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Does Sony's BEST SOUNDBAR Finally Compete? Sony Bravia Bar 9 Review
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- Опубликовано: 15 авг 2024
- Does the Sony Bravia Bar 9 have what it takes to be the best soundbar in 2024? Shop for it here → bit.ly/3XSGZnD and bit.ly/4cLKO2g ⬇️ Find all the products in the video in the description! 🆘 Need help? Hit the 🖤 THANKS☝️to HIGHLIGHT your Question + show appreciation for the help you receive! 😀 Of course, if you enjoyed this video, please hit the 👍 Like button!
📌 SHOP THE SONY BRAVIA BAR 9 SOUNDBAR, SUBWOOFER AND SURROUNDS
Sony Bravia Bar 9 bit.ly/3XSGZnD • bit.ly/4cLKO2g
Sony SW5 Subwoofer bit.ly/3tZcI5F • bit.ly/3tZcI5F
Sony RS5 Surround Speakers bit.ly/3wQcWhU • bit.ly/4eNZtvJ
Also compatible:
Sony SW3 Subwoofer bit.ly/3lzSlIA
Sony RS3 Surrounds bit.ly/39ENOz1
📌 COMPARABLE SOUNDBAR SOLUTIONS
Sony Theatre Quad bit.ly/4a7RW7k with SW5 Sub bit.ly/3tZcI5F
Samsung Q990D bit.ly/3X4W84O
Sonos Arc System bit.ly/3N5KhxG
Sony HT-7000A amzn.to/3ulAXv5 (7000A review bit.ly/3a4khPk)
📌 TESTING THE SONY BRAVIA THEATRE BAR 9
SPEAKERS
Sony SW5 Subwoofer bit.ly/3tZcI5F • bit.ly/3tZcI5F
SUBWOOFER
Sony RS5 Surround Speakers bit.ly/3wQcWhU • bit.ly/4eNZtvJ
TVs
SONY 98” TV bit.ly/3Nd7LkL
SOURCES
Apple 4K TV: amzn.to/3em0YUp
Sony PS5 amzn.to/3Cku2qD
iPhone bit.ly/3Q4G4Mw
MEDIA
Owning Manhattan, Netflix
Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders docu, Netflix
The Flash bit.ly/3YfVSyJ
Ghostbusters Frozen Empire bit.ly/3wNaxrG
24 bit.ly/3VQJsh1
Dune 2 bit.ly/3VR8qvE
If bit.ly/3zxCpBl
Last of Us Remastered bit.ly/LOURE
Last of Us II bit.ly/Pt2Last
Two Lanes amzn.to/3637jCI
SPEAKERS STANDS, CABLES & ACCESSORIES
Stands amzn.to/3DD0UJX
HDMI Cables amzn.to/3VRhvVa
DIAGNOSTICS
Measurement & Evaluation Tools bit.ly/3MsYzpR
Room EQ Tools bit.ly/3LtKjz3
📌 SONY BRAVIA BAR 9 REVIEW Does Sony's BEST SOUNDBAR Finally Compete?
00:00 SONY BRAVIA BAR 9 REVIEW
01:40 SONY BAR 9 ECO-SYSTEM (SUB + SURROUNDS)
02:11 TESTING THE BAR 9
02:52 HOW TO SET UP THE SONY BAR 9
04:38 SONY CENTER SYNC
05:04 SOUND QUALITY: JUST THE BAR 9
06:30 SONY 360 vs DOLBY vs DTS ON THE BAR 9
08:57 THE SONY BAR 9 WITH THE SUB AND SURROUNDS
11:46 GAMING WITH THE SONY BAR 9
13:03 ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT
14:38 SONY BAR 9 vs SAMSUNG Q990D
15:25 SONY BAR 9 vs SONOS PREMIUM ENTERTAINMENT SET (the ARC)
15:50 SONY BRAVIA THEATRE 9 vs SONY BRAVIA THEATRE QUAD
📌 OUR HIFI AND HOME THEATER RECs FOR 2024
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My Cables: custom, n/a for purchase
Similar DIY Cables: bit.ly/3uytNrV
Interconnects: bit.ly/3D314M8, bit.ly/3N6NBri
Cable Management amzn.to/3ZcunWP • amzn.to/3GJtf5C
POWER
Yamaha ($$) bit.ly/3RGwr6d ($) bit.ly/3RLCIPT
LOUDSPEAKERS
Focal ($) bit.ly/3KpemqE
Q Acoustics ($$) bit.ly/406YIoU
KEF ($$$) bit.ly/3A72HY4
TURNTABLE & DAC/STREAMER
TT2 bit.ly/3tWwdxd
Z8 bit.ly/44e0h6P
TVs
QLED: bit.ly/44htvlo
BIG: bit.ly/47xtPhI
HOME THEATER
Receiver: bit.ly/3DyHEjb
Soundbar: bit.ly/43OfVWi ($) bit.ly/3N5KhxG ($$)
In Ceiling Speakers: bit.ly/3I3gAbg
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SONY 98” TV bit.ly/3Nd7LkL
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EVERYTHING ELSE: bit.ly/shopwithAR
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💰VIDEO AND CHANNEL DISCLOSURES
FTC DISCLOSURE: This video IS NOT SPONSORED.
