The Sony HT-Z9F is a good 3.1 soundbar setup that does a great job with dialogue thanks to its dedicated center speaker. It features a wireless subwoofer that helps give it some extra thump during action movies or bass-heavy music. While this soundbar is Atmos-enabled, unfortunately, it lacks upwards firing or satellite speakers and uses Sony's S Force and Vertical Sound technology to simulate an Atmos surround sound experience. On the upside, it has two Full HDMI inputs that support all audio formats, and the soundbar also has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Chromecast built-in to listen to music wirelessly.
Note: Some of our readers have reported that the subwoofer cuts out repeatedly when listening to this soundbar, possibly because of issues with the wireless connection. We haven't experienced this problem during our testing. However, this may be because our testing space doesn't have many issues with interference, since there aren't a lot of other Wi-Fi networks in the area.
Our Verdict
The Sony HT-Z9F is a decent mixed usage soundbar. This 3.1 setup clearly reproduces dialogue, thanks to its dedicated center channel, meaning you have no problem hearing speech over the background music and sound effects. Thanks to its dedicated wireless subwoofer, it has a decent bass response, making it an okay choice for movies. Unfortunately, while this soundbar supports Atmos, its lack of satellites or upward-firing speakers means the soundstage isn't very open, and all objects sound as if they're coming from in front of you.
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Premium, durable look and feel.
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Lots of connectivity and audio format options.
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Great dialogue-handling.
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Mediocre job at handling Atmos content due to lack of speakers.
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No treble or bass adjustment options; EQ presets only.
The Sony HT-Z9F is very good for dialogue-focused TV shows and podcasts. Thanks to its dedicated center channel, dialogue sounds clear and accurate, and you should have no trouble making out what is said over background music or sound effects. This soundbar also features a dialogue enhancement setting to bring speech out even more.
The Sony HT-Z9F is decent for music. While it supports wireless playback, including Chromecast audio, the sound reproduction is only decent, and it lacks low-bass, meaning fans of EDM or dubstep may be disappointed. This soundbar also lacks any room correction or bass or treble adjustments, so you can only customize the sound via presets. That said, voices and lead instruments are still clear and present in the mix.
The Sony HT-Z9F is fair for movies. Thanks to its dedicated wireless subwoofer, it has decent bass response, though unfortunately, its LFE is a little high, but this shouldn't be too noticeable for movies. The 3.1 configuration means that dialogue comes out very clear and detailed, and there are even dialogue enhancement settings as well. Unfortunately, while this soundbar is Atmos compatible, the lack of necessary speakers means all objects sound like they're coming from straight in front of you, instead of from behind and above.
- 7.2 Mixed Usage
- 7.8 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 7.0 Music
- 6.8 Movies
- Updated Jun 28, 2023: Added a market comparison with the Sony HT-S2000 to the Style - Subwoofer box.
- Updated Apr 06, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Apr 05, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information aboutSubwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute.
- Updated Oct 18, 2022: Added market comparison with the Sony HT-A3000 to the 'Style - Subwoofer' box.
- Updated Oct 03, 2022: Corrected Surround 5.1 localization to 'Stereo (Downmix)'. Updated the 'Surround 5.1' box as well as the usage boxes accordingly.
- Updated Sep 26, 2022: Corrected an error in the Height (Atmos) box that listed its localization as 'Front-Firing Drivers'. Since it's a 3.1 bar, it downmixes Atmos content into stereo. Updated the 'Height (Atmos)' and Usage box scores accordingly.
- Updated Dec 17, 2021: Added 3rd Party Voice Assistant Support and Dolby Vision Passthrough.
- Updated Mar 23, 2021: Updated latency measurements with new methodology.
- Updated Feb 09, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Dec 17, 2019: Review published.
- Updated Dec 11, 2019: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Dec 11, 2019: Early access published.
- Updated Dec 01, 2019: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Nov 20, 2019: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The Sony HT-Z9F is a good mixed-usage soundbar that does a great job with dialogue thanks to its dedicated center channel speaker. While this 3.1 setup supports Dolby Atmos, it, unfortunately, doesn't provide nearly as immersive of a listening experience due to its lack of satellite or upwards-firing speakers.
