Customer Ratings & Reviews

I was surprised at how great this soundbar is, especially being 3.1 and claiming ‘close to 7.1.2ch’. It doesn’t quite feel like a true 7.1.2 system, but it comes a lot closer than I was expecting. If you’re spending the money, I would go with the optional rear speakers and you are better than good. The soundbar is pretty compact for what it is; it’s only about 2.5 inches tall and should fit under most TVs without blocking them. You can choose to display it with or without the speakers exposed; I ended up using the magnetic speaker grill, but I did like both looks. The subwoofer is not the smallest I’ve seen, but it’s compact enough that it tucks into the corner pretty well. The soundbar has 2 HDMI inputs, both of which passthrough HDR (including Dolby Vision and HLG), and there’s an HDMI out with ARC for the TV. There’s also a LAN port, USB, 3.5mm, and Toslink. The soundbar also has built-in Bluetooth, WiFi, and Chromecast (Chromecast is a big plus for me). It can decode pretty much any Dolby and DTS format under the sun, though some of them like Dolby True HD are limited to the HDMI inputs. There’s just so much packed in here that it really didn’t leave me wanting for anything else. Setting up the soundbar was straightforward through the onscreen interface and pairing the subwoofer (and later the optional rear speakers) was not an issue. There’s a lot of extra options, but I didn’t find I had to change most of them. One exception was the HDMI signal format, which is set to ‘Standard’ by default and needs to be ‘Enhanced’ in order to pass through 4K/HDR fully. The soundbar sounds great with anything playing through it, but it sounds incredible when you’re watching something that really takes advantage of higher end formats like Dolby Atmos and True HD. I watched Bladerunner on 4K Blu-ray with Dolby Atmos and the sound was better than anything I’ve ever heard in my house before. Most Dolby Atmos soundbars have extra speakers that are angled up to bounce off the ceiling and create sound that is above you. The HT-Z9F doesn’t have any extra speakers for this, but something they call the ‘Vertical Sound Engine’, which uses the existing speakers to create a virtual soundfield that’s pretty convincing. I don’t think anything will ever be as good as dedicated speakers, but what Sony’s done is as good as I’ve ever heard. There are optional rear speakers that can be added to this, which I have and I’d definitely recommend getting them at some point if you don’t get them immediately. I still think the soundbar sounds great on its own, but they really do complete the experience. Overall I think the HT-Z9F delivers on the experience it advertises. It’s expensive to be sure and I do think the rear speakers ought to be included instead of separate, but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with what you get.

First Impressions: Opening the box was a bit awkward. I have a picture attached. I’m glad this was shipped to me vs. trying to carry it. I understand trying to cut down on the packaging, but to me this would have been better packaged as a rectangular box. The subwoofer was about as heavy as a standard CPU; the Sound Bar had some heft as well. For the following, I used a Hisense 4K TV, a standard provider-issued HDTV cable box, a Roku Premiere, and a Samsung 8. Setup: Sony is great at creating short, simple to understand setup directions. Since my TV was new, I had a HDMI (ARC) port. The included HDMI cable runs from this port to the Sound Bar, then you plug each device into the Sound Bar via HDMI. Your inputs are now controlled through the Sound Bar vs. the TV. The subwoofer is wirelessly connected; all you do is plug it into power. The only issue I had was that the ports on the Sound Bar are in an at angle. I found it to be a pain to get the cables seated properly. TV: I tried using the Sound Bar for both the TV and the Roku. The sound was very rich as compared to my TV. The system synced with my TV and cable remotes instantly; however, I still need both the Sony and the cable box remote to access all functions. I am still confused as to why, when I change the volume, I get two volume bars (pictured). One may be the subwoofer; I don’t seem to be able to adjust the SW on its own even though it has its own button. The Owner’s Manual is a book and I’ve yet to finish it so it may be a user issue. Music: First, I tried playing music using Google Play Music on my Samsung 8. I kept getting an error message stating that my song could not be played, that it had to be uploaded to Play Music on my computer. I’d already done this in the past, so that didn’t make sense. I Googled the error code and found that it was a common complaint, with little resolution. I could play my library from my computer, just not my phone. The one exception was the one song I purchased from the Play Store that I tried – that played from my phone fine. Amazon Music streamed over Bluetooth and Chromecast fine. I noticed, though, that you could not use the pre-set sound settings with Chromecast. I found that the sound from the Bluetooth connection was much richer. Other than the above, the Sony Music center app instantly connected with the Sound Bar; however, once I used either Amazon’s or Google’s apps to play the music, I got the same error using my downloaded library. Samsung Music could play my music library using the Sony app just fine. It seems just to be an issue with Chromecast, which is more of a reflection on Google than Sony. I highly recommend this unit. It’s easy to set up, fairly intuitive to use, and has great sound. The few issues I had was not enough for me to downgrade the rating.

