Looking to upgrade from your TV‘s mediocre built-in speakers? Craving an audio boost to match today‘s crisp ultra HD picture quality? Then you need a feature-packed Sony soundbar in your entertainment setup!
After exhaustively comparing Sony‘s latest soundbar models across all price tiers, I narrowed down the 6 best choices for a truly cinematic, surround sound experience:
1. Sony HT-A9 – Flagship one-box design with 360 Reality Audio
2. Sony HT-A5000 – Immersive Dolby Atmos powered by Vertical Surround
3. Sony HT-X8500 – Thunderous bass via dual built-in subwoofers
4. Sony HT-G700 – Killer Dolby Atmos value with wireless sub
5. Sony HT-S40R – Full 5.1 wireless surround sound system
6. Sony HT-S350 – Entry-level virtual surround under $250
I carefully picked these Sony soundbars based on audio quality, features, value, and subjective listening tests from expert reviewers. Keep reading as I unpack what makes each model stand out!
Sony HT-A9: A Gorgeous Flagship Soundbar with Surround Sound Perfection
Occupying the highest echelons of Sony‘s premium soundbar lineup sits themajestic Sony HT-A9. Priced at a lofty but justified $1600, the HT-A9 represents the pinnacle of Sony engineering with stunning surround sound performance.
This soundbar puts a fresh spin on home theater audio thanks to Sony‘s proprietary 360 Reality Audio playback. Four upfiring speakers bounce sound waves off your ceiling to create an overhead dimension. This captures the 3D object-based mixing used on select 360 Reality Audio musical releases.
According to sound experts at What Hi-Fi?:
"Sony has delivered what looks to be the finest sounding one-box home cinema speaker package we’ve tested. Movies sound amazing, delivering an immersive mix of spaciousness, directness, dynamics and seamlessness thanks to the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping tech doing an exemplary job."
Key Audio Features:
- 360 Reality Audio support via 4 upfiring speakers
- Dolby Atmos & DTS:X decoding with vertical expansion
- S-Master amplification for hi-res audio clarity
- Room correction tuning
For movies and TV, a staggering 7.1.4 channel speakersystem gets simulated through savvy psychoacoustic tricks. Dolby Atmos object data bounces around the room, with sound effects zipping overhead. Even without extra satellite speakers, the sheer immersion is gobsmacking.
HT-A9 Frequency Response
| Frequency Range | 20 Hz to 40 kHz |
|---|---|
| Lowest Frequency Response | 20Hz |
| Highest Frequency Response | 40kHz |
Contrast this wide frequency range capable of hi-resolution audio with a typical TV‘s 60-120 Hz narrow playback. No TV speaker can even come close!
Feel the Overhead Action with Sony HT-A5000 Dolby Atmos Soundbar
As an enthused home theater buff on a mid-range budget, the Sony HT-A5000 quickly became my newest obsession. Costing around $900, this 420W beast brings realistic Dolby Atmos surround into my living room without installing pesky ceiling speakers.
Instead, Sony‘s ingenious Vertical Surround Engine processes overhead audio data from Atmos soundtracks. This technology analyzes incoming objects relative to listener positioning. You really feel sonic elements dispersed all around, with convincing height and mid-air motion.
Upmixing lower quality audio inputs to 5.1.2 scale also means plain stereo and 5.1 programs gain newfound dimensionality. Vocals come through crisp and clear thanks to a dedicated center channel – no more dialog fading into the background!
According to technical breakdowns by SoundGuys:
"The HT-5000 soundbar setup offers a marked audio quality improvement over your television’s built-in speakers. With seven drivers contained in the bar itself and two subwoofer offerings available, this setup can seriously upgrade your home theater."
If you ever feel like expanding, wireless surround speaker addons and beefier subwoofer options exist too.
Key Audio Features:
- Vertical Surround Engine for Atmos height simulation
- 5.1.2 channel sound with 430W output
- Clear dialogue via dedicated center channel
- Surround/subwoofer upgrade path
HT-A5000 Frequency Response
| Frequency Range | 32 Hz to 25 kHz |
|---|---|
| Lowest Frequency Response | 32 Hz |
| Highest Frequency Response | 25 kHz |
Experience Room-Shaking Bass with Sony HT-X8500 Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Movie buffs and music aficionados alike will fall in love with the Sony HT-X8500. This bustling 2.1-channel soundbar packs twin subwoofers inside for foundation-rumbling bass. Priced around $250, it‘s astonishing how much thump Sony wrings from such an affordable package.