OUR REVIEW POLICY: We are never paid for our reviews or “our time.” Brands do not see a review before publication, and they have no say in its outcome.
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#samsung #soundbars #hometheater
📌Considering the Sony Bar 9? Find one here: bit.ly/3XSGZnD • bit.ly/4cLKO2g
🔌DON’T FORGET to leave your questions in the comments to be featured on the next Unplugged! Catch up on all the latest UNPLUGGED episodes here bit.ly/43NnDkT
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Hello Andrew. Can you do a versus between the Theatre Quad and The Samsung Q990D?
I'm going to start blaming my 💩gameplay on my sound system. 😂
All the best gamers do.
I mean it really makes a difference. Lots of top gamers use headphones that have the mid range cranked up so they can hear foot steps.
😂😂
Sometimes you need to trust your hardware. Especially when reviewing them.
Wow. This Sony gets the faintest of praise. It’s a competitive market and, Andrew, you have done a fantastic job laying out the options for those looking to get an excellent product.
Thanks, Harry.
Brutal! Leaves no doubt for anyone considering this as a purchase. Wish more reviews were like this.
For $1200 at Best Buy, I'm a bit shocked that it doesn't come with a sub or something extra...
@@hang10wannabe yeah it sucks but the last 2 iterations didn’t come with a sub, so I’m not surprised
I have the hta7000, I really wanted Bose for their signature sound and to compliment all the rest of the Bose speakers we have in each room of the house, but we went for the ht because of our Sony A90j. 2 years later found the setting on how to adjust literally every single speaker on the soundbar, rears and even make the sub louder beyond the generic heights of sound field. Ht7000 is way more adjustable and customizable then any RUclips review has shown me, which honestly feels like no one gave the ht7000 a full shot. I’m sure the bar 9 has similar settings for all 10+ speaker levels for high volume levels. I fine tuned it probably 20 times and it now sounds even better then Bose or Sonos(I’ve tinker with my friends Sonos and Bose). And ht7000 is way better for allowing literal deep customization to the bar, rears and sub. I definitely advise discovering the adjustments for all speaker levels and adjust them all manually for best sounds for maximum and personal audiological preferences you’ll be blown away by this surround ability. Once you do the auto set up/mappping. Audio settings 360 mapping off
Hi Andrew, I have the Samsung 990d, agree with you, at its price point it’s exceptional value.
Hi, Great review. Actually enjoying my experience with the Bar 9. From a previous owner of the HTA7000, I recently got the Theater bar 9 . I have to say this is a big improvement from the 7000. I noticed that the Earc handshake issues with my Lg G3 are totally gone now, no more randomly turning off, skipping or switching inputs. Wifi connection has also improved, i haven't experienced a single drop out which was regular on the hta 7000. I am not a fan of the new remote control which u didn't mention, no surround level control and they took away the extra HDMI input leaving just 1 compared to 2 from the 7000.Also, no display on the bar 9 so u can't see volume level except through the app. For sound quality, I have the SW5 sub and SAR5 surrounds all connected together because I just believe no sound bar can truly replicate physical speakers. I think its a big improvement from the 7000, like u said the dolby and dts virtualization are all trash, only the 360 spatial sounds good. I am happy u also pointed out that not all sound mixes are created equal and the actual way to get a true feel for the sound is through a physical disc not streaming compressed sound. Ironically, Sony did not include the vertical surround engine in the Bar 9 which i used in the Hta 7000 instead of the 360 spatial. I have to turn on auto adjust volume to juice up the sound quality and DRC to off to get the best out of this bar. I believe this will be the sweet spot for most listeners. Like u said, Also the SAR5 rear speakers are better integrated into the sound field and seem to be doing a lot of the heavy lifting, sometimes a little too much compared to the a7000 which i used to wonder if they were even on during movies. I have to say that I actually love this sound bar with the add-ons, the sound has weight. Sony should put in an actual equalizer and center speaker control which will solve a lot of the problems people will have but i am sure they wont.
