{"id":342653,"date":"2025-12-13T13:38:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T13:38:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/342653\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T13:38:10","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T13:38:10","slug":"forget-sony-and-panasonic-for-sound-quality-this-cheaper-rival-oled-tv-cant-be-beaten","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/342653\/","title":{"rendered":"Forget Sony and Panasonic \u2013 for sound quality, this (cheaper) rival OLED TV can\u2019t be beaten"},"content":{"rendered":"<p id=\"bbfcf31f-11c9-4cd5-8070-83b25f83167c\">In the grand scheme of things, most TVs sound pants.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">It&#8217;s little wonder: as TVs have become ever-thinner, the space for speakers has become even smaller, so tinier and tinier drivers are having to be used.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\" data-url=\"\" href=\"\" target=\"_blank\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\"\/><\/p>\n<p id=\"bbfcf31f-11c9-4cd5-8070-83b25f83167c-2\">Manufacturers do what they can with clever processing, but there&#8217;s really no compensating for shifting air when it comes to making decent sound, and small speakers will always struggle to shift big air.<\/p>\n<p>You may like<\/p>\n<p>One manufacturer has a special solution to all of this, at least when it comes to OLEDs: <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/us\/tag\/sony\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/us\/tag\/sony\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sony<\/a> uses actuators that actually vibrate the OLED panel itself, essentially turning it into one big speaker.<\/p>\n<p>Before you ask, no, you can&#8217;t see the panel vibrating, and what you get in terms of sound is a really big (by TV standards), open, direct and detailed performance. There&#8217;s not a great deal of bass depth, despite the presence of two accompanying integrated subwoofers, but the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/tv-home-cinema\/televisions\/sony-bravia-8-ii-k55xr8m2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/tv-home-cinema\/televisions\/sony-bravia-8-ii-k55xr8m2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bravia 8 II<\/a> is nevertheless the benchmark for TV sound in 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Well, it was.<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/g7NHocap2zHkPcoebkL2m6.jpg\" alt=\"Philips OLED910 OLED TV\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/g7NHocap2zHkPcoebkL2m6.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/g7NHocap2zHkPcoebkL2m6.jpg\" class=\"inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: What Hi-Fi? \/ Netflix, All The Shark)<\/p>\n<p id=\"9a006b8c-104b-49c0-861d-0c5c80ada026\"><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/us\/tag\/philips\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/us\/tag\/philips\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Philips<\/a> has taken a different approach to Sony and its other rivals. Instead of trying to come up with creative ways to make tiny, hidden speakers sound good, it&#8217;s partnered with British hi-fi stalwart Bowers &amp; Wilkins, which has built a sound system for the new <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/tv-home-cinema\/televisions\/philips-oled910-65oled910\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-redirect=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/tv-home-cinema\/philips-oled910\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/tv-home-cinema\/televisions\/philips-oled910-65oled910\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">OLED910<\/a> that you can see, and that actually adds to the TV&#8217;s visual appeal.<\/p>\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest hi-fi, home cinema and tech news, reviews, buying advice and deals, direct to your inbox.<\/p>\n<p>This isn&#8217;t a new initiative \u2013 the Philips\/B&amp;W partnership goes back a few years and several models \u2013 but the OLED910 is the most effective implementation of it so far.<\/p>\n<p>This is a mild refinement of the sound system that was developed for the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/reviews\/philips-oled909-review\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/reviews\/philips-oled909-review\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">OLED909<\/a>, which is no great surprise, as that was a near-perfect blend of form and function.<\/p>\n<p>It involves a speaker bar that is attached to the bottom of the TV&#8217;s screen. If that sounds ungainly, the opposite is true: the bar is slim, rounded and covered in Kvadrat fabric, and it softens and enhances the appearance of the TV, rather than detracts from it.<\/p>\n<p>You may like<\/p>\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:56.25%;\">\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3sevBku8LoiWXchseWoeg6.jpg\" alt=\"Philips OLED910 OLED TV\"   loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3sevBku8LoiWXchseWoeg6.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/3sevBku8LoiWXchseWoeg6.jpg\" class=\"inline\"\/>\n<\/p>\n<p>(Image credit: What Hi-Fi? \/ Netflix, All The Shark)<\/p>\n<p id=\"cedf8aab-abe7-44c8-93b9-b9eacda48bba\">Within that stylish bar are nestled three sound channels (for left, right and centre), each one consisting of two 30x50mm midrange drivers, a single titanium dome tweeter, and a Nautilus tube.