- Table of Contents
- Intro
- Our Verdict
- Test Results
- Compared To Others
- Deals
- Discussions
The Sony HT-G700 is a 3.1 channel soundbar from 2020. It can support all common audio formats via its HDMI ARC and Full HDMI In ports, and if you like to watch movies, it can also play Dolby Atmos content, but it has to downmix it into stereo. Although it has a fairly boomy sound profile, there are seven EQ presets available that can enhance your audio experience, depending on what kind of content you like to listen to. It can also get pretty loud, but there's a lot of thumping and compression at max volume, which is disappointing.
Our Verdict
The Sony HT-G700 is alright for mixed use. Its boomy sound profile lacks a thumpy low-bass, which some listeners may find a tad bit disappointing, especially if you're a fan of EDM or action movies. However, if you prefer a different sound, it has a few EQ presets available, which is nice. This soundbar is also able to reproduce voices accurately and clearly, so you can catch every line of your favorite soap operas or podcasts. It can get loud enough to fill a large or crowded room, too. However, there's a lot of thumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
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Seven EQ presets available.
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Can play Atmos and DTS content.
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Can get very loud.
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No room correction feature.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Lots of thumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
The Sony HT-G700 is good for dialogue and TV shows. Even though it has a boomy sound profile, it's still able to produce voices clearly and accurately. It can get loud enough to fill a large room or crowded environment, and there's also a dialogue enhancement feature to make voices more clear. You can also use Bluetooth to stream your favorite podcasts or audiobooks to the bar.
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Dialogue enhancement feature available through EQ presets.
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Bluetooth compatible.
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No room correction feature.
The Sony HT-G700 is unremarkable for music. It has a boomy sound profile with a touch of brightness. While it also lacks low-bass, there's a dedicated 'Music' EQ preset that can help enhance your audio experience. There's also an 'Auto Sound' EQ preset that allows the soundbar to automatically adjust its sound profile to better suit your audio. This soundbar can also get loud, but unfortunately, there's a lot of thumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
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Seven EQ presets available.
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Can get very loud.
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No room correction feature.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Lots of thumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
The Sony HT-G700 is decent for movies. While it has a subwoofer, it lacks low-bass, which can impact the immersiveness of your favorite action flicks. Luckily, there's a 'Cinema' EQ preset which can help enhance your experience. There's also an 'Auto Sound' EQ preset that automatically adjusts the sound profile to better suit your audio. As it has a Full HDMI In port, it supports Dolby Atmos but it has to downmix surround content into stereo. It also supports DTS content, which is nice if you watch a lot of Blu-rays or stream movies.
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Seven EQ presets available.
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Can play Atmos and DTS content.
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Can get very loud.
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No room correction feature.
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Lacks low-bass.
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Lots of thumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
- 7.2 Mixed Usage
- 7.9 Dialogue/TV Shows
- 6.6 Music
- 7.1 Movies
- Updated Feb 19, 2021: Converted to Test Bench 1.0.
- Updated Sep 22, 2020: The Dynamics tests have been reconducted due to a value input bug.
- Updated Jul 09, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jul 02, 2020: Early access published.
Test Results
The Sony HT-G700 is a soundbar from Sony's 2020 lineup. It's a 3.1 setup with a wireless subwoofer, and just like the Sony HT-X9000F, it can support Dolby Atmos content by downmixing it into stereo. However, it doesn't produce as immersive an experience as a 5.1.4 setup like the Vizio SB46514-F6, which uses satellites. Its main competitors are the Sony HT-Z9F, the Sonos Arc, and the Yamaha YAS-209.
The Sony HT-G700 is a sleek soundbar that's very similar in look to other Sony soundbars such as the Sony HT-Z9F. It's made from good quality plastic and it has a big metal grille to protect its speakers, which gives it an overall premium look and feel.
The subwoofer is made of mostly melamine and plastic. The port has a glossy black finish while the woofer itself is covered by a nice metal grille. The subwoofer's back has a plastic plate.
The Sony HT-G700 is a fairly wide soundbar and most likely won't fit between the legs of most 55" or smaller TVs. It's not too tall, though, so it shouldn't block part of your screen unless your TV sits flush on the table.
The Sony HT-G700's subwoofer is about the size of an average desktop PC. It isn't too large and it should fit beside your TV or couch.
There are no satellites in this setup.
