Doing the wiring will be a little tricky as you will need to get video to the projector and audio via HDMI ARC to the Bar. It can be done. Our team can help you figure it out and select the right gear for you. Thanks for watching
Hi, I have a small room that has no room for rear speakers. Which all-in-one Atmos surround soundbar would you recommend that works best without rear speakers for movie watching? I am aware without rears I may not get true Atmos effects so I hope for a recommendation that works best in my situation. Also, I have room for a subwoofer placement but not rear.
We would be happy to help with your soundbar. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss your room and the best options. Thanks for watching
Is this Bar 8 with subwoofer better then a Ambeo soundbar plus with subwoofer? Or s good. I own a Sony Bravia XR A80J 65's. The Ambeo never did work good with this TV.
It will be very similar performance in our opinion. Although, we've never tested side by side to be fair. If you own a Sony TV, then a Sony soundbar will work great and you shouldn't have any issues.
thanks for the details. Could you also comment on the Bar 8 and Bar 9's ability to play streaming music and the experience of changing tracks, adjusting the volume when playing music?
Very cool video! I have the HT-A9 and was considering upgrading my tv to the Bravia 9. Then I thought about buying that soundbar for central speaker. Do you know if that would work with the the HT-A9 as a central speaker? Thanks!!!
Yes. Better sound stage, better integration with the rears and subs. 360 Spatial Mapping has been updated and is superior on the new sound bars, you also don’t need RS5s to use it anymore.
I have the 7000 and the Bar 9 as well. I’d say yes it’s better but I don’t think it’s necessarily worth spending another $1400 to replace the 7000. I’m debating whether I want to keep it. If money is no object then go for it.
@@saintkupo It’s down to the user. If you’re wanting to upgrade after 2 years of A7000 usage it’s worth it, especially if you have other accessories for it. You can replace just the bar and get significantly better performance as the rears and subs are far better integrated now. If you’re looking for a great sound bar and haven’t come from the A7000, there should be nothing stopping you if you are willing to pay the premium. I think the soundstage with the Bar 9 is so much more immersive than the A7000 was, even with rears. The rears with the 9 are a totally different animal, they aren’t drowned out by the front heavy A7000 soundstage, particularly with the newer version of 360 Spatial Mapping (which can be used without RS5s on the Bar8/9). Also factor in that Sony will now support the newer bars for 2 years and they are discontinuing the older units.
To us, it was more immersive and had much better low end due to the extra drivers inside. We also really liked the app setup and other new features. If it's your first soundbar, we'd recommend going with the Bar 9 over the 7000.
if buying new and you are not using the 7000 now, i'd say opt to get it i have the 7 and its freaking awesome, just not sure another 1k to upgrade is a real bang for the buck, if you get my point get the 5 sub and rear speakers..... truly amazing..... I would get the 9, but since i have the 7 now, i'm gonna wait a little while
i've got the 7000 and that thing is pretty bad a$$ im sure this new bar has some improvements, but is it a real bang for the buck, sorta like an iphone 14promax vs the 15promax..... it's like if you upgrade..... its like meeeehhhhh
I can't handle how there isn't a good comparison to the previous models and how much better if at all these new bars are to the hta5000/7000!?? I'd like to upgrade the Sony bar and keep my rears and woofer that would connect to them
Definitely doesn’t, the 360 Spatial Mapping is far better than it used to be and the Bar 9 by itself is very impressive. It’s then an incredible package with RS5s and a sub added to the mix.
Sony TVs and many others now have Chromecast built in so it’s not really necessary. There’s no Alexa either but again that’s also on most TVs now. It’s nice to have them but doesn’t make it a reason not to purchase it.
@@wellyboot yes, this is true. I would also like to listen to TH-cam music music or a podcast without turning on the tv. If it has Airplay 2 it should have Chromecast(Google cast). Would be nice to integrate with my system to have Chromecast/Google cast
If your buying this soundbar make sure that your Sony TV does not make a hissing sound from the tweeters, when using the TV as a center speaker. It is still is a common issue across the world with the J, K and L series. I bought an X90L TV from a company that had good customer service and returned both the TV and Soundbar. Some people unfairly notice after its too late to get a refund. Appareently many have had the motherboard changed but sometimes it doesnt work. Sony are terribl for sending out so many faulty unit and not being honest and recalling them because there are so many TVs out there with this fault.
