If you are looking for home theater systems and soundbars, you will find Sony’s products most suitable. Their HT-A9, HT-A7000, and HT-A5000 Sony soundbars are their most popular offerings.
While these soundbars are very different, they have some similarities too. For instance, all three are compatible with the SA-SW5 300W Sony wireless subwoofer.
If you want to create the most immersive sound experience in your home, it’s best to know about the three soundbars.
We have covered everything you need to know about Sony HT-A9, HT-A7000, and HT-A5000 home theater products. It will help you compare these products to find out the right one.
Comparing Sony HT-A9, HT-A7000 and HT-A5000
Sony HT-A5000
The Sony HT-A5000 is considered the most affordable soundbar. It has the lowest price among the three. It offers a great sound quality from a single soundbar. Equipped with a true 5.1.2 bubble of Dolby Atomos, it is perfect for small families. The soundbar can be expanded to 7.1.2 channels of Dolby Atomos.
For that, you will need to connect a Sony subwoofer. And, that is its biggest benefit that it can be connected to a wireless subwoofer from Sony’s new releases. This optional addition will upgrade the sound quality even more. The Sony HT-A5000 has a very minimal setup.
It is a single soundbar that uses minimum cables with your TV. Due to its suitable size, you can place it anywhere you want. The best way to keep it is horizontally in a table’s section. You can also easily move it around without worrying about space and weight. Sony HT-A5000 soundbar offers an engaging experience. Considering that it is a standalone soundbar, it can be very convenient. People looking for a soundbar with a limited price range will find this product to fit their requirements.
It can easily cover a small to medium room or a TV lounge. Connect it with a Sony wireless subwoofer, and you can use it for parties as well! The soundbar is equipped with two HDMI 2.1 ports. It is easy to connect with your TV. All you need is to connect one end of the cable to the TV’s ARC and the other to the soundbar. It can also pass 4k 120 signals. Even better, Sony has recently announced that now 8k 60 signals are possible! If you are using Sony Bravia TV, then the setup is even easier.
It automatically opens up and shows quick settings. It allows you to control bass, sound modes, and volumes of rear speakers. You can also configure vocals and dialog settings. The soundbar is equipped with Sony’s best sound modes. For instance, “Immersive AE” offers the best sound quality for movies. It creates a compelling environment that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The Night Mode is also remarkable. It offers a low-end rumble sound quality so that you do not disturb people who are sleeping around. It has a powerful output of 450 watts. It can easily cover a small or medium room. Even if you do not want to add a Sony subwoofer, it still offers a cinematic experience. Whether you want to rock songs or watch movies with the family, it does not lag.
The Sony HT-A5000 soundbar is equipped with intelligent microphones. They automatically detect the position of each speaker. This way, the soundbar can decide how to optimize the sound according to the given space. All of these features are available for only $1000. Comparing the price with other speakers, the Sony HT-A5000 is very competitive. It is packed with powerful features and a limited sound range.
Sony HT-A7000
The next soundbar is the Sony HT-A7000. Like its predecessor, it also supports the wireless subwoofer. However, that is the only similarity it has with the HT-A5000. Other than that, it is a powerful soundbar that makes the perfect home theater.
It is suitable for a large room. That is why it is used for parties, social gatherings, watching movies with friends, etc. Thanks to its extra 50 watts of power, it can offer a cinematic experience for everyone present in its large area coverage. The Sony HT-A7000 is the true 7.1.12 Dolby Atomos setup. That is without adding the Sony wireless subwoofer.
This optional addition can increase its capabilities way more. The main highlight of the Sony HT-A7000 is its effective speakers. It has two Atomos up-firing X-balanced speakers to reflect sound off the ceiling. This creates an effect that elevates the room and offers an immersive experience. Combine that with its beam tweeters, covering a wide room with clear and high-quality sound.
This soundbar has five front-facing X-balanced speakers. They allow the device to produce clear-cut sound. Whether you are watching a movie or listening to songs, you can listen to every dialog and vocal crystal-clear. If you are worried about buying the Sony wireless subwoofer, don’t. That’s because the Sony HT-A7000 soundbar has a built-in subwoofer.
Equipped with Sony’s X-balanced tech, the speaker produces better bass than most other soundbars. The soundbar maximizes the area covered with its subwoofer and provides results with minimal distortion. However, adding the Sony SA-SW5 300 wireless subwoofer can expand the soundbar to 9.1.2 Dolby Atomos. It has considerably better performance and offers the best bass sounds.
Sony also offers other speakers that can be connected with this soundbar for a more immersive experience. For instance, SA-RS3S allows you to create an engaging environment for movies and TV shows. The best part is that these speakers and subwoofers can be connected wirelessly to the Sony HT-A7000 soundbar. And that brings us to the most important part; connection.
This soundbar is equipped with one more HDMI 2.1 input, giving you a total of three ports. You can connect your TV, streaming box, android box, blu-ray player, gaming console, and more. In terms of size, The HT-A7000 soundbar is a half-inch taller and 51-inches wider than the Sony HT-A5000. However, it still maintains its portability and convenience. Thanks to its wireless compatibility with subwoofers and speakers, you can still have a clean and minimal setup.
