SONY HT-A7000

At the top end of the soundbar market, there are two schools of thought. The first is that costlier models warrant additional speakers for enhanced bass and surround performance. The second is that a single, high-quality soundbar should be able to competently deliver excellent treble clarity, bass and a room-filling sound on its own – with extra boxes available (though not necessary) to suit the taste, homes and pockets of the buyer. The Sony HT-A7000 falls firmly into the latter camp. Standing proudly on its own two feet, the A7000 doesn’t require any additional speakers to justify its hefty price point or its position as Sony’s flagship soundbar. 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. If you want to add to the HT-A7000, you can almost double its price with a choice of subwoofers and surround speakers. Now, while we understand that low frequencies are most faithfully reproduced by larger drivers, and that reflected surround sound is no match for direct audio, we often find multi-box soundbar-based systems aren’t as cohesive as a whole. At a hefty 8.7kg and 8cm high, the HT-A7000 is made up of a blend of materials, textures and shades of black, from the fabric covering the upward drivers and a perforated metal front grille, to the polished glass top surface with capacitive function buttons. Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2 and Google Chromecast are all present, and the HT-A7000 easily integrates into a multi-room system, with Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Home all supported. Two HDMI 2.1 pass-through sockets are capable of handling 8K@60Hz, 4K@120Hz, and Dolby Vision HDR. There are sockets for eARC/HDMI out, analogue and optical audio inputs, USB type-A, power and an analogue output for Sony’s Acoustic Center Sync, which lets a compatible Bravia TV become part of the soundbar’s centre channel. Dolby Atmos (in both Digital+ and TrueHD formats), DTS:X, LPCM, wireless hi-res audio and Sony 360 Reality Audio are all supported. A combination of driver placement and psychoacoustic techniques to enhance the width and height of the soundstage is effective. Alongside the upward drivers, the Vertical Surround Engine (VSE) up-mixes standard content to make use of the height channels. But more key to the A7000’s overall 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. So effective and transparent is the performance of these wide tweeters that while watching the opening scene of Gravity in Dolby Atmos we repeatedly check that there isn’t a speaker immediately to our side.

Convincing projection

In terms of height and precision, the performance is similar to that of the Sonos Arc, but the width of the soundstage and its forward projection is more convincing. It’s not the same as having direct audio from the speaker above or to the side, but it’s effective and dramatically enticing, enriching the viewing experience. The integrated sub also impresses with a taut, controlled and powerful performance that we haven’t heard from a single soundbar besides the pricier Sennheiser Ambeo. Even when we push it to the extremes with the pulsating synths of Blade Runner2049’ s Vangelis-inspired score, the soundtrack is reproduced with an appropriately epic sense of scale while retaining finer details. Dropping into quieter moments, the A7000 neatly picks out dialogue with transparent clarity. With Nomadland's more restrained but still compelling Atmos sound design, the A7000 confirms its ability to handle lighter, nuanced sounds. The excellent depth of field means that changes of location are stark and powerful. Inside the van, with the subtle noises of the world passing by outside, the viewer feels tightly enclosed. From the cavernous clanking Amazon plant to the gentle winds and vast empty reverb of the open desert, the A7000 places you firmly into each space. Streaming music, we find the deep, hypnotic bass in Björk’s ‘Hyperballad’ is punchy, confident and rounded, with only the very lowest notes flattened off slightly. Switching to the dynamically diverse ‘Et In Carnatus Est’ and ‘Santus’ of Mozart’s ‘Grosse Messe’ there’s a pleasant warmth and consistency in the strings across the lower midrange, and the sub makes a decent attempt at the majestic timpani rolls and organ bursts. Here the vertical surround engine is an enjoyable addition and seems to add a touch of sweetness to the higher frequencies. The A7000 produces powerful, cinematic audio and an immersive, detailed soundfield from a single soundbar that impresses more than most multi-box systems. The A7000 does not feel wanting of any extra support. It’s an incredibly competent, future-proofed performer that sets a new benchmark for Dolby Atmos soundbars at its price.