See our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars with a subwoofer.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a bit better than the Sony HT-G700. The HT-Z9F is better built, and it has a better soundstage. Although it doesn't get as loud as the HT-G700, it can reach its max volume with a lot less thumping and compression artifacts. It has two Full HDMI In ports, and you can even stream music to it using Chromecast or Wi-Fi. Unlike the HT-G700, it also uses its front-firing speakers to produce a surround and height experience, but it doesn't perform as well as the HT-G700 with this content.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-Z9F or the Sony HT-ST5000. The HT-ST5000 can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it scores better overall. While the Z9F has fewer channels and doesn't get as much bass, it compresses much less at max volume and has fewer issues with distortion. It also has a bit more detail and clarity in the treble range. If bass is what you're after, the ST5000 is the way to go, but the Z9F provides better value otherwise.
The Sonos Arc is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Sonos is a 5.0.2 setup that offers better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It comes with a room correction feature, and its out-of-the-box sound profile is more neutral. You can also upgrade it to the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers for better performance. However, the 3.1 Sony has EQ presets and a Full HDMI In port that supports 4k passthrough.
The Sony HT-A5000 is a bit better than the Sony HT-Z9F overall. The HT-A5000 is a premium 5.1.2 standalone soundbar. It offers better surround and Atmos performances, and it comes with more sound enhancement features, like room correction. That said, the HT-Z9F is still a decent bar for mixed usage. It comes with a subwoofer, and it can get louder.
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.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Sonos is a 5.1.2 setup that's better-built and comes with discrete satellite speakers. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. Unlike the Sony, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support. However, the Sony has more wireless playback options. Unlike the Sonos, it also comes with a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough and EQ presets.
The Sony HT-Z9F and the Sony HT-S2000 are both 3.1 soundbars with support for many different audio formats. The HT-Z9F is the better of the two, though, largely because it comes with a dedicated subwoofer for improved bass reproduction. It supports more wireless playback options, too, and since it comes with an HDMI input, you can use it for video passthrough, unlike the HT-S2000.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a better overall soundbar than the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The Sony is a 3.1 setup that supports Atmos and offers a full array of physical inputs that support common audio formats. However, the JBL is a 5.1 setup with room correction. You can also stream audio to it using Apple AirPlay.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Bose is a better built 5.1.2 setup with discrete satellites. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and its neutral sound profile out-of-the-box may be preferable for some users. That said, it doesn't have a Full HDMI In port like the 3.1 Sony.
The Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The HT-A7000 is a 7.1.2 setup with discrete satellites that's better built. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. There are also more sound enhancement features available, including room correction and Apple AirPlay support. That said, the 3.1 HT-A9F does get louder with less compression at max volume.
The Klipsch Cinema 800 is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Klipsch is a better-built setup that can reproduce a more extended low-bass, so you feel more thump and rumble in your audio. It also has a better soundstage performance. The Sony doesn't have to downmix surround and Atmos content into stereo to play it like the Klipsch. Instead, it uses phantom localization, which sounds a bit more clear and real.
The Samsung HW-Q950A is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung is an 11.1.4 setup with dedicated satellite speakers and offers better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performance. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it gets louder than the Sony. It comes with more sound enhancement features, including room correction and a graphic EQ, as well as built-in Alexa voice assistant support. That said, the 3.1 Sony is better built.
The LG SP9YA is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup with better soundstage and Atmos performances. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it offers more sound enhancement features like room correction. Unlike the 3.1 Sony, it also has Apple AirPlay support.
The Samsung HW-Q600A is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung has a better Atmos performance, and it comes with more sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound. That said, the Sony has more wireless playback options.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and the Sony HT-Z9F are two very different soundbars. The Sonos is a smart 5.0 setup and is more compact and better built. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. There are also more sound enhancement features available, including room correction. However, the Sony is a 3.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer included. It can get louder, and it offers more wireless playback options. There's also a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough, which the Sonos lacks.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is a better overall soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung has a better soundstage performance, and thanks to its up-firing speakers, it has a better Atmos performance. It also comes with more sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ ideal for customizing its sound. However, the Sony has less compression when you play it at max volume, which is handy if you like to turn up the volume for parties.
