Short answer: the Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9. It ranks #80 of 202 subwoofers by sound quality, rated 3.7/5, at $598. The Sony Bravia Theater Sub 8 ranks #32, rated 3.4/5, at $348, $250 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
Why pick the Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 98.0 dB at 20 Hz and 112.8 dB through 40-80 Hz. The catch: The 390.0H x 400.0W x 350.0D mm cabinet and 51.4 lbs (23.3 kg) mass still need deliberate placement.
The case for the Sony Bravia Theater Sub 8: The middle wireless subwoofer for Sony’s BRAVIA Theater soundbars, with a 200mm aluminum driver and a 300W amplifier in a 170mm wide cabinet that can stand upright or lie flat. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured Sub 9 (112.8dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands), and it should fall short of that model.
Buy the Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $250 you would save on the Sony Bravia Theater Sub 8 does not close the gap.
About the ratings: the Sony Bravia Theater Sub 8’s rating is estimated from measured siblings and predecessors rather than its own measurements, with a likely range of 3.0 to 3.7, so this verdict could change once it is measured.
Want more options? Browse the full Subwoofers rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9 | Sony Bravia Theater Sub 8 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $598.00 | $348.00 |
| Ranked | #80 of 202 in Medium Home Subwoofers (30-75 lbs) | #32 of 70 in Small Home Subwoofers (Under 30 lbs) Estimated |
| Enclosure | sealed | ported |
| Output SPL at 16 Hz | 85.1 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 98.0 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 103.2 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 109.1 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 109.9 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 114.0 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 114.7 dB | - |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 112.8 dB | - |
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 112.8 dB | - |
| Dimensions | 15.4”H x 15.7”W x 13.8”D (390.0 x 400.0 x 350.0 mm) | 15.7”H x 6.7”W x 15.4”D (400 x 170 x 390 mm) |
| Weight | 51.4 lbs (23.3 kg) | 26.9 lbs (12.2 kg) |
| Warranty | 1 | - |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth | - |
| Drivers | (2) 8” (200mm) drivers | 7.9” (200mm) aluminum driver |
| Country | Vietnam | - |
| Amplifier Power | - | 300W |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9:
- Monoprice SW-15 vs Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9
- SVS SB-3000 vs Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9
- Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9 vs Sony Bravia Theater Sub 7
- Sony Bravia Theater Sub 8 vs Sony Bravia Theater Sub 7
- MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 12 vs MartinLogan Dynamo Foundation 10
Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9: $598.00 Amazon eBay
Same family: the Sony Bravia Theater Sub 7 (smaller subwoofer, estimated 2.9/5) and the Sony Bravia Theater Sub 8 (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.4/5).
Pros: Independent CEA-2010 testing records 98.0 dB at 20 Hz and 112.8 dB through 40-80 Hz. The sealed enclosure with (2) 8” drivers suits a mid-size room.
Cons: The 390.0H x 400.0W x 350.0D mm cabinet and 23.3 kg mass still need deliberate placement.
Full Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9 review and specifications →
| CEA-2010-A Average (40-80Hz) | 112.8 dB |
|---|---|
| Country | Vietnam |
| Dimensions | 15.4”H x 15.7”W x 13.8”D (390.0 x 400.0 x 350.0 mm) |
| Drivers | (2) 8” (200mm) drivers |
| Enclosure | sealed |
| Measurement Source | Brent Butterworth |
| Output SPL at 16 Hz | 85.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 20 Hz | 98.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 25 Hz | 103.2 dB |
| Output SPL at 31.5 Hz | 109.1 dB |
| Output SPL at 40 Hz | 109.9 dB |
| Output SPL at 50 Hz | 114.0 dB |
| Output SPL at 63 Hz | 114.7 dB |
| Output SPL at 80 Hz | 112.8 dB |
| Warranty | 1 |
| Weight | 51.4 lbs (23.3 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Independently measured by Brent Butterworth; the published figures above come from this ASR subwoofer measurement thread.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Sony Bravia Theater Sub 8: $348.00 Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the Sony Bravia Theater Sub 7 (smaller subwoofer, ranked lower, estimated 2.9/5) and the Sony Bravia Theater Sub 9 (larger subwoofer, rated 3.7/5).
Pros: The middle wireless subwoofer for Sony’s BRAVIA Theater soundbars, with a 200mm aluminum driver and a 300W amplifier in a 170mm wide cabinet that can stand upright or lie flat. Two can be paired for more even bass.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so its output can’t be compared directly with ranked subwoofers; the rating is estimated from the measured Sub 9 (112.8dB in the 40 to 80Hz CEA-2010 bands), and it should fall short of that model. It only works with compatible Sony soundbars.
Full Sony Bravia Theater Sub 8 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | 300W |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 15.7”H x 6.7”W x 15.4”D (400 x 170 x 390 mm) |
| Drivers | 7.9” (200mm) aluminum driver |
| Enclosure | ported |
| Weight | 26.9 lbs (12.2 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons