It’s simple to find a sony tv soundbar that fits your budget because Sony produces a wide selection of them in a variety of price points. Sony tv soundbars are generally well-built but provide only average overall sound performance, despite the wide range of features available. Sony soundbars don’t perform as well-roundedly as Samsung soundbars. A deep, rumbling bass that is appropriate for music or movies can also be a challenge for some models. Since most Sony soundbars don’t have bass or treble adjustments, you might not find the default preset EQ to be sufficiently individualized. These soundbars will be more than adequate for regular use and are well suited for dialogue-focused content.
SONY’S LINEUP
Sony currently offers several different soundbar lineups, but their naming scheme isn’t very clear. A model with similar features may be available on the market at the same time as one in a different lineup. Soundbars in a particular lineup typically target a specific market segment based on price. Several of their typical naming practices are listed below:
- 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 seem to be standalone models that aren’t a part of a larger lineup, such as the Sony HT-G700 and the Sony HT-Z9F.
Sony alson makes soundbars that are reliable and well-made. They usually do a good job of reproducing dialogue. But if you want a little bit more bass or treble in your mix; their lack of sound enhancement features might be a problem. Sony produces soundbars at various price points, so their features can vary.
BEST SONY SOUNDBAR: Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module
The Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module is the top Sony tv soundbar that we have tested. With many features available to maximize the sound, this 7.1.2 setup offers you a flexible overall performance with everything from music to movies to TV shows.
Sound Field Optimization, a feature common to most high-end soundbars, optimizes the bar’s audio reproduction based on the particular acoustics of your home. The sound in the bar is generally balanced when it is on, so everything from the dialogue in your favorite movies to the instruments in your favorite music are audible and accurate in the mix.
You experience the thrill of bass-heavy genres like EDM and action movies, just as you would in a movie theater, thanks to the subwoofer’s rumble in the bass. Many popular audio formats are supported by this soundbar.
You can listen to 5.1 surround sound content, such as Dolby Digital, and the built-in rear speakers give your audio a clear, authentic feel, making sound effects seem to be coming from the area around you.
Additionally, Dolby Atmos is supported, allowing you to benefit from the more immersive object-based formats that are frequently found on streaming services. However, no sound system is flawless. It’s a good option, but there aren’t many ways to alter the sound. You might experience a problem given the balanced sound it produces right out of the box, but if you enjoy customizing the sound of your bar, you might prefer the Samsung HW-Q990B or the Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module.
BEST MID-RANGE SONY SOUNDBAR: Sony HT-A5000
The Sony HT-A5000 is a more reasonably priced option to consider. It’s a mid-range option that was introduced in 2021 as a less expensive substitute for the Sony HT-A7000. Although it has one less HDMI port and a smaller soundstage than the HT-A7000, other than those two differences, the performance of the two bars is very similar.
Like its more expensive cousin, it supports Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos content and offers the same range of sound enhancement features, including Sony’s Sound Field Optimization room correction feature. You won’t have any trouble following the action on your screen thanks to the balanced sound, which accurately and clearly reproduces lead instruments and voices right out of the box. If your setup is limited in space, a standalone soundbar like this is a great alternative.
However, there are some sound quality compromises if you use the soundbar alone. First, there is less low-bass rumble, which is especially audible in soundtracks with lots of bass and in scenes with lots of action.
Additionally, you don’t experience surround sound content as lifelike without rear satellites. Instead of coming from all around you, sound seems to be coming from speakers that are placed in front of you.
This setup has the advantage that you can always buy a separate sub and satellites from the manufacturer separately, allowing you to upgrade it for a more cinematic sound if you move to a larger space in the future.
You might even discover that this bar offers a better value overall if you don’t mind the same compromise on soundstage performance.
BEST LOWER MID-RANGE SONY SOUNDBAR: Sony HT-G700
The more affordable option from Sony’s 2020 lineup is the HT-G700. This 3.1 soundbar’s straightforward design makes it simple to connect to your TV for better sound.
Dialogue is accurately reproduced right out of the box, and lead instruments and voices are present and accurate in the mix. A dialogue enhancement mode and a few EQ presets are available to change the sound.
In contrast to the Sony HT-A5000, it lacks a room correction tool, so the sound quality will vary slightly depending on your room. Nevertheless, this soundbar supports many of the common audio formats, including Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, that you’re likely to encounter on streaming services.
The built-in S-Force PRO virtual surround feature of the bar is intended to provide a more immersive sound, but it must downmix them in order to play them. However, it can sound a little forced and fake, and ultimately, it lacks the same cinematic feel as our top choices.
Despite this, it’s still a good option if you just want to replace your TV speakers and don’t need any additional bells and whistles.