The HT-Z9F is one Sony's latest high-end theater sound systems which only uses a single sound bar and subwoofer to emulate a 7.1.2 surround sound experience. The package comes with the sound bar, subwoofer, remote control (batteries included), mounting hardware, Demo DVD, 4K HDMI cable, & paperwork. Rather than go over ALL the specs which you can already find on this Bestbuy.com page, I'll try to give more observations of those specs instead. PROS: ----------- * Great-looking Sound bar and subwoofer. I like the removable front grill of the sound bar. The subwoofer is basic simple construction with a single front port on the bottom/front and the driver hidden behind the mesh on top. * There is an option to remove the magnetic grill on the front of the sound bar. Looks great either way. * Good frequency range. Different sounds - instruments, rain, explosions, screeches, speaking - it all really sounds quite good. * The "vertical" sound of this bar does work to a degree and does enhance the listening experience. This feature can be turned on or off via the remote. * The remote control is light, simplistic in design, and the buttons are satisfactory in response to the system. * The sound bar has every connection possible to connect to... see attached picture for rear available ports including bluetooth 4.2. * DTS and Dolby Atmos content were both outstanding (Avatar, The Matrix Reloaded, and some 4K online content). You can really tell the vertical sound engine is working well... to an extent. * Subwoofer (wood casing) connects to sound bar with no issues. CONS: ----------- * For this $899 system, you are paying for the Sony name, the new technology used, and a great look. What you are lacking is more power and bass (though it does have plenty). The system is 400W which isn't bad. Granted, I have a bigger basement theater room, so this sub does not thump/hit like other higher end sub components that typically connect to separate receivers. However, for apartments, smaller rooms, or enclosed areas, this system will be an excellent choice if you want to fork over the $$. * The main focus of this sound bar is to emulate a 7.1.2 surround sound experience. It does do that to a degree, but I strongly recommend getting the optional rear speakers (Sony SA-Z9R) to enhance the rear definition of sound that the sound bar (by itself) can lack. * The rear speaker set (SA-Z9R) should be included with the $899 price point. Adding the 2 very small rear speakers only adds extra-defining surround sound - not much power. If you do not opt for the rear speakers, your surround sound will suffer a bit. The sound bar can still only do so much by itself, even with the vertical engine software. OTHER OBSERVATIONS: ----------- * There is no real use for the LAN connection on the back of the sound bar currently. There are more future functions coming with upcoming firmware updates according to the Sony website (Network Function: Chromecast built-in, Works with Google Assistant, Spotify Connect, DLNA.) * Sound bar is mountable and package includes hardware. * Will use the Sony Music Center app to play music on different Sony speakers around the home. I was unable to get this app to connect - this is a future firmware update based on what the Sony rep told me on the phone. (The app works with my other wireless Sony BT speakers) * If you opt to add the rear speakers, the only cord used for them is an AC power cord so make sure you have power available for each speaker. CONCLUSION: ===================== This is definitely a formidable theater sound system. The only applications that may need to be avoided are bigger theater rooms that may be open on the back side (where sound is not fully encompassed). It is highly recommended to get the rear surround speakers to get a "full" front/rear sound experience. It does not compare to a real 7.1.2 system but it's a viable option if you don't have room for a ton of components or want to "keep it simple". This is as good a sound bar system as anything out there. The vertical engine definitely helps, and for movies, it's quite good. On a separate note, music that has a lot of bass (bass you feel), you'll want to use a dedicated sub/receiver system. Great job, Sony!

