Sony has offered up some high-end soundbar and wireless speaker options, but there is also a large customer base looking for affordable soundbar systems for improving TV sound. If that is your desire, then the Sony HT-S400 might be a soundbar system for you.
There is nothing fancy like Sony 360 Reality Audio, Dolby Atmos/DTS:X, or 4K/UHD HDR pass-through, but for less than $300, there are some practical features that might just be the ticket.
Product Design
The Sony HT-S400 consists of a 35.5 inch wide 2 channel soundbar combined with a compact wireless ported subwoofer with a 6.3-inch driver.
Speaker Complement
Sony incorporates two X-balanced (rectangular) speakers within the sound bar unit. The rectangular shape increases effective diaphragm size and reduces the amount of in-out motion needed to produce sound.
Power Output
Total System: 330W distributed as follows:
Soundbar: 100W + 100W per channel = 200W total
Subwoofer: 130W; 200W + 130W = 330W
Note: No power rating reference point is provided
Audio Format Support
Traditional Formats: Dolby Digital, Dolby Dual Mono, LCPM 2ch
S-Force PRO Virtual Front Surround: This feature creates an immersive soundfield from 2.1 channels utilizing the 2 speakers integrated into the soundbar.
Additional Sound Settings: Night Mode (maintains an even frequency range at low volume), Voice Mode (for when you can hear the dialog over all the other sound effects), Sound Field (provides a surround sound listening experience from two-channel stereo sources).
Control
The HT-S400 can be controlled via the provided wireless remote or control buttons on the soundbar.
Tip: When connected to select Sony Bravia TVs via HDMI, Soundbar settings automatically appear onscreen in the TV’s Quick Settings menu.
Connectivity
HDMI-ARC: This transfers audio directly from the TV to the soundbar using an HDMI cable. The TV has to have an HDMI connection labeled HDMI-ARC or eARC for this to work.
Digital Optical: If your TV doesn’t have an HDMI-ARC connection, this is the next best option to get audio from your TV to the soundbar.
Tip: The HT-S400 does not provide an analog audio connection option.
Bluetooth (ver 5.0): Receiver only. This means that you can play music from smartphones, tablets, and laptops/PCs on the HT-S400 but you can’t use the soundbar to send sound to Bluetooth headsets or external Bluetooth speakers.
Tip: The HT-S400 can connect to select Sony TVs wirelessly via Bluetooth. This means that an HDMI-ARC or Digital Optical connection may not always be required.
USB: Firmware Update Only
What’s In The Box
- Soundbar and Subwoofer
- Optical Cable (HDMI cable not included)
- Wireless Remote Control with batteries
- AC power cable
- Quick Setup Guide
- Instruction Manual
Tip: The HT-S400 can be wall mounted if desired, but mounting hardware is not included.
Pricing and Availability
The Sony HT-S400 is available for pre-order for $299.99 at Amazon, direct from Sony.com or through authorized Sony dealers. The expected release date is set for April 15th, 2022.
