Panasonic owns the Technics audio brand (every DJ’s favourite), and it’s put that know-how to good use on this set. The built-in 360 Soundscape Pro sound system is tuned by Technics, providing Hi-Fi quality sound for all your films, games, TV shows and music content. Also onboard are upwards and side-firing speakers to direct the sound more towards the viewer for rich Dolby Atmos results. But behind the screen is Sony’s Acoustic Surface Audio+ tech, which uses three actuators behind the panel to create sound by vibrating the screen itself, creating a big open sound. There are two more actuators at the side to add width, while two woofer drivers add bass. You want the best TV and money is no object: The Samsung S95C ( #4 in this list) offers even better contrast, and the Samsung QN900C ( #5 in the list) is like this with even more brightness and 8K detail. The Sony A80L is the TV surprise of the year. It's based on 'traditional' OLED technology (i.e. it's not a QD-OLED or MLA model) so we broadly thought we knew what to expect, but it stunned us during our extensive test by offering a picture performance with a near-perfect balance of the spectacular and the subtle. It sounds good by TV standards, too, and the feature set will be strong enough for all but the most hardcore of gamers.

The Samsung BU8500 is the company's highest-end TV from its 2022 range that doesn't include the more expensive QLED technology that Samsung is famous for. But that means you save a bunch on the price, and the image quality overall is still pretty much unbeatable at this level. And it's good for gamers, with HDMI 2.1 support including 4K 120Hz and VRR. It’s a shame about the high price—as ever, though, you get what you pay for. Audiophiles, take note! At this price, it might not be the best option for everyone, but it is one of the best TVs for sound you can buy.

TV Features & Technology

Samsung smart TV platform makes it fairly easy to find what you want – we're not the biggest fans of the new full-screen design, but it works fine. And the BU8500 even looks a cut above other TVs with a relatively sleek design, rather than the basic chunky frame you tend to get from low-price models. You hate fiddling: Getting the best from the OLED807 requires making a few tweaks to the picture presets. Other apps that are less common but potentially worth looking out for include BT Sport, Now, Britbox, and music apps such as Spotify and Tidal. Should you buy an OLED, QLED or LCD TV?

If you're looking for the best TV for sound, first consider whether you need one. There are many more options available if you're willing to get a great-looking TV with mediocre sound and pair it with a soundbar or sound system instead. Philips TVs don't top our list, but they always feature strongly. Their screens are reliable and bright with some notable cool additions, including Ambilight, a system that projects lights onto the wall behind a TV display. Premium Philips TVs also have a considerable audio boost thanks to a partnership with Bowers & Wilkins. Testing a TV is a long and complex process because a modern TV simply does so much. Not only does it need to handle a variety of content resolutions – standard-def, 1080p, 4K and sometimes 8K – and both standard dynamic range and high dynamic range (the latter in a number of formats), all of which need to be specifically tested, it also has a sound system with various advanced settings and a full smart platform. A TV is an all-in-one device in the best sense, but that also makes it a challenging review proposition. Used to determine a user's inclusion in an experiment and the expiry of experiments a user has been included in.Samsung's QN900B Neo QLED 8K TV boasts a variety of audio improvements over its predecessor, the QN900A, most notably the inclusion of up-firing speakers that make it possible to (technically) achieve Dolby Atmos sound. Additionally, Samsung's newest Neo QLED flagship now boasts the rather impressive ability to transmit Dolby Atmos audio to compatible Samsung soundbars over Wi-Fi. However, if you're looking for a summary we'd say that QLED is a great option for brightness if you'll watch in bright, sunlit conditions; whereas OLED TVs offer better viewing angles and superior contrast for gorgeous movie-like images, as long as you can control the lighting. Is LG better than Samsung? You'll watch in bright rooms: The middling brightness means it can struggle with sunlight or reflections – the Samsung S90C at #1 in this guide is brighter at the same price, or the Samsung S95C ( #4 in the guide) is nearly twice as bright. With so many features and options under its belt, the LG C3 is a versatile TV for sure. However, the Samsung S90C, one of the C3's closest rival, takes the crown for best overall TV with improved brightness and a better built-in sound than the LG C3 at the same price. But, if you're not a Samsung fan or you need smaller than 55 inches, it's hard to argue against the LG C3.