Integrated Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support unlocks the latest object-based surround formats found on 4K Blu-ray discs and streaming platforms. Sony then expands the immersive soundstage even further with their vertical enhancement wizardry.
Reviewing for a demanding audiophile audience, What Hi-Fi? praises:
"Sony has packed in more features and refined the performance to near-perfection considering the price. Very few soundbars available can compete with the overall immersion achieved here."
Key Audio Features:
- Built-in dual subwoofers for seismic bass
- Dolby Atmos & DTS: X decoding
- 7.1.2 vertical expansion via upfiring speaker
- Hi-res music playback
HT-X8500 Frequency Response
| Frequency Range | 32 Hz to 25 kHz |
|---|---|
| Lowest Frequency Response | 32 Hz |
| Highest Frequency Response | 25 kHz |
Note the extended bass response down to 32Hz rivals Speakers triple the price!
Sony HT-G700 – Your Affordable Shortcut to Dolby Atmos Surround Sound
Taste the thrills of object-based Dolby Atmos sound without draining your bank account thanks to Sony‘s value-packed HT-G700. At just $450, you receive wireless subwooferaugmentation taht kicks bass into overdrive. And Sony‘s own spatial upmixers greatly enhance perceived width and depth.
According to audio benchmarks conducted by Rtings.com:
"Thanks to its dedicated center channel and overall good audio reproduction, the Sony HT-G700 is able to produce clear and accurate dialogue in movies. Up-firing drivers create the illusion of height channels."
Key Audio Features:
- Surround-sound expansion to 5.1.2 channels
- Wireless subwoofer with 160W output
- Dolby Atmos height virtualization
- Hi-res audio streaming
HT-G700 Frequency Response
| Frequency Range | 32 Hz to 25 kHz |
|---|---|
| Lowest Frequency Response | 32 Hz |
| Highest Frequency Response | 25 kHz |
Sony HT-S40R Delivers Wireless Surround Sound – Rear Speakers Included!
Serious home theater fans craving true wireless surround sound should instantly snatch up the Sony HT-S40R package. Under $500 buys you four cube speakers for placement around your room, plus a compact soundbar. The system syncs everything together into a seamless 5.1 audio canvas.
Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding means the height channel gets simulated when watching immersive movies. While the wireless subwoofer won‘t rattle any foundations, its mid-bass slam perfectly balances dialogue, effects, and music.
Professional reviewers at TechHive describe the engulfing experiencethusly:
“Sony’s HT-S40R soundbar system fills a room with quality virtualized surround sound…this relatively affordable system decodes Dolby Atmos soundtracks and produces a reasonably convincing immersive experience.”
Key Audio Features:
- Rear wireless speakers enable 5.1 surround
- Dolby Atmos height virtualization to 5.1.2
- Customizable sound modes
- Expandable via standalone subwoofer
HT-S40R Frequency Response
| Frequency Range | 180 Hz to 20 kHz |
|---|---|
| Lowest Frequency Response | 180 Hz |
| Highest Frequency Response | 20 kHz |
Sony HT-S350 – An Entry-Level Virtual Surround Soundbar with Integrated Subwoofer
Lastly, I‘ll highlight the Sony HT-S350 as a starter soundbar option. Keeping costs down to $250, Sony still squeezes sizable 320W output and integrated subwoofer into a compact chassis. An advanced S-Force PRO virtualizer projects audio towards your ears, simulating a surround sound system.
While music reproduction skews a bit bright tonally, this versatile pick spans all media needs – movies, TV, and gaming. Connectivity options like HDMI ARC make home integration simple as can be too.
For background TV and gaming audio enhancement without breaking the bank, the HT-S350 garners praise from Tom‘s Guide:
"The Sony HT-S350 offers big, compelling sound and relatively easy setup at a very appealing price. The virtual surround effect is convincing."
Key Audio Features:
- S-Force Pro for virtual surround expansion
- Integrated subwoofer with 320W output
- 7 sound effect modes
- 4K/HDR passthrough via HDMI
HT-S350 Frequency Response
| Frequency Range | 100Hz to 20kHz |
|---|---|
| Lowest Frequency Response | 100 Hz |
| Highest Frequency Response | 20 kHz |
There you have it – 6 fantastic Sony soundbars spanning every budget tier! Let me know if you have any other questions. Enjoy your movies, games, and music exponentially more thanks to real cinematic sound!