Edit: Quick demo: If u have the transformers 4 :Age of extinction physical disc. skip to chapter 11. there is a voice that says galvatron and stinger coming online overhead, simply amazing. The whole action scene has weight like i have never felt before. Also dont skip the 2 level sound optimization especially the one u have to use ur phone microphone to locate ur sitting position, very important.
@@olugbengadavidakinmosin3717AAV messed with the sound quite dramatically, it lowers the dynamic range significantly I’d recommend turning it off. I understand the urge to have it on but it’s altering the sound too much. It’s designed to balance sound between commercials and tv shows.
@@wellyboot Honestly , I can live with it being on but I turn it off if I am watching other content. i just feel the sound has more punch with it activated during movies and also helps the voice sound. i don't even turn on voice mode which i had to do on the 7000
This sub-bar combo is a sub-par combo."
Fixed the headline for you!
I just bought the A7000 and SW5 sub on clearance to go with my 85in X90L and most of my decision was based on looks lol, sorry to say but the bar 9 looks cheap, doesn’t look like a premium product, the A7000 looks so much better and premium, I’m extremely happy with my A7000, I’m not an audiophile but it’s the best sound I’ve ever heard from a soundbar and combined with the sub it’s incredible
Both the A5000 and the A7000 are incredible bars, for sure. I own both of them myself and I'm just absolutley blown away by them every single time I turn them on, no matter what I'm listening to. The A5000 and A7000 soundbar products from Sony were just complete home run products for Sony - at every imaginable level.
Your comment on gaming made me curious as it’s one area I have yet to use my Bar 9, RS5 and SW3 on. I just tried TLOU2 set to Dolby Atmos and Home Theatre in the options, with 3D channels and Max dynamic range. Sound field on the Bar 9 set to on and 360 Spatial Mapping selected. I have absolutely no issues locating where enemies are or objects are placed in the room. The sound is quite clearly coming from the Bar 9 and isn’t focused on the RS5s; they are present but certainly aren’t overwhelming the front of the room. A good scene to play is ‘Jackson - Waking Up’ as there’s plenty of dialogue around Ellie from villagers and also the snowball fight is good for object and people placement. Really not sure why you’ve had such a negative experience, I wonder if the calibration needs redoing. It’s quite strange how different it can sound depending on where the calibration takes place. I have the PS5 going through an LG G2 with eARC set to Auto (there appears to be an issue decoding Atmos when set to pass through on some TVs, as reported on AV Forums and AVS Forum) 12:24
Wish you guys woudl also review the BRAVIA Theatre Bar 8 . Not everyone can always afford the top end products. But I get how they get the most clicks I guess.
Thank you Andrew, for your review of the Sony Bravia Bar 9 and Prior to this the Quad.
I am in / on the market to upgrade my TV (ZD9 75 ") Broken to The Bravia 9 85" and Quad, although this will not happen until around December as money is tight.
It's been very hard being without a TV since February 2024 however, like all things in life, good things come to those who wait.
Thank you again
From Mark UK
I'm hoping that we'll have a Bravia 9 TV in for review before the end of this year.
After listening to the Sony 9. Samsung hw-q990c is the best value, especially at current pricing. It's not even close
@@Scottishbear582 pour vous la Samsung est bien la meilleur barre de son dans un budget de 1000-1500 euros ? J hésite entre hta9, Samsung 995, sonos arc, Dione, ambeo etc
@johanndemarb6747 I think so tested all value Samsung hw-q990c
I have a Bar 8 and a Bar 9 with their sub. I had issues with their driver setup given I got it the same week it was released. They had known issues with the Apple TV and I had to plug the Apple TV into the 2nd HDMI to get it to work and this was a suggestion from Sony. Over all I liked the sound of movies better than the Arc we replaced but not with music. I wish I would have got the quad but it’s done now.
Thank you for sharing your experience with the Sony bars!
True immersive surround experience while gaming seems like a hard task for most soundbars. I'm so used to pinpoint different type of tiny sounds in the environment on my main HT setup, and I just realized that this isn't probably the average user experience. It's just so nice to instantly locate subtle hints while gaming. I wish soundbar manufacturers would spend more time designing their products for gaming + offer proper calibration tools to set up the surround sound.
I believe the bar 9 and 8 we’re meant to be only used with the new sony bravia tv lineup. They sound much better when paired up with zoom 3. Skip and go with the Samsung if you don’t have a 2024 sony bravia tv
0:56 I love the popping sound when the logos come on screen.
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.
I had this problem with A80J + A3000. I do not have it with A95L + Bar 8.
@@jinvanpalta6263 u think it’s worth getting if I buy the bar for $450?
