We've currently tested 17 Sony soundbars. Sony produces sturdy, well-built soundbars. They tend to excel in dialogue reproduction, but their lack of sound enhancement features can be a drawback if you want a touch more bass or treble in your mix. As Sony produces soundbars at several price points, they can range in features.
Updates
- 10/18/2024 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 with Speakers + Bass Module reviewed
- 08/21/2024 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 reviewed
- 07/31/2024 Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module reviewed
- 07/26/2024 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 reviewed
- 04/09/2024 Sony HT-S100F updated
Best Sony Soundbars
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Best Sony Soundbar
Mixed Usage8.0Dialogue/TV Shows7.9Music8.1Movies7.9Channels4.1.4The best Sony soundbar we've tested is the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module. This unique 4.1.4 setup pushes the boundaries of our definition of a soundbar. It replaces the wide 'bar' with a control box and two left and right stereo speakers, while its two satellites can be placed anywhere in your setup to stretch its sound around you. It gives you more flexibility than a traditional bar, as you can move each speaker to different locations based on your preferences. As with most premium soundbars on the market, there's a room correction feature to optimize the bar's audio based on the unique acoustics of your living space. With this feature active, the bar's sound is fairly balanced, meaning everything from dialogue in movies to instruments in music are clear and accurate in the mix. The sub also delivers a rumbly bass.
This soundbar supports a lot of common audio formats. You can enjoy 5.1 surround sound content like Dolby Digital, and the included rear speakers bring a clear and real feel to your audio, so sound effects seem like they're coming from the space around you. There's Dolby Atmos support, so you can take advantage of more immersive object-based formats commonly found on streaming services. That said, no soundbar is perfect. It's a good choice, but it doesn't have a lot of options to customize its sound. Its center channel performance leaves something to be desired, though you can use a compatible BRAVIA TV as a center speaker.
If you're looking for a more standard soundbar with a better center performance, then you'll want to consider the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 with Speakers + Bass Module. This expanded version of the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 doesn't offer the same immersive soundstage performance as the Theater Quad, but it features a discrete center channel that does a much better job of localizing voices and dialogue.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Sony Soundbar
Mixed Usage7.2Dialogue/TV Shows7.7Music7.0Movies6.9Channels5.0.2Don't want to pay top dollar for a soundbar? The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is worth checking out. This standalone 7.0.2 channel bar delivers a balanced sound that's versatile enough for most kinds of content. Dialogue is clear and easy to follow while instruments sound natural. Despite it doesn't quite deliver as much thumpy low-bass as the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module, and its soundstage doesn't fully immerse you in audio, you can always upgrade this setup with satellites and a subwoofer down the line.
This bar supports all the common audio formats like Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital. If you're a gamer with a latest-gen console, you can take advantage of 4k passthrough at 120Hz. That said, its surround performance is uneven and doesn't sound as clear or real as a discrete setup. The bar can also get loud, but there's a lot of compression at max volume, which impacts audio clarity. On the upside, there are many ways to send audio to the bar wirelessly, including built-in Spotify Connect, to keep the music flowing.
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Best Mid-Range Sony Soundbar
Mixed Usage7.4Dialogue/TV Shows7.8Music7.1Movies7.3Channels5.1.2The best Sony soundbar at this price point is the Sony HT-A5000. It's a mid-range option released in 2021, so it's an older model, but don't let that deter you. It offers good value as it delivers comparable overall performance to the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9. It comes with sound enhancement features, including Sony's Sound Field Optimization room correction feature and EQ presets, which the BRAVIA Theater 9 doesn't offer. Like its premium cousin, it also supports Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos content.
A standalone soundbar like this is a great alternative if you have limited space in your setup. That said, if you use the soundbar independently, there are some tradeoffs in the sound. First, without a dedicated subwoofer, you feel less rumble in the low-bass, especially on bass-heavy soundtracks and action-centered scenes. Also, without the rear satellites, you don't get the same life-like feel with surround sound content. You can always purchase these parts from the manufacturer separately if you want to upgrade your setup for a more cinematic sound if you move to a larger space down the line.
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Best Budget Sony Soundbar
Mixed Usage6.6Dialogue/TV Shows7.3Music6.9Movies6.0Channels2.1If you're shopping on a budget, check out the Sony HT-S400. This entry-level 2.1 model is affordable for those who want the simplest upgrade over their existing TV speakers. It's smaller and more compact than some of the more premium models on this list, too, so it doesn't take up a lot of space in your setup. You can add on the subwoofer to enjoy the thump and rumble in the bass, especially with bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop. The subwoofer level adjustment lets you control the amount of punch in the mix, too, so you have some control over the sound.