It's about dam time someone finally did a review! I jjust want to say that my acoustic center sync is not working for my setup. i bought the sony theater bar 8. Sony SA-SW5, with sony bravia x90cl, it does not work!!! i connected the s-audio out and the tv volume does not work at all. stupid sony has the least review... please do you think i should get this or sonos arc? help!!!
th-cam.com/video/rpnNNlj8QRc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Fe7fgbW6fwjx1Sib Here is a tutorial to be sure you have it all hooked up correctly. This TV won't be able to calibrate with the soundbar but should still play in unison with it. It sounds like you have a really great setup and you most likely won't hear much improvement but moving to Sonos in our opinion.
I’ve the arc with era 100 and sub gen 3 now for a week and bring it back tomorrow. Massive drop outs with the rears and even Sonos can’t find the problem. I’m going for to the Sony ht-a9 with sw5.
@@AudioAdvice I figured it out. It looks like there's a handshake failure when I have my DVD player connected. To resolve the issue, I have to unplug the hdmi for the DVD player.
It is a new feature for 2024, progress does have to happen or else we would all be using 480i TV's. You can learn more about the 2024 models here th-cam.com/video/adqyzb8r_NI/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching
Sony took a step backwards enveloping the 9 in fabric. It is a dust magnet and after a while looks horrible. The 9 and the rear speakers are out of timbre because while the 9 has all the updates the rears were left as they were and don't match the bar. Sony dropped the ball as usual.
Lets be honest here. If you want the best value, the Q990C/D is the winner. The sony is more expensive, doesnt come with surround or woofer. Gets disgustingly expensive if you want that. The samsung has more drivers, a more impactful sound (again, there is just more drivers in both the bar and the surround). And is WAY cheaper. Im genuinly confused about who decides to buy a objectivly WORSE soundperformance for MORE money. I got the full Q990B for 850 dollars a few months before the C came out. There isnt even a close competitor for the most value in the soundbar space at the moment.
Does the Samsung remote control the sound on Sony TV's? I think that's why most people like myself are looking at Sony because we have Sony TV's already and sick of using two remotes to change the sound. Every time I want to put the sound up or down I have to change the sound on the TV with TV remote and then change sound with my current sound bar with my soundbar remote, it's so annoying.
@@skscotch Im not sure about that for Sony TVs. Most modern TVs and soundbars support eARC and HDMI-CEC which should allow you to control the soundbar and tv with one remote. Might be a setting on your TV that could enable that. Im currently using the Apple TV and have that directly to the soundbar and passthrough to the TV. I can adjust volume, turn on and off both the bar and the TV with just the Apple TV remote which makes things real simple.
@@flyingalexf68 Most people dont want a Gucci bag to flex, they want the best product for the least amount of money. The samsung is just plain better than the Bar 9, and it happens to be cheaper as well. Its a victory for consumers, just need to know about it.
Wow, you must have gotten one of the very first ones. Sorry you did not like it, hopefully you did the calibration process on it before making your decision.
Sorry, we think YT is not the best medium to hear how something sounds. You are listening to the microphone used and your system more than anything. Thanks for watching
I've had the Bar 9 for a good 2 weeks and it is outstanding, particularly with the SW3 and RS5s.
You should add Sony SARS5 as rear speakers, it would be great.
@@ridvan190333 that’s literally what I said I have. 🤣
@@wellyboot
I didn't pay attention while reading :) I read it like SW5 for some reason
Awesome!! We really enjoyed our testing with them! So much better than the last versions.
the Sw3 is good enough or should I spend the extra $200ish for the SA-SW5?
So cool! Looking forward to hearing this in person!
Hope you enjoy!
What room size do you recommend for the 8? Does it matter if I have an older LG OLED E series TV?
Your LG needs HDMI Arc or eArc output. Medium sized room to small is fine but adding a sub is really the best way to go.
@@AudioAdvice My TV room is 14' 'x 18'. Do you recommend the 8 or 9 and with which subwoofer?
Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss your best choices
What are your thoughts on the Bar 9 in comparison with the Samsung Q990D?
We have not compared the two, sorry.
@@AudioAdviceWould be an awesome video! ⭐️🤩
Great review! Question... do you think the sony bar 8 with sw5 sub is better sound than Sonos gen 2 beam with mini sub???
Thanks. Both are good options. Please reach out to our team at www.AudioAdvice.com to discuss which is best for your needs
Are theater bar 8 or 9 suit for 120” projector screen?
Doing the wiring will be a little tricky as you will need to get video to the projector and audio via HDMI ARC to the Bar. It can be done. Our team can help you figure it out and select the right gear for you. Thanks for watching
Hi, I have a small room that has no room for rear speakers. Which all-in-one Atmos surround soundbar would you recommend that works best without rear speakers for movie watching? I am aware without rears I may not get true Atmos effects so I hope for a recommendation that works best in my situation. Also, I have room for a subwoofer placement but not rear.
