Although HDTVs have in-built speakers that will do the job for most users, the bottom line is that an HDTV is about display, not audio quality. HDTV speakers are mostly functional, but rarely exquisite. Even the sets that boast the best sound — like some of Mitsubishi’s displays, which use a combination of sound projection and timing to emulate surround sound effects — make do with only a single sound bar. Worse, many HDTVs feature backwards mounted speakers that emit audio through the rear of the device, which is sure to be an annoyance to your neighbors. If you want sound as good as your display, then, you’ll need to hook your HDTV up to an external speaker system.

Even integrating your existing stereo system with your HDTV will probably result in an excellent boost in audio quality, but to fully enjoy your HDTV and its content, you should probably invest in a set of 5.1 Surround Sound speakers.

Many television manufacturers have their own proprietary Surround Sound system in place, but Dolby Surround Sound is still the standard, and any 5.1 Speaker Set should work with your HDTV.

Surround Sound is a multi-channel audio system designed to produce spatial audio cues, simulating the effect of surround all around you. A 5.1 system uses six audio channels and five speakers to simulate the full spectrum of audio, thus totally immersing you in your media. A center-channel speaker to be placed above or below your HDTV is responsible for dialogue, while two front speakers handle most of the musical soundtrack and left and right spatial cues. From there, two surround speakers located at the rear side walls of the room produce sound behind you, while a subwoofer produces deep rumbles and bass notes. And if you want even more immersion, a 6.1 or 7.1 Surround System will add an additional two speakers behind you.

Bluntly, there are so many 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound options that essentially, there’s a flavor for every budget. If you’re looking for a cheap system, the Logitech G51 Surround Sound System costs just $140… but their Z-5500 THX-Certified, 505 Watt 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System offers a much higher quality experience, and costs around $340. On the high-end, the Morel Applause MKII SoundSpot 5.1 Speaker System features porcelain white, Apple-style styling and incredibly rich sound for $2,599. You can even piece together your own Surround Sound System with a dedicated receiver and your speakers of choice.

The bottom line is that almost anything will sound better than your built-in HDTV speakers… even a good set of headphones. If you’re looking to go that route, consider Sony’s MDR-DS6000 Wireless Suround Headphones, which cost a little under $200. Whatever decision you make, though, consider supplementing your HDTV with some sort of external audio set-up.

Although HDTVs have in-built speakers that will do the job for most users, the bottom line is that an HDTV is about display, not audio quality. HDTV speakers are mostly functional, but rarely exquisite. Even the sets that boast the best sound–like some of Mitsubishi’s displays, which use a combination of sound projection and timing to emulate surround sound effects–make do with only a single sound bar. Worse, many HDTVs feature backwards mounted speakers that emit audio through the rear of the device, which is sure to be an annoyance to your neighbors. If you want sound as good as your display, then you’ll need to hook your HDTV up to an external speaker system.

Even integrating your existing stereo system with your HDTV will probably result in an excellent boost in audio quality, but to fully enjoy your HDTV and its content, you should probably invest in a set of 5.1 Surround Sound speakers.

Many television manufacturers have their own proprietary Surround Sound system in place, but Dolby Surround Sound is still the standard, and any 5.1 Speaker Set should work with your HDTV.

Surround Sound is a multi-channel audio system designed to produce spatial audio cues, simulating the effect of sound all around you. A 5.1 system uses six audio channels and five speakers to simulate the full spectrum of audio, thus totally immersing you in your media. A center-channel speaker to be placed above or below your HDTV is responsible for dialogue, while two front speakers handle most of the musical soundtrack and left and right spatial cues. From there, two surround speakers located at the rear side walls of the room produce sound behind you, while a subwoofer produces deep rumbles and bass notes. And if you want even more immersion, a 6.1 or 7.1 Surround System will add an additional two speakers behind you.

Bluntly, there are so many 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 Surround Sound options that essentially, there’s a flavor for every budget. If you’re looking for a cheap system, the Logitech G51 Surround Sound System costs just $140… but their Z-5500 THX-Certified, 505 Watt 5.1 Digital Surround Sound Speaker System offers a much higher quality experience, and costs around $340. On the high-end, the Morel Applause MKII SoundSpot 5.1 Speaker System features porcelain white, Apple-style styling and incredibly rich sound for $2,599. You can even piece together your own Surround Sound System with a dedicated receiver and your speakers of choice.

The bottom line is that almost anything will sound better than your built-in HDTV speakers… even a good set of headphones. If you’re looking to go that route, consider Sony’s MDR-DS6000 Wireless Suround Headphones, which cost a little under $200. Whatever decision you make, consider supplementing your HDTV with some sort of external audio set-up.