The Sony HT-X9000F is a 2.1 channel soundbar from Sony's 2018 lineup. Unlike most competing 2.1 soundbars, it can play Atmos content using Sony's Vertical Surround Engine, which simulates an Atmos experience by downmixing this content into stereo. It can also support all common audio formats through its HDMI ARC and Full HDMI In ports. Although its sound profile is bright and a bit boxy, there are seven EQ presets available that can help give you a more tailored audio experience to the kind of content you like to listen to. However, while it can get loud enough to easily fill a large or crowded room, you may hear quite a bit of thumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
Our Verdict
The Sony HT-X9000F is okay for mixed use. While its boxy and bright sound profile may not please all listeners, there are seven EQ presets available to help give you a better-suited sound experience. If you like movies, this bar supports Atmos as well as DTS content. It also reproduces vocals accurately and clearly, which is great for watching the news or listening to your favorite podcasts. While music isn't its strong suit, as it lacks a hearty bass, it can get loud enough to fill a large or crowded room. However, there's a lot of thumping and compression artifacts at max volume.
- Can play Atmos and DTS content.
- Several EQ presets available.
- Can get very loud.
- Lacks bass.
- No room correction feature.
- Compression artifacts at max volume.
The Sony HT-X9000F is good for dialogue and TV shows. Although it has a bright and boxy sound profile, it's able to reproduce vocals accurately and clearly. It can also get pretty loud, and there's a 'News' EQ preset that can help further enhance vocal clarity. You can also stream your favorite podcasts or audiobooks directly from your phone using Bluetooth, which is nice.
- Several EQ presets available.
- Bluetooth compatible.
- No room correction feature.
The Sony HT-X9000F is passable for music. Even though it has a subwoofer, it lacks low-bass, and as a result, its sound profile is more bright and boxy-sounding. Luckily, there are several EQ presets available including a dedicated 'Music' mode which can help improve your audio experience. There's also an 'Auto Sound' EQ preset which can automatically adapt its sound profile to suit your music, but we don't currently test it. It can also get loud enough for a large room or a crowded party, but there are a lot of compression artifacts at max volume. Its soundstage is also limited to the size of the bar and its focus is a bit diffused.
- Several EQ presets available.
- Can get very loud.
- Lacks bass.
- No room correction feature.
- Compression artifacts at max volume.
The Sony HT-X9000F is satisfactory for movies. It has a bright and somewhat boxy sound profile that lacks low-bass. That being said, it has a 'Cinema' EQ preset that can help enhance your movie experience. There's also an 'Auto Sound' EQ preset that can automatically adapt its sound profile to your audio content, although we don't currently test this. Unlike most other 2.1 setups, it supports Atmos content, but it does this by downmixing it into stereo. Thanks to its Full HDMI In port, it can also support eARC as well as Dolby Atmos and DTS content.
- Can play Atmos and DTS content.
- Several EQ presets available.
- Can get very loud.
- Lacks bass.
- No room correction feature.
- Compression artifacts at max volume.
Changelog
- Updated Mar 18, 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 08, 2020: Review published.
- Updated Jul 02, 2020: Early access published.
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Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Sony HT-X9000F is a 2.1 channel soundbar from Sony's 2018 lineup. This soundbar stands out from the crowd as it supports Atmos content, which is pretty rare in a 2.1 setup. It uses Sony's Vertical Surround Engine to simulate an Atmos experience by downmixing this content into stereo, and its surround performance is more on par with a phantom front-firing bar like the Sony HT-Z9F. Unlike most 2.1 soundbars, it also supports all common audio formats via its Full HDMI In as well as HDMI ARC port. If you're looking for more soundbars, check out our recommendations for the best Sony soundbars, the best soundbars with subwoofer, and the best soundbars for movies.
The standalone Sonos Arc is better than the Sony HT-X9000F. The Sonos is a 5.0.2 setup that's better built with better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. Unlike the Sony, it has built-in voice assistant support, offering more sound enhancement features like room correction. Also, some listeners may prefer its more neutral default sound profile.
The Sony HT-Z9F is a better soundbar for mixed use than the Sony HT-X9000F. The HT-Z9F is slightly better built, it can deliver a slightly more balanced bass range, and there are fewer compression artifacts at max volume. It has an excellent discrete center channel, you can stream music over Wi-Fi, and it has two Full HDMI In ports. As it uses phantom front-firing speakers to create height channels, it also feels a touch more immersive than the HT-X9000F's downmixing.
The JBL Bar 9.1 is better than the Sony HT-X9000F. The JBL is a 5.1.4 setup with discrete satellites that's better-built. It has better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. Some listeners may also prefer its more balanced sound profile out-of-the-box.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is better than the Sony HT-X9000F. The Samsung is a 7.1.2 setup with better soundstage, center, surround, and Atmos performances. It gets louder, and it supports more wireless playback options. Unlike the Sony, it has built-in voice assistant support and some premium sound enhancement features like a graphic EQ and room correction.
Test Results
