Customer Ratings & Reviews

Easy set-up plug and play. Sub automatically connects. Sounds good. Looks good.

Overview: I think we can all agree almost all built in TV speakers leave much to be desired. I was looking for something for my basement TV, a TV that mainly gets used by the kids for TV shows, Xbox gaming and an occasional movie. The Sony HTS400 seems like the perfect choice, it’s reasonable priced (disclaimer: as part of the Tech Insider Network, this item was provided to me at no cost in exchanged for an unbiased review), simple setup with no wires to run. The sound bar and subwoofer came packaged in an “L” shaped cardboard box. Inside, it was well packed and included 2 power plugs and an optical cable (no HDMI is included). The subwoofer is mode from particle board with black laminate outer layer, it’s about the size of a desktop PC. The sound bar itself feels sturdy, top cover is plastic with some texture on it. When it comes to design, I would say overall, its attractive, but nothing special. Setup: Getting the sound bar and subwoofer setup with my TV, a Hisense U6G, was a breeze. I tested all 3 connections, optical cable, Bluetooth and finally the HDMI via ARC port. 1. HDMI ARC: Overall, I prefer the HDMI ARC connection; the sound bar automatically goes into standby mode when the TV is turned off and the sound bar volume is controlled with the TV remote. 2. Bluetooth: The Bluetooth connection worked well, I didn’t notice any lag in video/audio (some TV’s have a feature to adjust lag). This method on connecting is clean, leaving no wires to hide. I noticed when I powered down the TV, the sound bar stayed on and was in pairing mode. This is probably because I have 1 device, the TV, paired to the sound bar, and when the TV is off, it no longer detected the device and automatically went into “pairing” mode. 3. The optical cable works fine as well, but the sound bar won’t go into standby mode when the TV is turned off and you’ll need the sound bar remote to adjust the volume. The sound bar can be wall mounted, there are mounting holes on the back. They also include a template but does not include screws or mounting hardware. Sound: My TV room is approximately 500 sq feet, the sound bar and subwoofer is loud enough to fill the room. To test, I played some of my favorite movies that have good sound. This includes The Matrix, TOP gun and Transformers. The subwoofer produced good base, the sound bar while it was loud, I didn’t really hear any “surround sound” and this was with the Sound field turned on. I didn’t hear jets flying from one side of the living room to another. I realize it’s a 2.1 sound bar and perhaps I should not really expect that. In the lobby scene of the Matrix, again, the subwoofer supplied plenty of base with the gun shots, but the rest of the sound coming from the sound bar could’ve been more clear and crisp, the bullet casing dropping on the floor wasn’t as clear as I hoped, it didn’t have that pitch that I’d expect to hear. Overall, if you’re looking for bang for the buck, this is a very good sound bar and subwoofer package. You get good, loud sound and deep base, great for Xbox games and movies. If you’re looking for surround sound, crisp, clear audio, look elsewhere and increase your budget. Pros: 1. Loud 2. Subwoofer has good base 3. Reasonably priced Cons: 1. Audio could be more clear 2. Lacked surround sound-like effects 3. No voice assistant supported (Alexa, Google Home, Siri)