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s a subwoofer mounted to the back of the TV&#8217;s chassis, too, resulting in a 3.1-channel system with 81W of claimed power.<\/p>\n<p>None of that would matter if the sound was poor, but I wouldn&#8217;t be harping on about it if that were the case.<\/p>\n<p>No, the OLED910 sounds excellent for a TV. B&amp;W&#8217;s hi-fi heritage is evident in the detail, dynamics and rhythmic precision of the delivery. Voices sound more human and evocative as a result, soundtracks deliver the drama they&#8217;re designed to, and action scenes have punch and excitement.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s plenty of spaciousness to proceedings, too, with <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/us\/tag\/dolby-atmos\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/us\/tag\/dolby-atmos\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Dolby Atmos<\/a> soundtracks stretching far to the sides and above the TV, and effects placed precisely within the wall of sound.<\/p>\n<p>And there&#8217;s plenty of bass, too. It could be a little tighter, but the OLED910 reaches depths that the Sony Bravia 8 II won&#8217;t dare dive to, and completely avoids the distortion that is the bane of flagship sets from the likes of <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/us\/tag\/lg\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/us\/tag\/lg\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">LG<\/a> and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/us\/tag\/samsung\" data-auto-tag-linker=\"true\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/us\/tag\/samsung\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Samsung<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>And, if you want to add some serious bass, the OLED910 actually has an old-school subwoofer output among its array of inputs and outputs, so you can add any traditional sub that you fancy.<\/p>\n<p>To qualify all of this, I&#8217;m not saying that the OLED910 sounds amazing in an ultimate sense.<\/p>\n<p>A dedicated audio system is absolutely the way to go if you want the sound to match the excellent picture quality, but you will need to go for a soundbar in the region of the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/reviews\/sonos-arc-ultra\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/reviews\/sonos-arc-ultra\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sonos Arc Ultra<\/a> for the extra component to be worthwhile, whereas most TVs can be substantially sonically improved by a <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/reviews\/sonos-beam-gen-2-dolby-atmos-soundbar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/reviews\/sonos-beam-gen-2-dolby-atmos-soundbar\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sonos Beam Gen 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>But I&#8217;m very aware that for many people, the idea of adding an extra component (even a stylish soundbar) to their set-up is an absolute no-no. For those people, there&#8217;s a new best-sounding TV in town, and it&#8217;s the Philips OLED910.<\/p>\n<p>MORE:<\/p>\n<p>Read the full <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/tv-home-cinema\/televisions\/philips-oled910-65oled910\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-redirect=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/tv-home-cinema\/philips-oled910\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/tv-home-cinema\/televisions\/philips-oled910-65oled910\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Philips OLED910 review<\/a><\/p>\n<p>And here&#8217;s our <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/tv-home-cinema\/televisions\/sony-bravia-8-ii-k55xr8m2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/tv-home-cinema\/televisions\/sony-bravia-8-ii-k55xr8m2\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sony Bravia 8 II review<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Here are all the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/best-buys\/best-tv\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.whathifi.com\/best-buys\/best-tv\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">best TVs<\/a> you can buy right now<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the grand scheme of things, most TVs sound pants. It&#8217;s little wonder: as TVs have become ever-thinner,&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":342654,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[49,48,61],"class_list":["post-342653","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-technology","tag-ca","tag-canada","tag-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342653","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=342653"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/342653\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/342654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=342653"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=342653"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=342653"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}