Sony is a globally renowned brand known for its innovative and high-quality electronic products. From audio equipment to gaming consoles and televisions, Sony has a wide range of products that have become household names. Among its audio equipment, Sony has an impressive range of soundbars, speakers, and headphones that offer exceptional audio quality and functionality.
In this article, Hookeaudio will be taking a closer look at some of the best Sony audio products available in the market, based on their features, performance.
| # | Preview | Product | Rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
| Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar... | 1,067 Reviews |
$299.99
$248.00 | View on Amazon |
| 2 |
| Sony HT-S350 Soundbar with... |
$278.00 | View on Amazon | |
| 3 |
| Sony HT-SC40 2.1ch Soundbar... | 12 Reviews | $128.40 | View on Amazon |
| 4 |
| Sony HTX8500 2.1ch Dolby... |
$399.99
$374.97 | View on Amazon | |
| 5 |
| Sony HT-SC40 2.1ch Soundbar... | 2 Reviews | $119.00 | View on Amazon |
| 6 |
| Sony HT-A5000 5.1.2ch Dolby... | 202 Reviews |
$1,699.98
$1,596.00 | View on Amazon |
| 7 |
| Sony HT-A5000 5.1.2ch Dolby... | 25 Reviews |
$1,744.00 | View on Amazon |
| 8 |
| RMT-AH411U Replace Remote... |
$7.44 | View on Amazon | |
| 9 |
| Sony HT-MT300/B Powerful Mini... | 587 Reviews | $195.73 | View on Amazon |
Top-Rate 5 Best Sony For You
Sony Soundbar HT CT180
- 2.1 channel audio system
- Power output: 100W (60W soundbar + 40W subwoofer)
- Soundbar dimensions: 35.4 x 2.0 x 2.0 inches (900 x 52 x 70 mm)
- Subwoofer dimensions: 6.3 x 13.5 x 11.6 inches (160 x 342 x 295 mm)
- Bluetooth connectivity for wireless audio streaming
- ClearAudio+ mode for optimized sound settings
- Voice enhancement mode for clearer dialogue
- Night mode for reduced loud sound intensity
- Music mode for enhanced music listening experience
- One HDMI input and one HDMI output with ARC support
- Optical input for digital audio devices
- Analog input for other audio devices
- Includes remote control and wall mounting brackets
The Sony HT CT180 sound bar/subwoofer combination has a design that matches any interior. This 2.1-channel sound bar supports high-fidelity audio and blends seamlessly with any interior.
The Sony HT CT180 measures 90 cm (or 35 inches) and is an excellent choice for an expensive Sony TV of a mid-sized size where TV speakers don’t work. The black sound bar has a simple control panel to the side and a surface with indicator lights that flash your sound settings.
The subwoofer also shares the soundbar’s minimalist design, which has no distinct features and is a significant driver. The wireless design allows both soundbar and subwoofer easy to be placed anywhere in the room, allowing for optimal listening.
The HT CT180 does not have industry-standard advanced audio technologies for enhanced sound. Still, it does include Sony’s proprietary technology like the Sony S-Force and S-Master Digital Amplifier, and ClearAudio+.
Sony S-Force surrounds sound technology can surround you with 3D audio formats without the need to add any additional components.
The S-Master Digital Amplifier by Sony TV ensures less distortion at all volume levels from your soundbar and more power for a more distant sound.
The Sony soundbar includes a left and right channel and an external wireless subwoofer. This makes up the 2.1 channels. A system must have at least five channels and one subwoofer to achieve surround sound. For actual cinematic experience, more tracks are better. However, five is the best.
Sony’s HTCT80 is equipped with Near Field Communication technology. This eliminates the need for complicated setups. To enjoy seamless connectivity, make contact between your NFC-enabled phone and the soundbar’s N-mark on the soundbar. You are now ready to stream content.
Our experts always suggest opting for an HDMI connection if your devices support it. The HT CT180 doesn’t have a TCL Alto 6+ HDMI ARC. Therefore, digital optical cables are the next option on our team’s recommendation list. This type of connection supports digital content and older HD TV.
