Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6 review

Sound Quality & Surround

The two upward-firing channels give a compatible soundtrack a route toward the ceiling. The dedicated center has a more prosaic job, keeping a voice tied to the action on screen when music enters the mix. RTINGS found dialogue clear but the height effect limited. A helicopter flying overhead and a line of dialogue therefore present quite different reasons to buy this bar. ¹

The subwoofer connects wirelessly to the bar but still needs a power outlet. RTINGS observed compression in the bass at higher volumes. This is a better match for people who want speech and impact at ordinary living-room levels than for someone trying to fill a large room at theater volume. ¹

TV Connections

Connect the bar to the TV’s ARC or eARC socket. Video sources go into the television, so count its remaining HDMI sockets with the bar connected. On a TV with two HDMI sockets, a console in one and the bar in the other leave nowhere to plug in a streamer. If the TV has an optical output, use it for the bar and the streamer gets the second HDMI socket. Optical carries dialogue from TV shows, but it cannot carry Dolby Atmos or DTS:X. ² If hearing the evening news clearly matters more to you than overhead effects on movie night, that’s a trade I’d make.

Owners of Sony’s HT-G700 should check the back of the old bar first. It could accept an HDMI source directly. The Bar 6 trades that convenience for physical upward-firing speakers, an awkward exchange if the old bar provides a socket you use every day.

Speaker Placement

The bar measures 950 mm wide and 64 mm high without its feet. Fitting the feet raises it to 77 mm, enough to matter if your television sits low. Keep the top clear for the two height drivers and put the powered sub near an outlet. Sony supports no additional speakers on this model. If the room already has space and wiring for rears, factor that into the choice of system now.

Controls & Music

Voice mode helps when dialogue drops behind the rest of a soundtrack. Night mode is a separate setting for quieter viewing. BRAVIA Connect handles setup, but the bar has no automatic room calibration. For music, a phone can play over Bluetooth 5.3. If you normally tap Spotify Connect or AirPlay to send music over Wi-Fi, the Bar 6 does not supply that network connection.

Alternatives

Samsung’s HW-Q800F offers an HDMI input and a path to optional rear speakers. A system sold with rear speakers already included is easier to budget for if placing effects behind the sofa is a priority from the outset.

Verdict

Choose the Bar 6 for dialogue, a separate sub and a straightforward front-of-room setup. A household short of TV inputs or already planning for rear speakers should put its money toward a system with those connections.