Customer Ratings & Reviews
- Model:
- HTA8000
- SKU:
- 10893301
Rating by feature
- Value
Rating 4.2 out of 5 stars
- Quality
Rating 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Ease of Use
Rating 4.4 out of 5 stars
Bravia bar 8
||Posted . Owned for 2 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Lot of sound just not to impressed with the surround effects.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Microsoft365, Thank you for your honest review. We appreciate your feedback as can help improving our product. Thank you for choosing Sony! -Carl
Not great
||Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.The soundbar kept rebooting and always had trouble connecting to ny sony bravia tv
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi John,
We're very sorry to hear you're having trouble with your BRAVIA Theater Bar 8. That's certainly not the seamless experience we want you to have, especially when pairing it with a BRAVIA TV. A rebooting issue and connectivity problems can be frustrating.
We recommend trying a full power reset on both your soundbar and your TV. Unplug both devices from the power outlet, wait for at least two minutes, and then plug them back in, turning on the TV first, followed by the soundbar. You should also ensure that your TV's "Control for HDMI" or "BRAVIA Sync" settings are enabled, as this helps with the connection between the two devices. Lastly, double-check that you're using a high-speed HDMI cable connected to the eARC/ARC port on both your soundbar and TV.
If these steps don't resolve the issue, please contact us through this link: https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/support-contact?language=en_US so we can provide more in-depth troubleshooting.
Thanks for choosing Sony.
Best regards,
Eliab
SONY problems
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Problems with it staying connected to Sony TV and is very expensive.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi RickyG,
Thank you for sharing your feedback regarding the HT-A9000 soundbar's connectivity issues with your Sony TV. We apologize for any inconvenience this has caused.
To address the connectivity problem, please follow these steps:
-Ensure that all cables are securely connected to the correct ports on both devices.
-Unplug the power cords of both the soundbar and TV, wait for a few minutes, then plug them back in.
-Reset the soundbar. Press and hold the Power button on the bar speaker for more than 10 seconds.
You can find step-by-step instructions here:
https://helpguide.sony.net/ht/208283c/v1/en/contents/117_Resetting_the_Speaker_System.html
If you'd like, you can visit this link for more steps to help resolve the issue.
https://helpguide.sony.net/ht/208283c/v1/en/contents/075_Troubleshooting.html
If the issue persists after these steps, we recommend reaching out to our support team for further assistance. You can contact them through our website: https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/support-contact?language=en_US&category=ht
Thanks for considering Sony and bringing this issue to our attention.
Sincerely,
Estefany
Didn’t work out for me
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Could not get it to complete the install in the app. Was told by support it was defective so returned it for the next model up and the same issue happened. Should have listened to the other reviews saying the same thing. Disappointed bc it is built well. Returned for SONOS Arc Ultra.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hello Doug,
Thank you for considering Sony products.
We sincerely apologize for the challenges you encountered during the installation process of the HTA9000 and the replacement model. This is certainly not up to the quality standards we strive for, and we appreciate you taking the time to share your feedback. Rest assured, we will forward your comments to our dedicated Sony team for their review as we continue to work diligently to improve our products.
Best regards,
-Fred
Not worth it .
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Not worth the money . Sound is not good or clear . T v sounds better
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi MartinR, thanks for choosing and purchasing our product. We're sorry to hear that you have an issue with the sound quality of your new BRAVIA Theater Bar 8. We'd like to turn your opinion around regarding our BRAVIA Theater Bar 8. We recommend adjusting the sound quality of the unit by following this link:
https://helpguide.sony.net/ht/208283c/v1/en/contents/022_Adjusting_Sound_Quality.html?search=sound%20quality
If you require any additional support with regard to this product, please email us at [email protected] with the following details: Name: Username: Model Number: Issue: Telephone Number:
Thanks for choosing Sony.
~Earl
Sound bar
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.In store the sound is better and makes your think that the one, and the geek squad puts it in and the sound it's not the same, said for Sony unless its not installed right, please send sound one out to check it out, thanks
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Wango,
Thank you for reaching out to us with your concern. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience you're experiencing with your Sony BRAVIA Theater 8 soundbar.