I was super excited to setup this soundbar in my basement. I have a 65" Samsung curved TV that was hooked up to a Samsung soundbar. It was one of those soundbars with a "built in" subwoofer and really lacked the low end sound. This Sony soundbar has a wireless subwoofer that I thought would really add a nice punch to fill the open area of the basement room. The old soundbar was connected via an optical cable and it talked perfectly to the TV and the TV remote even controlled the sound flawlessly. So I moved the old Samsung soundbar to my bedroom where I have a smaller Samsung TV and connected it through Wi-Fi. It continued to work perfectly. Now, I simply connected my new Sony in the basement with the optical cable, plugged in the subwoofer to a power source and it was up and running. But that was where the simplicity ended. When hooked up via the optical cable, you cannot use the TV remote at all. It does not talk to the soundbar, even though the TV is set to output to the optical cable. Even the owner's manual states that when using an optical cable you must use the included soundbar remote. This is honestly the first soundbar that I have used (I have had 4), that the TV's remote did not control the soundbar volume. I found it crazy to have to use 2 separate remotes, one for the TV and one for the sound. So I decided to unplug the optical cable and connect via Bluetooth since the TV can output audio through Bluetooth as well. Once I did that, the TVs remote controlled the volume, so problem solved right? Wrong. Once you turn off the TV, all communication stops and you have to initiate the entire connection each time you power up your TV. I find that extremely annoying as I am used to both the TV and soundbar just working. Maybe I am just too picky. My last step was to connect the soundbar to the TV via HDMI via my TV's ARC output. This is supposed to be the best way for the 2 devices to communicate effortlessly. So I had to squeeze my arm behind the TV to unplug my Firestick, plug in an HDMI cable, relocate another HDMI cable, relocate the Firestick, then setup an HDMI splitter since one port is now occupied by the soundbar. This should finally do it right? Not quite. The soundbar does recognize the soundbar, and the TV remote does control it. But then once you power down the TV and power it back up again, it loses communication again! It starts off with the TV sound and then 50% of the time it cuts over to the soundbar and 50% of the time I have to manually switch the audio out to the soundbar. Wow, I have never been so frustrated in a soundbar before. I am not sure if this is a matter of Samsung and Sony simply not playing nice, or if the soundbar is just this bad. The sound of the speakers is very good. The voices are clear and the bass is good. Nothing overpowering, but this is not a huge sub. I am actually very pleased with the actual sound performance. I can hear everything with no issues and it has very good range. Overall, I am just not happy with how the soundbar talks to my TV and it is actually a downgrade from my previous soundbar. It does sound nice, but if you have a Samsung TV, you may want to consider a Samsung soundbar. I do not know if the communication is better with this soundbar and a Sony TV, but I think I could have done better.

I recently added the Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer to my home entertainment setup, and I am extremely satisfied with its performance! This soundbar has completely transformed my viewing experience, delivering rich, immersive sound that brings movies and music to life. The setup was a breeze, and the wireless subwoofer adds depth to the audio, creating a full-bodied sound that you can really feel. The bass is powerful without being overwhelming, perfectly complementing the crisp dialogue and clear highs from the soundbar itself. I appreciate the various sound modes, which allow me to optimize audio for movies, music, or gaming. The overall build quality feels solid, and the sleek design fits nicely with my TV. For anyone looking to enhance their home theater experience, I highly recommend the Sony HT-S400. It's an excellent value for the quality it provides, and I'm thrilled with my purchase!

I purchased this to improve the sound of my sony bravia tv. Its setup is easy and the sound is very good. Not as good as an expensive home theatre but well worth the money. I also have a 2.0 soundbar on another sony bravia tv that doesn’t have a sub woofer and this with the subwoofer is definitely better sound especially when playing music

I bought for my living room since I watch a lot of movies and the bass is great as well as quality I usually use it around 45 which is enough to hear through my whole house. Simple set up just plug both sound bar and subwoofer into the wall and the Optical Cable into the TV and sound bar. Dont forget to pair the subwoofer with the sound bar

So, I have tested this out with out Sony X80J 55” google smart HDTV, now I’m sure this TV is a “Bravia” TV from other searching, as after seeing reviews for this soundbar on their site and other certain consumer sites says this has a “Flexible layout and wireless connection to compatible BRAVIA TVs”; well I’m more preferred a wired in type of guy. So, I tested this using optical cable, and using the HDMI arc feature and enabled it on my tv; pretty much with being connected to HDMI I was able to control the volume with my main TV remote (but to adjust bass and I night mode; use the remote the soundbar/sun came with. But the soundbar will turn on when you turn on the tv, not in an instant but a good mere 10-15 seconds. Turn the TV off, well after waiting 30 seconds it doesn’t turn off in an instant so I used it’s remote to turn off. On a previous brand of soundbar and tv of the same brand that I had a while back, I used the soundbar remote to control the tv and change inputs also as you have separate “tv power” and “power”. Well on this subwoofer remote here, none of that. Is that a dealbreaker? Nah, and it shouldn’t. Anyhow, played nice action comic superhero movies and sound does blow you away. Many consumer reviews or just consumer opinions say to move the subwoofer back to the area where you sit, prefer behind a sofa. I prefer against one of the sides of the sofa. And I have my subwoofer bass volume all the way up. This will deliver. Excellent for gaming as well for any hardcore gamer. Or just simply having a family night watching movies at home with some popcorn.

Provides great sound for the living room, with easy setup. Great for simple sound enhancing in standard spaces. Excellent recommendation Best Buy!