BEST BUDGET SONY SOUNDBAR: Sony HT-S200F
The Sony HT-S200F is the top budget Sony tv soundbar that we’ve tested. It is a straightforward 2.1 soundbar made for watching stereo content, such as most music and TV shows. Although this bar doesn’t come with as many features as the manufacturer’s top models, if you don’t need them, you might find it to be a better overall value.
Voices and lead instruments are audibly distinct and well-defined right away, albeit with a little less treble sparkle. The integrated subwoofer is used to slighty improve the bass reproduction. However, this bar is not intended to be used with more immersive audio formats, such as Dolby Atmos, which streaming services are increasingly embracing.
It is disappointing that it cannot playback this content like the Sony HT-G700. Even so, it can play Dolby Digital and other 5.1 surround sound formats after downmixing them to stereo.
However, it’s still a good option at a reasonable price if you don’t use streaming services or don’t intend to watch many movies.
BEST SONY SOUNDBAR FOR LARGE ROOMS: Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module
Your living environment’s acoustics have an effect on how you hear your setup, and this is especially true for people with larger, more open living spaces. Thankfully, there are still some options available that are better suited to satisfy your needs, such as the Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module.
This 4.1.4 setup has a distinctive design that goes beyond what we consider to be a soundbar. Its two satellite speakers, which you can place anywhere in your setup to spread its sound around you, replace the wide “bar” with a control box, two left and right stereo speakers, and a control box.
Compared to a traditional bar, it gives you more flexibility because you can move each satellite to a different location based on your preferences. The bar’s soundstage is expansive and immersive, performing on par with other top-tier systems available. You are surrounded by sound as if your couch had been thrown into the middle of the action.
You can feel your seat rumble during scenes with intense action thanks to the additional subwoofer’s increased thump and punch in the bass range. Also available is the room correction function for Sound Field Optimization. Unfortunately, there is no distinct center channel in the bar. Acoustic Center Sync (is a feature offered by Sony) enables you to use a compatible BRAVIA TV as the bar’s center channel.
However, using this feature results in a pronounced volume difference between the TV and the bar; making it less than ideal for improving sound quality.
The gaps in the soundstage aren’t very noticeable to casual listeners; but they should be mentioned for audiophiles who want the best possible experience.
Read: The 5 Best Sony Subwoofer For 2023: Why I Love Them
Sony TV Soundbar Compared to other brands
The Good
- Well-built design. Sony soundbars are generally well-built due to their metal and plastic construction.
- Good for dialogue. The audio produced by the majority of Sony soundbars is accurate and clear, and they are well-suited for dialogue content, especially when used in conjunction with their Dialogue Enhancement feature.
The Bad
- Lacking sound enhancement features. Due to some of these soundbars’ less than ideal sound profiles, the majority of Sony tv soundbar lack the ability to adjust the bass or treble. Sony only offers pre-set EQs, making it impossible to fine-tune or customize your audio experience. No Sony soundbars have a feature for room correction.
- Poor surround sound. Even those that employ Sony’s S-Force Front Surround to simulate surround sound, all of the Sony soundbars we’ve tested typically have subpar surround sound.
SONY tv Soundbar VS SAMSUNG Soundbar
In order to target various market segments, Samsung and Sony both produce soundbars that are offered at a variety of price points. Their top-tier models support DTS:X and Dolby Atmos and come with tools like room correction to enhance the sound. Both companies offer more affordable options to cater to stereo listeners. But Samsung soundbars typically have a lot more sound customization features, like graphic EQs.
SONY tv Soundbar VS SONOS Soundbar
Sonos is a more expensive soundbar manufacturer that typically creates more expensive setups, whereas Sony’s products are available at many different price points to address a wider range of users. In addition to having voice assistants and other built-in smart features, Sonos bars use psychoacoustic principles to produce larger, more immersive soundstages than other systems. However, Sonos has fewer options at more affordable price points, so they might not be worthwhile for people looking for a straightforward improvement over their TV speakers.
SONY tv Soundbar VS BOSE Soundbar
Manufacturers of high-end soundbars like Bose concentrate on making products that are top-of-the-line and have integrated smart features like voice assistant control. Similar products from Sony are available with voice assistant functionality and support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. However, Sony offers more options at more affordable price points, and they might represent a better value for users who primarily consume stereo content.
Conclusion
Sony is a well-known company that sells a range of soundbars at different price points. They are strong and well-built all around. Additionally, they are excellent at reenacting dialogue, which is great for your favorite audiobooks and TV shows. Sony offers only EQ presets, which makes it difficult to customize your audio experience if you don’t like their default sound profile.