The back of this soundbar has two openings: one for its power cable and the other for its inputs. There are also mounting holes on either side of the bar, but this soundbar doesn't come with wall mounting brackets or screws, so you have to purchase them separately.
The back of the subwoofer is pretty plain. There's a power cable on the bottom and that's about it.
The Sony HT-G700 has a good build quality. Its body is made from dense plastic and its speakers are protected by a large metal grille. In contrast, the subwoofer is made from mostly melamine and plastic, which is a little disappointing. The port has a glossy black finish that's prone to fingerprints, but the woofer is protected by a metal grille too, which is nice.
- HDMI cable
- Power cables
- Remote
- 2x AAA batteries for the remote
- Manuals
The Sony HT-G700's frequency response is decent. On 'Standard' mode, its subwoofer struggles to produce a thumpy low-bass. However, the rest of the bass range is punchy and boomy, which some listeners may enjoy. Its treble is a bit underemphasized, but it may sound bright on some especially high-pitched tracks. If you're looking for a 3.1 soundbar with a better-balanced sound out-of-the-box, check out the Samsung HW-T650.
The Sony HT-G700's stereo soundstage is just satisfactory. It feels about as wide as the bar but the bar itself doesn't do anything to make it sound any wider. Objects also sound like they're coming from general moving areas rather than accurate pinpoint locations.
Update 09/22/2020: We've discovered a value input bug that would cause the Dynamics box results to be slightly off. All soundbars reviewed since January 30th 2020 have been updated.
The Sony HT-G700 has okay stereo dynamics. It can get very loud, which is well-suited for large rooms or crowded environments. However, at max volume, there's a lot of thumping and compression artifacts that are very audible across its range.
This soundbar has an okay THD performance. At a normal listening volume, the amount of THD falls within good limits, so you get pure and clean audio reproduction. However, the THD jumps at max volume, which is disappointing. That being said, it can be difficult to hear with real-life content, and not everyone will hear it.
The Sony HT-G700 is a 3.1 channel setup with a superb center channel performance. Since it has a dedicated center speaker, it can produce clear and accurate audio reproduction of dialogue from your favorite movies.
This soundbar has a poor surround performance. As it's a 3.1 setup, it uses its left and right speakers to downmix everything into stereo to play surround content. Unfortunately, this results in a less than accurate and clear representation of surround objects, which won't be very immersive as these objects are also perceived as coming from in front, rather than from the sides or behind you.
The Sony HT-G700 has a just unremarkable height performance. It uses Sony's Vertical Surround Engine to simulate an Atmos experience by using its left and right speakers to downmix this content into stereo. While its performance isn't bad, it won't be as immersive as a soundbar with up-firing or dedicated tower speakers.
The Sony HT-G700 has sub-par sound enhancement features. It lacks a room correction feature, so it may sound differently depending on your room. While you can adjust the subwoofer's level, there aren't bass or treble adjustments, which is a little disappointing. There are seven EQ presets to help you get a sound better suited for your audio. There's also a virtual surround sound feature called S-Force PRO that's always on, as well as its Vertical Surround Engine, and DTS Virtual:X.
The Sony HT-G700 has several inputs. Although its USB input is used for updates only, the Full HDMI In and HDMI ARC ports support all common audio formats, which is nice.
The Sony HT-G700 supports all common formats over its HDMI ARC connection. As it also supports eARC, it can play object-based surround signals and lossless formats as well.
Thanks to its Full HDMI In port, you can use this soundbar as a hub between an external device such as a gaming console and your TV. It also supports all common audio formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS content.
This soundbar supports Dolby Digital and DTS content which are usually found on Blu-ray discs or streaming platforms via its Optical port.
The Sony HT-G700 can only play audio wirelessly using a Bluetooth connection, which is a little disappointing. If you're looking for a soundbar with a few more wireless playback options, check out the Vizio SB36312-G6 or the TCL Alto 9+.
The Sony HT-G700 can be used as a hub between your TV and another source like a gaming console to play 4k content at 60Hz. Text sent using this signal looks crisp.
This sub connects wirelessly to your soundbar and it only needs its power cable.
The Sony HT-G700 has a small screen behind its grille that displays the inputs as well as settings you change. It can also tell you what kind of audio format you're playing.
This bar has five simple buttons on its top. From here, you can turn it on/off, change inputs, switch to a Bluetooth connection, and raise/lower the volume.
