Sony HT-A7000 Review: Sonic boom
Verdict
A terrific operation across a range of sources, the Sony HT-A7000 is a sonic delight with moving-picture show and music
Pros
- Well-featured
- Excellent sonic performance
- Potent bass for a single bar
- Terrific music performance
Cons
- Needs enough of infinite
- Calculation subwoofer and rear channels is expensive
- Standalone bar is pricey
Availability
- UK RRP: £1199
- U.s. RRP: $1299
- Europe RRP: €1300
- Canada RRP: CA$1699
- Australia RRP: AU$1699
Central Features
- Sound Field Optimization Measures width and height of room to optimise soundbar'due south acoustic delivery
- Due south-Forcefulness PRO Front Surround and Vertical Environs Engine Combine to create virtual overhead and surroundings-sound performance from a unmarried bar
Introduction
It'due south been a while since Sony's last flagship soundbar, and given the revolving door that sees new bars arrive each year, it feels well overdue for a successor.
Like the previous model, the new flagship HT-A7000 can decode Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, but Sony is using a twinned approach to create height channels, deploying both physical upward-firing speakers and the digital processing of its Vertical Environment Engine. The HT-A7000 also brings a more than appreciative ear to music playback, with Sony claiming improvements in that surface area.
And it's admittedly packed to the gills with features. The HT-A7000 is a ane-box soundbar that aims to everything yous could feasibly want. The question is, does it?
Design
- Idiosyncratic design
- Needs plenty of infinite
- Excellent build quality
The HT-A7000's sense of attire is, shall I say, eclectic. Using a combination of glass, felt, metal, and moulded plastic, Sony describes the approach as ane of a mutual omnidirectional block concept. I have no idea what that ways, but the results are… interesting.
Like a piece of art, you'll stare at the A7000 before realising that information technology, at the very least, is a more interesting sight than the soundbars with a wraparound fabric from a Scandi bazaar business firm. I capeesh the drinking glass superlative surface, which echoes the bar's premium build and I like that it is a highly unusual cloth to use. In a dark room it nicely reflects what's on the screen just some may not like the effect.
The HT-A7000 is also a lot of soundbar. At 80mm tall information technology'll fit beneath TVs just at 1300mm broad and 142mm deep, in modern parlance this soundbar might be described as 'thicc'.
Behind the perforated grille you can spy the drivers, and at that place's some nerdish excitement when they start moving. There's an accordingly sized and readable LED screen for tracking inputs and formats, and at either stop are bass ports.
On the glass surface are touch controls (power, source, Bluetooth, volume, and a 360 Reality Audio demo), although you risk getting your greasy mitts over it and spoiling the aesthetics. Around the rear are the connections, and the manner they're labelled did take me a few seconds to figure out which HDMI port is which.
The remote lacks backlit buttons but the layout is excellent. Button presses are responsive and feel good, and you lot can't ask for much more than that.
Features
- Enough of ways to stream audio
- Born scale
- Full-screen user interface
As y'all'd expect for a soundbar northward of £1000, the HT-A7000 is bursting at its seams with features. If there's a manner of playing audio, the A7000 conceivably has the means to do and so.
At that place's built-in Chromecast, AirPlay two, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth five.0, with Sony'southward own high-quality LDAC codec upping the Bluetooth bandwidth. Utilize the USB input and the A7000 can play everything from MP3 to DSD music files. Audio extends from Atmos (via Dolby Digital Plus or TrueHD), to various DTS incarnations (including DTS:X), all the way to legacy Dolby Digital and DTS formats.
Both Sony's Vertical Surroundings Engine and S-Force PRO Front end Surround characteristic. The former creates overhead channels almost, while the latter fires sound towards the listener to create the impression of wider, wrap-effectually soundfield.
This is farther enhanced by the Sound Field Optimization feature, which emits a series of tones for the onboard microphones to measure the meridian and width of a room to optimise its performance. It's worth running if yous movement the soundbar after initial set-up.
There are two HDMI inputs, a HDMI out (eARC) for a Telly, an optical-audio, counterpart (stereo mini), and USB inputs, with the ii HDMI inputs able to passthrough Dolby Vision (at 4K/lx), HLG and HDR10. For TVs without eARC, any Atmos indicate will be the slightly less capable and lossy Dolby Digital Plus version.
The driver set-up consists of upfiring speakers, two beam tweeters to disperse sound out wide; along with v forepart speakers and a dual subwoofer configuration that uses Sony's 10-Balanced speaker engineering, which claims to produce less distortion, ameliorate vocal clarity, and punchier bass. Altogether that's a 7.1.2 layout powered by 500W.