To enhance your sound quality, we recommend exploring the sound quality adjustments available on the remote control screen within the app or via the supplied remote control. For detailed instructions, please refer to this helpful link: https://helpguide.sony.net/ht/208283c/v1/en/contents/022_Adjusting_Sound_Quality.html.
Additionally, we suggest checking for any available firmware updates, as these updates can often resolve bugs and improve performance. You can check for updates for your device here: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/sound-bars-home-theater-systems-sound-bars-surround-speakers/ht-a8000/software/00346076.
If the issue persists after following these steps, please consider performing a reset on your soundbar. For guidance on how to reset your device, please visit this link: https://helpguide.sony.net/ht/208283c/v1/en/contents/117_Resetting_the_Speaker_System.html.
If you need further assistance or have additional concerns, we recommend reaching out to our product support team via phone call at 239-245-6354 or chat through this link: https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/support-contact?language=en_US
Hours of Operation:
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 9:00 pm ET
Saturday - Sunday 10:00 am - 8:00 pm ET
Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to resolving this issue promptly!
Sincerely,
Maria
Lackluster
||Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I bought the bar and the 200w sub and the two rear speakers. The bar really lacks full range and power. The whole setup certainly does spatial sound but the mid range is non existent. The sub underwelms. For 1600$ i expect to feel the sound. Disappointing. My older polk maxfi puts this to shame.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Ruh8n2, thanks for choosing and purchasing our products. We're sorry to hear that have an issue with your new Sony units. The HTA8000 is designed to provide a comprehensive spatial sound experience, but it seems that the mid-range and subwoofer output are not delivering the desired impact in your setup. Please isolate the issue by following these steps:
• Please make sure the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping is Enabled: On the remote control screen in the Sony | BRAVIA Connect app, navigate to Settings → Sound Settings → Sound Field Setting, and make sure that 360 Spatial Sound Mapping is set to On.
• Verify that the Sound Field is set to On and that the Sound Field Settings are configured correctly for 360 Spatial Sound Mapping.
• Proper placement of the subwoofer and rear speakers can make a big difference. Try different locations and run the auto-calibration feature if available.
• Test Tone: In the Sony | BRAVIA Connect app, you can select Settings → Sound Settings → Sound Output Check, and then select Test Tone to check if the sound is being output correctly.
Please follow these links for more details:
https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00343311?utm_source
https://helpguide.sony.net/ht/208283c/v1/en/contents/022_Adjusting_Sound_Quality.html
If you require any additional support with regard to this product, please email us at [email protected] with the following details: Name: Username: Model Number: Issue: Telephone Number:
~Earl
Terrible Product
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Do not buy! Constantly losing connection and having to be reset. Multiple times a day. Now it’s stuck and won’t reset or repair. $1k brick.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hello DanielM,
Thank you for considering Sony products.
We’re very sorry to hear about the ongoing connection issues and the current problem with your HTA8000. We understand how frustrating it is to have a device that frequently loses connection and now won’t reset or repair.
To enable us to assist you more effectively and work towards a resolution, we kindly ask that you contact our support team via email at [email protected]. Please include the following information in your message to help us better understand and address the issue:
- Name:
- BestBuy Username:
- Model Number:
- Description of the Issue:
- Telephone Number:
Thank you for your patience, and we look forward to assisting you further.
Best regards,
-Fred
Snap crackle & pop
||Posted . Owned for 4 months when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Was happy to match this sound bar with my Sony tv, couldn’t use the center option don’t a lot of hissing, trouble shouted everything and just used it without that option. Have to keep the Bass at minimum because speakers can’t handle it and cracks and pops . It is pretty loud but sucks without the Bass
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi MarkG,
While it's good to know it can get loud, we're sorry to hear about the lack of bass at higher volumes and there is hissing noise when connecting the BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 and your Sony TV with the Center Speaker Mode enabled. We would like to discuss this with you further to ensure proper connection and settings. In the meantime, we highly recommend downloading and installing the latest software for the TV and Soundbar. These updates include key features, applications, bug fixes, and feature improvements.
