Notice: Your browser is not supported or outdated so some features of the site might not be available.
Notice: Big Spring Sale Deal: The Samsung HW-Q990D has dropped by $500 on Amazon.com. See all Soundbar Big Spring Sale deals.
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
Tested using Methodology v1.3
Updated Nov 28, 2024 02:21 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.3
Updated Oct 18, 2024 01:25 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Channels5.0.2
Channels5.0.2
Variants
- BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 (Black)
- BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 (Black)
Our Verdict
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is a bit better than the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8. It has a more immersive sound, thanks to its two extra R/L speakers, wider soundstage, and better-balanced side-firing speakers. However, it's not substantially better. Both soundbars have mostly the same features, like 4k @ 120Hz passthrough, extensive Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, and good build quality.
Check Price
Black
BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.comBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.comBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
SEE PRICE
B&HBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
SEE PRICE
B&HBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
SEE PRICE
Walmart.comBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
SEE PRICE
Walmart.comMain Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
7.2
7.1
Full Comparison
Design
Style - Bar
Style photo - bar
Style - Subwoofer
Style photo - sub
Sub Wireless
No
No
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Style - Satellites
Style photo - satellites
Satellite Wireless
No
No
Dimensions - Bar
Dimensions photo - bar
Width
51.2" (130.1 cm)
43.3" (110.0 cm)
Height
2.5" (6.4 cm)
2.5" (6.4 cm)
Depth
4.4" (11.3 cm)
4.4" (11.3 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
Yes
Yes
Mountable Satellites
No
No
Satellite Brackets Included
No
No
Build Quality
7.5
7.5
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.0
7.1
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Channels
5.0.2
5.0.2
Tested Preset
Standard Surround
Standard Surround
Slope
0.79
0.63
Standard Error
3.38 dB
3.49 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
56.6 Hz
52.6 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
19.3 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.5
7.4
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
Standard Surround
Standard Surround
Suggested Bass Setting
1
1
Suggested Treble Setting
N/A
N/A
Slope
-0.10
-0.40
Standard Error
2.61 dB
2.95 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
50.4 Hz
48.3 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
19.6 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
6.5
6.5
Crosstalk Error
4.11 dB
4.49 dB
Stereo Dynamics
7.5
7.3
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
93.2 dB SPL
92.9 dB SPL
DRC @ 90dB
0.27 dB
0.63 dB
DRC @ Max Volume
4.19 dB
4.32 dB
Center
8.7
8.5
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Discrete
Discrete
Slope
0.38
0.65
Std. Err.
2.26 dB
2.66 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
94.5 dB SPL
94.9 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.33
0.35
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
4.68
5.11
Surround 5.1
5.1
4.7
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Phantom (Side Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Side Firing, Bar)
Slope
1.32
2.43
Std. Err.
7.04 dB
7.75 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
95.1 dB SPL
91.7 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.30
0.33
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
2.04
0.76
7.1 Rears
No
No
Height (Atmos)
5.5
5.1
Height Setup
H Frequency Response
Localization
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)
Slope
0.26
0.62
Std. Err.
5.24 dB
6.11 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
82.9 dB SPL
85.1 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.26
3.35
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
0.84
0.40
Sound Enhancement Features
5.3
5.3
Room Correction
Yes
Yes
Dialogue Enhancement
Yes
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
Yes
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
No
No
Bass Adjustment
Yes
Yes
Treble Adjustment
No
No
EQ
No
No
Surround Level Adjustment
No
No
Rear Level Adjustment
No
No
Height Level Adjustment
Yes
Yes
Virtual Surround
Yes
Yes
Connectivity
Inputs/Outputs - Bar
Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Optical Audio In
No
No
HDMI Out
eARC
eARC
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
Yes
Yes
Full HDMI In
1
1
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
No
No
RCA In
No
No
USB for Files
No
No
Ethernet
No
No
Subwoofer Output
No
No
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
10
10
Dolby Atmos
Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital
Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Supported
Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Supported
Supported
DTS
Supported
Supported
DTS:X
Supported
Supported
DTS-HD MA
Supported
Supported
PCM Channels
Up To 7.1
Up To 7.1
Audio Format Support: HDMI In
10
10
Dolby Atmos
Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital
Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Supported
Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Supported
Supported
DTS
Supported
Supported
DTS:X
Supported
Supported
DTS-HD MA
Supported
Supported
PCM Channels
Up To 7.1
Up To 7.1
Audio Format Support: Optical
0.0
0.0
Dolby Digital
Not Supported
Not Supported
DTS
Not Supported
Not Supported
PCM Channels
Not Supported
Not Supported
Audio Latency: ARC
6.2
6.3
ARC Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
100 ms
100 ms
PCM-5.1 ch
96 ms
96 ms
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
105 ms
104 ms
Dolby Digital
130 ms
127 ms
Dolby Digital Plus
134 ms
134 ms
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
137 ms
136 ms
Audio Latency: HDMI In
5.8
5.8
HDMI Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
104 ms
100 ms
PCM-5.1 ch
98 ms
97 ms
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
109 ms
108 ms
Dolby Digital
148 ms
147 ms
Dolby Digital Plus
139 ms
139 ms
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
142 ms
142 ms
Audio Latency: Optical
0.0
0.0
Optical Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
N/A
N/A
Dolby Digital
N/A
N/A
Video Passthrough To TV
9.6
9.6
1080p Max Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
4k Max Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit
Supported
Supported
4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
120Hz
120Hz
8k Max Refresh Rate
60Hz
60Hz
HDR10 Passthrough
Yes
Yes
HDR10+ Passthrough
No
No
Dolby Vision Passthrough
Yes
Yes
HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough
Yes
Yes
FreeSync Passthrough
No
No
G-SYNC Passthrough
Yes
Yes
ALLM Passthrough
Yes
Yes
Wireless Playback
9.0
9.0
Bluetooth
Yes
Yes
Wi-Fi Playback
Yes
Yes
Chromecast built-in
No
No
Apple AirPlay
Yes
Yes
Spotify Connect
Yes
Yes
Additional Features
Interface
Interface photo
Display
Yes
Yes
Bar Controls
Controls photo
Remote
Remote photo
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
No
No
Google Assistant
No
No
Apple Siri
No
No
Microphone Mute
No
No
Check Price
Black
BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.comBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.comBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
SEE PRICE
B&HBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
SEE PRICE
B&HBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
SEE PRICE
Walmart.comBlack
BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
You have 10/10 free reviews left
To access
and
Become an Insider
unlimited full product reviews,
product prices
other exclusive site features
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
Comments
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8: Main Discussion
What do you think of these products? Let us know below.
Looking for a personalized buying advice from the RTINGS.com experts? Insiders have direct access to buying advice on our insider forum.