The Sony HT-A3000 is a 3.1 setup released in 2022. It's a more affordable alternative to the more premium options in Sony's lineup, like the Sony HT-A5000 and the Sony HT-A7000. Like these other bars, it supports Sony's Virtual Surround Engine and S-Fore Pro Front Surround technologies to create a more immersive listening experience. If you have a compatible BRAVIA TV, you can also use its speakers as an additional center channel via the Acoustic Center Sync feature. That said, the bar doesn't "truly" support more advanced audio formats like Dolby Digital or Dolby Atmos since it has to downmix them into stereo. There's no Sound Field Optimization room correction feature available unless you add on the separate satellites. You can also purchase a compatible subwoofer from the manufacturer to improve its bass reproduction.
Our Verdict
The Sony HT-A3000 is decent for mixed usage. It's a simple 3.1 bar with a discrete center channel to improve the clarity of dialogue in your audio. When you listen to stereo content, including most music and TV shows, voices and instruments are pretty clear in the mix. As with most standalone bars, though, there's a lack of emphasis in the low-bass that reduces the amount of rumble you feel. While it can playback more advanced audio formats, it has to downmix surround and height content into stereo, so you can't enjoy the more immersive feel.
- Subwoofer and satellites sold separately.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, and Chromecast built-in compatibility.
- Downmixes surround and height content.
- Lacks low-bass.
The Sony HT-A3000 is good for dialogue-centric TV shows and podcasts. It's a 3.1 setup, meaning there's a discrete center channel included to improve vocal reproduction. With its balanced frequency response, dialogue is reproduced with clarity and accuracy, though you notice a slight lack of detail due to the lack of treble. However, you can use its dialogue enhancement tool if you want, and there are lots of wireless playback options available to stream podcasts and audiobooks over a wireless connection.
- Dialogue enhancement tool.
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Apple AirPlay 2, and Chromecast built-in compatibility.
- No bass and treble adjustments.
The Sony HT-A3000 is fair for music. Its default sound is pretty balanced, especially in the mids, meaning voices and lead instruments are clearly and accurately reproduced. There's a bit of a dip in the treble, though, that takes away from the detail in some higher-pitched instruments like cymbals, and as with most standalone bars, it can't reproduce the deep rumble in the low-bass to bring bass-heavy genres like hip-hop to life. Unfortunately, aside from a subwoofer level tool, you don't have many options for sound customization.
- Subwoofer level adjustment.
- Subwoofer and satellites sold separately.
- No graphic EQ.
- No bass and treble adjustments.
The Sony HT-A3000 is okay for movies. Dialogue reproduces fairly clearly, and while you don't get much rumble in the low-bass, that's typical for standalone setups. While it can playback many audio formats, including Dolby Digital and Dolby Atmos, it has to downmix this content into stereo in order to play it. The resulting sound isn't as immersive, and sound effects don't really seem to stretch into the space around your living room. You can add a separate subwoofer and satellites if you want to improve its performance.
- Subwoofer and satellites sold separately.
- Dialogue enhancement tool.
- Downmixes surround and height content.
- Lacks low-bass.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 13, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.2. Updated the results for audio format support via ARC/eARC, HDMI In, and Optical. Added Video Passthrough to TV results as well.
- Updated Mar 20, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Mar 16, 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: Review published.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Sony HT-A3000 is available in 'Black'. You can see the label for the model we tested here.
If you come across another version of this bar, please let us know in the discussions, and we'll update the review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Sony HT-A3000 is one of the few 3.1 setups on the market that supports Dolby Atmos content, although, like the Sony HT-Z9F, it has to downmix it into stereo to play it. This bar is a more affordable alternative to the Sony HT-A5000 and the Sony HT-A7000 with fewer channels and fewer features, as you can't access Sound Field Optimization for room correction unless you buy the satellites separately. It offers Sound Field mode to enhance its sound, but this feature doesn't perform as well on this bar as with the more premium options.
See also our recommendations for the best soundbars for dialogue, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best Sony soundbars.
The Sony HT-A3000 and the Sony HT-S2000 are both standalone 3.1 setups with similar overall performances. The HT-A3000 has a few extra features, as it supports more wireless playback options, and you can connect it to a compatible BRAVIA TV for its Acoustic Center Sync feature.
The Sony HT-A5000 is better than the Sony HT-A3000. The A5000 is a 5.1.2 bar that's better for surround and Atmos content since it doesn't have to downmix these formats into stereo to play them like the 3.1 A3000. Also, the A5000 comes with more sound enhancement features, including room correction, and HDMI In for video passthrough.
The Sony HT-A3000 and the Sonos Beam are both small soundbars with premium builds. However, the Sony offers a slightly more versatile overall performance. This bar has a better surrounds performance and supports Dolby Atmos, which can make for a more immersive movie experience, even though it still has to downmix this content into stereo to play it. It also has EQ presets so that you have a bit more control over its sound. That said, the Sonos is smaller in size, and has a wider soundstage. It also has built-in voice assistant support, which can be handy if you want to note things down to Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. It's more limited in terms of audio support via HDMI ARC though, and it supports less wireless playback options.
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.
Test Results
