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Sonos Beam vs Sony HT-X8500
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Sonos Beam
Sony HT-X8500
Tested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:27 PM
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Updated Apr 09, 2024 01:57 PM
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Channels3.0
Channels2.1
Variants
- Beam (Black)
- Beam (White)
- HT-X8500
Our Verdict
Sonos Beam
Sony HT-X8500
The Sonos Beam is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-X8500. The Sonos is a 3.0 setup that's better built, has a discrete center channel that performs better than the Sony soundbar's phantom center, and has a better stereo soundstage. You can also stream music to it using Wi-Fi or Apple AirPlay. However, even though the Sony soundbar's height channel performance is sub-par, it supports Atmos, which is rare for a 2.1 setup. The Sony also has EQ presets, an HDMI Out, and a Full HDMI In port, which is nice.
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Black
Beam
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HT-X8500
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Beam
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HT-X8500
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HT-X8500
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HT-X8500
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HT-X8500
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Finding storeMain Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
6.9
6.8
Height (Atmos)
0.0
4.8
Stereo Soundstage
8.0
6.0
Stereo Frequency Response
7.2
6.8
Center
8.3
6.7
Audio Format Support: HDMI In
0.0
10
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
6.3
10
Full Comparison
Design
Style - Bar
Style photo - bar
Style - Subwoofer
Style photo - sub
Sub Wireless
No
No
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
Integrated
Style - Satellites
Style photo - satellites
Satellite Wireless
No
No
Dimensions - Bar
Dimensions photo - bar
Width
25.6" (65.0 cm)
34.9" (88.7 cm)
Height
2.6" (6.7 cm)
2.5" (6.3 cm)
Depth
4.0" (10.1 cm)
3.9" (9.8 cm)
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Dimensions photo - sub
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Dimensions - Satellites
Dimensions photo - satellites
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Mounting
Bar Mounting Holes
Satellite Mounting Holes
Mountable Bar
Yes
Yes
Bar Brackets Included
No
No
Mountable Satellites
No
No
Satellite Brackets Included
No
No
Build Quality
8.0
7.0
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.2
6.8
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Tested Preset
No Preset
Standard
Slope
0.63
-0.52
Std. Err.
3.39 dB
3.31 dB
Channels
3.0
2.1
Low-Frequency Extension
49.7 Hz
59.9 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
17.2 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.5
6.8
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
No Preset
Standard
Suggested Bass Setting
0
-1
Suggested Treble Setting
-6
N/A
Slope
0.18
-0.48
Std. Err.
2.34 dB
3.44 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
49.7 Hz
59.9 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
18.0 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
8.0
6.0
Crosstalk Error
2.26 dB
1.99 dB
Stereo Dynamics
6.4
7.4
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
91.2 dB SPL
92.6 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
3.85 dB
2.19 dB
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
7.2
7.5
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.73
0.57
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.51
1.32
Center
8.3
6.7
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Discrete
Phantom
Slope
0.39
-0.82
Std. Err.
2.87 dB
3.14 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
92.0 dB SPL
91.4 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.97
0.44
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.56
1.27
Surround 5.1
3.1
3.3
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
-0.27
-0.76
Std. Err.
5.44 dB
5.33 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
85.2 dB SPL
89.5 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.74
0.52
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.95
1.32
7.1 Rears
No
No
Height (Atmos)
0.0
4.8
Height Setup
H Frequency Response
Localization
Not Supported
Surround (Downmix)
Slope
N/A
-0.19
Std. Err.
N/A
5.82 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
N/A
80.0 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
N/A
2.65
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
N/A
0.60
Sound Enhancement Features
5.4
4.7
Room Correction
Yes
No
Dialogue Enhancement
Yes
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
Yes
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
No
No
Bass Adjustment
Yes
Yes
Treble Adjustment
Yes
No
EQ
No
Presets
Surround Level Adjustment
No
No
Rear Level Adjustment
No
No
Height Level Adjustment
No
No
Virtual Surround
No
Yes
Connectivity
Inputs/Outputs - Bar
Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Optical Audio In
Adapter into HDMI ARC
1
HDMI Out
ARC
eARC
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
No
No
Full HDMI In
No
1
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
No
No
RCA In
No
No
USB for Files
No
No
Ethernet
1
No
Subwoofer Output
No
No
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
6.3
10
Dolby Atmos
Not Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital
Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Not Supported
Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Not Supported
Supported
DTS
Supported
Supported
DTS:X
Not Supported
Supported
DTS-HD MA
Not Supported
Supported
PCM Channels
2.0
Up To 7.1
Audio Format Support: HDMI In
0.0
10
Dolby Atmos
Not Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital
Not Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Not Supported
Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Not Supported
Supported
DTS
Not Supported
Supported
DTS:X
Not Supported
Supported
DTS-HD MA
Not Supported
Supported
PCM Channels
Not Supported
Up To 7.1
Audio Format Support: Optical
10
10
Dolby Digital
Supported
Supported
DTS
Supported
Supported
PCM Channels
2.0
2.0
Latency
9.8
7.5
Latency Video
ARC
-14 ms
-23 ms
Optical
0 ms
5 ms
Full HDMI In
N/A
-126 ms
Video Passthrough To TV
0.0
6.6
1080p Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
60Hz
1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
60Hz
4k Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
60Hz
4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit
Not Supported
Not Supported
4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
60Hz
8k Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
30Hz
HDR10 Passthrough
No
Yes
HDR10+ Passthrough
No
No
Dolby Vision Passthrough
No
Yes
HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough
No
No
FreeSync Passthrough
No
No
G-SYNC Passthrough
No
No
ALLM Passthrough
No
No
Wireless Playback
3.0
6.0
Bluetooth
No
Yes
Wi-Fi Playback
Yes
No
Chromecast built-in
No
No
Apple AirPlay
Yes
No
Spotify Connect
Yes
No
Additional Features
Interface
Interface photo
Display
No
No
Bar Controls
Controls photo
Remote
Remote photo
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
Yes (Built-in)
No
Google Assistant
Yes (Built-in)
No
Apple Siri
No
No
Microphone Mute
Yes
No
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Black
Beam
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HT-X8500
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Beam
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HT-X8500
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HT-X8500
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HT-X8500
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HT-X8500
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Sonos Beam
Sony HT-X8500
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Sonos Beam vs Sony HT-X8500: Main Discussion
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