Samsung Smart TV w/no Bluetooth. Can I add BT? Last year I bought a Samsung Smart TV. I looked through the settings and I saw nothing about BlueTooth connectivity. The reason I'm...

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

Last year I bought a Samsung Smart TV. I looked through the settings and I saw nothing about BlueTooth connectivity. The reason I'm asking is that the sound is so "funny" that I'd like to connect BT speaker(s) or, at least BT headphones/earbuds.

Anybody know of a way I can do this?

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

Forget the Bluetooth and use the audio output to drive a set of powered speakers with a low level input or drive a regular stereo or surround sound amp/receiver (with Dolby Pro Logic or DTS decoder) driving external speakers. I really like the old Dolby Pro Logic for TV as it places the voices in the center channel. TVs typically have lousy speakers.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

My smart Vizio has lots of adjustments for the sound in the Menu system. In addition, I bought a "sound bar," and that improves the sound. I have one TV hooked up to a Bose system, and I use that occasionally - lots of sound. I also have wireless headphones, and they have great sound - much better than the speakers.

https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=sound+bars

bigalw Loc: Essex - UK

As with most tv’s now the sound comes out of the rear, so in our motorhome I’ve installed a bluetooth trans/receiver to the external speaker socket on the tv, power up the trans/receiver and our remote speaker, there you are, sound is still controlled by the tv remote

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

I think the TV manufacturers and the sound equipment manufacturers have a tacit, if not overt, agreement to stay out of each other’s business. There’s no reason today’s TVs couldn’t include an excellent sound without having to add accessory amplifiers and speakers. Just sayin . . .

Stan

TriX Loc: Raleigh, NC

StanMac wrote:

I think the TV manufacturers and the sound equipment manufacturers have a tacit, if not overt, agreement to stay out of each other’s business. There’s no reason today’s TVs couldn’t include an excellent sound without having to add accessory amplifiers and speakers. Just sayin . . .

Stan

A large part of the reason is that today’s flat screens, with little or no bezel, just don’t have room for decent sized speakers or a decent sized front facing opening/grill. A sound bar is a quick and relatively inexpensive addition that will definitely improve the sound if a bit thin on bass, but feeding the TV through a conventional stero system, especially with a center channel speaker, will produce the best quality sound if that’s an option in terms of space and cost.

Burtzy Loc: Bronx N.Y. & Simi Valley, CA

StanMac wrote:

I think the TV manufacturers and the sound equipment manufacturers have a tacit, if not overt, agreement to stay out of each other’s business. There’s no reason today’s TVs couldn’t include an excellent sound without having to add accessory amplifiers and speakers. Just sayin . . .

Stan

I agree. My older Vizio 720hd t.v. has front facing speakers below the screen. And the sound is much better than my other sets which rear facing speakers. The best sounding television out there is the Bose, but the price is outrageous. The best solution is a sound bar, because the audio components built into the newer and ever flatter. flat-screen is only going to get worse, even as the picture gets better.

StanMac Loc: Tennessee

TriX wrote:

A large part of the reason is that today’s flat screens, with little or no bezel, just don’t have room for decent sized speakers or a decent sized front facing opening/grill. A sound bar is a quick and relatively inexpensive addition that will definitely improve the sound if a bit thin on bass, but feeding the TV through a conventional stero system, especially with a center channel speaker, will produce the best quality sound if that’s an option in terms of space and cost.

There really is no reason that a "sound bar" and associated circuitry couldn't be incorporated into the bottom of the TV casing as part of the design. Most soundbars I've seen use some pretty small speakers anyway in a case that is probably about 4 -5" or so on each side (circumference). The TV will obviously weigh more, be thicker where the speakers are housed, but you'd have fewer wires to run, which would be a great help if you're hanging the screen on a wall.

Stan

BBurns Loc: South Bay, California

I researched this heavily last year. I installed a SONOS Playbar and 2 SONOS Play 1 surround speakers. They are wireless.
The bar connects to the TV with the supplied optical cable. Sound is superb.
This gear is not cheap but it is rated as one of the best sounding systems available.
It is currently on sale at Costco.

wbchinook Loc: Everson WA

Amen on the SONOS system.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

TriX wrote:

Forget the Bluetooth and use the audio output to drive a set of powered speakers with a low level input or drive a regular stereo or surround sound amp/receiver (with Dolby Pro Logic or DTS decoder) driving external speakers. I really like the old Dolby Pro Logic for TV as it places the voices in the center channel. TVs typically have lousy speakers.

Thanks. Looking on Amazon for just that kind of speaker. Got a few bookmarked.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

jerryc41 wrote:

My smart Vizio has lots of adjustments for the sound in the Menu system. In addition, I bought a "sound bar," and that improves the sound. I have one TV hooked up to a Bose system, and I use that occasionally - lots of sound. I also have wireless headphones, and they have great sound - much better than the speakers.

https://smile.amazon.com/s?k=sound+bars

That sounds really great except that this is for a condo we own in FL & I'm not looking to spend a lot of money. We have some Bose stuff. Great products...high prices.
Thank you.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

bigalw wrote:

As with most tv’s now the sound comes out of the rear, so in our motorhome I’ve installed a bluetooth trans/receiver to the external speaker socket on the tv, power up the trans/receiver and our remote speaker, there you are, sound is still controlled by the tv remote

As per TriX's Suggestion, I'm investigating the small, powered speakers (like for a computer.) I think that the TV remote's sound control should control the volume anyway.
Thanks for the input.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

StanMac wrote:

There really is no reason that a "sound bar" and associated circuitry couldn't be incorporated into the bottom of the TV casing as part of the design. Most soundbars I've seen use some pretty small speakers anyway in a case that is probably about 4 -5" or so on each side (circumference). The TV will obviously weigh more, be thicker where the speakers are housed, but you'd have fewer wires to run, which would be a great help if you're hanging the screen on a wall.

Stan

I've got a couple of "soundbar-style" speakers earmarked in my Amazon account.
Thanks.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

BBurns wrote:

I researched this heavily last year. I installed a SONOS Playbar and 2 SONOS Play 1 surround speakers. They are wireless.
The bar connects to the TV with the supplied optical cable. Sound is superb.
This gear is not cheap but it is rated as one of the best sounding systems available.
It is currently on sale at Costco.

Sonia sounds great. I have a friend with a Sonos system and it plays all over his house. If I were going Sonos, I'd do it in my year-round house first.

Thanks for the input.