We would be happy to help with your soundbar. Please reach out to our team at www.audioadvice.com to discuss your room and the best options. Thanks for watching
Ambeo Plus (or Ambeo mini if you have no space) is my recommed, Atmos effect so good
Is this Bar 8 with subwoofer better then a Ambeo soundbar plus with subwoofer? Or s good. I own a Sony Bravia XR A80J 65's. The Ambeo never did work good with this TV.
It will be very similar performance in our opinion. Although, we've never tested side by side to be fair. If you own a Sony TV, then a Sony soundbar will work great and you shouldn't have any issues.
I do not have acoustic centre sync compatible tv. Will that affect the performance of the soundbar or listening experience.
The sound bar will still perform well.
Really great review here! Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you very much, we appreciate you watching
thanks for the details. Could you also comment on the Bar 8 and Bar 9's ability to play streaming music and the experience of changing tracks, adjusting the volume when playing music?
You are welcome. Streaming music works just as it should.
I have the Bar8 with sub woofer and music plays well with a wide sound stage. Adding the sub woofer really makes a difference.
Very informative comparison.
Glad you liked it!
Hi
I have Sony 65x9000H TV. Confused about Sony Bar 8 Vs samsung q990d. Please suggest.
We like the Sony.
@AudioAdvice Thank you.
i have a bar 9 my projector dont have earc how can get dolby atoms from soundbar
Bypass the projector and plug a Firestick or whatever into the hdmi port directly on the soundbar.
You can still use the HDMI in on the soundbar itself to plug in a source like an Apple TV.
Very cool video! I have the HT-A9 and was considering upgrading my tv to the Bravia 9. Then I thought about buying that soundbar for central speaker. Do you know if that would work with the the HT-A9 as a central speaker? Thanks!!!
Thanks! Unfortunately the soundbar won't work as a center speaker with the HT-A9.
@@AudioAdvicethanks for the response.
only one hdmi input?! how can I connect ps5 and appleTv to these?
Like most soundbars it is designed to have your TV do the switching. TV sends audio via HDMI Arc or eArc. Hope this helps
Can u pair the bar 9 with the quad speakers and a sub?
Not with the Quad, but you can add a sub to the Bar 9. Thanks for watching
Im returning my Bravia 9 Ht a9000. The sound isnot much better than TV alone and it requires WiFi password, to eavesdrop on me?
Something seems wrong if you think it sounds no better than your TV speakers.
Are we getting a review of the SF Sonetto G2 soon? 😫
Yes, our samples are due any day. Thanks for watching
Went with the Bar 8 with SA-SW3 sub, thanks!
Nice choice! Thanks for watching
Is it better than the HT-A7000?
I currently have the HT-A7000
Yes. Better sound stage, better integration with the rears and subs. 360 Spatial Mapping has been updated and is superior on the new sound bars, you also don’t need RS5s to use it anymore.
Yes it is! Contact our experts at audioadvice.com and they can help determine if it's worth the upgrade for you!
@wellyboot can't exchange it at bestbuy for it even though I bought it last November. Oh well, they only repair it if something is wrong with it
I have the 7000 and the Bar 9 as well. I’d say yes it’s better but I don’t think it’s necessarily worth spending another $1400 to replace the 7000. I’m debating whether I want to keep it. If money is no object then go for it.
@@saintkupo It’s down to the user. If you’re wanting to upgrade after 2 years of A7000 usage it’s worth it, especially if you have other accessories for it. You can replace just the bar and get significantly better performance as the rears and subs are far better integrated now. If you’re looking for a great sound bar and haven’t come from the A7000, there should be nothing stopping you if you are willing to pay the premium. I think the soundstage with the Bar 9 is so much more immersive than the A7000 was, even with rears. The rears with the 9 are a totally different animal, they aren’t drowned out by the front heavy A7000 soundstage, particularly with the newer version of 360 Spatial Mapping (which can be used without RS5s on the Bar8/9).
Also factor in that Sony will now support the newer bars for 2 years and they are discontinuing the older units.
Great review!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Great review under consideration
Thank you!
Just got the 8 and doesn’t sound that loud could you help me with that ?
If you purchased your Sony sound bar from Audio Advice we are happy to help. Thanks for watching
You really need to add the sub woofer to get a fuller sound from the Bar8.
It’s 2024 and I’m planning to buy a Sony sound bar. Qus is how better is bar 9 than HT-A7000?
