Main features
Good surround effect
Several connectivity options
Precise bass
After a long wait, Sony has finally updated its flagship soundbar with the all-new HT-A7000. The A7000 soundbar contains a 7.1.2 channel speaker setup with two built-in subwoofers. The company claims it’s an all-in-one soundbar.
On top of that, it’s also capable of decoding Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio, but Sony also uses its own vertical surround digital processing engine to further enhance the audio surround sound experience.
The soundbar also comes with the company’s own DSEE Extreme sound processing engine as well as support for multiple music streaming apps, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Simply put, Sony had little choice but to compromise with the soundbar, especially at a starting price of around Rs 1,50,000.
The company even gave users the choice to choose from several combinations of soundbars and subwoofers. Along with this, it is also possible to add a rear speaker kit for better overall surround sound effect.
There is no doubt that the HT-A7000 contains all the features required for a soundbar or that one can even think of having in a soundbar. But does it sound good and all the added features help in the real world? Let’s find out.
Sony HT-A7000 is a lot of soundbars. That means it has a massive size that sits between 55-inch and 65-inch smart TVs. The soundbar is 1300mm long, which is really big, so be sure to check the space before making the purchase.
The length is pretty obvious, given the number of speakers it packs in addition to the two woofer units.
At the front there is a mesh grille with slightly thicker holes which gives us an overview of all the speakers as well as the small screen which displays the necessary information.
To the side there are two large vents for air exhaust and better bass effect from the included woofers.
The top of the soundbar carries two top speakers which, instead of having a grille or mesh, are covered in fabric. The remaining part of the soundbar has a piano-like glossy black finish. The top panel also features touch control buttons.
Now the whole thing looks pretty premium, but there are some concerns about the durability of the fabric and scratches on the glossy finish.
Our unit has already started picking up dust on the fabric. The glossy finish at the top, sometimes reflecting through the TV, which is annoying when watching movies or shows. But it’s not a deal-breaker.
All the ports are placed on the back of the soundbar and it comes with HDMI 2.1 ports along with USB and other necessary ports.
Overall, the Sony HT-A7000 is a high-end soundbar that looks good on the eyes and will go with most interior designs.
The soundbar is also compatible with two subwoofers and a rear speaker kit. We combined the SA-SW5 with the SA-RS3S soundbar and rear speaker kit. The subwoofer unit is clean and has a completely minimalist design.
It’s a down-firing unit with raised feet that helps minimize vibration so neighbors won’t complain at midnight.
The rear speaker kit also matches the design and aesthetics of the soundbar with a mesh grille design on the front and Black-out finishes around.
The soundbar and rear speaker kit are wireless, and pairing was quick and never dropped.
Apart from that, the soundbar also comes with an infrared remote control. While the remote is packed with features, it’s a pretty busy remote with buttons for just about everything. Plus, it can also work as a universal remote, given you have a Sony TV. We expect Sony to improve the remote a bit by offering a small, modern remote with a soundbar that costs as much.
Let’s start with the connection. The soundbar comes with 1-eARC port and 2 HDMI ports. This allows users to connect multiple devices at the same time. Plus, the HDMI 2.1 ports allow it to handle up to 8K of content without any hassle.
The only problem here is that the ports don’t support VRR (variable refresh rate) or ALLM (automatic low latency mode). So, if someone wants to use the soundbar for gaming, they will lose those functions. This can also be solved by plugging the consoles directly into the TV.
Connectivity is not an issue here. The soundbar offers plenty of options including Bluetooth as a connectivity option.
When it comes to the setup part, Sony has always been very good at it. Like other high-end soundbars, the HT-A7000 also comes with on-screen software that guides users to easily configure the soundbar.
The setup screen automatically analyzes the environment and automatically adjusts the quality to deliver the best possible output. The company calls this “Sound Field Optimization”.
In our test, the setup process was quick and without any hiccups or issues as such.
Another important thing to note is that the on-screen software also allows users to connect to music streaming platforms like Spotify, configure Alexa and set a particular mode.
But, the most important part is the ability to manually adjust the speakers and their output. Here, users can choose how far each speaker is from the wall or from where they are as well as the output decibel for a better and more optimized listening experience.
Yes, it’s a bit of a tedious task, but it’s just a one-time process and we did it and the difference was noticeable.
Let’s start with the basics here. The HT-A7000 supports Dolby ATMOS, DTS:X object-based decoding and 360 Reality Audio support. It includes four sound modes: Auto, Cinema, Music and Standard. Moreover, the soundbar also supports Hi-Res audio.
Let’s talk about sound quality. For starters, the 7.1.2 channel speaker setup on the soundbar itself is enough to enhance the listening experience. Voices are crisp and clear and there is a dedicated voice boost mode which further improves voice quality.
In our test, we never had a problem listening to voices, even when there’s a lot going on in the background of the scene.
For example, in the Avengers Endgame scene, where Captain America says “Avengers Assemble”. He says it very quietly and with the background music it becomes really hard to hear, but on the HT-A7000 there were no such problems.
Let’s talk about the bass output with the additional subwoofer. Undoubtedly, in the pursuit of creating the all-in-one soundbar, Sony has done a pretty good job. The bass effect is definitely there and it is also noticeable. But don’t expect it to go as low as a dedicated soundbar. If you’re not bass hungry, the built-in setup won’t disappoint.
If you’re looking for that rumbling effect that gets your heart pumping, then the additional subwoofer unit is a must. We highly recommend purchasing one if you want to use the HT-A7000 to its full potential.
The subwoofer unit we were using is really bass and loud and precise and precise. Well, too many “and’s” there. But what we mean is that this is one of the best subwoofers we’ve seen in years. The accuracy of the bass effect was surprisingly good and in fact it’s also accurate, not a single random bass rumble we’ve ever heard.
The rear speaker is optional, but it nicely widens the soundstage of the soundbar while providing a new sonic dimension while watching movies.
We tested the whole setup on several things. We started by watching a regular news channel from the DTH connection and the soundbar really managed to scale it to deliver a very good sound output. Then we watched Dolby ATMOS and DTS:X content from our local library, Prime Video and Netflix and the experience was one of the best we’ve had.
Overall, the Sony HT-A7000 is a versatile soundbar that delivers serious sound output and is capable of delivering a home theater-like experience.
At a starting price of Rs 1,50,000, the Sony HT-A7000 is one of the best soundbars you can buy in the market. It has almost everything, including the latest generation HDMI ports, support for major codecs and audio processing technologies. Plus, the inclusion of a digital processing engine takes things to another level.
However, he is certainly not alone in this space. The Samsung Q950A soundbar is a pretty serious contender and it’s also slightly cheaper compared to all the bells and whistles like the subwoofer and rear speaker kit.
But Sony has its own edge over the competition. For example, the on-screen menu and Quick Setup Wizard make things easier for users. Plus, the soundstage is too good for a home theater setup.
So whether you should buy it or look for an alternative. The answer is simple, if you’re looking to shell out the cash for a home theater setup and want something that offers the best of almost everything, then this soundbar won’t disappoint.
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