Bought for my hearing impaired husband. He is very pleased. The sound and voice clairity is great he says. We have other cheep ons that did not help him, this on did. Easy set up, works great. Janet

Sound quality is excellent. Setup was simple. I used the HDMi cable so the system can be controlled by the TV remote. The only complaint is the inconsistent volume when using different streaming apps. Not a deal breaker by any means. Just something to be aware of.

The Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar with a powerful wireless subwoofer is a compact audio solution designed to enhance your home entertainment experience. As an avid cinephile and music lover, I recently had the opportunity to test this soundbar, and I must say it delivers a significant audio upgrade compared to built-in TV speakers. Design and Build Quality: The HT-S400 boasts a sleek and minimalist design that seamlessly integrates into any home theater setup. The soundbar is compact, making it suitable for various room sizes, and the wireless subwoofer adds a touch of versatility by allowing flexible placement. The build quality is solid, and the overall aesthetics are modern and unobtrusive. Audio Performance: One of the standout features of the HT-S400 is its audio performance. The 2.1 channel configuration, coupled with the wireless subwoofer, produces a balanced and immersive soundstage. Whether you're watching movies, playing games, or streaming music, the soundbar delivers clear dialogue, crisp highs, and a surprisingly robust low end. The wireless subwoofer, in particular, adds depth to the audio, making explosions and bass-heavy music genres more impactful. Wireless Connectivity: The inclusion of a wireless subwoofer not only contributes to a cleaner setup but also provides flexibility in subwoofer placement for optimal bass response. The soundbar itself supports Bluetooth connectivity, allowing you to wirelessly stream music from your smartphone or other compatible devices. This feature adds a layer of convenience, making it easy to enjoy your favorite tunes without the need for additional cables.

Sound is great! However, it seems it’s only wall mountable or stand alone, rather than mountable to a TV or specifically a pull down TV mount. We had to rig up something to our TV mount bracket in order to attach it under TV. I didn’t want it taking up mantle space, so this was the fix. Had to be mindful that all the function buttons are on top of the soundbar, so had to leave a pretty decent width of space to get to them in the event we lost remote or something. But, it worked. We are enjoying that it isn’t taking mantle space and it pulls down with our TV down over our mantle. And enjoying the great sound.

Easy hookup and install. Instructions were very quick to follow in the startup guide. Turned on the subwoofer and it synced automatically. Love that a mounting template came included with this sound bar. It would make for a sleek mounted sound bar setup for those that may not have a media console or just want the proper aesthetic. Sound is plenty good. Bass is decent at max level just not punchy like I like it. For price point it does sound good. Wish it had more control over audio levels like the treble. I can see that for TV/Movies you will be alright knowing this can get plenty loud. For music it may leave your ears searching for a little more finesse. At the end of the day this is useful for those who aren't audiophiles but still want a loud sound bar that can hold it's own in a standard living room.

Great bass. It’s perfect for watching action movies! I did feel like optical had better sound quality. Plus the TV speaker is a plus because this has BASS

This is a great soundbar and Sub Woofer for any TV. We paired it with a 75" TCL and it integrated nicely. IT is basically plug and play and the wireless Sub Woofer paired right up out of box. This systems sounds better than my previous Sony 5.1 surround sound. I like the fact that the Bass can be adjusted separately from the main volume and has a nice Voice Clarifier mode.

I was looking for a soundbar with subwoofer. And I came across this and because of my good experience with Sony in the past, after doing some basic research I bought this one. Didn't got disappointed. Depends on the content quality the output varies but for most of the contents the vocal quality and the bass effect in my experience is perfect for the price. Will recommend this one for anyone looking for a budget friendly soundbar with sub under $200

Excellent sound, good base, easy hookup and good looks

Absolutely love! I wanted a soundbar with some umph but didnt want to spend a lot. This is the PERFECT soundbar at an affordable price. The bass is great and the detail is amazing. I previewed a lot in the store and wanted to spend closer to 150 but decided to spend the extra 50 to get this instead of another and so glad i did that ! I would have regretted getting the other one for sure !

This sound bar is better than I thought, definitely worth the money. The design is sleek and easy to place anywhere either on the wall or on top of your tv stand. Great buy.

Great sound! Perfect for the living room! I am super happy with the design and quality of this sound bar and subwoofer.