The Sony HT-A7000, which came out in 2021, is a high-end 7.1.2 setup. It says that it works with the S-Force Pro Front Surround and Vertical Surround Engine technologies to make listening more immersive. Its default sound profile is pretty neutral, with a bit more bass punch, so it can be used to listen to most kinds of audio. However, it doesn’t get very loud. Also, in our subjective listening tests, we found that it’s best to change the EQ preset based on what you’re listening to, which could be annoying for some users.
The new flagship model of the Sony HT-A7000 has a very different look and feel. Unlike some of the drivers in the HT-ST5000, none of the 11 drivers in this soundbar are on display. Instead, they are all hidden behind a mesh grille on the front and cloth grilles on the sides and top of the soundbar. Still, at 3.25 x 5.7 inches, it looks just as sleek (H x D). It has a low profile, so it should be thin enough that it won’t block the bottom of the TV screen if it’s put on the same surface as the TV.
Specifications
- Colors: Black
- Ports: 2x HDMI in; 1x HDMI out (eARC/ARC); Digital optical; 3.5mm analog audio jack in; USB-A; Ethernet
- Speakers: Not specified
- Audio channels: 7.1.2
- Audio formats: Dolby Atmos; Dolby TrueHD; Dolby Digital; DTS; DTS:X
- Power output: 500W
- Wireless: AirPlay 2; Bluetooth SBC, AAC, LDAC; Chromecast; Spotify Connect
- Smart assistant: Alexa; Google Assistant
- Subwoofer: Integrated
- Dimensions: 51 1/4 x 3 1/4 x 5 5/8 inches
- Weight: 19.2 pounds
- Wall mountable: Yes
Where to get Sony HT-A7000 soundbar?
You might want to buy a wider TV stand, though, because the HT-A7000 is 51 inches long. This means it works best with TVs that are 55 inches or larger, but not smaller ones. Even so, when I put the soundbar in front of my 55-inch Samsung screen at home, there was some space on either side of the stand. A small overhang wouldn’t normally be a big deal, but the soundbar’s feet are too far apart to sit evenly on the glass surface of my TV stand, so the speaker wouldn’t stay in place. This was easy to fix, though, by putting a small amount of mounting putty (Plasti-Tac or Blu-Tack) on the bottom so that the soundbar would sit flat and stay in place.
Sony doesn’t skimp on build quality, and the HT-A7000 feels like it was put together with care using a good mix of high-quality materials that match its flagship status and high price. It can be put on the wall.
Even though the HT-A7000 can work on its own, more speakers are always better for home theatre. Adding the wireless soundbar and rear surrounds was easy because the soundbar automatically finds them and starts sending sound to them right away. (There are also buttons for the add-ons on the soundbar’s remote control.)