To us, it was more immersive and had much better low end due to the extra drivers inside. We also really liked the app setup and other new features. If it's your first soundbar, we'd recommend going with the Bar 9 over the 7000.
if buying new and you are not using the 7000 now, i'd say opt to get it
i have the 7 and its freaking awesome, just not sure another 1k to upgrade is a real bang for the buck, if you get my point
get the 5 sub and rear speakers..... truly amazing.....
I would get the 9, but since i have the 7 now, i'm gonna wait a little while
Is it possible to add 2 woofers to this soundbar?
No, only 1 as of now.
@@AudioAdvice Oh okay, thank you very much for the respond :)
Does this compatible with Bravia KD-85X85K?
It should be!
I see you included my comments from the quad video around the tv calibration and voice zoom 3.0 😝
Sure did! Thanks for pointing that out!
@@AudioAdvice No problem. Think this is the first actual review of the bar 8 & 9 :) I went for the quads myself paired with an A95L :)
Killer setup!!!
@0:40 you misspelled "spatial" 🤦
Thanks for the catch!
I'll keep my 7000 with rear speakers and sub 2 hdmi inputs,remote not everyone carries a phone with them all the time sounds great with my 77 a95l
Thanks for sharing!
i've got the 7000 and that thing is pretty bad a$$
im sure this new bar has some improvements, but is it a real bang for the buck, sorta like an iphone 14promax vs the 15promax..... it's like if you upgrade..... its like meeeehhhhh
Cool to see the ability to calibrate via the app. Nice addition!
Definitely!
I can't handle how there isn't a good comparison to the previous models and how much better if at all these new bars are to the hta5000/7000!?? I'd like to upgrade the Sony bar and keep my rears and woofer that would connect to them
Its better, but if you have last years model its not a huge upgrade. They make improvements each year.
Taking out one of the HDMI In port was a bad idea and a deal breaker.. I think Samsung HW-Q990D would be a good idea and value for the money.
Yeah, we were disappointed with that move.
Do you have any advice for a reliable HDMI Switch?
I definitely agree I was really looking forward for this have the 7000 1 input breaks it for me have everything else needed sub,rear speakers a95l
The Bar 9 needs surround speakers for the sound field to sound good. Otherwise, just turn the sound field off.
Fair enough. Thanks for sharing!
Definitely doesn’t, the 360 Spatial Mapping is far better than it used to be and the Bar 9 by itself is very impressive. It’s then an incredible package with RS5s and a sub added to the mix.
Thanks for the review and covering that Chromecast was left off.🤔 Don't know why they did that.
Sony TVs and many others now have Chromecast built in so it’s not really necessary. There’s no Alexa either but again that’s also on most TVs now. It’s nice to have them but doesn’t make it a reason not to purchase it.
@@wellyboot yes, this is true. I would also like to listen to TH-cam music music or a podcast without turning on the tv. If it has Airplay 2 it should have Chromecast(Google cast). Would be nice to integrate with my system to have Chromecast/Google cast
Thanks for watching!
Love the new tech!
Us too!!
If your buying this soundbar make sure that your Sony TV does not make a hissing sound from the tweeters, when using the TV as a center speaker. It is still is a common issue across the world with the J, K and L series. I bought an X90L TV from a company that had good customer service and returned both the TV and Soundbar. Some people unfairly notice after its too late to get a refund. Appareently many have had the motherboard changed but sometimes it doesnt work. Sony are terribl for sending out so many faulty unit and not being honest and recalling them because there are so many TVs out there with this fault.
Thanks for sharing
You say large room and small room. What do you consider a large room?
Typically a small room would be a bedroom or office. A large room would be a family room or larger.
DTS dialogue control is currently unavailable on these soundbars. I wonder if Sony is aware of this?..
Interesting. We will look into this.
@@AudioAdvice Thank you! I actually spoke to a rep about this, but would love for you to relay what you hear back
It's about dam time someone finally did a review! I jjust want to say that my acoustic center sync is not working for my setup. i bought the sony theater bar 8. Sony SA-SW5, with sony bravia x90cl, it does not work!!! i connected the s-audio out and the tv volume does not work at all. stupid sony has the least review... please do you think i should get this or sonos arc? help!!!
th-cam.com/video/rpnNNlj8QRc/w-d-xo.htmlsi=Fe7fgbW6fwjx1Sib
Here is a tutorial to be sure you have it all hooked up correctly. This TV won't be able to calibrate with the soundbar but should still play in unison with it. It sounds like you have a really great setup and you most likely won't hear much improvement but moving to Sonos in our opinion.
I’ve the arc with era 100 and sub gen 3 now for a week and bring it back tomorrow. Massive drop outs with the rears and even Sonos can’t find the problem. I’m going for to the Sony ht-a9 with sw5.
