- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Updates
- Comparison
- Best Soundbars
- Conclusion
- Discussions
We've currently reviewed 9 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 range in features.
Updates
- 07/27/2020 Sony HT-X8500 reviewed
- 07/09/2020 Sony HT-G700 reviewed
- 07/08/2020 Sony HT-X9000F reviewed
- 03/11/2020 Sony HT-ST5000 reviewed
- 12/17/2019 Sony HT-Z9F 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. This 7.1.2 setup offers a well-rounded performance using only a soundbar and subwoofer. It has a good stereo frequency response that can reproduce voices and lead instruments well. It can also produce a thumpy, rumbly bass that's well-suited for action flicks or EDM tracks. That said, it comes with EQ presets so that you can adjust its sound profile to better suit your preferences. If you're a big movie buff, it supports Dolby Atmos, and it has a variety of inputs like three Full HDMI In ports that make it easy to use the bar as a hub between your TV and other devices like a Blu-ray player. It also supports a lot of audio formats like eARC and you can passthrough 4k content. You can even stream your favorite audio to the bar using Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, or Chromecast built-in.
Unfortunately, its sound enhancement features are a bit limited and you won't be able to fine-tune its bass or treble. It also has a disappointing surround performance, especially as it doesn't come with discrete surround speakers. While it can get loud, there are also some compression artifacts present at max volume. Still, if you're looking for a soundbar that offers a lot of connectivity and audio format support, it's a suitable choice with a versatile overall performance.
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Best Sony Soundbar For Dialogue
Channels3.1The Best Sony soundbar for dialogue that we've tested is the Sony HT-Z9F. This 3.1 setup reproduces dialogue clearly and accurately, which is great for your favorite podcasts, and you can further improve it with its dialogue enhancement feature. It has a lot of connectivity options, and it supports all common audio formats including DTS and Atmos. Although it lacks a bit of low-bass, it has a balanced sound profile that should be suitable for most audio genres. If you prefer a different sound, there's a few EQ presets which may better enhance your experience. It can get loud, making it well-suited for large rooms or crowded environments like a house party. As it supports eARC, you can even play the most advanced object-based surround signals as well as high-quality lossless formats. You can wirelessly stream to the bar using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi if you prefer.
Unfortunately, it doesn't have a lot of sound enhancement features, and you won't be able to adjust bass or treble. There's also no room correction feature, which is a little disappointing. Although it supports Atmos content, due to its configuration, it uses Sony's Vertical Surround Engine to simulate an Atmos experience, which isn't as immersive as models with upward-firing speakers or with dedicated satellites. That said, it can reproduce clear and accurate speech, and it's even one of the best soundbars for dialogue that we've tested.
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Best Cheap Sony Soundbar
Channels2.0The best cheap Sony soundbar that we've tested is the Sony HT-S100F. This simple entry-level model performs well for its price point and it feels decently well-built. It has a metal grille and a faux-leather texture that are nice touches, lending it a more premium look and feel. Although it has a fairly neutral but still slightly muddy sound profile, it does a good job of reproducing dialogue content. Voices and speech sound clear and accurate, which is great for your favorite TV show or podcast, and you can use its 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, it lacks bass. There's no way to customize its sound profile, as it doesn't have any EQ presets or a bass adjustment feature. Just like the Sony HT-S200F, it 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 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 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 in performance. Some models can also 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 may not perform as well as the Vizio, they should still be more than adequate for everyday use.
Conclusion
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. Unfortunately, if you don't like their default sound profile, Sony only provides EQ presets, which makes 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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