the best sounding. While the price is quite steep for a product that doesn’t include a subwoofer, with Sonos’s quality, there is merit behind the elevated price tag.
Design & Build
At 45″, this soundbar requires a fairly large area to mount or place but fits perfectly with televisions that are 50″ or larger. The design itself is unassuming, and if it didn’t have the Sonos logo in the center, you probably wouldn’t pick it out from any other soundbar on the market. It features a curved front grille and a somewhat cylindrical appearance. This is in stark contrast to the flat soundbars we’ve become used to seeing recently.
The truth is that while this speaker is subtle in appearance, what it does with audio is another story.
Drivers & Sound Quality
The Sonos ARC has a rather authoritative array of drivers, featuring eight woofers for the low and midrange sound, while three angled silk-dome tweeters cover the high end with precision.
As expected from the name, the Sonos Arc uses ARC technology (Audio Return Channel), bringing better performance and functionality to your audio setup. The Sonos Arc soundbar differs because many soundbars are lacking in the low-end department. There is a distinctly impressive bass response, which, while falling short of dedicated subwoofer performance, performs much better than most other soundbars on the market and lets you get away without investing in a dedicated sub. That said, Sonos offers the Sonos Sub, which will take your setup to the next level.
The sound is wide, with an impressive soundscape and a balanced sound signature that even audiophiles will approve of.
Conclusion
The Sonos Arc is a premium wireless TV speaker that will add high-quality audio to your home theatre. It’s a fairly large speaker capable of producing brilliantly loud audio that will work great for movies and music. Pristine clarity and deep bass are just two of its standout features.
Pros
- Incredible sound quality
- Good low-end response
- Lots of volume
- ARC support
Cons
- Expensive
- Quite heavy
7. Bose Smart Soundbar 900
Wireless
WiFi, BT
Inputs
HDMI, Optical
Weight
17 lbs
Size
41″ x 2″ x 4″
Bose advertises the Smart Soundbar 900 as its most immersive model and focuses on bringing more volume and smart features to your home entertainment area.
Build & Design
The latest wireless soundbar from Bose comes with exclusively designed dipole speakers working with Bose advancements. Design-wise, it follows a fairly standard approach with an elongated cuboid shape, a wrapped speaker griller along the front, and touch-panel controls along the top. This soundbar is fairly large, at just over 40″. However, it also manages to come in at under 20 lbs, which is impressive for a speaker of this size.
Drivers & Sound
The soundbar system facilitates Dolby Atmos, bringing cinema sound quality closer to home. Some of the company’s advancements include the Bose TrueSpace spatial processing. This helps in allowing the Bluetooth speaker to analyze signals in stereo or 5.1 and then mix them, creating a 7-channel audio experience with height in the soundscape. Technology that hasn’t been seen in a wireless Bluetooth speaker before.
The detail in the speaker is great, with a detailed midrange and treble response. However, the low end is lackluster, and this speaker will benefit from a subwoofer.
Features
With Alexa and Google Assistant incorporated into the remote Bluetooth soundbar, you can control your home entertainment using voice commands alone. The soundbar’s other connectivity technologies include Bluetooth, HDMI, Wi-Fi, and optical technology. It also comes with features such as Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect to wirelessly stream whatever music you want.
When unboxing, download the Bose Music app to set up your Bluetooth soundbar speaker, set up Voice4Video, and browse your music in one place. It’s another simple way to control and group compatible Bose products.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a soundbar that can provide enough volume to a larger room, the Smart Soundbar 900 from Bose is their largest wireless sound range and brings smart features and great sound to your home.
Pros
- Lots of volume
- Crisp and clear sound
- WiFi & Bluetooth support
- Smart features
Cons
- Fairly expensive
- Quite heavy
- Some users report connectivity issues
- Lacks bass
8. JBL Bar 9.1 Soundbar
Wireless
WiFi, BT
Inputs
HDMI
Weight
8 lbs
Size
34.8 x 2.4 x 4.7″
We selected the JBL 9.1 soundbar system because of the advanced set of features, in combination with the immersive sound this detachable soundbar style can provide. It’s far from the most affordable wireless speaker on the market, but what it lacks in affordability, it adds in performance.
Design & Build
The JBL Bar 9.1 has a sleek design that features a flat build. This soundbar style has become more common in recent years, moving away from the previously prevalent rounded speaker grille like that found on something like the Bestisan.
As mentioned, this soundbar uses a detachable surround sound feature where you can either use the additional speakers connected to the soundbar or remove them and use them as wireless surround sound speakers.
With a built-in Chromecast, Ultra HD 4K with Dolby Vision, and Apple AirPlay support, the JBL 9.1 soundbar setup provides more than great-quality sound. While the JBL 9.1 brings a lot to the table regarding modern audio features, be aware that the technology you pair this soundbar with must be compatible.
Drivers & Sound Quality
With 820 watts of power from a large speaker array, this is a great choice to fill a larger room with sound, such as a home theatre setup.
Expect crystal clear audio from the JBL BAR 9.1 that spans across frequencies. The highs and mids are warm and vibrant due to the inclusion of several racetrack drivers, up-firing drivers, and 20mm tweeters. While these drivers do an excellent job covering the mid and high range – a powerful 10″ subwoofer adds much weight to the low-end response.
