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  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Latency
    6. Video Passthrough To TV
    7. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Sony HT-Z9F vs Sony HT-A3000

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Sony HT-Z9F
Sony HT-A3000

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Jan 12, 2024 08:20 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.2

Updated Jan 15, 2024 10:00 PM

SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Sony HT-Z9F Picture
Sony HT-A3000 Picture

Variants

  • HT-Z9F (Black)
  • HT-A3000 (Black)

Our Verdict

Sony HT-Z9F

Sony HT-A3000

The Sony HT-Z9F and the Sony HT-A3000 are very similar soundbars. Both 3.1 setups support Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos content, though they have to downmix these formats into stereo to play them. The HT-Z9F comes with a dedicated subwoofer, so it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also comes with an HDMI In port, unlike the A3000. However, the newer A3000 has some additional features, like Apple AirPlay 2 support.

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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

7.2
7.0

Audio Format Support - Full HDMI In 
 

10
0.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - bar
Sony HT-A3000 Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - sub
Sony HT-A3000 Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
No

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Integrated
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sony HT-Z9F Style photo - satellites
Sony HT-A3000 Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - bar
Sony HT-A3000 Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

39.4" (100.0 cm)
37.4" (95.0 cm)

Height  

2.6" (6.5 cm)
2.6" (6.5 cm)

Depth  

3.9" (10.0 cm)
5.3" (13.5 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - sub
Sony HT-A3000 Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

7.4" (18.9 cm)
N/A

Height  

15.0" (38.0 cm)
N/A

Depth  

15.2" (38.6 cm)
N/A
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sony HT-Z9F Dimensions photo - satellites
Sony HT-A3000 Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-Z9F Bar Mounting Holes
Sony HT-A3000 Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sony HT-Z9F Satellite Mounting Holes
Sony HT-A3000 Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Yes
No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
No

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

8.0
8.0

Build quality photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Build quality photo
Sony HT-A3000 Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sony HT-Z9F In The Box photo
Sony HT-A3000 In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

7.3
7.1

Stereo Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Stereo Setup
Sony HT-A3000 Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Tested Preset 
 

Standard
Sound Field Off

Slope 
 

-0.41
-0.76

Std. Err. 
 

2.53 dB
2.96 dB

Channels 
 

3.1
3.1

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

44.3 Hz
51.1 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

7.9 kHz
14.3 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

7.3
7.3

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

Standard
Sound Field Off

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

6
-1

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

N/A
N/A

Slope 
 

-0.41
0.29

Std. Err. 
 

2.53 dB
2.61 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

44.3 Hz
51.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

7.9 kHz
15.3 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

7.0
7.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.20 dB
2.29 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.1
7.5

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.6 dB SPL
91.9 dB SPL

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

1.08 dB
1.81 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.4
8.1

THD  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.47
0.35

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.19
0.94
Show Text 

Center 
 

8.0
8.3

Center Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Center Setup
Sony HT-A3000 Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

0.40
0.52

Std. Err. 
 

3.63 dB
2.87 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

90.6 dB SPL
89.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.57
0.30

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

2.34
0.91
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

2.4
4.2

Surround Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Surround Setup
Sony HT-A3000 Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

-1.75
-0.86

Std. Err. 
 

8.29 dB
3.28 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

93.1 dB SPL
91.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.51
0.31

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

3.31
0.80

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

2.0
3.3

Height Setup  

Sony HT-Z9F Height Setup
Sony HT-A3000 Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)

Slope 
 

0.75
-0.82

Std. Err. 
 

8.11 dB
3.71 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

82.9 dB SPL
70.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

2.73
5.96

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.90
0.33
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

5.6
5.9

Room Correction 
 

No
No

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

No
No

Treble Adjustment 
 

No
No

EQ 
 

Presets
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Height Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Virtual Surround 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sony HT-Z9F Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Sony HT-A3000 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sony HT-Z9F Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Sony HT-A3000 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

1
1

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

1 (shared)
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

2
No

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

1
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

1
1

Ethernet 
 

1
No

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

10
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Supported

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

10
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Yes
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Yes
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Yes
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Yes
Supported

DTS 
 

Yes
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
Show Text 

Latency 
 

8.1
6.1

Latency Video  

ARC 
 

56 ms
114 ms

Optical 
 

51 ms
121 ms

Full HDMI In 
 

-47 ms
N/A
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Yes
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

9.0
10

Bluetooth 
 

Yes
Yes

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

Yes
Yes

Apple AirPlay 
 

No
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Interface photo
Sony HT-A3000 Interface photo

Display 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Controls photo
Sony HT-A3000 Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sony HT-Z9F Remote photo
Sony HT-A3000 Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

No
No

Google Assistant 
 

No
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Check Price

Sony HT-Z9F

Sony HT-A3000

Comments

  1. Comparison

Sony HT-Z9F vs Sony HT-A3000: Main Discussion

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