Not long ago , Sony handle itssoundbarslike miniAV receiver . They had multiple ports , supported multiple stream protocols , came with impressive , button - festoon remotes , and when you were n’t stare at their built - in alphamerical displays for direction , their handy on - screen menus made the frame-up and pick off a piece of cake .

If you ’re considering the Theater Bar 8 , I strongly urge that you also read myin - deepness review of the Bravia Theater Bar 9 . These product are nearly identical in term of features and functionality . With the exception of some aspects of sound quality , all of my observations hold true for the Bar 8 , too .

Bravia Theater Bar 8 specs

Minimalist design

If soundbars should fundamentally vanish into your video console table area ( which I ’d indicate they should ) , the Theater Bar 8 is a triumph . It has a very low and shallow curved visibility that ’s almost wholly enwrap in acoustically transparent dim fabric . At 43 inch all-embracing , 2.5 inches tall , and 4.5 inches bass , it can sit well in front of all but the smallest of TVs and probably wo n’t block the bottom of the goggle box ’s build . There are no buttons or controls to be seen preserve for a nearly invisible force button on the correct side . It calls no attention to itself at all , and when compare to its predecessor , theHT - A5000 , the Theater Bar 8 ( aka the HT - A8000 ) is gorgeous in its simplicity .

However , if you take simplicity too far , you begin to lose utility . With no controls on the soundbar itself , you ’re forever beholden to the let in remote or an app on your smartphone for introductory action at law like modify the book , muting , and being able-bodied to play / suspension . It ’s not compatible with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa , but Apple users can add it to Apple Home and master it with Siri .

This compromise extends to the Theater Bar 8 ’s seeable index number . The light-emitting diode that occupies the bottom right corner is very distinct but not very useful . unlike colors like blue , blank , green , or light blue indicate your current source ( Bluetooth , TV , HDMI , and Wi - Fi , severally ) , but there are no matching patterns for volume grade , the presently playing format ( e.g. , Dolby Atmos ) , or sound modes ( sound plain , phonation , or nighttime ) . You ’ll need the Sony Bravia Connect app to check on all of these .

The soundbar ’s connection are another area where Sony has mercilessly puke ingredient from its formula . Gone are the ready to hand optical and USB ports , but at least Sony has held onto the one thing that continue to divide the company ’s soundbars from alternatives made by Bose and Sonos : a dedicated HDMI input .

If your TV has four HDMI input and you own three or fewer outside devices , I ’m guessing you ’re not going to be agitate by this , but I acknowledge there are those of you with mint of contraption — especially gamers with multiple consoles . If that sound familiar , suffer an extraHDMI 2.1port that can passthrough most any sign you’re able to throw at it ( 4K/8K / VRR / ALLM / HDR / etc . ) is a very appealing feature . I just bid Sony had carve out a morsel more quad — getting twoHDMI cablesinto the niche on the back of the bar is tricky .

Speaking of the back of the Browning automatic rifle , as you could see in these photos , the power and HDMI connections are on dissimilar ends . Without a built - in cable management organization , you ’ll need to give some thought to how you ’ll obscure those wires .

Another brilliant spot is Sony ’s included accessary . In addition to the remote , power cable system , centre - communication channel cable , and HDMI overseas telegram , you get wall - mount angle bracket with hardware and two rubber spacers . The spacers are optional but very ready to hand if you own a recent Sony Bravia TV , as they let the soundbar sit just above the TV ’s two feet . If you have a recent Sony Bravia TV , you may use the included center - channel cable to press center - channel sound to the TV ’s speakers . unhappily , I did n’t have a compatible Sony idiot box on hand during my limited review .

Easy set up

Getting the Theater Bar 8 set up is comparatively well-fixed . If you do n’t manage about access feature like Bluetooth , AirPlay 2 , Spotify Connect , or Sony ’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping , you could simply tie in the barroom and your TV using the included HDMI line and then secure the bar into a top executive mercantile establishment . You ’ll get telecasting sound powerful away , but that ’s all you ’ll get .

I boost you to download and expend the free Sony Bravia Connect app for Io or Android to do the full set - up subroutine . Sony arrive at you contract in ( or signalize up ) , which I dislike when there are no obvious benefit for doing so , but the set - up itself only take a moment or two .

You ’ll be prompted to connect to Wi - Fi , and then the app will ask if you have a subwoofer or surrounds . After taking you through a agile way standardisation step for Sony ’s Spatial Sound Mapping , you ’ll be ready to go . I ’m not a bragging rooter of Sony ’s decisiveness to utilize Bluetooth LE for command and control of the Bar 8 from the app . It can mean a sometimes sluggish response fourth dimension when render to Bravia Connect from another app , and it also intend you need to be within Bluetooth distance of the soundbar .

Slim streaming choices

I want to remark another field where Sony has pruned its soundbar tree diagram , to use an awkward metaphor . Even though the Theater Bar 8 has Wi - Fi , there are only two ways you could use it . And if you ’re an Android owner , make that one .

Apple iPhone owner can useApple AirPlay 2to wirelessly pelt audio to the soundbar from any app . If you have Spotify , you may also use Spotify Connect to do the same thing . Android owners get Spotify Connect or Bluetooth .

I lend this up for two reasons . First , $ 1,000 is a lot to spend on a soundbar that does n’t have extra streaming options likeGoogle Cast , Tidal Connect , Alexa Cast , or UPnP / DLNA . Without these cyclosis protocol , there ’s no way to hear wirelesslosslessorhi - res audio .

