Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 at $298.00 for 3.1ch Sound

Where this soundbar fits in your viewing routine

Amazon price

$298.00

Customer rating

4.1

Customer reviews

106

Typical price over 90 days

$324.02

Difference

$26.02 (8 percent)

If your TV speakers leave you straining to hear dialogue or missing the rumble in action scenes, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 is a straightforward upgrade. This 3.1-channel system includes a wireless subwoofer with a 160mm driver, so you get dedicated bass without running a cable across the room.

We'd consider it for most living room setups where you want cinema-style sound without a full receiver and speaker array. The dedicated center channel keeps voices anchored to the screen, which matters more than raw volume when you're watching a dialogue-heavy drama.

At $298.00, it's $26.02 below the typical price over the last 90 days. That's an 8% savings on a bar that supports the two big object-based formats, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.

Connections and formats you'll actually use

Your signal path starts with the TV. You'll connect the bar to your television, then route your sources through the TV or the bar depending on your gear. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support means compatible Blu-ray players and streaming apps can deliver height and surround effects without extra speakers.

Sony's Vertical Surround Engine creates a sense of height from the front speakers, and S-Force Pro widens the field from the sides. Neither needs up-firing or in-ceiling units, so you skip the install work. Bluetooth is on board for streaming music from your phone, and the included remote puts volume, bass and sound modes within reach.

If you own a compatible BRAVIA TV, you can also access Voice Zoom 3 to lift dialogue clarity. The BRAVIA Connect app handles guided setup and updates from your phone. Check whether your TV supports eARC or ARC, since that affects which formats pass through cleanly.

Matching the bar to your space

This bar suits a medium living room where you want clear speech and deep bass without placing speakers around the sofa. The wireless sub gives you placement freedom, though it still needs a power outlet nearby.

Skip it if your room is very large or you want true rear-channel effects from dedicated surrounds. This is a 3.1 system, so the surround processing is virtual rather than coming from speakers behind you. Our advice is to measure your TV stand first, since the bar sits in front of or below the screen and the sub needs floor space.

With 106 reviews averaging 4.1 stars, it's a well-established option, but a home trial is the only way to know how the virtual height and width effects fill your specific room.

• Check the selected Amazon offer (opens in a new tab)