"locating baddies"😂. Doesn't mean the same these days
Bought it Loved it
Added the sw3 sub 3 days later The missing link
Now I have cinema in my living room and music is unreal
@@stes3061 do you have the bar 9 or the quad. I’m thinking of replacing my Sonos for a bar 9
@@geagiebar 9 with sa sw3 sub…its fantastic Room is 15 x 18..with a sony 65” bravia tv…youll love it And its now $1198
@@geagieit’s funny how Andrew said Sonos was still better yet you’re asking if bar 9 is better. If you want to spend loads then get the quads not bar 9 it’s just another a9000
Q990C or Q990D is better if you’re looking for the best soundbar
Off topic, but Monitor Audio has a new bookshelf speakers on the market and oh my is it a beauty.
We are aware. It has been requested.
Hello Andrew
I am using now since 1 month the bar9 with rs5 rear speakers and sub sw5 . I have no doubt your test was done seriously but I don’t experience the same results as you.
I listened severals movies in Dolby atmos with 4k Dolby atmos true hd blu-ray or streaming services and also Dolby atmos music using Apple TV . I felt good sound quality and immersivity with good presence of the rear speakers. I also tested the system with a Dolby atmos demo disc and the result is also convincing.
Maybe you didn’t have the latest firmware. ( when I plugged the rs5 I have been asked to update the firmware and redo the calibration).
I have no doubt the experience is different than Sony quad but they are 2 differents products .
I didn’t feel a lot of vertical effects but i still need to test that part .
I listen both the q990d and the sony bar 9 , but ended up buying the sony, it was much clearer and the surround was very good
Hi Andrew and Kristi. Late entry comment from me, but my hands were full when I watched this video...I was setting up my new Bravia 9 TV! The quality of the "surround sound" coming from only the Bravia 9 television's built-in speakers is one of the best I've heard in a a flat panel TV. Given your review of the Bravia Bar 9, if you end up reviewing the Bravia 9 TV I'll be curious if you think the TV's built-in speakers ONLY is or isn't even better than the Bravia 9 Soundbar.
This is the first in depth review of the Bar 9 so far and it was excellent. I was contemplating purchasing it seeing as how Sony has heavily touted its improvements over the A7000 in its advertising. Thanks to your review the shortcomings of the Bar 9 have competently been revealed. There has been only one other review of the Bar 9 and that reviewer was also left unimpressed with its performance. I don't need to purchase a new soundbar system but it is nice to be aware of whats out there for the offering. As always, an excellent review.
@@kingkobra1956 NeverEnough on his channel liked it a lot.
@@wellyboot he hasn’t played it properly and Andrew is a proper pro
Sounds like Sony still has work to do. Andrew, big ups to the editing you do. I don't think you get enough credit for it. ✊🏼
I appreciate that!
💯
💯
What about a Bravia 9 85" TV in an apartment with neighbors behind the wall?
Bravia Theater 9 or Quad?
What about ambeo max or plus?
I don’t think I’ve seen a soundbar thats better looking than the B&O Soundstage.
Does it sound better then bose ultra or song ht a9?
@@shaq6772 never heard the bose but as far as aesthetics and sound, my money would be on the B&O. Wife approved as well.
@@shaq6772My parents have the B&O Theatre. I have the Stage. In comparison…I don’t have FOMO, despite a $10,000 price difference. My point? The Stage is awesome.
Great evaluation, thanks, sounbars for me, are just not good enough in general. I dont like subwoofers either. I prefer big speakers with 8 inches woofers with a central and 2 higher satellites. But hey...i am 62...😂
Waiting to hear about the Bravia 9 mini LED from you guys.
It’s awesome that high-end brands are getting better and better.
I would love for you to review the new Klipsch Flexus Core 200 system and hear your thoughts about it, I’d really do trust your opinion.
We had the Flexus. It was not a good system and had similar issues to the Cinema 1200 bar we reviewed a year or so ago. Since Klipsch could not give us a timetable of when those problems would be addressed, we returned it.
Verdict: skip it
@@andrewrobinsonreviews thanks for the tip!
I miss the outtakes at the end
We haven't had outtakes in years. If you mean the conversation b/t Kristi and I, you'll find it on the new Unplugged series that airs every Friday. There's a link to the playlist in the pinned comment.
You guys need to get your hands on a pair of Starke Sound Beta 7s. At $750 you get really great bass, clean mids, and articulate highs; for cheaper than anything comparable.
I’ve just ordered this bar after all the other reviews I’ve seen and now this review has given me bad post but anxiety and I want to cancel my order 🤣
Thank you for the forthright review. You gotta wonder how Sony let's a product like this out. Perhaps they are just assuming their television customers will purchase this simply to match brands and that they won't be that critical of sound quality.