With Sony's DSEE Extreme and 360 Reality Audio, the soundbar tin upscale compressed audio files in existent time and play spatial audio tracks respectively. The Acoustic Middle Sync matches action and dialogue on screen with a uniform Bravia Goggle box, and at that place'south an integrated user interface when paired with a Bravia TV.
Ane prickly issue I had with Sony's HT-G700 was its dense menu organisation; navigation felt like the Seinfeld episode where Jerry and co. get lost in motorcar park. The HT-A7000 opts for a total-screen interface (via the Home button) where you tin can set up the bar upward, switch inputs, connect to the network, and calibrate the speaker. Download the Sony Music Centre app and that's another means of operation.
Sony offers 2 subwoofers in different sizes that can exist added in conjunction to the A7000 – the 300W rated SA-SW5 and the smaller 200W SA-SW3, which cost £699 and £449 respectively. Throw in the SA-SR35 rear speakers (£449), and it's over £2000 for the complete system, much more than the LG-SN11RG or Samsung'south competing efforts.
Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are included, merely they crave an external speaker to have reward of. Given how much the HT-A7000 does cram in, that is a surprise.
Sound quality
- Crisp, clear, concise performance
- Strong bass operation for a unmarried bar
- Excellent music functioning
The HT-A7000 plays Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks but can also up mix non-immersive audio to '3D'. The combination of the physical upfiring speakers and Vertical Sound Engine delivers i of the most convincing 'height' performances I've heard from a soundbar in 2021.
That withal, much like the HT-G700, I'yard not as convinced of the HT-A7000'due south claims of surround sound with its S-Force PRO technology. I didn't often get the sense effects were directed to the listening position in what was, for me at least, a front-heavy soundstage. I feel the Samsung HW-Q900A produces more than width with some films although the Sony maps sounds superbly onto a screen.
Where Sony bests its Samsung counterpart is in the heights, digging out more than clarity and definition. Height furnishings in the kickoff race sequence from Ready Player One are articulated better, the T-King and King Kong accept a stronger presence equally they swoop into the activity with effective handovers between the drivers.
Tonally the Sony is abrupt and well-baked, fugitive sounding processed or strident with high frequencies or sibilant with voices. Dialogue is crisply delivered in Guardians of the Milky way vol.2, with a distinct difference betwixt Quill's vocalism, Drax's baritone and Gamora's exasperation. Vocal clarity is well handled, although delivery tin can a lack some emotion, the crispness overrides whatever sense of warmth.
The chase sequence in vol.2 that leads to the Guardians' Milano being wrecked makes an fantabulous case for the Sony'southward accuracy in placing effects. The shifts in direction performed by the Milano stick to the screen similar glue, equally does dialogue and the direction of the light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation blasts aimed at the ship. The rest of effects, dialogue, and music is handled expertly, the A7000 showing skilful sense of what to bring to fore for a articulate and concise soundstage.
Bass impresses for a single bar system, noticeable in the absolutely crunching body shots Thanos lands on Hulk at the beginning of Infinity War. Bass doesn't become every bit deep equally a divide subwoofer could – but it is convincingly powerful, and explosive for a single bar system. Blade Runner 2049's soundtrack invokes a little distortion, but the scene in V for Vendetta where V blows up the Old Bailey is pleasingly gratuitous it, and built-in sub doesn't muck up clarity elsewhere in the frequency range.
More than examples of its bass prowess come in opening siege of Tenet. The bass in Ludwig Göransson's score has enough of power, and the A7000 doesn't strain to evangelize gunshots and punches with force, resulting in a set-slice that's both exhausting and exhilarating.
It's also an impressively nuanced and revealing soundbar offer excellent levels of detail. The 'reverse' airport scene in Tenet sees the Sony preserve more subtle details like the sounds of the character'south animate appliance in among the chaos.
Like is true with Darren Aronofsky's mother!, the ambience of scenes brought to bear brilliantly. Effects I hadn't noticed equally much with other soundbars – the sounds of birds exterior the house or the 'noise' of nature throughout – are brought through with excellent definition. The Sony is a soundbar that reveals every nook and cranny of that picture's excellent sound mix.
With Shutter Island (DTS-Hard disk drive 5.ane) and the A7000'south experience for quiet/loud moments is sharply conveyed, bringing bear upon, dynamism, and intensity to the soundtrack. In a way, the performance of the bar heightens engagement with the motion picture, the emotional beats country more than effectively.
Switch to less explosive and non-immersive programming – The Trip Office II from serial four of Seinfeld – and the Sony's nous for dialogue placement in the mouths of characters again appeals – but the delivery still feels chilly. Fifty-fifty the laughter track feels thinly defined in Standard mode.
Over the air broadcast programming fares better with voices more smoothly relayed. Loftier frequencies are sharply conveyed, the midrange roomy and bass effective. Watching Countdown is not a chore for this soundbar, but it's a natural sounding presentation that doesn't take yous out of what you're watching.
