Premium ‘Soundbar’ system
We’re going with a similar overall plan for our more upmarket ‘soundbar’ system: keep things simple with an app-packed TV paired with a great sound system. We refer to this ‘soundbar’ system in inverted commas – that’s because our first choice for sound provision isn’t a soundbar. In fact the Sony HT-A9 is perhaps more accurately described as the inverse of a soundbar, having as it does no centre speaker at all – merely what look like four satellite speakers connected to your TV via a clever little box of techno gubbins.
Impressive and user-friendly
The HT-A9 is a standalone system, similarly priced to several flagship soundbar packages, many of which also include satellite speakers, of course.
You can place the four speakers around your room without needing to worry nearly as much about positioning as you would in a traditional 5.1 system. Set-up is straightforward, and we were impressed in our review with how good the system sounded with the speakers in a variety of unlikely positions. Believe us, we were sceptical before we heard this sound solution, and we tried rather hard to catch it out. The A9 is well specified for the various codec options, with Dolby Atmos (in the Digital+ and Truehd formats), DTS:X, LPCM, hi-res wireless audio and Sony 360 Reality Audio. It’s a really impressive, user friendly option that will do a terrific job for many people.
Slab of sound
It is, however, unconventional and expensive, so may not be for everyone; which is why we suggest, as a wonderful alternative, the HT-A9’S sibling soundbar, the Award-winning HTA7000. This is a Dolby Atmos soundbar that can handle things beautifully all on its own, without the need for extra satellite speakers, subwoofers and the like – although you can add those things at a later date, if you so wish.
This 7.1.2 slab of sound packs two up-firing speakers, two beam tweeters, five front-facing drivers and a built-in dual subwoofer into a single chassis. As with the HT-A9, set-up and room calibration for the A7000 are a breeze, as is connecting to streaming services such as Spotify Connect, Apple Airplay 2, Chromecast, and integration into a multi-room system – with Amazon Alexa, Apple Homekit and Google Home all supported.
Sony has used a combination of driver placement and psychoacoustic techniques to enhance the width and height of the soundstage, whether you are watching immersive content or not; and it works very well. Alongside the upward drivers, there is the company’s Vertical Surround Engine (VSE), which up-mixes standard content to make use of the height channels. But key to the A7000’s performance are the wide-spaced beam tweeters, which channel audio through a series of flute-like chambers, and Sony’s S-force Front Surround Technology, which is engaged when ‘Cinema’ and ‘Standard’ sound modes are selected. So effective and transparent is the performance of these wide tweeters that while watching the opening of Gravity in Dolby Atmos we repeatedly check there isn’t a speaker immediately to our side.
Award-winning TV
You’ll notice we haven’t yet mentioned the TV in this system. That’s because there’s no real need to say too much about LG’S remarkable OLED65C2; the fact that it is our television Product of the Year tells you all you need to know. The well-specced C2 is the performance-per-pound champ of 2022, managing to outperform last year’s range-topper, the G1, for considerably less outlay. Combined, this TV and whichever of the two suggested sound solutions best suits your space and budget will make a stunning system.
“BELIEVE US, WE WERE SCEPTICAL BEFORE WE HEARD THE HT-A9, AND WE TRIED RATHER HARD TO CATCH IT OUT”