For £1399 i expect a sub and surrounds to be included.
But Sony is to greedy to do that, ok it's lets you mix and match but at a price!
For this amount of money i prefer seperates, buy the best receiver your budget allows
then upgrade the rest when funds allow, it takes a while but for true Dolby Atmos this
will outperform any soundbar that relies on bouncing the heights off your ceiling.
I have tried the higher end soundbars, they are good enough for bedroom or second system use
but a full seperates system will outperform them.
Hey there! Happy Sunday once again!
Thanks for tuning in Max! Hope you enjoy the video.
It figures that Sony can get video right but screw-up Surround Sound from a soundbar. I might have to listen to one of the new Sony AVRs with the 360Sound for my listening room to achieve a better sonic immersion using my current speakers. Thank you for another fantastic review, Kristi and Andrew
I have a 65” A80j, which has a good sound for a TV. I am looking to build on it by adding A5000/ 7000 or Bar 8/ 9 with three TV as the center channel. I am not interested in the sub or the rear speakers. To keep one of these Sony bar, my key requirements must be met: 1. Great center sync performance, no hiss issues 2. Seamless integration with the TV 3. Significantly fuller sound than TV only
I’d be great to grab all 4 bars and do a shootout but that’s too much hassle.
I originally had the A7000, RS5S rears and SW5 sub. I was so disappointed and the rears never felt integrated with the bar. They were just too quiet (even on max level) and the system always front heavy. Just swapping A7000 out for the Bar 9 has changed things massively. It now feels more integrated, the rears go so loud now (I have to set to max level 2/3 otherwise my ears start bleeding) and the system is now so more immersive than before. I demo'd the Bar 9 and the Quad same day and I didn't notice any difference that pointed to one over the other. The Quad did not outperform the full Bar 9 system otherwise I would have gone for the Quad. I am very happy with the Bar 9/RS5S/SW5. My rooms is small with 2.4m ceiling, so maybe the bigger room has an impact.
I've also noticed the better integration with the Bar 9 and the Bar 9 produces a wider sound stage than the A7000. Sony's calibration plays a massive part in how this system sounds, I've done it a few times now depending on seating position and the sound changes almost every time.
You don’t need a noise when you put something on the screen, this is RUclips not a bad casino
Have an older Sony sound bar with sub in our MB. Will be interesting to see how far they have come.
What bar do you have?
@@andrewrobinsonreviews htz9f mid-mid tier
Thank you for listing the movies you show. Sometimes the movie clips look great and I want to see the movie but have no idea what it is. After seeing a great scene from Baby Driver, I really wanted to watch the moviebut It took me ages to find out what it was.
You'll also find those details (and more) in the video's description.
I got to say that, music bar prices are insanely outta control. Klipsch 9ines in the same ballpark sonicly comparable
Andrew can you explain the difference between this soundbar being compatible with Google assistant and not having Chromecast built in? Will I be able to cast RUclips Music to the Bravia 9 sound bar?
Always appreciate watching your reviews, but would never consider a sound bar. If I dont have enough room for some small bookshelf speakers and a receiver, that room doesn't get a tv.
I appreciate this video. I'm not sure the Sony quad would work for my space, so I had been thinking about getting the bar 9, but hearing there are better options, perhaps I need to look at the Sonos or the Samsung.
Would be interested in your thoughts on the new LG S95TR as it would make the most sense to go with an LG OLED for wow orchestra. Other options are the sony quad after your last review or the q990d.
another Quality review Andrew....Thank you
Bravia Quad is the way to go
👍
The Theater Quad is literally in a class by itself. At around $2,500 for a setup with wireless sub, you would have to spend upwards of $25,000 on other equipment to match its same level of surround sound performance. It absolutely takes the cake!
Hi, I will be interested in knowing the performance of bar 8. My space is smaller so I can’t use any system with surrounding speakers, and even bar 9 may be overkill. Will you review the bar 8 by any chance, or recommend a solution at its price range?
If u compare it with sony theatre 2024..what would u pick?
Thanks for your time! We us the apps on my ps5 crave and prime. With the 990D how was gaming and watching crave, Netflix and prime?
Sonys new tv line up the bravia 7 8 9 support acoustic cetre 2.0 and voice zoom 3 so that may chnage your review if using the corresponding tvs 😊
Afternoon Andrew, Kristie & Kadie👍👍👍
Good morning as always KJ! Thanks for joining us.
@@KristiWright 👍👍👍
Cheers from Nobleton-Ontario Andrew! Another legit & honest review. I feel, with Sonos launching a few new items if anything at all, every good “chunk” of years, they really spend the time & money to ensure the next iteration of their soundbars is a good few notches better than the generation before it …the few products they make, they make sure they can make better. Just my thoughts. I think if Sony launches a version 2.0 of this bar in a few years it will be awesome in the same sense.
