Sony SRS-RA5000
Wireless SpeakerProduct Gallery
Product Overview
Sony SRS-RA5000 is a high-end wireless speaker that projects a large, room-filling sound stage, thanks not only to its array of 7 drivers but also to Sony's unique audio processing technologies.
Hi-Res Audio certified, the SRS-RA5000 features 360 Reality Audio and Immersive Audio Enhancement, which are Sony's proprietary algorithms that improves audio reproduction with a single wireless speaker.
As a premium model, the SRS-RA5000 supports not only Bluetooth but also WiFi connectivity. It can be added to a speaker group via Google Home or Amazon Alexa. Via Bluetooth, owners can also connect it to their smart TVs.
Along side the SRS-RA5000, Sony also launched the smaller SRS-RA3000 at CES 2021.
Ratings
What we found
Pros
- Intuitive, immersive sound
- Works with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Google Assistant
- Supports 360 Reality Audio
Cons
- Doesn't sound like a $700 speaker
What external reviewers found
External score 48%
Pros
- Gorgeous 360-degree audio
- Good battery life
- Great directivity
- Sleek, comfortable design
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- No HDMI port or optical port
- Not very portable
- Lacks low-bass
- Sound lacks clarity
- No Dolby Atmos support
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Price Comparison
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Specifications
Related Products
Sony SRS-XP700 2021
- Powerful audio performance with intense bass depth and thunderous highs
- Built-in LED light shows and karaoke inputs
- Good battery life
- Powerful audio performance with rich bass depth and crisp highs
- Supports AirPlay 2, Bluetooth, and Spotify Connect
- Works with Alexa and Google Assistant
- Solid audio performance for its size and price
- Water-resistant design
- Stereo Pair and Stereo Pair are easy to use
External Reviews
digitaltrends[1]
Reviewer score 40% (normalized by Neofiliac)The $700 Sony SRS-RA5000 is a bold experiment aimed at bringing an immersive, live music sound to rooms of any size. It turns out, not all 360 RA tracks are created equal. For a lot less money, the $200 Amazon Echo Studio uses a similar multidirectional driver setup to support 3D sound formats like Dolby Atmos.
Pros
- High-quality 360-degree audio
- Easy-to-use controls
- Good battery life
Cons
- No Dolby Atmos support
- No HDMI port or optical port
pcmag[2]
Reviewer score 30% (normalized by Neofiliac)360 Reality Audio sounds tinny and bizarre across the board. Unnatural reverb is added to the lead vocals, and background vocals are boosted. The speaker is supposed to create a 360-degree, room-filling experience, but it ends up making some tracks unlistenable from certain areas of the room.
Pros
- Sleek, comfortable design
- 360-degree, three-dimensional audio
- Easy to use
Cons
- Doesn’t sound as immersive as stereo mixes
- No wireless charging
rtings[3]
Reviewer score 41% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Sony SRS-RA5000 is alright for music with its room correction feature turned on. Its well-balanced mid-range ensures vocals and lead instruments sound present in the mix. It has great directivity, resulting in an open-sounding soundstage. There's an 'Immersive Audio Enhancement' feature that's advertised to provide a more immersive sound.
Pros
- Well-balanced mid-range
- Graphic EQ and presets
- Great directivity
- Well-breathing, open-sounding soundstage
- Comfortable fit
Cons
- Lacks low-bass
- Not very portable
- Doesn't support voice assistants
techhive[4]
Reviewer score 45% (normalized by Neofiliac)Without IAE, the sound was somewhat thin, but the bass was not bloated or overblown. Turning IAE on expanded the soundstage, causing some sounds to appear to come from outside the speaker cabinet. The 360 Reality Audio tracks I played did not present a sweeping, immersive soundstage as promised.
Pros
- Expansive, immersive soundstage
- Wide range of 360RA-encoded content
Cons
- Dull, congested low midrange
- No 360RA content
techradar[5]
Reviewer score 63% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Sony SRS-RA5000 is the culmination of years' worth of work by Sony's audio engineers working on the 360 Reality Audio platform. It's certainly room-filling with floor-shaking bass and echo-y mids, but it's a little lacking in clarity. The soundstage at times can feel monstrous, almost like you're listening to a live show.
Pros
- Sleek, compact design
- Easy to set up
- Easy-to-use app
Cons
- Sound lacks clarity
- Sound lacks detail
theverge[6]
Reviewer score 70% (normalized by Neofiliac)Sony's $700 RA5000 can play 360-degree music. The pitch is that it can feel “as real as if you are there at a live concert or with the artist recording in a studio” Only a few music streaming services, including Tidal, Deezer, and Nugs.net, support 360 Reality Audio.
Pros
- Gorgeous 360-degree audio
- Sleek design
- Easy to set up
Cons
- No Dolby Atmos support
- Not many music streaming services support 360 Audio
Also Check
References
- ^ Sony SRS-RA5000 speaker review: An expensive experiment. [digitaltrends].
- ^ Sony SRS-RA5000 Review. [pcmag].
- ^ Sony SRS-RA5000 Speaker Review. [rtings].
- ^ Sony SRS-RA5000 wireless speaker review: A promising idea falls short . [techhive].
- ^ Hands on: Sony SRS-RA5000 review. [techradar].
- ^ Sony RA5000 speaker review: extravagant sound at an unreasonable price. [theverge].
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