The Sony HT-G700 has a somewhat slim remote with a lot of controls so that you can easily change settings. However, you won't be able to use it as a universal remote to control your TV.
Compared To Other Soundbars
The Sony HT-G700 is a 3.1 channel soundbar from Sony's 2020 lineup. Unlike most other 3.1 setups, it can simulate an Atmos experience by using Sony's Vertical Surround Engine to downmix this content into stereo. Just like the Sony HT-Z9F, it also supports DTS content using its HDMI ARC port, as well as HDR10 passthrough. However, it's also not compatible with the Sony Music Center app. If you're looking for more soundbars, check out our recommendations for the best Sony soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars with subwoofer.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a better performing soundbar overall than the Sony HT-G700. The HT-Z9F is slightly better built, its sound profile is a bit more balanced, and 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.
The Sonos Arc is a better setup than the Sony HT-G700. The Sonos feels better-built, has a more balanced sound profile, and can get louder with less compression artifacts. It also offers a better center, surround, and height performance, and has room correction. However, the Sony has EQ presets and has more inputs including an HDMI Out as well as a Full HDMI In port.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-G700 or the Samsung HW-Q60T. The Samsung is a 5.1 setup that's better-built and offers a better soundstage. It also comes with a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound. That said, the 3.1 Sony has a better center channel performance, and it supports Atmos content, unlike the Samsung.
The LG SN8YG is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. The LG offers a better soundstage performance, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass to help you feel the deep thump and rumble in your audio. Unlike the Sony, it comes with built-in voice assistant support, a room correction feature, and bass and treble adjustments. It also supports more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q800T is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung is better-built, and it comes with a graphic EQ and supports Wi-Fi connectivity, unlike the Sony. It also has a better soundstage performance, and there's less compression when you play it at max volume.
The Klipsch Cinema 600 is better than the Sony HT-G700 for most uses. The Klipsch has a better stereo soundstage, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. Some listeners may also prefer its more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. However, the Sony is better built, and unlike the Klipsch, it supports Dolby Atmos content.
The Samsung HW-Q700A is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung is better-built, and it offers a better soundstage performance. It also offers more sound customization features, including a graphic EQ as well as bass and treble adjustments.
The Samsung HW-Q70T is a slightly better soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. The Sony struggles to produce a thumpy low-bass, which may be disappointing to fans of bass-heavy music like EDM and hip-hop. While both soundbars can get loud, the Sony has much more compression at max volume, so it won't sound as clear. While the Sony comes with seven EQ presets to help you customize your sound, the Samsung has more customization options like a 7-band graphic EQ. However, unlike the Samsung, the Sony comes with a night mode feature that helps keep the volume at the same level between different programs.
The Sony HT-G700 is a 3.1 setup that's better than the 2.1 Sony HT-X9000F. The HT-G700 has better surround and Atmos performances. It also comes with a discrete center channel, so it offers a better center performance.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-G700 or the Sonos Beam. The Sonos is a 3.0 setup that's better-built and has built-in voice assistant support. It also has a better stereo soundstage, and it offers a room correction feature. That said, the Sony has a better surround performance, and unlike the Sonos, it supports Atmos content. It also comes with a Full HDMI In port.
The Samsung HW-Q600A is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung is better built, and it comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization. It offers a more extended low-bass, and it also has a better soundstage performance.
The Samsung HW-Q800A is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung is better built and comes with more sound customization features including bass and treble adjustments as well as a graphic EQ. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it also has a better soundstage performance. It even supports more wireless playback options and offers built-in Alexa voice assistant support, unlike the Sony.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a bit better than the Sony HT-G700. Both soundbars have similar Atmos performances, but the Sonos has better soundstage and surround performances. Also, the 5.0 Sonos is better built, and it comes with built-in voice assistant support. That said, the 3.1 Sony has a dedicated sub, so it can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass. Unlike the Sonos, it comes with a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough.
The Sony HT-G700 is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-X8500. The HT-G700 is a 3.1 setup that's better built and offers better soundstage and surround performances than the 2.1 HT-X8500.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-G700 or the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. The JBL is a 5.1 setup that's better built and supports more wireless playback options. It reproduces a more extended low-bass and offers a better surround performance. Also, it comes with a room correction feature, unlike the Sony. However, the 3.1 Sony supports Dolby Atmos content, making it a better choice for some movie fans.