Pros
- High-fidelity sound bar
- Sleek design
- Can you connect an external wireless subwoofer?
- Bluetooth built-in
- Sony S-Force Technology
- Virtual Surround Sound
- S-Master Digital Amplifier
- ClearAudio+ to manage your music
- Slim
- NFC One-Touch
- The control panel is located on the side
- Indicator lights
- Large size
Cons
- HDMI not available
- No Wi-Fi
Sony SACS9 Active Subwoofer
- Power output: 115 watts RMS
- Frequency response: 28Hz – 200Hz
- Driver size: 10 inches
- Impedance: 6 ohms
- Sensitivity: 87 dB
- Enclosure type: Bass reflex
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 11.62 x 13.62 x 15.75 inches
- Weight: 26.46 lbs
The Sony SACS9 measures 11.5x16x13.5 Inches and weighs only 25lbs. It is lighter than the Polk Audio PSW505, and it is also smaller. It can be placed in a small space without taking up too much room and has four feet pads that will keep it from moving even at high volume. Sony SACS9 includes the traditional back-facing ports that range from standard RCA inputs to speaker line outputs. This makes it simple to install and easy to place using the 6.5 Inch included phono cable.
It has a woven fiber driver material, which is not the standard paper or cloth found in other woofers. The 2-year warranty will not cover any wear or tear, but it might be a concern. You can get a replacement or repair if you happen to find any damage to the vinyl foam grill. This is removable. The standard smart black finish is applied to the build. This, along with solid wood veneer, gives you a high-quality design that will not be affected by changes in temperature and humidity.
Although the amplifier has a peak power output of 115W, it is still moderately high. However, it does not have a continuous output of 34.5W. The speaker’s cone diaphragm and frequency range of 28-200Hz provide powerful low-end sounds that are both clear and crisp, with good resonance.
Mica Reinforced Cellular woofers (MRC) provide better sound quality and deeper bass. The fiber on the woofer is rigid even while playing audio, so it does not compromise on sound quality. You can also prevent unwanted noise from entering your active subwoofer by having the noise waves acoustically absorbed and the vibrations dampened within the cabinet. This makes it much easier to hear the home audio clearly.
The Sony also includes a variety of extra features that make it an even more useful and user-friendly home theater subwoofer. A tunable crossover allows you to adjust the frequency response, ranging from 50Hz up to 200Hz, to tighten the low-end. A phase switch allows you to ensure that the subwoofer plays audio in phase with speakers.
There’s also an automatic power-saving feature that puts the subwoofer in standby mode until there is an audio signal. You also have a volume control that adjusts the sound to your needs. The Sony isn’t as customizable as other subwoofers but the amazing sound quality makes it unnecessary to adjust the home audio.
Pros
- Wide frequency range
- Durable design
- There are many tuning options available
Cons
- The power output is quite low considering the price.
Sony Z9F Soundbar
- Audio channels: 3.1 channel
- Power output: 400W total power
- Sound modes: 7 (Auto Sound, Cinema, Music, Game, News, Sports, Standard)
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
- Wireless subwoofer: Yes
- Bluetooth version: 4.2
- HDMI inputs: 2 (1 input supports HDCP 2.2 and HDR)
- eARC support: Yes
- Optical inputs: 1
- USB inputs: 1
- Chromecast built-in: Yes
- Voice control: Compatible with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 39.37 x 2.46 x 4.57 inches
- Weight: 6.9 lbs
The Sony HTZ9F is the best Dolby Atmos soundbar. Atmos soundbars used front-firing drivers with integrated Dolby enabling high-firers to create immersive music. Examples include both the expensive but versatile Samsung HW-K950 and the LG SK10Y.
Because it is a 3.1 model, the HT-Z9F doesn’t require any physical up-firing drivers. Sony claims it has a soundfield similar to a 5.1.2 system. It’s quite a puzzle, even in an amorphous Atmos world. You might be asking yourself, How does the HTZ9F offer Dolby Atmos? It works almost as expected. It almost works.
The Z9F’s design is clean and straightforward. The bar measures approximately a meter in width and has a removable grille that conceals three drivers.
