The Apple TV 4K is one of the coolest TV streamers that money can buy — just hook it up to the HDMI port of your TV, and the Apple TV takes over. The problem is that it relies on the speakers that are built into your TV, which, let's face it, are generally dreadful.
Thankfully, you needn't worry about dreadful speakers to go with your Apple TV, because there are some great options out there that sound incredible at various different price points. That could be a two-speaker set, a soundbar, or even a complete Home Theater package that plugs into your TV with a single cable and provides you and the best Apple TV shows and movies with the best sound possible. Here are the best speakers for Apple TV.
Quick list
Best overall
The Sonos Beam soundbar gets our top pick thanks to its massive feature set, great sound, and the ability to work with your Apple TV 4K wirelessly through AirPlay 2. When we went hands-on with the Beam, we gave it high marks for its huge sound and superb channel separation, which accurately replicates stereo sound despite coming in the soundbar form factor.
Best compact
If you're not convinced about the Beam but still want a Sonos product, go with the Sonos Ray. In our review, we loved the compact size of the Ray, which allows it to fit in more places, and the straightforward setup process. We also enjoyed the Sonos Ray's overall sound with two tweeters, two mid-woofers, and four amplifiers; plus, it supports AirPlay 2, making it an excellent match for the Apple TV 4K.
Best 9.2 surround
The Nakamichi Soundwafe Ultra is a complete home theater system that includes not one but two wireless subwoofers. This system also comes with a soundbar, and four speakers, which, when combined, make up 9.2.4 channels of glorious Dolby Atmos and DTS:X home theater sound.
Best for HomeKit
While it lacks support for Dolby Atmos and is incredibly small for a speaker, we found that the HomePod mini still manages to offer unbelievable sound in our recent review. Apple's HomePod mini keeps it simple with wire-free AirPlay 2 streaming, and with deep Apple TV 4K integration, you can set it as the default speaker for all of the content played through your streaming box.
Best budget
This budget-friendly home theater system from Vizio provides everything you need to get started with your new Apple TV 4K. Included in the box are a 36-inch soundbar, subwoofer, and two compact speakers. The SB36512-F6 supports Dolby Atmos, and you can stream directly to it over Bluetooth.
Best all-in-one
If you have the space, then this soundbar from Sonos is an incredible option. It sounds brilliant, with more space for its internal drivers to breathe, and it's got support for AirPlay so that you can play music over the internet. It'll even connect up to other Sonos speakers that you have around the house for a completely smart audio solution.
Q&A
Which Apple TV speaker should I buy?
As you can see, there are a lot of excellent speaker options out there that can help you get the most out of your Apple TV 4K. Our favorite is the Sonos Beam because it's small and compact but packs enough audio drivers to fill up small to medium-sized rooms with vibrant sound. If you need something even smaller, then Apple's HomePod mini smart speaker also packs a surprising punch.
Already have an Atmos capable receiver and are looking for a speaker upgrade? Then the Atmos-enabled Sony SSCSE speaker set is worth a look. This affordable pair is tiny yet powerful enough for Atmos Height Effects when mounted on a wall or on the top of your existing bookshelf speakers.