You may hear a hissing sound when using the TV's Acoustic Center Sync function. If this happens, in the area where the power cable comes out of the back of the TV and the area around other external devices, make sure to keep the cables of the Acoustic Center Sync device away from those cables.
Note: Due to the nature of electronic devices, you may hear a slight noise when you're very close to the TV speakers. This is not a malfunction. When watching TV from an appropriate viewing distance, this should not be audible. Additionally, there may be cases where the audio signal of the content being played contains components that sound like noise.
If the issue persists, reset the speaker system by following the steps here: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/sound-bars-home-theater-systems-sound-bars-surround-speakers/ht-a8000/articles/00250225
Should you need further assistance regarding your concern, you can email us at [email protected] with the following details:
Name:
Best Buy Username:
Model Number:
Issue:
Telephone Number:
Sincerely,
Jess
poor customer service on this item
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.I purchased a Sonos Sound Bar Mount, the sales associate suggested this Bravia 8 sound Bar suggesting it would work better with the Bravia 8 TV, however, he did not advise me that this sound bar would not work with the Sonos Sound Bar Mount. So I had to make another trip back to the store to swap this out for the Sonos Arc Soundbar. This meant another 3 hours round trip driving for me...
No, I would not recommend this to a friendSound bar
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Does not actually work. Only turns on half the time. Sub woofer doesn’t work at all!!!
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Thank you for sharing your feedback, PaulA.
We are truly sorry to hear that you are experiencing such significant performance issues with your HT-A8000 soundbar system, specifically that the unit only turns on half the time and that the subwoofer is not working at all. This is certainly not the high-quality experience you should expect from this premium product.
We understand how frustrating it is when a new product fails to operate correctly right out of the box, and we want to help you resolve this immediately.
The issues you describe—intermittent power and a non-functional subwoofer—often indicate a simple setup or connection error that can be quickly corrected. Please ensure the following:
Power Cycle: Unplug the soundbar and the subwoofer from the wall outlet for at least 5 minutes, then plug them back in and attempt to power them on.
Subwoofer Connection: The A8000 uses a wireless connection for the subwoofer. Please ensure the subwoofer is plugged into a functional outlet and is properly paired with the soundbar (check the pairing status light on the subwoofer).
If these steps do not resolve the issues, please contact our support team immediately at https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/support-contact?language=en_US&category=ht for live troubleshooting. They can walk you through the pairing process and determine if a repair or replacement is needed.
We apologize for this inconvenience and are committed to ensuring your sound system works perfectly.
Best regards, Gus, Sony Social Media Team
Whats the point of being a plus member
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Terrible experience.. 2nd time i ordered open box in excellent condition and never get the item, just a refund.. both times item was out for delivery and rescheduled multiple times to never come.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendJust don't.
||Posted . Owned for 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.You can't set it up with out the app. You aren't allowed to adjust the sound bar and there is no center channel. The only thing that sounds ok is music and that is not counting the vocals which sound horrible without a center channel. You have to but an entire system to even use the sound bar including and equalizer two suds and two base as well a a dedicated center. It is not worth the money.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi KaylaL,
Thanks for reaching out to us. We're sorry to learn you cannot register your BRAVIA Theatre Bar 8 (HT-A8000) to the BRAVIA Connect app. Allow us to help you and turn your experience around. The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 is furnished with 11 speaker units, including dedicated front, center, down-firing and up-firing channels, to deliver a stunning and precise audio performance. These channels work together to fill your environment with wide, directional sound. Plus, the built-in quad woofers promote deeper, richer bass to truly round out your audio.
Follow these instructions if you encounter an issue with the wireless connection:
If you haven't yet, you can control your BRAVIA and BRAVIA Theatre from your smartphone with the Sony | BRAVIA Connect app. From simplifying the initial setup to problem solving, it makes it even easier to use our TVs and home theatre products. Also, please update the device's software to the latest version.
In the Sony | BRAVIA Connect app, select Settings → Wireless Speaker Settings → Wireless Speaker Connection Settings. Follow the onscreen instructions for more details.
