Short answer: the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus. It ranks #5 of 27 all-in-one soundbars by sound quality, rated 3.9/5, at $839.99; the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 ranks #15, rated 3.4/5, and costs $998, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
The Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus is the better-sounding pick. The Ambeo Plus places effects precisely around the room and sounds musical with stereo music too. It keeps a wired aux input, which the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 lacks. The tradeoff: It cannot add rear speakers, so surround relies on processing.
What the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 does well: Up-firing drivers give genuine overhead effects, and TechRadar found dialogue very clear in most scenes. The catch: On its own the bass is thin, so explosions and scores sound small.
Buy the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete TV Soundbars rankings.
The Ambeo Plus places effects precisely around the room and sounds musical with stereo music too.
Up-firing drivers give genuine overhead effects, and TechRadar found dialogue very clear in most scenes.
Prices on this page were last checked November 2, 2026 at 11:36 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus | Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $839.99 | $998.00 |
| Ranked | #5 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars | #15 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars |
| Amplifier Power | 400W RMS | 495W total |
| App | Yes (Sennheiser Smart Control) | Yes (Sony BRAVIA Connect) |
| Aux Input | Yes | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Channels | 7.1.4 (virtual) | 5.0.2 |
| DTS:X | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 3”H x 41.4”W x 4.8”D (75 x 1051 x 121 mm) | 2.5”H x 43.3”W x 4.4”D (64 x 1100 x 113 mm) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (up-firing drivers) | Yes (up-firing drivers) |
| Drivers | Bar: 9 drivers (7 x 2 inch full range incl. 2 up-firing and 2 side-firing, 2 x 4 inch woofers) | Bar: 11 drivers (4 woofers, 3 tweeters, 2 side, 2 up-firing) |
| HDMI Input | 2 | 1 |
| HDMI eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Included Subwoofer | Built-in | None (optional SA-SW3 or SA-SW5 sub) |
| Optical Input | Yes | No |
| Rear Speakers | No | Optional (SA-RS3S or SA-RS5) |
| Room Correction | Yes (built-in microphone calibration) | Yes (Sound Field Optimization) |
| Voice Assistants | Alexa | No |
| Weight | 13.9 lbs (6.3 kg) | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (AirPlay 2, Chromecast, Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect) | Yes (AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect) |
| Bluetooth Version | - | 5.2 |
Related Soundbar Comparisons
How Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar Plus compares with other leading options: