- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Soundbars
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We've currently reviewed 6 Sony soundbars. Sony produces sturdy, well-built soundbars. They tend to excel in dialogue reproduction but their lack of sound enhancement features can be a drawback if you want a touch more bass or treble in your mix. As Sony produces soundbars for several price points, soundbars at each level will range in features.
Updates
- 03/11/2020 Sony HT-ST5000 reviewed
- 12/17/2019 Sony HT-Z9F reviewed
- 09/30/2019 Sony HT-CT800 reviewed
- 09/30/2019 Sony HT-S350 reviewed
- 09/30/2019 Sony HT-S100F reviewed
Best Sony Soundbars
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Best Sony Soundbar
Channels7.1.2The Sony HT-ST5000 is the best Sony soundbar that we've tested so far. Providing 7.1.2 channels of audio with just a soundbar and subwoofer, it supports virtually all audio formats and has a fairly well-balanced sound profile for most audio genres.
Although wide and heavy, this soundbar is well-built and stylish. It can produce deep, rumbling bass well-suited for action films and EDM music, while its center channel can help make voices sound more natural. It's also got a lot of inputs, including eARC, and it supports virtually all audio formats, including Dolby Atmos. If you like to stream audio from your phone or other wireless devices, you'll be able to use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Chromecast.
On the downside, it offers limited sound enhancement features. Instead of being able to adjust the bass and treble amounts, there are only a few EQ presets. Its surround sound performance is disappointing and there's noticeable distortion at max volume. However, if you're looking for something with a lot of connectivity and audio format options, this soundbar is a great option.
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Best Sony Soundbar For Dialogue
Channels3.1The Sony HT-Z9F is the best Sony Soundbar for dialogue that we've tested so far. If you like to listen to vocal-centric content like audiobooks or TV shows, this 3.1 soundbar has a dedicated center channel to help make dialogue and vocals sound clear and accurate.
With a well-balanced sound profile and an excellently performing center channel, you'll have no problem hearing clear and detailed dialogue over music or sound effects. Its wireless subwoofer also has a decent bass response, which fans of action movies will appreciate. If set up in a large room or in more noisy settings, it can get quite loud performs well at max volume. This soundbar also offers a lot of connectivity and audio format options. Thanks to its two full HDMI In ports, you can use this soundbar as an HDMI hub for external devices such as gaming consoles or Blu-ray players.
On the downside, there aren't any treble or bass adjustment options. Instead, Sony offers preset EQs, but those who want a little more customization may find this lacking. While this soundbar also supports Atmos, it doesn't have any upwards firing speakers or satellites. Instead, it uses Sony's Vertical Surround Engine to simulate an Atmos experience. If you're looking for a Sony soundbar to deliver clear dialogue for your soap operas or podcasts, this one is a solid choice.
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Best Cheap Sony Soundbar
Channels2.0The best budget Sony soundbar that we've tested so far is the Sony HT-S100F. This simple entry-level soundbar performs well for its price point.
This soundbar is decently well-built: its metal grill and faux-leather texture are nice touches that lend it a more premium look and feel. Although it has a fairly neutral but still slightly muddy sound profile, this soundbar does a good job of reproducing dialogue content. It can produce voices and speech very clearly, which is great for your favorite TV show or podcast, and you can use the Dialogue Enhancement feature to further improve vocal clarity. It can also get loud enough for most uses and it performs well at max volume.
Without a dedicated subwoofer, this soundbar lacks bass. There's no way to customize this sound profile either as there are no preset EQs available. Just like the Sony HT-S200F, this soundbar also doesn't support DTS. Nevertheless, if you're on a tight budget but are looking for a step up from your TV's integrated speakers, this soundbar is a good option.
Compared to other brands
- Well-built design. Sony soundbars have a generally sturdy build, thanks to their plastic and metal design.
- Good for dialogue. Most Sony soundbars are well-suited for dialogue content, especially when combined with their Dialogue Enhancement feature, and audio produced is clear and accurate.
- Lacking sound enhancement features. Most Sony soundbars lack bass or treble adjustment, which can be less than ideal as some of these soundbars have a less than neutral sound profile. Sony only provides preset EQs, so you won't be able to customize or fine-tune your audio experience the way you like. None of the Sony soundbars offer a room correction feature.
- Poor surround sound. All of the Sony soundbars we've tested to date tend to have inadequate surround sound, even with those that use Sony's S-Force Front Surround to simulate the experience.
Sony makes a wide range of soundbars at several price ranges, so it's easy to find one that works for your budget. Although this range is fairly large and available features vary across it, Sony soundbars are generally well-built but ordinary in overall sound performance. When compared to Samsung soundbars, Sony isn't as well-rounded. Some models can struggle to produce a deep, rumbling bass suitable for movies or music. Since most Sony soundbars lack bass and treble adjustments, the basic preset EQ offered in their place may not be enough customization for some users. However, these soundbars are well-suited for dialogue-centric content; they might not perform as well as the Vizio, they'll still be more than adequate for everyday use.
All Reviews
Sony is a well-known brand offering a variety of soundbars across several price points. Overall, they're sturdy and well-built. They're also well-suited for reproducing dialogue, which is great for your favorite TV shows and audiobooks. On the downside, if you don't like their default sound profile, Sony only provides preset EQs making it challenging to fine tune your audio experience.
See our recommendations for the best budget soundbars, the best soundbars under $300, and the best soundbars for dialogue.
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