Sony's new soundbar at times sounds great as close as I have ever heard a soundbar come to a true 5.1 system, but other times I am reminded that this a limited 3 speaker bar. Let me start off with the good, sound clarity is great and the depth of sound is excellent. There was excellent separation of the highs and mids, voice quality was much better than most sound bars I have heard. My biggest surprise and delight was Sony's Vertical Sound Engine, it makes a huge difference is the sound when you are watching movies, with it off the sound was very flat and felt like the it was coming just straight out of the speakers. with it on the sound definitely felt more surround like. The passthrough on the soundbar also worked great I was able to play movies in Dolby vision and HDR with no problems and I did not see any input lag added when the Xbox one X was connected directly to the soundbar. Now for the downsides of this soundbar. While the voices come in pretty clearly at higher levels there are two issues, there is a huge dynamic range gap that at high volumes hearing voices is no problem but explosions and other sounds are incredibly loud, and at lower volumes it becomes harder to hear voices clearly. the nighttime feature does help a bit in terms of flattening the other sounds but does not help too much in terms of voices. Sony's Vertical Sound Engine is fantastic and helps give the soundbar a much wider soundstage but it still never feels as good as even a basic true 5.1 system unless you add the extra wireless speakers you can buy seperately, and while the system does let you tweak some of the values of the speakers it does not give you the full control to tweak the center speaker compared the left and right. Overall I am very pleased with the soundbar and I think it sounds much better than most other soundbars, and the vertical sound engine makes a huge difference, but if you are looking between this and a true 5.1 system I would recommend that over this.

Let me start off by saying I was skeptical of a soundbar having Dolby Atmos capabilities. I thought how is it possible for a 3.1 system to be able to give you any type of surround sound effect? I was so very wrong. This soundbar is incredible. I purchased the additional rear speakers as well but I tested the soundbar alone first to see what it was really capable of. The range of sound is incredible as well as the clarity. All the features are easy to use and bluetooth connectivity for steaming music is a breeze. The sub woofer included with this sound bar packs a nice punch as well. It really hits. I often play music thought this soundbar (rap, R&B) and everyone will complement and ask about my set up when I have parties. Movies, games, and music sound incredible through this soundbar and to me this is an easy purchase. 1000% would recommend this soundbar to anyone in the market. Spend the money and you will be happy you did. With that being said I would also recommend purchasing the two rear speakers. They enhance the Dolby Atmos effect ten fold. With or without the rear speakers this soundbar is flawless it was made with top notch engineering and is well worth the money.

I bought a new 65” TV for my living room and needed a soundbar with great sound that was under $1,000 and this is the best option. I also bought the rear surround sound speakers and they make a big difference and make this soundbar perfect without being expensive or needing lots of wires. The subwoofer and rear speakers connect wirelessly and only need to be plugged into a wall. My living room and dining room area are connected so it’s a big space but this soundbar still fills the room with clear vocals and good bass. The sound quality is good for movies, sports, and video games. If I have one issue...it’s the subwoofer fires sound forward. This is fine for movies and video games but not music. If you want that deep bass for music that has that sound like a concert or night club...go with a Polk soundbar and a subwoofer that fires down. Don’t get me wrong...this subwoofer is deep and full for the movie experience and gaming experience. Dolby Atmos works great on the Apple TV 4K, the Xbox, and HD DVD’s. I decided on this soundbar after doing in store testing and reading reviews here which are accurate.

I have owned this for about two weeks. I also own the Sony HT-ST5 soundbar setup (purchased maybe 3-3.5 years ago?), so this is my comparison basis. Style 4.5/5 - Nice low profile, pairs well with the XBR-65A8H TV. There is about a 1/4" gap between the top of the sound bar and the bottom of the TV. I put a small lift under the sound bar to hide the top gap and the cords/cables behind it (I have Hue lighting behind the TV and the sighs of the cords is distracting). I would have appreciated some adjustable feet to reposition the bar or angle it. The thin profile is much preferred to the HT-ST5, as the bottom of my LG TV was obscured by the bulky bar - interfering with IR receivers, the bottom viewing windows of video games/movies, etc. Ease of setup 4/5 - Starting it up, it goes right into setup, and pairs flawlessly to the TV. Adjusting the sound on the TV adjusts it on the sound bar and vice-versa. The wireless subwoofer works well and it's nice to have one less cable. Works well with interchanging between apps and inputs. Sound quality 5/5 Crisp audio, loud bass, numerous modes for voice and sound quality. Very reminiscent of my other sound bar model, the number of options really enable you to to get the most sound for the situation. When it's working, sound quality is excellent for the price paid. Connectivity 2/5 *So far, I have noted sound interruptions when using the native Hulu app. I have not noticed it with any other native apps, though I have only tried Netflix and Disney+. I did not notice it with a cable box. I have not tried AirplayThere is no rhyme or reason to when it cuts out; it has done it as soon as 5-10 min, or even 30-45 min. This is unfortunately a well-documented issue with this model. Any google search for the model and the issue will show some results. See https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00200429 . The only way I have found to remedy it is to turn off the sound bar and then turn it back on. This takes about 30 seconds, but if I'm doing it 2-3 times during a 2 hour movie or show bings - it sucks. For a premium piece of tech, I have to say I'm a bit disappointed that the audio issue hasn't been remedied. The only options seem to be "RF on" or "RF off," which don't seem to do anything. This really takes the wind out of my sails with this sound bar, which really is bothersome as I watch more Hulu than I do other streaming providers.