Conclusion
While the JBL Bar 9.1 doesn’t come cheap, it offers a versatile soundbar/surround sound combination with its inclusion of detachable pieces that operate as wireless speakers. The clarity of the audio is excellent, and there is no shortage of features with this soundbar.
Pros
- Excellent soundstage
- Bass provides impressive low-end
- Great sound quality across all frequencies
Cons
- Expensive
9. Bestisan Soundbar
Wireless
Bluetooth 5.0
Inputs
RCA, Optical
Weight
9.88 lbs
Size
40″ x 4″ x 4.1″
The Bestisan Soundbar comes in several sizes to fit the needs of your entertainment area. It is available in 28″, 34″, and the largest 40″ variation. We’ll focus on the 40″ version in this list. This speaker is mostly affordable, with even the largest offering under $100.
Design & Build
The Bestisan 40″ soundbar has a fairly generic design, as most soundbars do. However, it is differentiated from the flat, square design often found in modern soundbars and instead has a curved front speaker grille. The controls are located on the speaker’s right side, though an included remote ensures you can control all the speaker settings from where you sit. The inclusion of Bluetooth 5.0 provides better latency performance over previous Bluetooth versions.
Drivers & Sound Quality
Behind the speaker grille, four 3″ full-range drivers provide a solid low-end and midrange performance, while two 2.35″ tweeters produce a clear and intelligible treble response. It comes with various sound effects modes highlighting the sound effects of different occasions. With a wired and wireless connection, you can utilize the latest version of Bluetooth from 33ft away or connect with the in-unit 3.5 mm, RCA, and optical inputs.
Even though this driver configuration does well for an out-of-the-box experience, this speaker will still benefit from a dedicated subwoofer, as the bass tends to drop off a little towards the low end.
Conclusion
This soundbar is a good budget choice that, while lacking bells and whistles, focuses on providing an affordable solution with enough volume and depth for most situations.
Pros
- Good overall sound quality
- Affordable
- Various size options are available
Cons
- It lacks a bit in the deep low-end response
- Limited features
A Buyer’s Guide to Wireless TV Speakers
This section will help you understand what to look for when buying wireless speakers for your television, such as how wireless connectivity differs between devices, which connection method is best, and considerations around battery life and audio performance.
Wireless TV Speakers For The Hearing Impaired Have A Few Unique Designs of Their Own
The first type of wireless speaker we cover is a hearing aid that allows the listener to have an audio source closer to their ears. This style of speaker can further be broken down into primary designs.
Radio-Style
Radio-style TV speakers, for the hard of hearing, resemble a radio. These can be placed on the table or nightstand and function similarly to traditional speakers. They have adjustable controls that allow you to dial in your audio directly from the device.
Benefits:
- Versatile placement options
- Can get reasonably loud
- No need for an on-person attachment
Drawbacks:
- Limited range
Around-Neck
Around-neck designs are popular within the wireless TV speaker space. This style of speaker is placed around the listener’s neck and tends to feature upward-facing drivers that direct sound toward the listener’s ear.
Benefits:
- Can often be used as speakers or earbuds
- Hands-free and highly portable
- Adjustable volume
Drawbacks:
- Can be uncomfortable for some wearers
Over-Chair
This style of wireless speaker can be placed over a sofa or chair, bringing the sound closer to the listener without having to attach anything to their body and without needing a stand to put it on.
Benefits:
- Brings sound very close to the listener
- Affordable
Drawbacks:
- Limited versatility
- Doesn’t fit on every chair or couch size
Wireless Connectivity & Which Is Best For You
Wireless connectivity in TV speakers follows a variety of standards. Instead, three primary wireless communication methods exist to establish the between your wireless TV speaker and the television.
Some wireless speakers utilize lesser-known wireless technologies, but RF, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi remain the three most commonly found types. Each connection type has its benefits and drawbacks, as outlined above.
Wireless TV speakers for seniors and hard of hearing will typically utilize radio frequency as their connection method. This technology creates a low-latency listening experience with a reliable connection at longer ranges than Bluetooth.
Wireless speakers that are used for entertainment purposes, such as soundbars, will typically use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth has historically had some concerns around latency. However, over time, Bluetooth has seen marked improvements in its latency performance. This is primarily due to improved codecs’ more efficient compression and transfer. Wi-Fi connectivity’s biggest boon is its ability to seamlessly connect to your home network and be used to create a comprehensive multiroom audio setup. Additionally, Wi-Fi connectivity affords you additional range over most Bluetooth devices, assuming your Wi-Fi network range is broad.
Some of the things that can still affect audio signal and latency are:
- Distance between source and receiver. For every device, there’s a maximum distance you can get away from the audio source before you start losing connection. It’s not only about the range your headphones can handle, too. At the same time, most Bluetooth headphones can now go as far as 10 meters; walls and other similar forms of physical blockage can prevent you from enjoying the full range of the headphones.
- Bluetooth codec is an algorithm that compresses, encodes, and decodes digital audio data during the compression stage. It reduces the file size of the audio data, so it meets the bandwidth specifications. Several Bluetooth audio codecs are available, each with a unique formula for compressing and transmitting audio data. It’s important to note that some codecs are better than others when streaming music over Bluetooth. You can learn more about Bluetooth audio specs and sources and which codecs will be best for your Bluetooth headphones to ensure a smoother listening experience. Your headphones’ Bluetooth codec should match your audio source’s codec.
- Bluetooth versions are not all created equal. Significant improvements have been made to the technology throughout the years. The latest standard move to version 5.0 can process audio data faster than previous versions, leading to shorter latency and better sound quality. However, like Bluetooth audio codecs, having headphones with the latest Bluetooth versions won’t always guarantee smooth playback with your headphones and audio sources. The Bluetooth version from the output (speaker) system must match the version sending the data to the output. If not, you will only enjoy the features of whichever Bluetooth version is lower, regardless of whether the output speaker has the latest version.
Sound Quality and Audio Traits
Audio performance is a broad term used to describe the sound characteristics of a speaker. It relates to the amount of bass, midrange, and treble that a speaker produces and also how these frequencies are balanced compared to each other.
Bass-heavy speakers have an elevated low-end sound, which is great for action movies and certain genres of music. Midrange and treble are responsible for dialog and most other instruments. The upper range and treble are responsible for dialog, and some higher-pitched instruments add nuance to mixes.
For wireless TV speakers aimed at the hard of hearing, you’ll want a speaker that focuses on providing a clear midrange and upper-frequency presentation, as this will improve the dialog presentation. If you’re buying a wireless soundbar, on the other hand, having a wider sound with more bass presentation is better for a home theatre environment where enhancing dialog intelligibility is less important.
Whether you go balanced or bassy, it is ultimately a decision that should align with how you best like to watch movies or listen to music, with neither being inherently better.
Design & Placement
Wireless TV speakers intended to help the hard of hearing come in various designs, from speakers placed on a table or desk near the listener to speakers around your neck. Consider which design is best for you. For instance, if you find objects around your neck uncomfortable, you should opt for a different design type. Neck-style designs are more versatile because you can get up and walk around while still hearing the audio. In contrast, traditional docked wireless speakers for TV are less versatile, especially when more than one individual uses them.
Wireless TV speakers used for entertainment are typically Soundbar designs, though some bookshelf designs exist, too. Still, even within soundbars, one can choose from different types of designs. A traditional soundbar will suffice if you’re looking for a simple solution. However, we recommend a surround sound option like the JBL 9.1 if you want truly immersive sound.
Batteries & Power
There are two primary types of wireless speakers for television. Some speakers connect wirelessly to the television but still require a power cable to keep them going, and others are battery-operated and do not need an AC power source to listen to. TV speakers, made for the elderly, will often have a combination of the two, where you can dock the speaker into a base, where AC power is fed, but can also be removed from the base and operate off batteries.
Soundbars will most often have a direct AC power source. While this may seem contradictory to the term wireless TV speaker, this term refers more to the connection between the television and the speaker than the speaker’s power source. Some wireless soundbars will also offer a battery-powered option to remove it from the AC power and still use it.
When dealing with batteries, you’ll want to calculate your average listening sessions and ensure the product you opt for can cater to your requirements. Battery life ranges from between 4 hours to 16 hours, depending on the product. It is worth noting that the charging process is simple for many of these speakers and can be charged just by reattaching the speaker device to its charging base for a few hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best wireless TV speaker type for those with hearing difficulties?
Wireless speakers that have a base station and a portable speaker are the most versatile choice. You can even carry the speaker to another room without losing the audio to whatever you’re watching. However, the best type will depend on your personal preferences.
Is the sound quality offered by ALDs good?
Sound quality varies greatly between different models, but because these speakers are designed for improved intelligibility, some devices may opt to reduce the bass presence to help promote better clarity in dialog.
Do wireless soundbars use batteries?
Some do, but most do not. Wireless soundbars usually need to be plugged into a power source. What makes them wireless, is that they don’t need to connect to your television with cables, instead they use wireless communication, typically in the form of Bluetooth.
Can I use a wireless soundbar as an assisted listening device?
Soundbars can be used as ALDs, but you won’t get the same user experience. ALDs have controls built onto them so you can quickly and easily adjust the volume. Soundbars, while letting you move them close to you, won’t give you the same controls. Additionally, ALDs have the advantage of being portable in most cases, allowing you to move between rooms while taking the audio with you.
Wireless Speakers for TV – Update Log
- Oct 04, 2022 – Better clarified product differences and restructured content.
- Feb 28, 2022 – All products on the list have been updated with the latest models. We have also added in information on “The things that can still affect audio signal and latency.”
- Oct 27, 2021 – Updated Sonos for a newly released product
- Oct 25, 2021 – Replaced the Serene Innovations TV Soundbox with the Sereonic Wireless TV Speaker
- May 28, 2021 – Replaced products with newer models
- May 22, 2021 – Updated layout
Tagged asAudio FoxAvantree TorusBestisanJBLNew BoseSereonicSimolioSonos Beam