If you haven't yet, check the following:
• Delete the pairing information on both the Sony | BRAVIA Connect or Sony | Home Entertainment Connect app and the smartphone, and then try the connection again.
- To remove the device registration on the BRAVIA Connect app:
Tap Switch to another device on the app, and select the three-dot icon on the Devices and Information screen to remove the device registration.
• Restart the smartphone.
• Restart the connected device.
• Reset the device to the factory default settings, or initialize the device, and after that, try the connection again using the Sony | BRAVIA Connect app.
• If you are using an iPhone or iPad, you will need to allow access to the Sony | BRAVIA Connect app:
In the Settings menu of the iPhone or iPad, select BRAVIA Connect → Local Network.
A separate article is available if you cannot connect to the audio device using the Sony | BRAVIA Connect app on this link here: https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00336643
If you need further assistance regarding your concern, please email the below information to [email protected].
Name:
Best Buy Username:
Model Number:
Issue:
Telephone Number
Sincerely,
Jess
- Pros mentioned:Design, Setup, Sound quality
Awesome Soundbar that does the job very well!
|Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 is a top-tier soundbar delivering exceptional sound quality, easy setup, and seamless integration with Sony BRAVIA TVs. It features Dolby Atmos and DTS support for immersive, three-dimensional audio and S-Force PRO Front Surround for simulated surround sound without additional speakers. The soundbar offers high-fidelity audio with rich bass and crisp highs, perfect for movies, music, and gaming. Setup is straightforward, thanks to a comprehensive quick start guide, and it includes wireless connectivity options like Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. HDMI ARC/eARC simplifies TV connections, allowing control with a single remote. It also supports voice assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for hands-free operation. With its sleek, minimalist design and durable construction, the BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 fits well in any home decor. While it comes at a higher price point, its advanced features and performance make it a worthwhile investment for enhancing your home theater experience.
Brand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi PretzelGuy, Thanks for the 5-star rating! We're glad you like the sound quality of the sound bar. Enjoy and thanks for choosing Sony. -Craig
Will not register to Bravia Connect
||Posted . Owned for less than 1 week when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Very frustrating experience so far. Device will not register to Bravia Connects. Fails while “registering a device to your account”. Tier 2 Sony advises known problem and says keep trying. No way to bind SW or RS without that registration. Poor architecture decision by Sony. 4 hours wasted so far. Any one else seeing this?
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi Rich, thanks for choosing and purchasing our product. We're sorry to hear that you have an issue with registering your soundbar to BRAVIA Connect. We'd like to review your file to better assist you. Please email us at [email protected] with the following details: Name: Username: Model Number: Issue: Telephone Number: Case Number:
~Earl
Not a good buy
||Posted . Owned for 3 weeks when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Not what i expected, Best Buy sales team wasn't honest.
No, I would not recommend this to a friendSony bar
||Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Neaver buy again didn't work really good waste of time
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi ManvinderS,
Thanks for reaching out and sharing your experience with the HT-A9000. We're genuinely sorry to hear that it didn't work out well for you and that you feel it was a waste of time. We totally understand your frustration.
To make sure we get to the bottom of whatever issue you ran into and hopefully provide a proper fix or solution, the best thing to do is connect with our dedicated support team. They have all the right tools and knowledge to troubleshoot what's happening specifically with your unit.
You can reach them easily by visiting our official Sony support page: https://us.esupport.sony.com/support/s/support-contact?language=en_US&category=ht
We appreciate you giving Sony a chance with this product.
Sincerely,
Estefany
What a bummer....
||Posted . Owned for 1 month when reviewed.This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Worked great for about 1 month with our Sony Bravia TV. Great sound, I was impressed. But then, it became very muted when I initially turned on the TV, and now I have to turn the TV off, and back on to get it to work. Of course, it is too late to return. I reinstalled the soundbar, didn't help. Now what?