The Yamaha YAS-209 has a more well-rounded performance than the Sony HT-G700. The Yamaha is a 2.1 channel with a better-balanced sound profile overall, and you can stream your favorite audio to it using Wi-Fi, which is pretty handy. Although it can't get as loud as the Sony, it has less thumping and compression artifacts at max volume too. The Sony, on the other hand, is a 3.1 setup with slightly better build quality, it can play Dolby Atmos content by downmixing it into stereo, and its center channel offers up a superb performance. It also supports DTS-HD MA and Dolby TrueHD content.
The Samsung HW-A650 is marginally better for mixed usage than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung is better-built, and it has a better soundstage. It also comes with more sound enhancement features like bass and treble adjustments as well as a graphic EQ. Some users may prefer its more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, too. That said, the Sony has a better surrounds performance, and it also supports Dolby Atmos content.
The LG SP8YA is better than the Sony HT-G700. The LG has a better soundstage performance and it supports more wireless playback options. Also, it reproduces a more extended low-bass. It even comes with more sound enhancement features, such as room correction.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the LG SP7Y or the Sony HT-G700. The LG is a 5.1 setup with better soundstage and surround performances. It also has more sound enhancement features, including bass and treble adjustments. That said, the 3.1 Sony supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has a better center channel performance.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-G700 or the LG SPD7Y. The Sony is a 3.1 setup with better center and surround performances. Some listeners may also prefer its more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. That said, the 3.1.2 LG comes with more sound enhancement features, including bass and treble adjustments. It also has a better stereo soundstage.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-G700 or the JBL Bar 5.0 MultiBeam. The Sony is a 3.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that reproduces a more extended low-bass. It also comes with a dialogue enhancement feature. However, the JBL is a 5.0 setup that's better-built, with better soundstage, Atmos, and surround performances. It also comes with a room correction feature.
The Sony HT-G700 is marginally better for mixed usage than the LG SN6Y. The Sony has a better surrounds performance, and unlike the LG, it supports Dolby Atmos content. That said, the LG is better for music. It has a better stereo soundstage, and it comes with bass and treble adjustments, which some users may prefer for sound customization.
The Sony HT-G700 is better than the Sony HT-S350. The HT-G700 is a 3.1 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content and comes with a Full HDMI In port, unlike the HT-S350. It also has better center and surround performances, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass. That said, the 2.1 HT-S350 has a better stereo soundstage.
The Sony HT-G700 and the Samsung HW-A550 both have different strengths. The Sony is a 3.1 setup with better center and surround performances. Unlike the Samsung, it has Dolby Atmos support. However, the Samsung has a better soundstage, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. It has a graphic EQ for sound customization, unlike the Sony.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is a better soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung offers better soundstage and surround performances, and it gets louder. It also reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it has more wireless connectivity options. It has built-in voice assistant support and more sound enhancement features, including a room correction feature and a graphic EQ.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is better than the Sony HT-G700. The JBL is a 5.1.4 setup that's better-built and offers better soundstage and surround performances. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it supports more wireless playback options. Unlike the Sony, it also has a room correction feature. However, only the 3.1 Sony comes with a dialogue enhancement feature.
The Sony HT-G700 is better than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. The Sony supports Dolby Atmos content, and it has a better surround performance. Unlike the Bose, it has a Full HDMI In port. However, the Bose is better-built with built-in voice assistant support. It also has a better soundstage and more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q950A is better than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung is an 11.1.4 setup that comes with discrete satellite speakers. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it gets louder. It also has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It comes with some additional sound enhancement features, like room correction and a graphic EQ. Unlike the Sony, it also has built-in voice assistant support.
The standalone Sony HT-A7000 is marginally better for mixed usage than the Sony HT-G700. The HT-A7000 is a premium 7.1.2 setup that's better built. It also has better soundstage and surround performances, and it supports more wireless playback options. There's also a room correction feature. However, only the 3.1 HT-G700 has a dedicated sub included. It can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass. That said, you can always buy a sub for the HT-A7000 separately.
The standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is slightly better for mixed usage than the Sony HT-G700. The Bose is better-built, and it has better soundstage and dynamics performances. It comes with a room correction feature, built-in voice assistant support, and offers more wireless playback options. That said, the Sony supports Dolby Atmos content, so it may be better suited for movies. Also, it comes with an auto-volume mode and a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Bose. However, you can also upgrade to the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module for a better performance.
