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Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-channel soundbar with Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Sony 360 Reality Audio

Sony Corporation promises perfectly room-tuned playback for the new Sony HT-A5000 soundbar, a solution that is designed as a 5.1.2-channel system, and is said to be equipped for content in Dolby Atmos as well as DTS:X.

The new Sony HT-A5000 soundbar is supposed to offer particularly impressive sound, and the manufacturer Sony Corporation even talks about a home cinema solution, because it is supposed to deliver multi-directional sound via Sony’s Vertical Surround Engine and Sony’s S-Force PRO Front Surround, designed as a 5.1.2-channel system. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content can be played back, and Sony 360 Reality Audio is of course also available.

The soundbar can also be flexibly expanded with the optional Sony SA-SW5 and Sony SA-SW3 subwoofers, but also dedicated rear speakers in the form of the Sony SA-RS3S.

Sony HT-A5000 – For a captivating experience

The Sony HT-A5000 is supposed to come up with a playback as a 5.1.2-channel configuration, as already described. First, two upward-facing speakers are used, as well as two so-called beam tweeters, and beyond that, three front speakers for surround sound, as well as an integrated subwoofer for solid low-frequency sound.

As a special feature, the manufacturer emphasizes that the upward-facing speaker systems as well as the front speakers and the integrated subwoofer are so-called Sony X-Balanced Speaker Units. These have a rectangular shape and thus maximize the available diaphragm area. Thus, a maximum sound pressure is achieved with the lowest possible excursion and distortions are reduced.

Sony S-Master HX amplifier

The new Sony HT-A5000 has a total of nine channels and relies on Class D amplifiers, specifically the so-called Sony S-Master HX amplifiers, which deliver a total power of 450 watts.

Sony Vertical Surround Engine and Sony S-Force PRO Front Surround

The DSP-based signal processing for generating immersive surround sound in the new Sony HT-A5000, as already mentioned, relies on two technologies from Sony, namely Sony Vertical Surround Engine and Sony S-Force PRO Front Surround.

As the name suggests, the Sony Vertical Surround Engine is responsible for imaging the height channels, and the Sony S-Force PRO Front Surround is responsible for the vertical surround field. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content can be reproduced, and Sony 360 Reality Audio is naturally supported as well.

Foto © Sony Corporation – Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-Kanal Soundbar mit Dolby Atmos, DTS:X und Sony 360 Reality Audio
Foto © Sony Corporation – Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-Kanal Soundbar mit Dolby Atmos, DTS:X und Sony 360 Reality Audio

Perfect surround sound for every room

In order to offer users a particularly individual and intensive listening experience, the Sony HT-A5000 is equipped with a so-called sound field optimization. With its built-in microphones, the soundbar measures the height and width of the room and, if necessary, the position of the optional subwoofer and rear speakers, and perfectly tunes the sound to the room, according to the manufacturer’s promise. Particularly important in this context is that the sound field optimization can be used when using the soundbar as the only device, but also with optional speaker systems. The simple calibration process can be activated during the initial setup, but can also be restarted later at any time via the soundbar’s home menu.

Foto © Sony Corporation – Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-Kanal Soundbar mit Dolby Atmos, DTS:X und Sony 360 Reality Audio
Foto © Sony Corporation – Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-Kanal Soundbar mit Dolby Atmos, DTS:X und Sony 360 Reality Audio

Optionally expandable with subwoofer and rear speaker

Speaking of expansion options, the new Sony HT-A5000 is supposed to have a few options open right away to further refine the playback.

Sony offers two optional subwoofers, the Sony SA-SW3 subwoofer and the Sony SA-SW5 subwoofer. The smaller of the two models delivers a power of 200 watts, whereby a 160 mm driver and a bass reflex system are used. The Sony SA-SW5 has an output power of 300 watts and relies on a 180 mm driver as well as a passive radiator.

If you don’t want to make do with virtual surround sound, but prefer dedicated surround speakers, the optional Sony SA-RS3S rear speakers are available, which have a total of 100 watts of power and are supposed to deliver a particularly realistic, wide surround sound. They can be placed anywhere or mounted on the wall.

