The Sony HT-A5000 is a 5.1.2 setup that came out on its own in 2021. It’s not made as well as the 7.1.2 Sony HT-A7000, and the soundstage isn’t as good. Still, it has Sony’s Virtual Surround Engine and S-Force Pro Front Surround technologies that help create a more immersive listening experience. It also has Sound Field Optimization technology that optimises audio reproduction based on the room you’re listening in.
You can access this feature from your TV, which may be more convenient for some users than using an app or a remote to control the bar. It has a neutral, slightly U-shaped sound profile that works well with a wide range of audio. But for such a high-end model, it’s disappointing that there aren’t more ways to customise the sound.
Specifications
- Brand: Sony
- Model Name: HT-A5000
- Speaker Type: Subwoofer, Soundbar
- Connectivity Technology: Bluetooth, Wi-Fi
- Recommended Uses For Product: Home Theater
Where to get Sony HT-A5000 soundbar?
The HT-A5000 looks like a slightly simpler and smaller version of the HT-A7000. According to Sony, it works best with 65-inch TVs and has the brand’s simple but consistent “omnidirectional block” design. Black metal mesh grilles run across the front and cover the two upward-facing drivers. The rest of the body is made of matte black plastic, which is different from the A7000, which has a glossy glass top.
Inside, it has three full-range front speakers, two front-facing woofers, and two side-firing beam tweeters to make the soundstage wider. It also has two speakers that fire up to reflect sounds from above off the ceiling. Except for the beam tweeters, all of the drivers in the A range use Sony’s X-balanced design. This uses a shape that isn’t a circle to increase surface area and sound output. From its nine amp channels, the A5000 can send out 450 watts of power.
The HT-A5000 soundbar works with two wireless subwoofers: the 200W SA-SW3, which has a 160mm driver and is wireless, and the 300W SA-SW5, which has a 180mm driver and is wireless and bigger. The fact that the SA-SW3 is wireless is a good thing, because the best place for a subwoofer depends on how the room sounds. The acoustics of your room depend on its size, your furniture, and where you listen.
If you’re a beginner, you might want to do what’s called a “subwoofer crawl” by putting the SA-SW3 in your listening seat and walking around your room while listening to how the bass changes. Then, you’ll put the subwoofer in the spot where you liked the bass the most.