The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 (also known as the Sony HT-A9000) is a premium flagship soundbar from 2024. It doesn't include satellites or a subwoofer by default, so as a standalone bar, it's fitted with features like 360 Spatial Sound Mapping in order to use its phantom speakers to simulate a more immersive sound. It can even upmix stereo content into surround sound, and if you have a compatible Sony BRAVIA TV, you can use it as a center channel alongside the bar.
Our Verdict
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is decent for mixed use. This bar offers a versatile overall performance but, on its own, doesn't outshine its competitors. Since it lacks a subwoofer and satellites, Dolby Atmos-mixed content, like movies, feels a bit less dimensional, while the audio itself lacks low bass. Its soundstage doesn't feel very focused either, so sound effects seem generalized in mixes rather than coming from pinpoint areas. Dialogue sounds clear and easy to follow, though. The bar also supports 4k passthrough at 120 Hz, which is handy if you want to use the bar as a hub between your TV and the latest-gen console, but latency is high via HDMI.
- Room correction available.
- Supports Dolby Atmos.
- Limited sound enhancement features.
- Disappointing surround performance.
The Sony A9000 is good for dialogue and TV shows. Thanks to its dedicated center channel, it can reproduce dialogue clearly. If you're looking for even clearer vocals, there's Voice Zoom 3, which uses AI to enhance speech. While some latency is present using an HDMI connection, you can use the A/V Sync feature in the companion app to manually compensate for latency. There's also room correction available, allowing the bar to optimize its sound based on your room's unique acoustics.
- Room correction available.
- Voice enhancement feature available.
- High latency via HDMI In.
The Sony A9000 is okay for music. Out of the box, this bar has a passable frequency response, and it can reproduce clear vocals and instruments. That said, since it doesn't have a subwoofer, it struggles to deliver a thumpy, rumbly low bass, which can be a bit disappointing if you want to feel the bassline in genres like EDM and hip-hop. The sound enhancement features are pretty limited, too, so you can't fine-tune the sound to your liking.
- Room correction available.
- Supports Spotify Connect.
- Limited sound enhancement features.
Can't get very loud.
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is fair for movies, but this bar doesn't come with a subwoofer or satellites. You can add them to your setup separately for a more immersive sound, though. On its own, the bar supports Dolby Atmos, which is ideal for movies, but its performance isn't anything to write home about. Sound effects are clear and detailed, but lacking in rumbly low bass. Its surround performance isn't anything to write home about either, as it sounds a bit uneven and not very dimensional. The bar also can't get very loud and has compression artifacts at max volume.
- Room correction available.
- Supports Dolby Atmos.
- Voice enhancement feature available.
- Limited sound enhancement features.
- Disappointing surround performance.
Can't get very loud.
Changelog
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Updated Sep 18, 2025:
This review has been updated to mention the Klipsch Flexus Core 300 in the Sound Enhancement Features section.
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Updated Jul 29, 2025:
We've updated our Sound measurements with Auto Adjust Volume disabled. This reduces max volume, but sidesteps dynamic range issues with the setting enabled.
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Updated Nov 28, 2024:
This review's Wireless Playback box was updated to mention the Sonos Arc Ultra.
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Updated Oct 23, 2024:
The Stereo Soundstage section has been updated to clarify the phase issue found during testing.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony A9000 comes in one color variant, Black; see our model's label. You can also purchase it with satellites and a sub, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 with Speakers + Bass Module, which performs differently.
If you encounter another variant of this soundbar, let us know in the comments, and we'll update our review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is a top-of-the-line, standalone bar from 2024 and the larger sibling of the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8. It's also the spiritual successor of the Sony HT-A7000, lacking an Optical port, but offering a bit more compatibility with select Sony BRAVIA TVs. While it shares a similar price point with heavy-hitters like the 11.1.4 configured Samsung HW-Q990D, its overall performance isn't quite as immersive or dimensional as bars with satellites and a subwoofer. The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 uses four of its drivers in two pairs. So, it effectively operates like a 5.0.2 soundbar, like the Sonos Arc, with each pair handling the same audio channel. That said, it can still deliver some degree of height on Dolby Atmos content like movies, and, unlike the Sonos Arc, it supports 4k passthrough at 120 Hz, which is good if you want to use the bar as a hub between your TV and latest-gen console.
Still looking for more soundbars? Check out our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars for movies.
The Sonos Arc Ultra is a better all-in-one bar than the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9. The Sonos is better built and has a more balanced default sound profile (although the Sony's frequency response can be almost as balanced after some calibration). The Sonos has a wider, more immersive soundstage, plus it can get louder with less compression. That said, the Sony has an HDMI In port with the ability to passthrough 4k signals at 120Hz, making it a great option for gamers that want to use it as a hub between their console and display.
The Sony HT-A7000 and the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 are similarly performing bars with a couple of differences to help set them apart. The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is intended to be paired with compatible BRAVIA TVs so that you can take advantage of Acoustic Center Sync, which lets you use your TV as a center channel alongside the bar. Additionally, there's also Voice Zoom 3, which is a feature designed to improve dialogue reproduction by amplifying their sound. That said, when it comes to performance, the HT-A7000 has a more premium build, and its stereo soundstage feels more spacious and wide. Some users will also appreciate the Optical connection.
For some, the Sonos Arc offers better overall value than the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9. The Sonos can create a wider soundstage with better focus, so you can pinpoint where sound is coming from. Its surround and height performances are better and more even, too. It's even better built, and you can pair it with other Sonos products in your home, but the trade-off is that it only has an HDMI ARC port and comes with an Optical adapter. The Sony soundbar may not have an Optical port, but it has separate HDMI In and Out ports and can passthrough 4k content at 120Hz, which is ideal for gamers wanting to use the bar as a hub between their TV and the latest-gen console.
If you're looking for the best of the best, the Samsung HW-Q990D is much better than the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9. It's a full setup, which includes a standalone subwoofer and satellites. As a result, it's able to create more thumpy bass, as well as more neutral and balanced overall sound that you can customize to your liking using the graphic EQ and presets. Surround and Dolby Atmos content sounds more immersive, thanks to its clear and accurate representation of sound objects. It even supports an Optical connection.
Test Results