I've demoed the Bar 9 at no less than 4 different shops, including a Sony Store. Suffice it to say, I was rather underwhelmed with its overall performance. As a standalone bar, it was lacking in both impact and body; it sounded lifeless and anemic. Hell, when paired with the SA-RS5 and the SA-SW5, I felt greater presence from the rear speakers than I did with the Bar 9 itself. Very strange, indeed. It could be an issue with its settings, but for lack of a better word, the impressions that I derived across my multiple auditions were thoroughly pedestrian. Thankfully, I was also given the opportunity to test the Bravia Theater Quad. Like Andrew mentioned, they are a night and day apart in both presentation and quality. Ultimately, I feel that the Bar 9 is a step down from the HT-A7000, a product that I came awfully close to purchasing last year. Thankfully, a year's wait has brought me a better product in the Theater Quad, but the ex-flagship soundbar still provides a better all-in-one package than the Bar 9, I feel.
By the way, thanks for the review, Andrew. I definitely concur with your opinions of the Bar 9's performance, or the lack of it.
Thanks Andrew I wanted to buy the Bravia Theater Bar 9 but I'm afraid it will be the Samsung (for Sony anyway)
I received one for free to test. I really like it, but I would go for the Sonos system over this. It is better than the Bose Ultra soundbar. Not having Alexa control or built in Alexa really annoys me.
I was planning on getting one but after hearing this I will pass.
I have a $99 Microsoft headset which supports Dolby vision/atmos and DTS. Will stick with that.
Thank you Mr. Robinson. I've been waiting to hear a detailed review of this Bar 9. Especially as it compares to the Theatre Quad. My question of, "Is the Quad worth that much more?", has been answered. Now I will wait for your full review of the Samsung Q990D before I make a purchase. Thanks again
My pleasure!
The Quad is literally amazing. Now, it's not cheap at around $2,500 for a full setup with a sub, but it produces an experience that would cost you around $25,000 to replicate the quality of using other equipment. I just got to hear the Theater Quads last week and they are mind-altering when you hear them. You don't feel like you are watching the movie with them, you feel like you are IN the movie with them. Yeah, it's THAT good of an experience. By far the most immersive home theater surround system you can buy for anything less than 10x the price. They absolutely do not disappoint!
I don't get it, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire has indeed Dolby Atmos and sounds amazing on 4K disc. Is this a streaming thing going on?
As stated in the video, GB Frozen Empire, streams in 5.1 on AppleTV. GB Afterlife is in Atmos, so I do not know what Empire is different.
Thanks for the review.
My pleasure!
Acoustic centre sync 2.0 supports all speakers within the tv. Not just a couple like the older tvs support
How does it compare to the Nakamichi Dragon?
Every week you ask and every week my answer is the same, I don’t know.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsthat’s kinda rude and unprofessional for you to say.
You can at least promise to do a review comparing both soundbar systems soon or when you get both items on your hands.
Your comment is disappointing!!
😂😂😂😂
It would be most unprofessional of me to lie and "promise" a review of something we are unlikely to get. After all, we've spent years chasing that brand, and they will not send us a product for review, no matter how many times we ask. GirlSkate knows this; I suppose it's just a running joke that they continue to ask. It sounds as if you were unaware of the context.
@@andrewrobinsonreviewsyeah i think shes just messing around at this point lol in any case im a dragon owner n so far it lives up to the hype. Probably not comparable to a traditional system but then again thats not the whole point of the dragon i guess
Good morning everyone!
Morning James!
Hey there, James, Kristi, Kadie* , and Andrew - lots to catch up on this Sunday morning. *damned auto correct - how do I add that name to my dictionary to avoid further “corrections”? I
@@fonkenful Indeed!
I'm finding the calibration process to be incredibly temperamental. Even a two inch adjustment makes a major difference in the final result.
Is STR-AN1000 with Klipsch R-605FA or R-600F's with R-40's as rear speakers going to give better, more precise sound quality than this Bar 9?
I'll add that I have A7000 and I hate its distorted, low quality mono mp3 compressed-like sound when Sound Field is applied. Without Sound Field it sounds somewhat precise, but soooo narrow and way too focused - it doesn't give any room feeling from all sides sound.
I bought the A7000 with the rear speakers and the sub thinking it could replace my str-dh790 with andrew jones speakers, absolutely not.
Given the firmware updates since it's introduction, how does the Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 compare as a stand alone soundbar?