I have to say that this sound bar sounds really good compared to my TV. It has great bass, excellent clarity. I wish the back speakers came with it for that premium price. Hopefully they are discounted in the future or people who bought the sound bar get to buy it at a reduced price. Now onto sound bar. Dolby atmos movies work through hdmi arc on xbox one s. And Dolby does make it feel like you have kind of bubble of sound in front of you. The sound can be poweful if you want it to be and the 4k experience is improved to give you that theater, IMAX feel even in a small room. The subwoofer is premium and big and sounds great. I was impressed with the sub and that it was wireless, that is one of the reasons I bought sound var instead of the usual sorround sound system. No receiver is required, sound bar comes with two hdmi and hdmi arc to your tv. It has an easy to use menu and control is standard. I would have liked a more modern remote like other brands but it does what you need and comes with batteries included. Music sounds amazing when listening through bluetooth. The sound makes a huge difference in your music you enjoy and gives you that clean studio sound. I am looking forward to more Dolby Atmos content in more media to take advantage of it. And discount on the back speakers. The

This has been a really good addition to my living room set up at 2 different locations. The sound is clear and louder than I ever need it and the Bass is very powerful but bot obnoxious. I really enjoy watching movies and experience them with the help of this soundbar. Inwould honestly say that this was one of the best mid-range sound set ups in the market at the time of purchase and still is very competitive. Sony has never dissapointed me when it comes to soundbars.

This replaced my separates system, an upsetting decision. I wasn't expecting much from a soundbar setup but am pleased to say the sound quality is outstanding. Especially the bass which is crisp and not overpowering. I didn't think the Dolby atmos worked though. Until last night that was when I went to answer my door, only to find that the knocking I'd heard was actually on the film I was watching. Turns out it works quite well. Richersounds as always were brilliant in their knowledge and price. I've always found used them because of this

Before deciding on my purchase I visited several Best Buy stores to listen to different 2.1 units manufacturers on display. This is to baseline the quality of sound. Then I compared the 5.1(Sony HTZ9F and Bose 700) and 7.1(Sony HTST5000) units. When I first heard the Sony HTST5000, I was impressed with the sound permeation of its Dolby ATMOS feature. Impressive base and mid range. However as I listened to it more, I found that most of the sound came from the front and did not quite have the 3D sound imagery I was expecting. All the speaker are in front and therefore sound came from the front. The ATMOS sound feature can fool the mind into hearing 3D sound at first. However, the more I listened, the more nuances I picked up, and found it could not thoroughly compensate to create the 3D sound. It definitely needs satellite speakers at the back to achieve the spatial imagery. The $1200 asking price for woofer and soundbar is rather steep, considering the performance. The Bose 700 was very impressive as a standalone sound bar.... very strong base. The combo of the woofer and satellite speakers made it even more impressive. It certainly generated a noticeably better 3D spatial sound than the aforementioned Sony HTST5000. The major knock was the clunky set up, which was not ready for prime time....I read a lot of complaints about this. Furthermore, you need to set up an account with Bose in order to optimize the unit. Not a fan of this...another form of intrusion on privacy. The other knock is the $1500 price tag for the whole unit (including soundbar, satellite speakers, and woofer) was prohibitive. Nice sounding unit but price and clunky set up was a deterrent. The Sony HTZ9F ended up giving the combination of best value and ease of set up. I got the soundbar, satellite speakers, and woofer for $1000. When used as a unit it provided a compelling alternative to the aforementioned models. The versatility of being able to place the satellite speakers to the rear of the room, along with Dolby and DTX surround resulted in impressive 3D sound imagery....better than the HTST5000. The set up was very easy plug and play. I was able to optimize the sound with front and rear equalization control, along with positional placement of the satellite speakers. The Bose unit (with satellite speaker and woofer) was slightly better in terms of base. However, I got 90% of the Bose sound at 2/3 the cost. For the Bose to be effective, the sound needs to be turned up, which is prohibitive in my apartment environment. I had the volume on my Sony unit at 60%, my neighbor complained...it was more than adequate. For my use and value, the Sony HTZ9F won my approval.