No, I would not recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi HarmonicaJo, we're glad you like the sound quality of our product. We're sorry to hear that you have an issue with your Sony unit. Please make sure that both your TV and the HTA8000 soundbar have the latest software updates installed. Please check this link for more details:
https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/sound-bars-home-theater-systems-sound-bars-surround-speakers/ht-a8000/downloads
Perform a power reset on both your TV and the HTA8000 soundbar. Turn off both devices, unplug them from the power outlet, wait for about 60 seconds, and then plug them back in and turn them on. If the issue persists, you might want to try resetting the TV and the soundbar to their factory settings. You can follow this link for more details:
https://helpguide.sony.net/ht/208283c/v1/en/contents/117_Resetting_the_Speaker_System.html
If you require any additional support with regard to this product, please email us at [email protected] with the following details: Name: Username: Model Number: Issue: Telephone Number:
~Earl
- Pros mentioned:Sound quality
Great Bass, Rich Audio, Custom Sound Field
|Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 provides a rich, crisp, and room filling audio with deeper bass than I expect from a soundbar. Design This is not a small sound bar, but that's not a bad thing. The extra width over some other sound bars should give it better left to right separation for audio positioning. It still doesn't extend beyond the sides of my 65" TV. Centered beneath it, there are a few extra inches that would be needed on each side to match the width of my TV. It's connected via HDMI eARC to my TV and even features an HDMI 2.1 pass-though port that means you could connect a device to the soundbar, making up for the HDMI port you lose on your TV. This may even have the advantage of being more accessible than the HDMI ports on the TV, making it easier to work with for connecting laptop for instance. There are feet included, but not required. It says they're included so the soundbar can go over the TV's stand, if it's sitting on a table. I didn't need them for my install but actually put them on anyway. I like the way the front left and right of the soundbar are rounded. Most of the soundbar is wrapped in fabric, not surprising since they're hiding 13 speakers are aiming in different directions to provide better positional and room-filling audio. The look is very clean. You'll see at least one LED lit at the front bottom right on the soundbar when it's turned on. It will be blue when the soundbar is in Bluetooth mode. It also comes with a simple remote. Features - It seems to supports a lot (maybe all) of the current audio standards including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced. When using it with one of my devices I saw it supports Liner PCM 5.1 uncompressed audio (not sure if that's a subset of one of the others). - The "BRAVIA Connect" app is required for setup and updates. I found it easy to use. You can use it to change a number of settings, inputs, or adjust the Bass. - It also has "DSEE Ultimate" which is upscaling of compressed audio - You can adjust the height of the sound field (I'll talk more about the sound field later) - Night mode, Voice mode, and "Sound field" options that can be turned on or off - "Audio DRC" is set to "Auto" by default, supposed to make soft sounds easier to hear - Sound Field Optimization and Temporary viewing position adjustment Audio Quality Since this is a soundbar, the most important question is really, how does it sound? The short answer is the BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 puts out some amazing audio! I was impressed with the highs, the lows, and the projection of the audio. The volume was excellent too! It can be very quiet, but audible, or very loud but still sound good. Here are three ways I'm impressed with the audio quality. 1. The sound in general was crisp and rich. Highs were crisp, not tinny. Sound reproduction sounded accurate. I tested with different audio sources including my music on my phone via Bluetooth (using Sony's LDAC protocol for high quality Bluetooth playback), a Blu-ray movie, and at least three different network video apps on Google TV. All sounded excellent and I didn't notice any problems. Voices sound clear and natural. All sounds seemed to be reproduced accurately. 2. I don't know what is due to very high quality speakers in the BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 (my guess) or "Audio DRC", but it seems easier to hear audio at low volume, specifically voices. I've had times where I need to turn the volume up louder than I want with other audio systems to hear what people are saying in the audio/video. With this soundbar it seems easier to hear voices at lower volumes. 