Sony is well-known for their TVs but they also make a great line of soundbars and audio components to improve the TV viewing experience. With their new marketing slogan for 2024, Cinema is Coming Home, and an expansion of the BRAVIA brand from TVs into audio products, Sony has announced new soundbars and two additional products that are designed to complement their new BRAVIA TV line-up.
BRAVIA Theater Bar 9
The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 ($1,399.99) is Sony’s top-of-line soundbar for 2024. At the core of the BAR 9 are 13 speakers designed to deliver immersive audio with clear dialogue and enhanced sense of detail. The speakers include both newly developed speakers as well as high-performance drivers borrowed from other Sony audio products. The Bar 9 supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio for a cinematic listening experience. 36% smaller than its predecessor, the HT-A7000, and with improved wireless connectivity, The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 can be installed wherever high-performance audio is desired.
If you want to experience truly immersive surround sound, the BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 can be expanded by adding Sony’s existing wireless rear speakers (SA-RS5/SA-RS3S) and/or a wireless subwoofer (SA-SW5/SA-SW3). This will give you up to 7.1.4 channels of immersive surround.
BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
The BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 ($999.99) is the immediate step-down model from the Bar 9. It provides 11 speakers instead of 13 and includes the same audio feature set. It can also be expanded with the same wireless rear speakers or wireless subwoofer as the Bar 9. With its slim design, which is 32% smaller than its predecessor, the HT-A5000, the BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 can be placed in almost any living space.
BRAVIA Theater Quad
Building on the concept of Sony’s previously released HT-A9 home theater system, the BRAVIA Theater Quad ($2,499.99) is a uniquely designed 4-speaker audio system for creating an immersive TV watching experience. Instead of a soundbar, the Quad incorporates 16 speakers spread across 4 slim low profile cabinets which can be wall-mounted or stand-mounted as needed.
Each speaker has front-firing drivers combined with up-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and 360 Reality Audio height effects.
Sony’s BRAVIA Theater Quad can fill your living room with immersive audio, without overpowering the space with large loudspeakers. 360 Spatial Sound Mapping (360SSM), previously used on the HT-A9, virtually places the speakers in the correct location and creates up to 16 phantom channels of audio for truly immersive surround sound.
For added support, Sony’s Acoustic Center Sync (ACS) (also available on the BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 and 9), allows the TV’s speakers to deliver the center channel, directly from the screen, while the Quad can take care of the other channels. This system can be further expanded by adding a wireless subwoofer (SA-SW5 or SA-SW3).
BRAVIA Theater U
Building on the SRS-NS7 that was released in 2021, instead of speakers or a soundbar, you have to set up in a room, earphones or headphones you place in or over your ear, the BRAVIA Theater U ($299.99) rests comfortably where your neck meets your collar, thus it is referred to as a “neckband speaker” and features drivers that are embedded in the sections that rest on either side of your neck.
This speaker delivers a personalized home theater listening experience. This BRAVIA Theater U is ideal for watching without disturbing others or in conjunction with the TV/Soundbar but at different volumes. You can even pair 2 U’s to a TV with customized performance for 2 people. Connecting BRAVIA Theatre U to your PS5 controller offers engaging gameplay without isolating you from others.
2024 Sony BRAVIA Theater
These new models join some previously released soundbars and audio systems within the following categories:
- Flagship: BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, BRAVIA Theater Quad
- Premium: BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
- Foundation (previously released): HT-A3000, HT-S2000, HT-S400
- Personal: BRAVIA Theater U
Comparison
| BRAVIA Theater U | BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 | BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 | BRAVIA Theater Quad | |
| MSRP | $299.99 | $999.99 | $1,399.99 | $2,499.99 |
| Size (WHD) | 235 × 51 × 178 mm | 1100 x 64 x 113 mm | 1300 x 64 x 113 mm | Spkr: 289 x 275 x 55 mm Control Box: 160 x 56 x 160 mm |
| Weight | 268g | Not Provided | Not Provided | Not Provided |
| Speaker Configuration | 2 X-Balanced Speakers | 11 Speakers Tweeter x3 Woofer x4 Up-firing x2 Side-firing x2 | 13 Speakers Tweeter x3 Woofer x4 Up-firing x2 Side-firing x2 Beam tweeter x2 (+Passive radiator x4) | 16 Speakers Tweeter x4 Mid x4 Woofer x4 Up-firing x4 |
| Audio Formats | 360 Reality Audio (360RA) | Dolby Atmos DTS:X IMAX Enhanced 360RA Hi-Res Audio | Dolby Atmos DTS:X IMAX Enhanced 360RA Hi-Res Audio | Dolby Atmos DTS:X IMAX Enhanced 360RA Hi-Res Audio |
| Surround | 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer | 360 Spatial Sound Mapping With or without Rear Speakers | 360 Spatial Sound Mapping With or without Rear Speakers | 360 Spatial Sound Mapping |
| Other DSP Technologies | – | Advanced Up mixer & AI sound separation for 2ch DSEE ULTIMATE Sliding EQ | Advanced Up mixer & AI sound separation for 2ch DSEE ULTIMATE Sliding EQ | Advanced Up mixer & AI sound separation for 2ch DSEE ULTIMATE Sliding EQ |
| Calibration | – | Sound Field Optimization Speaker position / Listening position | Sound Field Optimization Speaker position / Listening position | Sound Field Optimization Speaker position / Listening position / Room condition |
| w/BRAVIA TV | Dolby Atmos | Upgraded Acoustic Center Sync Voice Zoom 3 AV Sync Auto | Upgraded Acoustic Center Sync Voice Zoom 3 AV Sync Auto | Upgraded Acoustic Center Sync Voice Zoom AV Sync Auto |
| HDMI In/Out | – | 1/1 (eARC / VRR / ALLM/ HDMI 2.1) | 1/1 (eARC / VRR / ALLM/ HDMI 2.1) | 1/1 (eARC / VRR / ALLM/ HDMI 2.1) |
| UI (User Interface) | Music Connect app / 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer (Android/iOS) | BRAVIA Connect app / Simple 10-key remote | BRAVIA Connect app / Simple 10-key remote | BRAVIA Connect app / Simple 10-key remote |
| Optional Speakers | – | Rears: SA-RS5 / SA-RS3S Subwoofer: SA-SW5 / SA-SW3 | Rears: SA-RS5 / SA-RS3S Subwoofer: SA-SW5 / SA-SW3 | Subwoofer: SA-SW5 / SA-SW3 |
| Battery Life | 12 hours | – | – | – |
Price & Availability
The 2024 Sony BRAVIA Theater Audio Speaker Systems and Soundbars are available at authorized online and offline retailers.
- BRAVIA Theater Quad – $2,499.99 US/ $2999.99 CA
- BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 – $1,399.99 US/ $1899.99 CA
- BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 – $999.99 US/ $1499.99 CA
- BRAVIA Theater U – $299.99 US/ $399.99 CA
For more details visit Sony’s Homepage.
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