Musically, some tweaking is required. It'due south initially bothersome that choosing another sound fashion carries over previous settings. Listening to music over Spotify Connect in Music mode and Baton Joel's We Didn't Start the Fire sounded cluttered and thin. I'd left Immersive AE feature on (for upmixing to 3D), and dialogue heave, which led to a confusing performance.
Music mode delivers a crisp and make clean tone, but I don't recall it's the all-time mode equally it doesn't quite derive as much emotion from vocals. Cinema mode is amend as it applies a smoother tone, more warmth, and more bass, too.
Beak Withers' The Same Dear That Makes Me Express mirth sounds superb. Wither's vocalisation is presented all the particular the A7000 can muster, while bass elements take weight and depth, with instruments impressively and naturally realised.
Moving to 360RA tracks and Ain't No Sunshine benefits from more depth, though it sounds thin in places. Britney Spears' Toxic gets a wider soundstage – equally big every bit the soundbar itself – and there's height as instruments are placed above the soundbar. Henry Mancini'south Dream a Little Dream of Me and For the Good Times both sound spacious with sport an enthusiastic sense of rhythm; with the Sony producing some sharp leading-edge clarity in its description of the piano notes.
America from the new Due west Side Story in Atmos is a sprightly rendition, voices clear and shifts in tone delivered with dynamism and energy. Voices announced in a higher place, behind and to the sides of the soundbar but if you're expecting a 'tall' operation, mayhap check your expectations a petty – information technology's slightly bigger than the soundbar itself – and with the Immersive AE function on there'south a sweet spot to accept into account. When it works though, information technology is terrific.
Overall, the music performance excels with excellent timing and tonality of instruments and voices, a natural delivery of the mid-range, and a sharp and believing top end combined with a punchy low-terminate. Soundbars have rarely sounded this expert with music.
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Should yous buy it?
An splendid single-bar with movies and music If a soundbar that'southward as skillful with movies as it is with music is on your shopping wish list, the Sony delivers on both fronts with an first-class and natural performance
If yous're non willing to pay that much for a unmarried bar There's no doubting the Sony puts in an authoritative functioning, but the bar itself is expensive and if you have designs on adding a subwoofer or rear speakers, the overall price skyrockets
Last Thoughts
While calling the Sony HT-A7000 a 'soundbar' does describe its purpose, it's also seems incapable of truly describing its talent. While not Sennheiser Ambeo levels of performance, it is a formidable for a i-box arrangement at this price.
Information technology does need space to operate though, its virtual surround sound ambitions mayhap require a more suitable surround to bring them out, and calculation a subwoofer or rear speakers adds to the already premium price.
Despite that, equally single bar it has so much to offer, its functioning across a range of sources is excellent. Its flexibility makes for a system that'due south as good with movies as information technology is with music. Around its cost, the Sony HT-A7000 is the immersive soundbar to beat out.
How we test
We test every soundbar we review thoroughly over an extended period of fourth dimension. We employ industry standard tests to compare features properly. We'll e'er tell you what we observe. We never, ever, accept coin to review a production.
Detect out more about how nosotros test in our ethics policy.
Tested over several weeks
Tested with a variety of content and sound formats
Tested with real world use
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FAQs
Tin can the Sony HT-A7000 passthrough HDR10+?
No, information technology tin can simply passthrough HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision signals through its HDMI inputs.
Does the HT-A7000 back up ALLM and VRR?
At the moment the HT-A7000 doesn't support ALLM or VRR. We are waiting on give-and-take as to when the soundbar will support it.
Full specs
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Subwoofer?
Power Consumption
Audio Formats
Vocalism Assistant
Rear Speaker
Multiroom
Sound (Power output)
Connectivity
ARC/eARC
Colours
Driver (due south)
ASIN
Release Appointment
First Reviewed Date
Model Number
Weight
Size (Dimensions)
Manufacturer
AUD RRP
CA RRP
Usa RRP
U.k. RRP
EU RRP
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Jargon buster
3D Sound
A new feature which aims to make audio in games more than immersive by having the sounds from each game surround the player in a three-dimensional way.
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos is an object-based sound format. Information technology expands on 5.1 and 7.ane soundtracks by adding overhead channels. Sounds are referred to as "audio objects", of which there can be up to 128 audio channels, and these 'objects' can be accurately positioned within a 3D soundscape. This allows soundtracks that support the technology to identify sounds in a higher place and effectually the listener with compatible kit.
eARC
eARC (Enhanced Sound Return Channel) is the update to ARC and it boosts the bandwidth and speed, making room for object-based audio surround formats such as DTS:X and Dolby Atmos to be sent directly to an AV receiver/soundbar.
Source: https://www.trustedreviews.com/reviews/sony-ht-a7000
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