3. The bass is excellent! I did turn it to max in the app, but wow, with it set to max I am really impressed. I'm not saying this is as good as having a separate sub woofer (which you can buy separately for this soundbar), but I'm not sure if better bass is possible on a soundbar, as least of this size. With the different audio I played , none sounded like the soundbar struggled at all with the bass and it sounded great to me! Surround Sound The surround capability's of the BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 are very impressive to me for only using the soundbar. Having those 13 speakers aiming different directions really helps it project. I think part of the reason it's so good is the way it optimizes the sound field of the room by playing sounds and listening to them with built-in mics. It even uses your phone, via the app, to listen for some of the tones and figure out where you are listening from. I think that's a very innovative solution to get the best audio positioning possible for any content viewing/listening experience. I wouldn't say it's as good as having rear speakers but, like the bass, I'm not sure you could get better without rear speakers. There is definitely a room-filling depth to the audio and I was able to hear objects moving around the room. I struggled to perceive that they were behind me, but I could notice them getting closer or farther. Optional Add-ons If you want to improve the bass or the surround, Sony does offer two different sets of wireless rear speakers to choose from as well as two sub-woofers to choose from. Also, if you have a Sony BRAVIA TV that supports "Acoustic Center Sync" (Produces audio directly out of the display), you can actually have that TV configured as a center channel. Summary If you are looking for a high end soundbar I think you should consider the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9! The sound quality is excellent, it produces a rich, full sound, and it has some great features that can improve the overall experience. Even the fact that you don't need to lose an HDMI port could be a very helpful features. The fact that you can improve the bass or surround down the road by adding additional speakers is great!
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Hi hotice, That's great to hear. We appreciate your time sharing your review on the new Sony HTA9000 and we're glad you like it. Enjoy and thanks for choosing Sony. -Craig
- Pros mentioned:Connectivity, Ease of use, Sound quality
Great audio if you're up for the investment
|Posted .This reviewer received promo considerations or sweepstakes entry for writing a review.Overall, AMAZING! I've tried some more economical soundbars in the past and typically found that they offered only an incremental improvement over the speakers in the TV. However, this bar is like going from laptop speakers to a movie in a theater. On first connecting the soundbar, the improvement in the audio was incredibly obvious. The bass is deeper, the overall frequency range is expanded, and everything feels more immersive. This only improves when you do the audio set-up through the app. Everything gets another level clearer and the settings allow for sufficient clarification of the speech without getting to complicated. For being a single audio source, it does a very good job of producing an immersive audio experience. The dedicated bass control is also nice, though it only has 3 settings (low, normal, high). MINOR QUIBBLES - There is literally no description of what the settings do, so here's what I've gleaned from googling and seeing how these settings may work on other Sony Bravia devices: Sound Field: apparently there is a setting better for music or better for TV/video. There is no indication as to what is represented by on or off, so you have to experiment. Voice: This does a good job of making the dialogue more audible. There have definitely been passages in TV shows where it is unintelligible with this off, and much clearer when it is on. Night: Apparently this is supposed to make everything clearer at lower volumes, but there is no description on how it does this. I don't notice a difference. Connectivity - Connecting through ARC or eARC is very simple. The bar turns on with your TV and the audio starts immediately, you control the volume with the TV remote, couldn't be easier. Ultimately, this means you set your settings as you like and can put away the remote so you don't have another thing sitting around. It also has bluetooth so you can pair it with a phone or tablet and play your music or podcasts. This was a little finicky to get connected, but that may have been because of my phone as the phone has had issues with new devices in the past (despite being a Pixel 7). One thing to keep in mind is the size of this sound-bar. It is 51" wide, so if you are mounting it on the TV itself rather than on a shelf, you need to consider the size of your TV. I have a 65" TV where it's a little shorter than the TV itself (about 57"). If you have a 55" TV, this bar will actually be wider than the TV and may look strange if mounted directly above or below the screen. More of an aesthetic issue, but something to consider. This is an expensive soundbar, but for being a single unit without an accompanying subwoofer, it has better sound than anything I've used since the old Bose systems which were about 1.5' deep and built to have the TV sit on top of it (these haven't been made for a decade or so).
I would recommend this to a friendBrand response from SonyListens
Posted .Thanks for the 5-star rating, MurphyR! We're happy that you are impressed with the new Sony HTA9000 soundbar. Enjoy and thanks for choosing Sony. -Craig
