What the Sony rear speakers add to your setup
- Amazon price
- $398.00
- Customer rating
- 4.2
- Customer reviews
- 41
- Typical price over 90 days
- $465.81
- Difference
- $67.81 (15 percent)
If your Sony soundbar already handles the front of the room, the BRAVIA Theater Rear 8 wireless rear speakers fill in the space behind you. They are designed to pair with specific Sony soundbars and receivers, including the BRAVIA Theater Trio, Bar 9, Bar 8, Bar 7, and several HT-A series models. You get two separate speakers, each with a woofer and a tweeter. That two-way design is what separates these from simpler surround satellites, since the tweeter handles the high frequencies while the woofer covers the mid and low range.
We recommend this pair if you own one of the compatible Sony soundbars and want to move from a front-heavy wall of sound to a real bubble of audio. The rear speakers work with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping on compatible Sony hardware, which uses the extra channels to place effects around and above you. Our advice is to check your soundbar model first. If it is not on Sony's compatible list, these speakers will not connect.
How the rear speakers connect and what controls them
The connection is wireless, but it is not a universal Bluetooth speaker situation. The rear speakers link to your compatible Sony soundbar, which means power outlets are still needed near each speaker. There is no speaker wire running back to the soundbar, though, so you can place them on stands or shelves on either side of your seating without tearing up the room.
Sony also notes that the BRAVIA Theater Rear 8 can connect directly to a compatible BRAVIA TV with the latest software, expanding sound beyond the screen without a soundbar in the chain. That is a niche path, but it is worth knowing if you are building around a Sony TV first. Setup and any adjustments happen through the BRAVIA Connect App on your phone.
Before you buy, confirm two things. First, that your Sony soundbar or receiver appears on the compatibility list, because these speakers are not designed to pair with other brands. Second, that you have power near your intended rear speaker positions, since wireless audio still needs electricity at each end.
Which rooms make these rear speakers worth it
This purchase makes the most sense in a dedicated viewing room where you sit far enough back that rear effects have somewhere to live. A couch placed against the back wall leaves little room for rear channels to breathe, so a smaller setup with the soundbar alone may be the smarter call there. In a larger room with a few feet behind the seating, the two-way rear speakers can finally put the sound of rain, footsteps, or passing ships behind and beside you.
The direct TV connection feature is a nice bonus for Sony TV owners who want surround without adding a soundbar, but the primary path is still pairing with a compatible Sony soundbar. At $398.00, this is a typical price over the last 90 days, so there is no reason to treat it as a limited window. If your soundbar is not on the compatibility list, pass on these and look at the speakers Sony makes for your model instead.
Compatible with select Sony soundbars and receivers only, so verify your exact model before ordering.
Each rear speaker needs its own power outlet, even though the audio signal is wireless.
Two-way design with a woofer and tweeter in each cabinet for clearer surround effects.
Spec sheet
| Model | SARS8.UC2 |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Size | 6.60 |
