A soundbar built for everyday TV watching
- Amazon price
- $198.00
- Customer rating
- 4.3
- Customer reviews
- 2317
- Typical price over 90 days
- $261.36
- Difference
- $63.36 (24 percent)
If your TV's built-in speakers make dialogue hard to follow, the Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar is a practical upgrade. Its speaker design and signal processing work to bring out vocal clarity, so you can catch quiet conversations in dramas and news without constantly adjusting the volume.
The included wireless subwoofer has a 160mm speaker unit, adding deeper bass for movie soundtracks and music. Front surround processing and Dolby Digital create a wider sense of space, which helps action scenes feel more engaging in a living room.
At $198.00, it's $63.36 below the typical price over the last 90 days. We'd consider it a strong value if you want better TV audio without running cables across the room.
How it connects to your TV and sources
You can hook it up with either HDMI ARC or an optical cable, so it works with most modern TVs. If your TV supports HDMI ARC, that single connection lets the TV remote control the soundbar's volume and power.
For compatible BRAVIA TVs, the soundbar integrates with the TV's Quick Settings menu, putting sound adjustments right on the screen. Bluetooth is also on board, letting you stream music from your phone, tablet or laptop.
Before buying, check whether your TV has HDMI ARC or an optical output. If you plan to wall-mount, confirm you have the right brackets and that the flat back will sit flush in your space.
Where this soundbar fits and when to skip
This 2.1ch setup suits a living room or bedroom where you want clearer dialogue and more bass than a TV alone provides. The compact remote and OLED display make it easy to adjust settings, and the wireless subwoofer gives you flexible placement near a power outlet.
If you're building a full surround system with rear speakers, this model won't give you that. But for a simple two-piece upgrade that handles TV, movies and casual music, the Sony HT-S400 is a sensible pick at this price.
We recommend it if you value easy setup and don't need room-shaking output. Just make sure you have space for the subwoofer and a free power outlet for it.
Check your TV's audio outputs before buying, since you'll need either HDMI ARC or optical.
Confirm the subwoofer's wireless range and placement near a power outlet in your room.
Spec sheet
| Model | HT-S400 |
|---|---|
| Color | Black |
| Size | 9.50 |