The Klipsch Cinema 600 is better for mixed usage than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Klipsch has a better soundstage. It also reproduces a more extended low-bass to help you feel thump and rumble. That said, only the Sony supports Dolby Atmos content and comes with EQ presets as well as a Full HDMI In port. It's also better built.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-Z9F or the Sony HT-A7000. The HT-Z9F is a 3.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer included. It gets louder than the HT-A7000. However, the HT-A7000 is better built with a better soundstage. It also has more sound enhancement features, like room correction, and you can even upgrade it with a sub and satellites sold separately.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung has a better Atmos performance, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. Also, it comes with a graphic EQ as well as bass and treble adjustments so you can customize its sound. However, the Sony supports Chromecast built-in, unlike the Samsung.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a slightly better-performing soundbar than the Sonos Beam. The Sony is more versatile, even though it struggles to reproduce a rumbly bass. It can support Atmos content and all common audio formats through an ARC or Full HDMI In connection. However, the Sonos is great if you're short on space and looking for a standalone soundbar with a fairly neutral sound. The Sonos can also be upgraded later down the line.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a better soundbar for mixed use than the Sony HT-X9000F. The HT-Z9F is slightly better built, it can deliver a slightly more balanced bass range, and there are fewer compression artifacts at max volume. It has an excellent discrete center channel, you can stream music over Wi-Fi, and it has two Full HDMI In ports. As it uses phantom front-firing speakers to create height channels, it also feels a touch more immersive than the HT-X9000F's downmixing.
The LG SN8YG is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The LG has a better Atmos performance, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass, so you feel the deep thump and rumble in your audio. Also, it comes with a room correction feature and built-in voice assistant support, unlike the Sony. That said, the Sony is better built.
The standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 900 is a bit better for mixed usage than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Bose is better built and has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. The Sony has DTS support and a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough, unlike the Bose.
The Samsung HW-Q850A is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung is a 5.1.2 setup with discrete satellites. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It even comes with more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ. That said, the 3.1 Sony is still a suitable choice for users who mostly listen to dialogue-centric content like TV shows.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-Z9F or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Sony is a 3.1 setup with a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It gets louder, and it has a dialogue enhancement feature. The 5.0 JBL has better surround and Atmos performances, as well as a room correction feature.
The Samsung HW-Q90R is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. It creates a more immersive listening experience, thanks to its dedicated satellite speakers, and has better Atmos height performance due to its upwards firing speakers. On the other hand, the Sony has more connectivity options, has Chromecast built-in, and isn't nearly as wide.
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Vizio has discrete satellites and better surround and Atmos performances. Also, it can reproduce a more extended low-bass out of the box. It even has a better soundstage.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung is a 7.1.2 setup with better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also comes with more sound enhancement features, like room correction and a graphic EQ. Unlike the Sony, it has built-in voice assistant support. That said, the 3.1 Sony is better built.
The LG SP11RA is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The LG comes with discrete satellites, and it has better surround and Atmos performances. It can even reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a better soundstage, too, and there are more sound enhancement features, like room correction. That said, the Sony is still a solid choice for dialogue-focused content like TV shows.
The Samsung HW-Q80R is better than the Sony HT-Z9F in most uses. The Samsung has a better sound overall, as it has more low-bass response to produce that rumble and thump, and it has a much better center channel performance, as well as better sound enhancement features to tune it the way you like. However, the Sony has support for eARC and has Chromecast built-in.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-Z9F or the Samsung HW-A650. The Sony has a better surrounds performance, and unlike the Samsung, it supports Atmos content. However, the Samsung has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It also comes with more sound enhancement features, including a graphic EQ.
The Sony HT-Z9F is better than the Sony HT-S350. The HT-Z9F is better built with Dolby Atmos support. It has better center and surround performances, and there are more wireless playback options to choose from. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and some listeners may prefer its more neutral default sound profile.