The Sony HT-G700 is a bit better for mixed usage than the Yamaha YAS-207. The Sony is a 3.1 setup that's better-built and supports Dolby Atmos content. It also has a better center channel performance, and it offers more sound enhancement features like EQ presets. That said, the 2.1 Yamaha is able to reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also has a better stereo soundstage.
The Sony HT-G700 is a slightly better overall soundbar than the Samsung HW-T650. Unlike the Samsung, it supports Dolby Atmos content, although it won't provide the most immersive listening experience because it has to downmix it to stereo. The Sony also supports 4k passthrough, so you can use the bar as a hub between your TV and your game console or PC. The Samsung has a better-balanced sound profile out-of-the-box, but you can adjust the Sony's slightly boomy sound to your liking thanks to its seven EQ presets. However, like other Sony soundbars, the Sony's S-Force Pro surround sound feature is always on, which may not be preferred by all users.
The Sony HT-G700 is marginally better for mixed usage than the Yamaha YAS-408. The Sony is a 3.1 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the Yamaha. Also, it has a discrete center channel. However, the 2.1 Yamaha has a better soundstage and less compression when you play it at max volume.
The LG SP9YA is better than the Sony HT-G700. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that's better built. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. There are also more wireless connectivity options available as well as more sound enhancement features, such as room correction.
The Sony HT-ST5000 is better than the Sony HT-G700. The HT-ST5000 is a 7.1.2 setup that's better-built and offers more wireless playback options. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it has better soundstage and surround performances.
The LG SN9YG is better than the Sony HT-G700. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that's better-built and reproduces a more extended low-bass. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and it supports more wireless playback options. It also comes with more sound enhancement features, like room correction, and it has built-in voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-Q70R is better for music than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung feels slightly better built, it has a more balanced and neutral sound profile right out-of-the-box, and even though it doesn't get as loud as the Sony, it can reach its max volume with less thumping and compression artifacts. It also has a graphic EQ plus bass and treble adjustments, and you can stream audio content to it using Wi-Fi or its companion app, which is nice. However, the Sony has better surround and height performances.
The Vizio M Series M512a-H6 is better than the Sony HT-G700. The Vizio is a 5.1.2 setup with dedicated satellites. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances, and it gets louder with less compression at max volume. Also, it can reproduce a more extended low-bass.
The LG GX Soundbar is a better soundbar for dialogue and TV shows than the Sony HT-G700. The LG is better balanced and has more sound enhancement features. Even though it has to downmix surround content into stereo just like the Sony, its surround performance is better. It also has a USB port so you can listen to audio from a flash drive and it has a companion app. However, the Sony feels better built, and it has a better height performance.
The Sony HT-G700 is better than the Sony HT-CT800. The HT-G700 is a 3.1 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. It offers better center and surround performances, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. That said, the 2.1 HT-CT800 is better-built with more wireless playback options. It also has a better stereo soundstage.
The Sony HT-G700 is a better soundbar than the TCL Alto 9+. The Sony is better-built, and it has a better-balanced sound profile. Its soundstage is wider and more focused, and it can get louder than the TCL. However, the TCL supports more wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q900T is better than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung is a 7.1.2 setup that reproduces a more extended low-bass and gets louder with less compression. It has a better soundstage, and it supports more wireless playback options. Unlike the Sony, it comes with a graphic EQ and built-in voice assistant support.
The Samsung HW-R650 is a slightly better performing soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. Its treble range is a bit better balanced, it has a graphic EQ so you can tweak your audio experience, and there's a USB port so you can play your favorite music from a thumb drive. Although it doesn't get as loud as the Sony, the Samsung also has less thumping and compression artifacts at max volume. However, it can't support Atmos content. The Sony, on the other hand, supports all common Full HDMI In content and eARC.
The Sony HT-G700 is better for dialogue/TV shows than the Vizio SB36312-G6. The Sony has a slightly better build quality, its sound profile is more neutral, and it has a dialogue enhancement feature to further improve vocal quality. Its center, surround, and height performances are better, and it has eARC support. However, the Vizio has more physical inputs as well as more options for wireless playback. It also has an auto-off power-saving feature.