Short answer: the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9. It ranks #7 of 27 all-in-one soundbars by sound quality, rated 3.8/5, at $1,498. The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 ranks #15, rated 3.4/5, at $998, $500 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 is the better-sounding choice. This bar spreads sound wide and high enough to feel like a much bigger system, so movies wrap around the room without rear speakers. The tradeoff: Bass is controlled but limited, so action films lack weight until you add one of Sony’s optional subs.
The case for the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8: 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 Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $500 with the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete TV Soundbars rankings.
This bar spreads sound wide and high enough to feel like a much bigger system, so movies wrap around the room without rear speakers.
Up-firing drivers give genuine overhead effects, and TechRadar found dialogue very clear in most scenes.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 | Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,498.00 | $998.00 |
| Ranked | #7 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars | #15 of 27 in All-in-One Soundbars |
| Amplifier Power | 585W total | 495W total |
| App | Yes (Sony BRAVIA Connect) | Yes (Sony BRAVIA Connect) |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Bluetooth | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth Version | 5.2 | 5.2 |
| Channels | 7.0.2 | 5.0.2 |
| DTS:X | Yes | Yes |
| Dimensions | 2.5”H x 51.2”W x 4.4”D (64 x 1300 x 113 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: 13 drivers (4 woofers, 3 tweeters, 2 beam tweeters, 2 side, 2 up-firing) plus passive radiators | Bar: 11 drivers (4 woofers, 3 tweeters, 2 side, 2 up-firing) |
| HDMI Input | 1 | 1 |
| HDMI eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Included Subwoofer | None (optional SA-SW3 or SA-SW5 sub) | None (optional SA-SW3 or SA-SW5 sub) |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Rear Speakers | Optional (SA-RS3S or SA-RS5) | Optional (SA-RS3S or SA-RS5) |
| Room Correction | Yes (Sound Field Optimization) | Yes (Sound Field Optimization) |
| Voice Assistants | No | No |
| Weight | 12.1 lbs (5.5 kg) | 10.4 lbs (4.7 kg) |
| Wi-Fi | Yes (AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect) | Yes (AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect) |
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