The last soundbar we saw from Sony is awesome and all, but with a starting price of US$1,299.99 it is definitely not wallet-friendly to everyone. This is where the new Sony Dolby Atmos/DTS:X 5.1.2ch HT-A5000 Soundbar comes in.
Aesthetically similar to the A7000, the Sony Dolby Atmos/DTS:X 5.1.2ch HT-A5000 Soundbar is actually slightly smaller physically, has a tad less variety of inputs, has 2 fewer amplifier channels, and also less power output, at 450 W compared to 500 W of the A7000.
Beyond that, they are pretty much the same, even sharing the same premium Omni-directional block design and wireless TV connection.
Like the A7000, the A5000 is equipped with front X-Balanced Speaker Units and two up-firing speakers, which when combined with Sony’s signal processing, reproduces “vertical” audio so that you can experience overhead sound.
Together with the front-firing speakers, A5000 creates a soundstage that envelops the audience. Meanwhile, low-thumping sound is offered through built-in dual subwoofers.
Other features include 8K and 4K/120 passthrough, HDMI eARC/ARC, multi-directional sound from the Vertical Sound Engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround, Sound Field Optimization that optimize the sound for the room, supports Dolby Atmos/DTS:X, Bluetooth, and WiFi connectivity, and DSEE, which uses Edge-AI to upscale compressed digital files in real-time, restoring the high-range sound that was lost in compression for a richer, more complete listening experience.
With support for Sony’s 360 Reality Audio and Hi-Res Audio, and with Spotify Connect, Chromecast built-in, Apple AirPlay 2, the HT-A5000 will have all your music enjoyment covered.
The Sony Dolby Atmos/DTS:X 5.1.2ch HT-A5000 Soundbar can offer an even more immersive audio/visual experience when connected to Sony BRAVIA XR TVs for easy access to soundbar controls and Acoustic Center Sync and there is, of course, integration with your connected devices with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.
Last but not least, it is offered with optional speakers and an optional subwoofer for those who want a surround audio experience.
The Sony Dolby Atmos/DTS:X 5.1.2ch HT-A5000 Soundbar will be released on October 28 for US$999.99. OK. It is not a whole lot cheaper than the HT-A7000, but it is still cheaper.
Images: Sony Electronics.