As a 2.1 setup, this bar is ideal for listening to stereo content, which includes most music and vocal-centric TV shows like sitcoms. The dialogue enhancement tool makes voices clearer in the mix, which is great for following along with your favorite shows. That said, compared to the Sony HT-A5000, this soundbar doesn't support more immersive audio formats like Dolby Atmos. 5.1 surround sound is downmixed into stereo, which doesn't bring the most clear and real feel. Still, for the price, it does a solid job improving your TV's sound.
Compared To Other Brands
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Well-built design.
Sony soundbars have a generally sturdy build thanks to their plastic and metal design. -
Good for dialogue.
Most Sony soundbars are well-suited for dialogue content, especially when combined with their dialogue enhancement feature, and the audio produced is clear and accurate.
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Lacking sound enhancement features.
Most Sony soundbars lack bass or treble adjustment, which can be less than ideal as some of these soundbars have a less-than-neutral sound profile. Sony only provides preset EQs, so you can't customize or fine-tune your audio experience the way you like. None of the Sony soundbars offer a room correction feature. -
Poor surround sound.
All of the Sony soundbars we've tested tend to have inadequate surround sound, even with those that use Sony's S-Force Front Surround to simulate the experience.
Sony vs Samsung
Samsung and Sony both create soundbars available at a wide array of price points to address different market segments. Their top-of-the-line models include Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, as well as tools like room correction to optimize their sound. More budget-friendly options are available from both to address stereo listeners. However, Samsung soundbars tend to come with far more sound customization tools, including graphic EQs.
Sony vs Sonos
While Sony's products are available at many different price points to address a broader range of users, Sonos is a more premium soundbar manufacturer that generally produces more premium setups. Sonos bars come with built-in smart features like voice assistants, and they use psychoacoustic principles to create wider and more immersive soundstages than other setups. However, Sonos offers fewer options at budget-friendly price points, and they might not be worth the value for those who want a simple upgrade over their TV speakers.
Sony vs Bose
Bose is a premium soundbar manufacturer that focuses on creating premium, top-of-the-line offerings with built-in smart features like voice assistant control. Sony offers similar devices with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, as well as voice assistant capabilities. However, Sony has more budget-friendly options, which may be a better value for users who mostly listen to stereo content.
Sony makes a wide range of soundbars at several price ranges, so it's easy to find one that works for your budget. Although this range is large and available features vary, Sony soundbars are generally well-built but ordinary in overall sound performance. When compared to Samsung soundbars, Sony isn't as well-rounded in performance. Some models can also struggle to produce a deep, rumbling bass suitable for movies or music. Since most Sony soundbars lack bass and treble adjustments, the basic preset EQ offered in their place may not be enough customization for some users. These soundbars are well-suited for dialogue-centric content and will be more than adequate for everyday use.
Lineup
Sony has a couple of different soundbar lineups on the market, but their naming strategy isn't very clear. Soundbars in a particular lineup generally address a certain market segment based on price; however, you may find a model with similar features under a different lineup on the market at the same time. Here are a few of their common naming conventions:
- A Series: Sony's top-of-the-line releases from 2021 and 2022.
- S Series: Sony's more budget-friendly options from 2017 to 2022.
Others, like the Sony HT-G700 and the Sony HT-Z9F, seem to be standalone models that are not part of a broader lineup.
Sony also releases soundbars under the Sony BRAVIA name, which are designed to work well with Sony BRAVIA TVs, like the Sony BRAVIA 9 QLED. These often come with features that let you use the TV's center channel as part of the soundbar setup.
Recent Updates
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We've updated this article to add a comparison between the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module and the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 with Speakers + Bass Module.
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Jul 31, 2024: We've overhauled this article to include the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad with Bass Module and Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9. We've removed the Sony HT-G700, as it's no longer available, and removed the Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module, as its successor, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad, is already on the list.
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Mar 19, 2024: No changes in picks as no new Sony soundbars were reviewed. Minor text adjustments for clarity.
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Dec 08, 2023: We haven't tested any new Sony soundbars since the last update. Our picks are still accurate and available, so they stay the same.
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Aug 10, 2023: Product picks remain the same. Minor text edits for clarity.
Conclusion
Sony is a well-known brand offering a variety of soundbars across several price points. Overall, they're sturdy and well-built. They're also well-suited for reproducing dialogue, which is great for your favorite TV shows and audiobooks. Unfortunately, if you don't like their default sound profile, Sony only provides EQ presets, making it challenging to fine-tune your audio experience.