  • Foto © Sony Corporation – Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-Kanal Soundbar mit Dolby Atmos, DTS:X und Sony 360 Reality Audio
  • Foto © Sony Corporation – Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-Kanal Soundbar mit Dolby Atmos, DTS:X und Sony 360 Reality Audio
  • Foto © Sony Corporation – Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-Kanal Soundbar mit Dolby Atmos, DTS:X und Sony 360 Reality Audio
  • Foto © Sony Corporation – Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-Kanal Soundbar mit Dolby Atmos, DTS:X und Sony 360 Reality Audio
  • Foto © Sony Corporation – Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-Kanal Soundbar mit Dolby Atmos, DTS:X und Sony 360 Reality Audio
  • Foto © Sony Corporation – Sony HT-A5000 – 5.1.2-Kanal Soundbar mit Dolby Atmos, DTS:X und Sony 360 Reality Audio

Easy integration into the AV environment

First and foremost, of course, you’ll connect the new Sony HT-A5000 to your TV via HDMI, which supports not only an ARC but also an eARC. An HDMI input can also be found on the Sony HT-A5000, with signals supported in 8K HDR and 4K/120 Hz, as well as Dolby Vision and HDCP 2.2. An optical digital input (S/PDIF) is available as an alternative, and the solution also allows for “wireless” integration.

The integration into the network is first and foremost done via WiFI according to IEEE 802.11ac, whereby the system supports Google Chromecast as well as Apple AirPlay 2. In addition, so that we can also check off this topic right away, there is the support of Spotify including Spotify Connect.

Simple control via voice

The new Sony HT-A5000 is compatible with Amazon Alexa as well as Google Assistant. So you can control many options directly via voice control, although matching smart speakers are required in the network in each case.

Bluetooth 5.0

Of course, Bluetooth should not be missing, so that smartphones can be directly integrated as source devices in the new Sony HT-A5000. Thus, all relevant music streaming offers can be used without network integration, the only requirement being the corresponding app on the smartphone.

It should be mentioned that the new Sony HT-A5000 also has a USB port that can be used to integrate corresponding media as sources.

Equipped for music streaming

As mentioned earlier, the new Sony HT-A5000 offers various options for streaming music, from a wide variety of sources.

It is even the first choice for music lovers, Sony Corporation is convinced, citing the support of Hi-res Audio as well as Sony 360 Reality Audio. Music from Amazon Music HD, Deezer, nugs.net or TIDAL can be played in particularly realistic quality.

By the way, for compressed content, the Sony HT-A5000 has Sony DSEE Extreme ready, an algorithm based on AI technology that is supposed to restore full quality to compressed music.

Ideal for Sony BRAVIA TVs

Of course, Sony Corporation does not fail to point out that the new Sony HT-A5000 is of course ideally suited for Sony BRAVIA Series TVs. That’s why the well-known control solution HDMI CEC isn’t named as such here, they’d much rather talk about Sony BRAVIA Sync and emphasize the seamless interaction between TV and soundbar. This also includes direct control of the soundbar via the TV’s user interface, although this only works with selected current TV models from Sony.

This also applies to Sony BRAVIA Acoustic Center Sync, where the soundbar and TV are meant to become the center speaker of a home entertainment system.

Premium Design

Sony Corporation promises a premium design for the new Sony HT-A5000, as the company itself puts it. A minimalist, omnidirectional block design with refined rounded edges is said to distinguish the new Sony HT-A5000 and ensure that the soundbar can be easily integrated into any home environment.

To contrast this with some bare figures, the system measures 1,210 x 67 x 140 mm, bringing it to 6.1 kg.

The new Sony HT-A5000 will be available in stores from January 2022, at a recommended retail price of around €900.For the optional subwoofers, you have to factor in €499 in the case of the Sony SA-SW3 subwoofer and €799 in the case of the Sony SA-SW5. The Sony SA-RS2S rear speakers, which are also offered as an option, are listed with a price of € 499. It is interesting that all optional add-ons for the new Sony HT-A5000, in contrast to the soundbar itself, can already be found in stores from September 2021. No wonder, since they also serve as optional extensions for the Sony HT-A7000 soundbar, which is available immediately.

Getting to the point

Sony Corporation is one of those TV manufacturers that also develop suitable soundbar systems for their TVs. The latest model from Sony Corporation is the Sony HT-A5000, which is supposed to offer immersive surround sound and easy connection with Sony BRAVIA TVs.

Manufacturer:Sony Corporation
Distribution:Sony Corporation
Price:Sony HT-A5000 Soundbar circa € 900,-
Sony SA-SW3 Subwoofer € 499,-
Sony SA-SW5 Subwoofer € 799,-
Sony SA-RS2S Rear Speaker € 499,-

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Michael Holzinger

Michael Holzinger, founder and editor-in-chief of HiFi BLOG and sempre-audio.at, has been working for years as a journalist in the fields of IT, photography, telecommunications and consumer electronics.

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