The Samsung HW-Q70T is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and its more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box may be ideal for some listeners. It has a better Atmos performance, and it comes with some more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ and bass and treble adjustments. However, the Sony has a better surrounds performance.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a bit better for mixed usage than the Yamaha YAS-408. The Sony is a 3.1 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the Yamaha. It has a better center channel performance and offers some more sound enhancement features like EQ presets. That said, some users may prefer the Yamaha. It can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass out-of-the-box, and it has a more balanced treble range than the Sony.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-Z9F or the Samsung HW-Q60R. The Sony is a 3.1 setup that supports Atmos content, unlike the Samsung. That said, the Samsung's surround performance is better. It also has more sound enhancement features, like a graphic EQ. Its sound profile offers a more detailed treble range, too.
The Sony HT-Z9F and the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 are very different soundbar setups. The Bose is a premium standalone bar that's better built, has a better soundstage, and comes with built-in voice assistant capabilities. You can also upgrade it to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for better performance. It doesn't support Dolby Atmos content like the Sony soundbar. The Sony has a dedicated sub included, so it can reproduce a more extended low bass.
The Sony HT-Z9F is better than the Bose Soundbar 500. Thanks to its dedicated sub, the Sony can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It gets louder, and it has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough. Unlike the Bose, it supports Atmos content, and it has a better surrounds performance. Only the Bose has room correction and built-in voice assistant support.
The Sony HT-Z9F and the LG SK9Y are both decently versatile soundbars, so you may prefer one over the other. They both consist of the bar itself and a dedicated wireless subwoofer with no satellites. The Sony feels more premium and better-built, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. On the other hand, the LG has better surround and Atmos performances. It also has more customization features, like bass and treble adjustments.
The LG SL10YG is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup with a more extended low-bass. It offers better surround and Atmos performances than the Sony, and it has more sound enhancement features, such as bass and treble adjustments. That said, the 3.1 Sony is still a good choice for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. It also has a better soundstage.
The Sony HT-Z9F is slightly more versatile than the Yamaha YAS-209. The Sony has a better build with more connectivity and audio format support options, offers Atmos support, and has an impressive center channel performance, making it well suited for dialogue-centric content. However, the Yamaha has a more neutral default sound profile.
The Sony HT-Z9F is marginally better for mixed usage than the Samsung HW-Q60T. The Sony is a 3.1 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the Samsung. It also has more wireless playback options. That said, the 5.1 Samsung is a better choice for music. It comes with more sound customization features, such as a graphic EQ as well as bass and treble adjustments.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung offers better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also comes with bass and treble adjustments as well as a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound. Unlike the Sony, it also has built-in voice assistant support.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Bose is a 5.1 setup with discrete satellites that's better-built. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. Also, unlike the Sony, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support. That said, the 3.1 Sony supports Dolby Atmos content and has EQ presets, unlike the Bose.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a better 3.1 soundbar setup than the LG SN6Y. The Sony has a more neutral default sound profile, supports more surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos, and has more wireless playback options like Chromecast and AirPlay. It has fewer sound customization options than the LG, however. If you don't care as much about surround support and prefer being able to customize the way your soundbar sounds, the LG may be a better option.
The LG SN11RG is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The LG is a 7.1.4 setup with discrete satellites. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Also, there are more sound enhancement features available, including room correction.
The Sony HT-Z9F is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Sony supports Dolby Atmos content, and it comes with more sound enhancement features like auto-volume and EQ presets. That said, the Bose has a better soundstage performance.
The LG SN10YG is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The LG reproduces a more extended low-bass. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. Unlike the Sony, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung is a 9.1.4 setup with dedicated satellite speakers and reproduces a more extended low-bass. It offers better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances, and it gets louder. It even comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization and built-in support for Alexa voice assistant. However, the 3.1 Sony is better built, and it supports Chromecast built-in.
The Samsung HW-Q900T is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Samsung is a 7.1.2 setup with a better stereo soundstage that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Sony, it comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization as well as built-in voice assistant support. That said, the Sony is better built, and it supports Chromecast built-in.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-Z9F. The JBL is a 5.1.4 setup with discrete satellite speakers, which help offer a better surround performance. Its bass is more extended, and it offers better soundstage and Atmos performances. It also has more wireless playback options and a room correction feature, which the 3.1 Sony lacks.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a better-performing soundbar than the Samsung HW-T650. Unlike most 3.1 setups, the Sony supports Dolby Atmos content. It doesn't have dedicated surround or height speakers, but it uses S-Force Front Surround and Vertical Surround Engine to simulate these experiences. It has more connectivity options, ideal for users who want to use the soundbar as a hub between different devices. The Sony doesn't have bass or treble adjustments, so if you like to customize your sound, you may prefer the Samsung.
The LG SN9YG is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup with a dedicated bass that reproduces a more extended low-bass. It has better surround and Atmos performances. Unlike the Sony, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-Q70T performs very similarly to the Sony HT-Z9F. Both are well-built, premium-looking setups that support Dolby Atmos content. They both have well-balanced sound profiles, but the Samsung's bass extends marginally deeper than the Sony, giving it a slight edge when it comes to reproducing the deep thumps and rumbles in bass-heavy movies and music. The Sony uses S Force and Vertical Surround technology to simulate an Atmos surround experience, while the Samsung uses two up-firing speakers on the bar to create a more immersive experience. The Samsung also has more sound customization options.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a better overall soundbar than the Vizio SB36312-G6. The Sony feels better built, it has a more neutral sound profile, and it has a dialogue enhancement feature. It can also get louder with less thumping and compression artifacts, and its center, surround, and height performances are better. It even has two Full HDMI In inputs, and it supports eARC.
Test Results
The Sony HT-Z9F is a sleek looking bar that has a premium look and feel to it. It has a metal grille that holds in place with magnets and can be easily removed. The rest of the bar is made mostly of good quality plastic with a glossy black finish.
The sub is mainly made of wood, with the port in the front being glossy black. Unfortunately, the front of the sub is covered with mesh fabric as opposed to metal, meaning it may get dirty or ripped. If you prefer a standalone 3.1 Atmos bar, consider the Sony HT-A3000 or the Sony HT-S2000.
The Sony HT-Z9F is pretty wide and likely won't fit between the legs of most 55" or smaller TVs, unless they have very wide stands. While it's a bit taller than some other soundbars, like the Sony HT-CT800, it still shouldn't block the bottom of your TV unless it sits directly on the table, like the Sony A9G.
The subwoofer of the Sony HT-Z9F is pretty average-sized and is about the size of an average desktop PC. It's not too big and should be able to fit beside your TV stand or couch without any difficulties.
This soundbar setup doesn't have any satellites.
The Sony HT-Z9F soundbar is a well-made soundbar system that feels a bit more premium than the Sony HT-X9000F or Vizio SB36312-G6. The bar has a metal grille that can be easily removed as it's held in place by magnets. The rest of the bar is made of good quality plastic. Unfortunately, while half of the rear of the soundbar has a premium gritty plastic feel to it, the other half is glossy black and is prone to fingerprints. The subwoofer is mostly made of wood and feels sturdy, though the fabric cover may get easily ripped or dirty.
The Sony HT-Z9F's stereo frequency response is quite decent. Unfortunately, its low-frequency extension is fairly high, which means it may struggle to reproduce the very deep rumble of bass in some movies or bass-heavy music genres like dubstep, but should still be more than fine for most people. The treble also starts to dip in the mid-treble range, and is quite recessed in high-treble, making some higher frequencies and vocals less audible. However, overall the sound profile of this bar is quite well-balanced and sounds accurate and clean.
The Sony HTZ9F's stereo soundstage is decent and feels as wide as the bar but the bar doesn’t do anything to make it sound wider. Objects don’t seem to come from an accurate pinpoint location like some other bars, such as the Samsung HW-Q90R.
The Sony HTZ9F can get quite loud and should be suitable for large rooms or crowed environments, like a party. Also, at max volume, it performs quite well and you shouldn't hear any thumping or compression artifacts.
At a normal listening volume of 80dB, the THD performance of the Sony HTZ9F is very good. This results in clean and pure audio reproduction. Unfortunately, it doesn't perform nearly as well under heavier loads, and when pushing this bar to its max volume there's a jump in THD, though this may still be difficult to hear with real-life content, especially since few people will likely use this bar at max volume.
The Sony HTZ9F is a 3.1 setup with excellent center channel performance. This soundbar has a dedicated center speaker, which results in a clearer and more accurate audio reproduction of the dialogue in movies and TV shows.