Wow great and useful product review which people ARE GONNA BUY keep it up guys awesome work❤
Thanks!
Sony: I would love a Quad with this bar as a center channel and two subwoofers: please make it happend.
Cheers Andrew!
The Quad's center image is arguably better than the one put out by the Bar 9, so I'm not sure this combo would benefit you the way you think it might. Thanks for watching!
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Thanks!
What's your pick for best all in one soundbar or one that you only have a subwoofer no other speakers, Cheers
Surprised you haven't reviewed the Nakamichi Dragon yet. Was hyped for you to try it out when it first came out. Is that in the plans or are you not interested in it?
How does the Bravia 9 compare to the HTA7000?
Sound quality is much better but u lose 1 hdmi slot and the remote sucks. also no display panel on the Bar 9 just dots.
You should listen to them both and then decide which one you like better as they do have two different sound presentations to them.
I don’t know why it is funny to think that there is just casual McIntosh equipment that eclipses the cost of everything else in the video make me laugh (minus the 801s)
@@drummingdrumtech9642 Very astute but obvious observation 💯
This is both a great and disappointing review. Based on this review, it seems that if you want to go with Sony, the A7000 is superior to the Bar 9.
Andrew, do you think all these issues you shared can be solved with a software update?
Also, does Sony take in consideration feedback from reviewers as yourself?
I’ll answer for you: yes. A7000 sounds totally different today than it does in 2021. The same can happen here too.
Yeah the A7000 really is an amazing bar, updates over the years have benefited it very much@@XavierWoodsofIndianapolis
Yes. Sony Absolutely knows who Andrew Robinson is and they absolutely do listen to his reviews and factor in his thoughts and considerations. Sony probably does this better than ANY other company out there in the HT space. No company is perfect and any company can make mistakes. Sony is certainly no exception to that rule, but they do try - and they never give up or stop.
Informative and awesome as usual. A curiosity though, was that a glitch or a legit stutter at 5:38?
Good morning Andrew & Kristi. Good thorough review. Frankly probably the best deal right now is the previous generation Samsung Q990C currently available from Amazon (via Beach Camera) for less than $1,000. From my understanding there's not much difference performance or feature wise between the latest Q990D and the previous Q990C.
Q990C link bit.ly/43OfVWi
I haven't gotten far enough into the 990D to comment. Physically, there doesn't appear to be any difference(s).
Andrew, you say the adding the surrounds changed the sound of the bar...but you had the surrounds and sub connected at the same time, right? Is it possible that there is a crossover issue once the sub is hooked up causing the change in sound from the bar?
I've just sold my Sony STR860 receiver and I'm undecided between the (BAR 9 No More) Samsung 990C and the Sony AN1000, both of which are similarly priced. I already own a 5.1 Q Acoustics 2000 series speaker system. I mainly watch movies (70%) and listen to music (30%). What are your thoughts for a room measuring 23 by 19 by 8 feet? Quad is out of reach for me
Since you already own the Q Acoustics, go with amzn.to/3If2veo.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews I had listen Q Acoustic 2000 series with Onkyo receiver. I read many positive reviews. I had possibility to buy these used stuff for about $750. For me it was something like dryness, and without deeph. I didn't like it. The same day went to local Samsung shop and test 990C. Soundbar sound much clearer and better in movies and even in music. Maybe the bas was worst, sometimes in music was better but in movies 990C wons definitely.
Hello Andrew and Kristi, great review!!! That's what I like about this channel, your opinions. If it sucks, it sucks. Sony is a great company but if the product is not up to speed then it's time to move on. Have a great week.
Appreciate that. We went to great lengths (and personal costs) to ensure we weren't "hearing things" when finalizing our review.
I've really enjoyed these soundbar videos, there will come a time when my living room no longer has a full hifi setup and a bar is enough for me, something like the ambeo may already be there.. I would personally enjoy more options around subwoofers for soundbars as thats where i find them the most lacking.. In every system ive built ive ended up always needing more subwoofer than I originally thought I did, and the ability to swap it out made that an easy move. What would you like to see in a sound bar in the future?
Thanks guys! Great review. Question, are you going te review the HomePods? Keep up the great work!
No plans at this time. We ordered a pair of Home Pods however they were stolen by our UPS driver (true story). We have not tried to buy a new pair.
@@andrewrobinsonreviews Oh man! Thanks for letting me know and keep doing what you guys do!
I have to ask out of curiosity, is this better than the ht-a7000.
I can't say if it's better because, on the one hand, it's been two-plus years since I reviewed the A7000, and on the other, I didn't care for the A7000 bar when I reviewed it.
(7000A review bit.ly/3a4khPk) linked for you in the description.
Thanks both.