I'm only writing this review because I've seen a bunch of bad ones. Let me just say, I've had this sound bar for about 1 1/2 years and it's never lmk down I saw someone commented about sound skipping, the only time I've noticed that is when your streaming a movie, and there's alot of people on the wifi. Ethernet your TV to prevent audio lag when streaming. When watching with a DVD player or listening to music I've never heard a skip. The sound is beautiful you can hear every instrument and you can adjust bass to your liking and if you get the additional rear speakers to make it a 5.1 you'll take your movie experience to the next level. Dolby Atmos is amazing.

Great soundbar! Bought it to pair with our new Sony TV. Easy to set up and sounds amazing!

This soundbar sounds better than i expected...it's in a league of its own. The sound is spread out and around you and the sub gives a nice tight low end. At lower volumes it's not as exciting for playing music but does well if you live in an apartment where you can't open it up. Definitely get the rear speakers though...makes a lot of difference. The only reason for 4 instead of 5 stars is the price; it's a bit steep especially when you add the rears, but anything other than this unit and i would not be satisfied.

The Sony ht z9f is ah clear sounding soundbar with good enough bass an decent dolby atmos sound. I also purchased the rear surround sound speakers to go with the soundbar and it took the soundbar to other level. So I highly recommend adding those rear surround sound speakers. The key for me with Sony ht z9f soundbar was that when pressing the home button on the remote , the settings showed up on my Sony TV screen. Which makes it easier to adjust whatever settings you want instead of trying to do it on the soundbar screen. I would have given it 5 stars, but since the latest firmware update the soundbar cuts out now . I was able too sort of resolve the issue by going into the settings and turning off an on the RF setting and then going into manual speaker settings an then test tone on for ah few cycles.Sucks cause I have to do this every few days or so. Im hope in the next update it will fix my issue. So I recommend not updating the soundbar if it's working properly. Sometimes adding these firmware updates can lead to other issues imo. So if your in the market for ah good soundbar that lets you add rear speakers with decent dolby atmos an earc capability then this is the bar for you. Fyi i say decent dolby atmos cause doesn't have upfiring speakers ,but no soundbar with or without upfiring speakers is truly dolby atmos without ceiling speakers imo.

Bought this sound bar a few weeks ago along with a new sony TV, I was surprised with the sound that is coming out of it. After connecting the system which is super easy took maybe 15 minutes to get it completely set up the sound is great. The sub has really nice base and makes it almost like being in a movie theater. I will be adding the rear wireless sony speakers next to make the experience even better.

Great sound. Easy set up. Only bought because I found a great open box deal. Went from a 5.1 surround sound system with receiver and wanted to eliminate wires. Highly recommend adding the rear wireless speakers to fill the sound. $899 high for this considering it’s only a 3.1. Would recommend if you can find it for under $600.

I returned my bose sound bar for this set. All of the mounting materials are in the box if needed. I took out the sound bar and subwoofer, connected them with ease. I pressed the pairing button for the Bluetooth, and I found it on my TV and phone immediately. There was no need to use an app to make the Bluetooth connection work. Bose blocks the Bluetooth connection unless you use their app. Sony does have an app, but it is not needed to connect. It was very nice being able to just plug the devices in and play. I will say that I have never been a big sony fan. My ps4 has been collecting dust for 2 years. I haven't turned this system all the way up yet, because my wife yells at the massive bass. I will turn it up soon. It's pretty loud on 20. The sound quality is just as clear as bose. The subwoofer really brings the bass. The one thing that I have noticed is that the sound seems to be about half a second ahead of the video. I will do some research to see if this can be corrected with an update. It doesn't seem to be ahead with all video. I noticed it for some videos on YouTube, and just some random shows. It still isn't a deal breaker for the quality. You can't go wrong with this setup.

Ok I purchased this for my parents. It is replacing a full 7.1 Sony receiver and speaker system. Parents were tired of all the speakers taking up space and a few were damaged during cleaning so. I told them they could get very close if not the same sounds from one speaker bar. They were excited to say the least. Must say after setting this up for them and watching a few movies and tv shows it sounds great. I even added the rear add on speakers and placed them on the window sill behind the sofa. Worked great added more depth to the surround. I own a Sony es 7.2.2 Atmos system myself and this bar sounds so good I hate to say almost as good as my setup. For the price of one of my surround speakers. I can see a day when we won't need a full surround system the soundbar will do everything for most applications. Highly recommend. Easy setup. Wireless sub, wireless surround speakers. Still need to plug them into a power outlet of course, but no speaker wire runs.

Easy set up and huge sound for small sound bar....