The Sony HT-Z9F is a good 3.1 soundbar setup that does a great job with dialogue thanks to its dedicated center speaker. It features a wireless subwoofer that helps give it some extra thump during action movies or bass-heavy music. While this soundbar is Atmos-enabled, unfortunately, it lacks upwards firing or satellite speakers and uses Sony's S Force and Vertical Sound technology to simulate an Atmos surround sound experience. On the upside, it has two Full HDMI inputs that support all audio formats, and the soundbar also has Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Chromecast built-in to listen to music wirelessly.
Note: Some of our readers have reported that the subwoofer cuts out repeatedly when listening to this soundbar, possibly because of issues with the wireless connection. We haven't experienced this problem during our testing. However, this may be because our testing space doesn't have many issues with interference, since there aren't a lot of other Wi-Fi networks in the area.
Our Verdict
The Sony HT-Z9F is a decent mixed usage soundbar. This 3.1 setup clearly reproduces dialogue, thanks to its dedicated center channel, meaning you have no problem hearing speech over the background music and sound effects. Thanks to its dedicated wireless subwoofer, it has a decent bass response, making it an okay choice for movies. Unfortunately, while this soundbar supports Atmos, its lack of satellites or upward-firing speakers means the soundstage isn't very open, and all objects sound as if they're coming from in front of you.
- Premium, durable look and feel.
- Lots of connectivity and audio format options.
- Great dialogue-handling.
- Mediocre job at handling Atmos content due to lack of speakers.
- No treble or bass adjustment options; EQ presets only.
The Sony HT-Z9F is very good for dialogue-focused TV shows and podcasts. Thanks to its dedicated center channel, dialogue sounds clear and accurate, and you should have no trouble making out what is said over background music or sound effects. This soundbar also features a dialogue enhancement setting to bring speech out even more.
The Sony HT-Z9F is decent for music. While it supports wireless playback, including Chromecast audio, the sound reproduction is only decent, and it lacks low-bass, meaning fans of EDM or dubstep may be disappointed. This soundbar also lacks any room correction or bass or treble adjustments, so you can only customize the sound via presets. That said, voices and lead instruments are still clear and present in the mix.
The Sony HT-Z9F is fair for movies. Thanks to its dedicated wireless subwoofer, it has decent bass response, though unfortunately, its LFE is a little high, but this shouldn't be too noticeable for movies. The 3.1 configuration means that dialogue comes out very clear and detailed, and there are even dialogue enhancement settings as well. Unfortunately, while this soundbar is Atmos compatible, the lack of necessary speakers means all objects sound like they're coming from straight in front of you, instead of from behind and above.
Changelog
- Updated Jun 28, 2023: Added a market comparison with the Sony HT-S2000 to the Style - Subwoofer box.
- Updated Apr 06, 2023: Added cable lengths to In The Box.
- Updated Apr 05, 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: Added market comparison with the Sony HT-A3000 to the 'Style - Subwoofer' box.
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Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Sony HT-Z9F is a good mixed-usage soundbar that does a great job with dialogue thanks to its dedicated center channel speaker. While this 3.1 setup supports Dolby Atmos, it, unfortunately, doesn't provide nearly as immersive of a listening experience due to its lack of satellite or upwards-firing speakers.
See our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars with a subwoofer.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-Z9F or the Sony HT-ST5000. The HT-ST5000 can reproduce a more extended low-bass, and it scores better overall. While the Z9F has fewer channels and doesn't get as much bass, it compresses much less at max volume and has fewer issues with distortion. It also has a bit more detail and clarity in the treble range. If bass is what you're after, the ST5000 is the way to go, but the Z9F provides better value otherwise.
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.
The Sony HT-A5000 is a bit better than the Sony HT-Z9F overall. The HT-A5000 is a premium 5.1.2 standalone soundbar. It offers better surround and Atmos performances, and it comes with more sound enhancement features, like room correction. That said, the HT-Z9F is still a decent bar for mixed usage. It comes with a subwoofer, and it can get louder.
The Sony HT-Z9F is slightly more versatile than the Yamaha YAS-209. The Sony has a better build with more connectivity and audio format support options, offers Atmos support, and has an impressive center channel performance, making it well suited for dialogue-centric content. However, the Yamaha has a more neutral default sound profile.
Test Results
