Q: I'm in the market for a TV speaker. Though I want clear voices, I am primarily interested in watching movies and sports with room-filling theater sound. The speaker or soundbar will be used with a new 55-inch TCL 5-series Roku TV in a room that is 12-by-15 feet. What can you recommend for under $200, and is Atmos something I should look for? I will play 4K Blu-ray, cable TV and Roku streaming (from the TV.)

A: It sounds like a soundbar is the best fit for you. While both speakers and soundbars improve voices, TV speakers have an emphasis on dialogue, while soundbars deliver more of a home theater experience.

I do recommend an Atmos soundbar. Dolby Atmos is at the forefront of surround sound technology, and many streaming channels now feature Atmos soundtracks, as do most UltraHD 4K Blu-rays.

Soundbars from TCL (tcl.com) would be a good match for your TCL TV (or any TV, really). I have tested several models of TCL soundbars and headphones and always have been impressed by the natural sound, which is a perfect complement to TCL televisions and their natural picture quality.

The $149 TCL Alto 8i soundbar fits your needs and budget. It incorporates two internal subwoofers and Dolby Atmos processing to create an expansive sound field, and built-in Bluetooth allows you to play room-filling music from your phone or tablet. You can't do better for the money, especially if you want Atmos capability.

If you can stretch to $299, consider the TCL 8+ 3.1.2, which adds a wireless subwoofer and incorporates a separate center channel driver and upward-firing Atmos speakers for an even more impressive home theater experience.

Connect the soundbar's HDMI ARC port to the television's eARC HDMI port. Connect the cable box and Blu-ray player to the other TV inputs, and all your sources will play the sound through the Alto 8i.

Gift guide

Deals and gifts for Black Friday and beyond: With the gift giving season upon us, through the end of the year I will be featuring more capsule reviews and deals. Here's the first group:

ZVOX AV52 AccuVoice Noise Canceling headphones: The AV52 is the recently introduced update of the popular AV50 headphones. While supplies last, you can use the code SALE52 to save $130, reducing the $199.99 price to just $69.99. (zvox.com)

Cambridge Audio Melomania Touch earphones: These earphones use extra-large drivers to create their uncommonly good sound and deep bass. Normally $119.99, they are now $89.95 and represent a top buy from a revered high-end brand. (cambridgeaudio.com)

Hanasco Sonic Electric Toothbrush: This toothbrush I praised recently is reduced to $27.99 on Amazon. The black and white appear to be sold out, but pink was still available as of my deadline.

ZVOX AV157 AccuVoice TV Speaker: Anyone who missed the ZVOX AV357 deal or needs another TV speaker should pay attention to this one. Regularly $249, the code SALE157 brings the cost down to only $129. (zvox.com)

Send questions to Don Lindich at donlindich@gmail.com. Get recommendations and read past columns at soundadvicenews.com.