Second , theTheater Bar 8 ’s predecessorhad them all , and I ’m baffled by Sony ’s decision to remove them .

So , unless you have a smart TV or a swarm machine like an Apple TV 4 K that yield you access to your desired sources of music , you wo n’t be make lossless audio on this soundbar . One potential workaround is available if you have an Android phone with Sony ’s LDAC Bluetooth codec — it ’s not a in truth lossless codec , but it ’s good than standard codecs and Apple AirPlay 2 .

Big, powerful sound

The principal result for any soundbar is TV audio , and the Theater Bar 8 delivers a somewhat uneven functioning . Despite having nixed the built - in subwoofer from the HT - A5000 , the Bar 8 still manages to give birth emotional layer of basso .

It ’s not thunderous , and it wo n’t collide with you right in the chest , but there ’s enough weightiness and resonance to give key sounds actual astuteness . Tom Hardy ’s gravelly voiceover as Max Rockatansky in the intro ofMad Max : Fury Roadis a great exemplar — you could sense the steely premix of regret and decision .

Roaring machinery also gets the commodity . The WWII bombardment aspect fromUnbrokenputs you in the cockpit as anti - aircraft antiaircraft gun rocks the crew and their doomed bomber .

There ’s plenty of power if you require to make thing loud . Even at 60 % volume , I take chances severely angering our neighbors . Unfortunately , the Theater Bar 8 gives you almost no control over EQ . In the app ( and on the remote ) , you may adapt the bass level ( min , med , max ) , but there ’s no separate control for treble .

Sony ’s previous soundbars suffered from the same limitations , but at least they offer a few different auditory sensation modes ( e.g. , music , movie , sports , etc . ) for some minor tweaks .

Since Sony ’s tuning favors high oftenness , uncomfortably acute promissory note creep in as you head north of 50 % volume , and there ’s nothing you may do about it .

dialog limpidity is skilful , but there were a few times when I used the optional voice modality to help make matter clear . It work on by boost gamey frequence associated with actor’s line while at the same fourth dimension de - emphasizing mids and bass — which can palpate like you ’re give up one set of sounds just to get another set . You ’ll get better resolution if you pair the Bar 8 with a new Sony Bravia video — this compounding enable Sony ’s newfangled Voice Zoom 3 AI dialogue enhancement , which exploit really well .

The Theater Bar 8 is compatible withDolby AtmosandDTS : X. That might be a thoughtfulness for Blu - ray of light fans — movies on disk often use DTS :X , but soundbar bread and butter for this data formatting is far from universal .

Pro crest : ensure Sound Field modality is turned on , or Dolby Atmos content will be work as 7.1 surround auditory sensation .

Both formats can fork up a wider , deeper , and tall soundfield , creating a much more immersive listening experience , and the Bar 8 does a seemly job of render these item . Decent , but not prominent .

The soundbar copy phantom environs and height talker , but it ’s a mild force — not peculiarly wide-cut or tall , even with the one summit setting Sony give you in the app set to the highest of three levels .

Maybe it ’s because I just wind up areview of the novel Sonos Arc Ultra , but I just was n’t as wowed by the Bar 8 ’s degree of concentration . Given that the Arc Ultra is the same price ( $ 1,000 ) , I expect similar levels of item and precision , but the Arc Ultra is noticeably good .

There ’s one sure - fire room to get the Theater Bar 8 to botch you aside : Pony up for theSA - SW5wireless subwoofer andSA - RS5wireless environs speaker . I suppose you ’ll be thrilled with the result , but at a total organisation price of $ 2,400 , it ’s not a small investment funds .

My observation about telly sound moderate on-key for medicine as well . The Bar 8 is no slouch ; even when using Bluetooth or AirPlay 2 ’s lossy delivery , it drives punchy , alert sound . And yet , I prefer the Arc Ultra ’s warmer tuning ( and I really appreciate its bass / treble accommodation ) .   If there ’s one orbit where the Bar 8 do to separate itself , it ’s Sony ’s Sound Field modality . When use to stereo track , it creates a much more heroic presentation . purist will likely find it vocalize over - processed , and I would n’t advise using it for decisive listening Roger Sessions . But if you ’re having a get - together or you simply require your euphony to require a gravid amount of space , it can be a fun choice .

One of the many baffling determination Sony has made on both the Theater Bar 8 and 9 is to relegate support for its own 360 Reality Audio ( 360 RA ) data formatting to HDMI - only connection . Even more baffling is that the only streaming gimmick adequate to of delivering 360 RA via HDMI areAmazon ’s Fire TV Cube ( tertiary Gen),Fire TV Stick 4 K Max ( 2nd Gen ) , or Fire TV Stick 4 K ( 2nd Gen ) .

It ’s yet another case of simplism : TheHT - A5000andHT - A7000could both play 360 RA wirelessly from any smartphone that had a 360 RA - compatible app like Amazon Music .

I agree with many of the Bravia Theater Bar 8 reappraisal from other publications . This soundbar delivers heavy , bold telecasting speech sound with respectable , if not stellar , 3D sound when playing Dolby Atmos sources . It ’s a good speaker system for listening to euphony , and if you need an extra HDMI stimulus , it has that too .

In its drive to create a simplified product , though , Sony has remove too many of the feature that made the Bar 8 ’s predecessor such an loose soundbar to recommend . In an increasingly competitive blank , be active rearward is simply not an alternative .