Sony Soundbars: Immersive Home Audio Experience

Explore the best Sony soundbars bringing immersive sound right to your living room with balanced dialogue and rich bass.

Sony Soundbars Reviewed: A Complete Guide

We’ve put 20 Sony soundbars to the test, and here’s the scoop: Sony crafts solid and well-built soundbars that excel at delivering clear dialogue. However, if you crave extra oomph in the lows or highs, you might find their sound enhancement features a bit lacking. Sony’s range spans multiple price points, so features vary across models.

Top Sony Soundbars in Detail

Best Overall Sony Soundbar

Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module is the crown jewel of Sony’s lineup. This is no ordinary soundbar—it’s a 4.1.4 system that redefines what a soundbar can be. Instead of a simple long bar, it replaces it with a control unit and separate stereo left and right speakers, plus two satellite speakers you can place anywhere. This flexibility lets sound surround you from all sides.

With room correction technology that tailors audio to your living space’s unique acoustics, the sound is balanced and sharp—from crystal-clear dialogues to rich musical tones. The subwoofer delivers deep, satisfying bass that hits the right notes for movies and music alike.

This soundbar supports popular surround formats like Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby Atmos, offering an immersive, realistic experience. The rear speakers make effects float around you, creating a truly cinematic atmosphere.

However, it’s not flawless. The central channel’s quality leaves room for improvement, though pairing it with a compatible Sony BRAVIA TV as the center speaker can help. Plus, customization options are limited, with few audio tweaks available.

If you want a more traditional soundbar with an enhanced center channel, check out the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 with Speakers + Bass Module, which localizes voices better but doesn’t quite match the immersive depth of the Theater Quad.

Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module Ratings

• Mixed Use: 8.0
• Dialogue/TV Shows: 7.9
• Music: 8.1
• Movies: 7.9
• Channels: 4.1.4

Best Mid-Range Sony Soundbar

Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is a solid choice for those who don’t want to break the bank. This standalone 7.0.2 channel soundbar delivers a balanced sound profile suitable for nearly any content type. Dialogues are crisp, and instruments sound natural.

While the bass isn’t as thunderous as the Theater Quad's, and the soundstage isn’t quite as all-encompassing, you can always add satellites and a subwoofer for more punch.

It supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, plus offers passthrough for 4K 120Hz video—perfect for gamers with modern consoles. Keep in mind, sound can compress at maximum volumes, impacting clarity, but wireless options like Spotify Connect keep tunes flowing seamlessly.

Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 Ratings

• Mixed Use: 7.2
• Dialogue/TV Shows: 7.7
• Music: 7.0
• Movies: 6.9
• Channels: 5.0.2

Best Mid-Tier Sony Soundbar

Sony HT-A5000 offers excellent bang for the buck. Released in 2021, this model combines affordability with performance comparable to the Theater Bar 9. It features Sony’s sound field optimization and room correction technology.

Unlike the Theater Bar 9, it comes with equalizer presets, giving you extra control to tweak sound according to your preference. It supports Dolby Digital and Atmos for immersive audio.

This standalone unit fits well in smaller spaces, though without a separate subwoofer or rear satellites, the bass depth and surround effects won’t match premium systems. But you can always expand later with add-ons from Sony for a cinematic upgrade.

Sony HT-A5000 Ratings

• Mixed Use: 7.4
• Dialogue/TV Shows: 7.8
• Music: 7.1
• Movies: 7.3
• Channels: 5.1.2

Best Budget Sony Soundbar

Sony HT-S400 is a great entry-level 2.1 soundbar that’s perfect if you just want a noticeable upgrade from your TV’s built-in speakers. It’s compact, so it won’t hog space.

With a subwoofer included, the bass is punchy enough to enhance EDM, hip-hop, or action-packed movie scenes. You can adjust subwoofer levels to shape the bass depth to your liking.

It excels at stereo content like music and dialogue-heavy TV shows, featuring a dialogue enhancement mode that makes voices pop. However, it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, and surround sound is converted down to stereo, so it’s less immersive than pricier models. For the price, though, it’s a fantastic upgrade.

Sony HT-S400 Ratings

• Mixed Use: 6.6
• Dialogue/TV Shows: 7.3
• Music: 6.9
• Movies: 6.0
• Channels: 2.1

How Sony Soundbars Stack Up Against Other Brands

Pros of Sony Soundbars

• Thoughtful design: Strong build quality melding plastic and metal for durability.
• Dialogue clarity: Most models excel at delivering crisp and clear speech, ideal for TV shows and audiobooks.

Cons of Sony Soundbars

• Limited sound tuning: Lack of graphic equalizers and detailed bass/treble adjustments can frustrate audiophiles wanting full control. Preset EQs are pretty much it.
• Underwhelming surround sound: Even with Sony’s S-Force Front Surround tech, surround effects can feel weak and less convincing.

Sony vs. Samsung

Both giants offer soundbars at various price points with top models featuring Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and room correction tech. Samsung tends to pack more audio customization tools, including graphic EQs, giving users more control over sound profiles.

Sony vs. Sonos

While Sony covers a broad user base with varying budgets, Sonos targets the premium segment, focusing on smart features like voice assistants and psychoacoustic soundstage enhancements. Sonos soundbars boast wider, more engaging soundscapes but come at a higher price with fewer budget-friendly options.

Sony vs. Bose

Bose, like Sonos, specializes in premium soundbars with voice control and do-it-all smart features. Sony competes well on price and supports Dolby Atmos/DTS:X, but Bose models often shine with their refined sound and smart integrations. Sony offers more affordable models suited for stereo content fans.

Sony Soundbar Lineup and Naming

Sony's naming system can be a bit confusing but here’s a quick guide:

• A Series: Top-tier models from 2021-2022.
• S Series: Budget-friendly models from 2017-2022.

Models like Sony HT-G700 and Sony HT-Z9F stand apart as unique offerings. The Sony BRAVIA soundbars are premium, designed to pair perfectly with Sony BRAVIA TVs, often allowing the TV’s center channel to integrate as part of your sound system.

Final Thoughts

Sony soundbars offer a sturdy design and shine at dialogue clarity, making them perfect for TV show lovers and audiobook enthusiasts. However, if you want deeper customization or richer surround sound, their limited equalizer options might feel restrictive. Compared to competitors, Sony soundbars generally deliver decent performance but may lack the booming bass and immersive soundstage that some rivals provide. For everyday use and dialogue-focused content, Sony soundbars hold their own and fit a range of budgets.

“Sony’s soundbars deliver balanced audio with clear dialogue, ideal for everyday entertainment.”

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad unique?
  It’s a 4.1.4 surround system with detachable satellite speakers, allowing flexible placement for immersive sound.
• Can I upgrade my Sony soundbar with additional speakers?
  Yes! Many models support adding subwoofers and rear satellites for enhanced surround sound.
• Do Sony soundbars support Dolby Atmos?
  Most mid-range and premium Sony soundbars do support Dolby Atmos for immersive audio.
• Which Sony soundbar is best for small rooms?
  The Sony HT-A5000 is compact and great for smaller spaces while providing solid performance.
• Do Sony soundbars offer voice assistant features?
  Some higher-end models include support for voice assistants, but it’s not universal across the lineup.

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