What surprises me how bose ultra which is 2.5kg has equally impressive sound as 7kg ht 7000... what does thay say bout these products?
I might have some insight into what is going wrong with the soundbar when you have the RS5 rears. I have a Bar 8 (so similar to the Bar 9, but not identical). With the RS5's included, the mapping is all wrong. The most flagrant is that when you have the 360 sound field turned on (necessary if you want to use the TV center sync), the right front speaker is mapped to the right rear RS5. And that's just one example.
I contacted Sony support, and they basically acknowledged that these new soundbars are a buggy mess. They basically told me that I'm lucky that I have been able to connect to the bar at all, and that other people can't even do that. Presumably they can fix some of this with software/firmware, but although they told me updates were coming, they had no idea about when.
Thanks for the review! I’m just gonna go on a tangent and says I want the Arc II to be released already! And hoping it’s gonna be more than just the same with “AI” slapped on 😅
Not for me. Dont care for everything must be done thru a phone and no front readout just for starters. The A7000 was far superior in usability and high quality construction. Bought the A7000 on clearance when I heard this turkey was its replacement
Very interesting review. I was hoping this would be an improvement but sadly it seems Sony hasn’t used the same team as the ones who did the theater quads. 🥺
Hi nice video, what was the soundbar like when used on Sony picture core (Bravia core) app. I find there audio better.. I use Sony X94J with a Sony XF9000 sound bar..
I’m thinking of getting the Yamaha True X 50 for my bedroom. I have a RN803 at work and am getting a RN2000a for my main system this fall, so I would like to keep all the same ecosystem. Is the Yamaha true X 50 still a viable option? Thanks!
Happy Sunday to ya both man ✌️
Same to you!
Quiet interesting review. Seems like Sony once considered a pioneer is music and home theatre experience seems to lagging behind . By any chance cam you do an review of echo studio, for some time I have been doing research on non soundbar based home theatre setup , would be interesting to see your take on this
Hi Mr. Robinson,
Greets from Germany ! I‘ve updated from HT-A7000 to Bar 9. in my a7000 I had a hidden jack for a third party Sub ( Bowers- Wilkins DB2D ). Now I want to ask if it’s possible to take a 120hz hdmi extractor between soundbar and TV to seperate a signal to my sub.
Best Regards !
Keep the A7000 and trash the Bar9
@@DMBE91 so the theatre bar 9 is far better than hta7000?
Thanks for the review
Currently have the full 7000 package but really trying to decide whether to go the Quads or just get a receiver and speakers and just put up with cabling everywhere. Just don't feel the "surroundness" much anymore. Wish the Quads were available in Australia somewhere to demo them.
Knowing how much extra you pay in Australia, you may be better off buying individual speakers. If the Q990C/D is available there, give it a listen.
Depressing. I own the HT7000..and the surrounds and SW3. I'm happy with that. I used to own high end surround sound 5.1 and 7.1 systems with dedicated AV amps. It's nowhere near as good as those. Of course not. But it's not a bad product either...😢
If you are content with what you have, I don't see what there is to be depressed about @syanhc.
I’m glad you did a review on the Bar 9! Thank you!! Would still be interesting to see the bar 8/9 vs last years Sony 7000 soundbar… 🎉. However, I think you’re review pretty much NAILED it! 🎉
Get the Bar 8/9 IF you need a Sony soundbar to go with your Sony tv! Especially the B7/B9. I’ve tested both at BB and can attest to the new Bravia TVs having decent sound quality!! 🎉 thank you!
Ps. Based on reviews and actual devices I have seen, I do feel as tho the Bar 8/9 without the sub for moms would be just about perfect!! Aka, a quality soundbar with good voicing options and “some” surround effects for someone who is not into atmos and everything else. 🎉 I think the Sony 360 effect would be great for moms 75” tcl etc. (also she doesn’t like bass) haha 🎉
Glass table in front of the TV produces distracting reflection. But thanks for the review of the soundbar.
Troll or genuine? So hard to tell these days. If you’re genuine you should watch the previous video.
@@chrismccabe7378 are you for real?
the Bar 9 is about 7lbs lighter than the a7000, I don't care what improvement they can make to make it lighter. they probably took out a lot of parts just to lower the cost. No wonder the bar 9 doesn't sound that good.
On average the Bar9 is better than A7000, not by much like how their TV and Quad lead the market, but they Are better
Andrew hated the A7000 as well.😅
@@wellyboothe tested it very early pre any software updates, the A7000 is miles better 2024 than what it was 2021
I cant get the hdmi input to work on bar 9. Connected to a bravia 9. HDMI all set to enhanced 4k120 tried xbox and steam deck