The only cables you need are to connect with TV and other devices. Usually, it is paired with a 55-inch or 65-inch Sony OLED. This way, you can create an amazing sound and visual experience. Regardless of the TV you choose, you can still make the setup easy and quick. Like HT-A5000, it displays all the settings on Sony Bravia. Since it is costlier than its predecessor, it has better features. Plus, it is suitable for medium to large areas, such as the living room.
Sony HT-A9
At last, we have the Sony HT-A9. It is THE ultimate home theater system you will want in your home. That’s because it can cover a large area easily. It has the benefit of four separate loudspeakers. It is powered by a 4.0.4 sound surround system that takes you to another level of immersiveness. Although the sound system has four speakers, it produces sounds like twelve channels. Thanks to its advanced 360-degrees spatial sound, you can enjoy movies, TV shows, songs, documentaries, and everything else with the best sound quality. All four speakers have a hi-res soft dome tweeter.
The X-balanced woofer offers you more precise and better frequencies. All the while, X-balanced up-firing driver creates the elevation effect. The Sony HT-A9 uses digital amplifier technology. This way, it can produce a power output of 500 watts.
The intelligent Sony tech allows the system to detect the distance between each speaker automatically. It also measures the distance from the ceiling to calibrate the speakers to their best settings. If you are worried that the four speakers will occupy ample space, that’s not the case. These speakers have a great design and are compact. They can be placed on top of a table, stool, etc.
But, the best way to arrange these four speakers is to scatter them throughout the room. For instance, you can place one near the TV, left, right, and one behind your couch. This way, you can get the best cinematic experience from this home theater system. As the icing on the cake, the Sony HT-A9 features the ‘Immersive AE’ sound mode. It automatically understands your room settings. Whether it is a small and closed room or a huge and open living room, the system will optimize the best options. It is suitable for large families, friends gathering, both indoor and outdoor parties.
As for its connection, the HT-A9 features one HDMI 2.1 input and one HDMI eARC output. This way, you can keep the setup clean and minimal. It also shares some similarities with HT-A7000 and HT-5000. These include support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, connected with a wire or wirelessly. It is also compatible with the Sony wireless subwoofer. The HT-A9 also passes 4K 120 signals and 8K 60 signals. It can support both HDR and Dolby Vision. The sound theater system works with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay 2, Wifi, and Bluetooth.
Since it is equipped with Immersive AE, it tells you the best speaker setup locations. Plus, all four speakers can connect to the main device wirelessly. Not only is it best for a cinematic experience, but the Sony HT-A9 works excellent with music too. It encodes spatial audio tracks and produces spacious and detailed sound.
Combine this with the Sony wireless subwoofer, and you have the best musical experience ever. That’s because the addition upgrades your home theater by producing clearer and undistorted bass. You can understand lyrics and vocals, thanks to its crystal-clear sound production.
Sony HT-A5000 vs. HT-A7000 vs. HT-A9: Which One Should You Buy?
In terms of features, the Sony HT-A9 is a great option. It outmatches the other two competitions due to its sound quality. It is also quite different from HT-A7000 and HT-A5000. While the previous two are standalone soundbars, it is based on four speakers. This point also gives an upper hand to the HT-A9. You can place the speakers in different locations to get the best experience.
On the other hand, you can only place the single soundbar in one place. Thus, HT-A9 is more likely to give you the cinematic experience you expect. Thanks to its compatibility with a Sony wireless subwoofer, it is also superb for music.
But, the real question still remains, which one should you buy? Well, there is no straightforward answer. If you are buying a soundbar for the first time and have a tight budget, you should opt for the Sony HT-A5000. While it is the least powerful of the three, it still holds up well according to its price. Plus, it can also be upgraded with a wireless subwoofer. It is good for small families and rooms.
On the other hand, the Sony HT-A7000 is suitable for slightly larger rooms. It can cover medium-sized spaces with its brilliant sound quality. Moreover, it is a significant upgrade to the Sony HT-A5000. It maintains its portability while also offering a cost-effective sound solution. If you are looking to upgrade your old home theater, it might be the best option for you.
If you are willing to spend extra money for premium sound quality, there is no need to look further than the Sony HT-A9. While costlier then its predecessors, it is a huge step up. It consists of four loud and intelligent speakers that can automatically tell you the best locations to set up. Furthermore, it can also be connected to a Sony wireless subwoofer. It is suitable for larger areas and also rocks outdoors.
Our Verdict
That’s the end of this comparison between Sony HT-A9, HT-A7000, and HT-A5000 sound theater systems. We have covered everything from the basics to the features of all these soundbars. Going through this guide will help you decide which is the right choice for your home and family.
If you are using any of these soundbars and feel something is missing, you can always buy a Sony wireless subwoofer. Our favourite is the Sony SA-SW5 300W Wireless Subwoofer, perfect for the Sony HT-A5000, HT-A7000, and HT-A9 soundbars.
Why not pair it with the best Sony Wireless Subwoofer? If you’re having trouble connecting your subwoofer with your soundbar, check out our article here on how to solve the problem.