Since the Sony HTZ9F doesn't have dedicated surround satellites, it has to downmix surround sound into stereo to play it. While it does a decent job at making it appear as if sound is coming from around and behind you, unfortunately, this isn't as immersive as soundbar setups that have dedicated satellites. Also, for some reason, when reproducing surround sound content through its 3 channel bar, this soundbar seems to clip audio at around 10kHz.
The Sony HTZ9F can playback Dolby Atmos content, which is commonly found on most streaming platforms. It's an object-based format that simulates "height" in your sound, making it seem like audio is immersing you from all angles. However, since this is a 3.1 bar, it has to downmix Atmos into stereo to play it. You have to turn Sony's "Vertical Surround Engine" on to get the soundbar to reproduce Atmos content, and this technology aims to simulate an Atmos experience. While this works decently well, the sound isn't nearly as immersive as a soundbar with upwards firing speakers, like the Samsung HW-Q80R or the Samsung HW-Q70T.
The Sony HTZ9F has mediocre sound enhancement features. It lacks Room Correction, so it may sound differently depending on your room. It also lacks both bass and treble adjustments and only provides various EQ presets. This soundbar uses Sony's Vertical Surround Engine technology to help it try and achieve an Atmos-surround effect with only a 3.1 setup. It also uses Sony's S-Force Front Surround to give you the illusion of rear satellites from the front bar, which can't be turned off. Unfortunately, these don't seem to work as well as having dedicated satellites and upwards firing speakers, and don't create a very immersive experience. If you want a soundbar that comes with a graphic EQ to help you customize its sound, consider the Samsung HW-Q700A instead.
The Sony HTZ9F has a wide array of inputs, including two Full HDMI in so you can use your soundbar as a hub, and get the highest quality signals. It also has a 3.5mm Aux port, which is getting less common, making it easy to plug in a phone to share music.
Update 03/20/2020: To reflect this soundbar's eARC capabilities, formats that are only supported by eARC are now set to "yes". The text has been updated.
The Sony HTZ9F can play all standard surround formats over HDMI ARC. Unlike the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround, this bar also has eARC, and supports object-based surround signals and lossless formats, which is great if your TV has eARC.
The two Full HDMI In ports allow you to use the soundbar like an HDMI hub. This way you can plug two external devices (like a Blu-Ray player or gaming console) into your soundbar and it will carry both audio and video signals to your TV. Both HDMI ports support all common audio formats, including Atmos for both Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD.
Dolby Digital and DTS content are usually found on Blu-ray discs and streaming platforms like Netflix. This bar can offer surround sound using either of these formats through its Optical port.
Update 03/23/2021: There was a mistake in our methodology where we measured the latency using every second frame (eg. 120fps). We now re-evaluated the footage using every frame at 240fps for more accurate results.
The Sony HTZ9F can play music wirelessly via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi will give you better range, higher quality audio, and uninterrupted music playback even if you receive a phone call. Unlike the Sony HT-G700, it also has Chromecast built-in, so you can control the soundbar with a Google Assistant smart speaker, and set up multi-room audio with other Chromecast-enabled speakers.
Update 12/17/2021: The Sony HT-Z9F also supports Dolby Vision Passthrough.
When you use this bar as a hub between your PC or game console and your TV, it can pass through chroma 4:4:4 up to 60Hz. If you send such a signal, the text will look crisp.
The Sony Z9F soundbar has a screen behind the front grille that displays all inputs and settings. It's a rather large screen compared to many other soundbars, like the Sony HT-CT800.
The buttons on the soundbar are the same as other Sony soundbars, but with a music service button that can be programmed to open your preferred music streaming service, like Spotify.
The remote for this soundbar is fairly large but has a lot of buttons to let you easily change settings. Unfortunately, it can't be used as a universal remote to control your TV. The bar's also compatible with the Sony Music Center app.
Update 12/17/2021: While the Sony HT-Z9F doesn't have built-in voice assistant support, we've updated the review to include information about support through third-party voice assistant devices. The manufacturer says that you can connect a Google Home or Amazon Alexa device to the bar for voice assistant support. You just need to set it up in the Google Home or Amazon Alexa app first.