@@AudioAdvice I figured it out. It looks like there's a handshake failure when I have my DVD player connected. To resolve the issue, I have to unplug the hdmi for the DVD player.
@@geagie get it while it's on-sale at best buy
@@nalmunati thanks for the advise, but I live in Europe. I can buy by best buy, but need transmitters for the power supply from 120v to 240v
Seem like some nice soundbar options, especially with the Sony TVs.
Agreed!!
Someone compared it with the Samsung Q995D?
We have not yet, thanks for watching
Can you have 2 subs playing with the bar 8 or 9?
Unfortunately, no.
Can I use Voice Zoom 3 feature with Non-SONY TV'S ?
Sorry, but its a Sony TV feature. Thanks for watching
@@AudioAdvice Please compare Sony Ht A8000/9000 with Samsung q990c/d !!!!
It's not even a "Sony TV" feature. Doesn't work with any 2023 model, except the Oled A95L. Not even the fabulous X95L. F'''k you, Sony.
Voice Zoom 3 not available with 2023 X95L ? And what other features are not available with top 2023 models? Sony, you're pulling your client's leg.
It is a new feature for 2024, progress does have to happen or else we would all be using 480i TV's. You can learn more about the 2024 models here th-cam.com/video/adqyzb8r_NI/w-d-xo.html Thanks for watching
So... Sony looked at Samsung's older soundbars with the fabric and thought... that's a good idea...?!
Sony’s is better
We enjoy the new look and especially because there are no reflective surfaces.
It's horrible if u own pets and it looks so cheap 😂
@@Ragnarok20854 Exactly!
@@TravionMusicnot nearly lmao
thanks
You're welcome!
Impressive!
Agreed! Thanks for watching!
Sony took a step backwards enveloping the 9 in fabric. It is a dust magnet and after a while looks horrible. The 9 and the rear speakers are out of timbre because while the 9 has all the updates the rears were left as they were and don't match the bar. Sony dropped the ball as usual.
No chromecast or Ethernet port are a huge downside. Most likely, I will pass and find another with better support.
Fair enough. Thanks for the feedback. We agree that those would be nice to see on these.
Wow Beutyfull I like so much
Thanks very much!
Lets be honest here. If you want the best value, the Q990C/D is the winner. The sony is more expensive, doesnt come with surround or woofer. Gets disgustingly expensive if you want that. The samsung has more drivers, a more impactful sound (again, there is just more drivers in both the bar and the surround). And is WAY cheaper. Im genuinly confused about who decides to buy a objectivly WORSE soundperformance for MORE money.
I got the full Q990B for 850 dollars a few months before the C came out. There isnt even a close competitor for the most value in the soundbar space at the moment.
Does the Samsung remote control the sound on Sony TV's? I think that's why most people like myself are looking at Sony because we have Sony TV's already and sick of using two remotes to change the sound. Every time I want to put the sound up or down I have to change the sound on the TV with TV remote and then change sound with my current sound bar with my soundbar remote, it's so annoying.
@@skscotch Im not sure about that for Sony TVs. Most modern TVs and soundbars support eARC and HDMI-CEC which should allow you to control the soundbar and tv with one remote. Might be a setting on your TV that could enable that. Im currently using the Apple TV and have that directly to the soundbar and passthrough to the TV. I can adjust volume, turn on and off both the bar and the TV with just the Apple TV remote which makes things real simple.
My Kia has more power, more seats and bigger wheels than my neighbours Lexus. Why would anyone pay more for less?
@@flyingalexf68 Most people dont want a Gucci bag to flex, they want the best product for the least amount of money. The samsung is just plain better than the Bar 9, and it happens to be cheaper as well. Its a victory for consumers, just need to know about it.
@@Embre_2 Most people buy whatever they want and don't care what anyone else does. Samsung are just straight up trash. Better off going with LG.
I'm sick of looking for a TEST, not endless vocabulary diarrhea ........ blah blah blah blah
Without wifi connection from a router these bars are rubbish
You only need wifi to stream music, they work fine playing back your TV sound without a connection.
There will be no difference in sounds.
And you have heard them both?
Soundbars lol
They aren't for everyone!
Returned it. Absolutely not worth the money!
Wow, you must have gotten one of the very first ones. Sorry you did not like it, hopefully you did the calibration process on it before making your decision.
We got the 8 the first day it came out. I'm not as impressed as this review.
do yall reall just talk throughout this whole video and dont let us hear the quality
Sorry, we think YT is not the best medium to hear how something sounds. You are listening to the microphone used and your system more than anything. Thanks for watching