The HT-B500 puts a 3.1-channel bar under the TV and a separate wireless subwoofer elsewhere in the room. Its principal benefit is simple: speech gets a dedicated center channel. Atmos and DTS:X decoding are present, but the system uses processing to suggest height. There are no upward-firing drivers or rear speakers in the box.
In depth
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 review
Published · Updated
Best forSomeone who regularly loses track of speech on television and wants a center channel without speakers behind the sofa.
At a glance
- Channel configuration
- 3.1
- Included system
- Bar and wireless subwoofer
- Immersive audio
- Dolby Atmos, TrueHD, Digital Plus, Digital, DTS:X, DTS and multichannel LPCM over eARC
- TV connection
- HDMI eARC / ARC
Pros
- Dialogue stayed anchored to the center in independent listening. 1
- The subwoofer level can be adjusted for the room or time of day.
Cons
- Virtual height and surround have limited reach behind the listener. 1
- Treble adjustment is restricted.
Dialogue & Bass
- 3.1 channels
- Dedicated center
- Adjustable bass
RTINGS heard a distinct center for speech and useful punch on kick drums. Lower bass notes were harder to distinguish and the front-only system sounded narrower than a setup with physical rears. For watching TV after someone has gone to bed, turn the sub down and check whether a speaking voice remains easy to follow. The test supports center clarity, but does not establish a particular minimum listening volume. 1
TV Connections
- HDMI eARC/ARC
- No separate HDMI source input
Connect a console or disc player to the television. The Bar 5 has one HDMI connection for audio returning from the TV, and no spare HDMI input for the player. That leaves the television in charge of the video signal. Count its free inputs with the soundbar already connected, especially if the TV has only two or three sockets.
Surround Formats
- Dolby Atmos & DTS:X
- Virtual height
- No rear speakers supplied
Theater Bar 5 can decode Dolby Atmos and DTS:X over HDMI eARC, including lossless source audio when the TV passes it. Its three front channels and subwoofer create height and surround effects through processing. A ceiling effect from this bar is therefore a different proposition from the up-firing drivers on Sony’s Bar 6 or a speaker positioned behind the listener.
Controls & Music
- Voice mode
- Voice Zoom 3 with compatible BRAVIA
- Bluetooth 5.3
The BRAVIA Connect app handles setup, and Voice mode is available for speech. Voice Zoom 3’s separate voice-level adjustment requires a compatible BRAVIA TV, an important distinction if you are buying the bar for another brand of screen. Bluetooth 5.3 supports music from a phone. There is no Wi-Fi music service built into the bar.
Wall Installation
- 900 mm wide
- Wall template included
- Subwoofer depth: 400 mm
The bar itself is 900 mm wide, 64 mm high and 100 mm deep. Sony supplies a paper wall template, but the screws are bought separately to suit the wall. Check the line of sight to the bottom of the screen before drilling. Place the sub near a power socket and allow space behind its 400 mm-deep cabinet for the cable.
Alternatives
Sony’s BRAVIA Theater Bar 6 adds physical upward-firing drivers. Someone buying chiefly for an overhead effect has a reason to compare it. Someone watching dialogue-led television has less need to pay for height before sorting out the center channel.
Verdict
The Theater Bar 5 is a practical upgrade for voices and front-stage impact. Pick it when that is the job. Compare a system with dedicated height or rear channels if the purchase is supposed to surround the seating area.
About this review
This is a research-based review. The Fasit has not physically tested this sound system.
Sources & Research
1 reference
Independent sources cited in this article.
- RTINGSSony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 Review (opens in a new tab)https://www.rtings.com/soundbar/reviews/sony/bravia-theater-bar-5
US retail family; recorded shortlist offer is an exact selected child