Two HDMI inputs with ARC are available for rear connectivity. They can connect to 4K HDCP or Dolby Vision compatible devices. You can also connect via USB.
Bluetooth is compatible with Sony’s LDAC extension. Bluetooth headphones can also be paired to allow for private listening. Chromecast is integrated, and you can interact with Google Assistant.
The good news is the HT-Z9F does indeed deliver an expanded soundfield via post-processing virtualization. This is just a ploy for the ears.
The sheer number of processing options available can make it confusing. The HT-Z9F’s heart is Sony’s Vertical sound engine, supplemented with the Vertical S-mixer. Dolby Atmos DTS virtual processing is also included. This virtual processing does a similar job as Sony’s Vertical Sound Engine but with a more precise sweet spot.
The HT-F9 sounds excellent. The soundbar did a great job placing the different elements of Justice League’s Dolby Atmos soundtrack.
You can see where each of the alien wings is coming from as the parademons fly through the home of a family with vulnerable children. Although it can’t place the sound directly overhead, soundbars like Sony’s HT-ST5000 soundbars (around PS1000 more expensive) have dedicated upfiring drivers.
Although you can feel the height and width of this soundbar compared to similar-priced soundbars, the zooming heroes flying above seem to be coming from the top rather than directly above your head.
Pros
- Premium and durable appearance.
- There are many options for audio formats and connectivity.
- Great dialogue-handling soundbar
Cons
- Atmos content is challenging to handle due to the lack of speakers.
- There are no treble and bass adjustments, only EQ presets.
Sony HTX8500 Sound bar
- Vertical Surround Engine
- Dolby Atmos compatible with DTS:X
- Bluetooth 5.0
The HT-X8500 soundbar audio system is self-contained. The HT- X8500 soundbar review does not include a separate wireless subwoofer or extraneous surround sound speakers. This soundbar is intelligent and unique, designed to be used almost anywhere.
Although the subwoofer is built-in, it’s still very slim. It measures a modest 89cm and is suitable for TVs between 49-55 inches.
The cosmetic finish is stylish. A smartly rolled grille protects the front-facing array, while a gunmetal grey trim adds style. Touch-sensitive buttons are located at the top for power, volume, input selection, and Bluetooth pairing.
To keep costs low, Sony chose to reduce the number of features. There is no on-screen menu or smart Wi-Fi connectivity. Instead, the soundbar communicates using LED lights that signpost Dolby Atmos and DTS-X, and other inputs.
The remote control is a slim finger-style remote that controls the bar. It has many buttons despite being small. The various sound presets and processing modes are highlighted.
This makes it easy to use. It doesn’t rely on reflected sound for its virtual surround sound effects. You can place it in front of your TV or mount the soundbar to a wall. It doesn’t require calibration.
Sony’s Vertical Sound Engine is the key to the HT-X8500’s powerful performance. It works with DTS:X and Dolby Audio to create a convincing illusion that surrounds sound. This allows Dolby Atmos movies with a wide range of audio content to be played clearly for increased height and width.
Vertical S is not only compatible with immersive codecs; it can also be used to up-mix conventional 5.1 sound sources and two-channel audio sources to similar effect.
The HT-X8500 soon proves its capacity to project pictures high and wide. It’s also reassuringly loud. The bar’s power plant is dynamic and bold, with a stated power output of 320W. We never felt the need to turn it up to eleven; it’s loud enough for the typical living room.
Sony claims its performance is similar to a Dolby Atmos 7.1.2 system, which is somewhat ambitious. We wouldn’t go quite that far, but it does sound quite filmic.
While the HT-X8500 is primarily a home theater system, it also performs well with the music. The Sony paints with a euphoric sense of rhythm while spinning Imagine Dragon’s Shots from Smoke + Mirrors Live (Blu-ray DTS:X). The vocals are insulated from the occasionally ribald bass in Music mode, yet the guitars dance to great effect.
This budget-friendly all-in-one offers buckets of popcorn enjoyment without the need for up-firing speakers or a floor-stomping subwoofer. You might even call it a good deal.
Pros
- Dolby Atmos compatible with DTS:X
- All-in-one compact form factor
- Subwoofer integrated
- It’s easy to set up and use
- Amazing value
Cons
- No upfiring drivers
- Not capable of high-resolution audio
- The feature set stripped back
Sony G700 Soundbar
- Audio channels: 3.1 channel
- Power output: 400W total power
- Sound modes: 7 (Auto Sound, Cinema, Music, Game, News, Sports, Standard)
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
- Wireless subwoofer: Yes
- Bluetooth version: 5.0
- HDMI inputs: 1 (ARC compatible)
- eARC support: Yes
- Optical inputs: 1
- USB inputs: 1
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 38.58 x 2.52 x 4.25 inches
- Weight: 7.8 lbs
According to Sony’s marketing, the Sony HT-G700 soundbar/wireless subwoofer combo promises surround sound of up to 7.1.2 channels. Most of these channels are simulated and not true Atmos surround sound system. The bar does not have rear speakers or upfiring speakers. There are only 3.1 channels of the speaker.
Sony claims that the sub is bigger than the one found on the model it replaces, the X9000F. It is the same size as a large briefcase and has a front-firing port that allows placement against a wall.
The soundbar itself, a grey slab measuring 39 inches in width and two and 5-eighth inches tall, is grey. This will keep it above all TVs with a low-slung design, and it boasts a remarkable collection of ir passthrough transmitters.
It is located on the rear. Although it blocks your TV’s Infrared receiver, the remote command relays through it (activation required in the settings menus).
The top-mounted controls include volume and input selection. The unit also features a front-mounted blue LED display.
The plugger is located in two bays at the rear of the bar. One bay houses the power cable, and the other holds the optical digital audio input. There are also two HDMI sockets. One connects to external sources, while the other connects to your TV.
However, the external HDMI connection can be used as critical audio formats source because it supports both the even stereo Audio Return Channel of HDMI ARC and the enhanced Audio Return Channel (eARC).
This kind of sound selection is almost worth it, as the Dolby Atmos setting under Effects delivered the most precise and most straightforward delivery of an expansive soundfield under nearly all circumstances, even when the bar was receiving Dolby Atmos content.
An offsetting under the profound effects menu turns off everything. Although it was not the best setting for movie content, it helps bring back music to its original purity.
Standard is a more powerful but more chaotic sound quality. Immersive AE produces a lot of stereo music. You can hear the disorienting effects of any phase trickery the system uses, with the treble elements becoming spitty or phasey.
Pros
- Large, heavy sound
- Support Dolby Atmos effect
- Solid and fashionable
Cons
- Clarity and crispness are not present
- No streaming functionality
FAQs
Does the Sony Z9F soundbar support an eARC?
Yes, my soundbar can be used with eARC. Notable eARC compatible models are HT–ST5000, HT–X9000F, and HT–Z9F. To enable eARC, update the software to the most recent version.
Which sound bar works best with Sony TV?
The Sony HT-Z9F is the best soundbar for Sony TV. The HT-Z9F supports both Wi-Fi, blu-ray, and Bluetooth and is compatible with 4K. Wireless speakers at the rear allow for greater flexibility and variety in placement. They can also be used to create a more precise surround sound.
Is Sony Soundbar better than Samsung?
The Samsung HW-Q700A outperforms the Sony HT-Z9F in terms of total soundbar performance. The Samsung boasts a superior soundstage performance and a stronger Atmos performance owing to its up-firing speakers. It also has extra sound improvement options, such as a visual EQ for personalizing its sound.
Conclusion
Sony has proven itself to be a leader in the audio equipment industry with its exceptional products that combine advanced technology with sleek designs. From the powerful HT-Z9F soundbar that offers an immersive Dolby Atmos experience to the compact and portable WH-1000XM4 noise-canceling headphones, Sony’s audio equipment caters to a wide range of needs and preferences.
Whether you’re a music lover, a gamer, or a movie enthusiast, Sony’s audio products are sure to enhance your audio experience. We hope this article has helped you find the best Sony product to suit your needs and enhance your audio experience.
Last update on 2023-09-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
