Sony HT-A9 Surround Sound Wireless Speaker System (2021)
Product Gallery
Product Overview
Sony HT-9 is an innovative wireless home theatre system that comprises four identical speakers and a control box. With 12 drivers in total, the HT-9 is able to deliver an impressive surround sound experience.
Naturally, the HT-9 supports a full suite of digital surround sound processing protocols such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, thanks to an up-firing driver in each speaker. It can also be paired with optional subwoofers unveiled at the same time.
The true calling card of the HT-9, however, is Sony's new 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology: It is able to calibrate the speakers to the room and to create up to 12 phantom speakers. As a result, the HT-9 offers superb flexibility in speaker placement.
Alongside the HT-9, Sony also introduced a premium all-in-one soundbar the HT-A7000.
Ratings
What we found**
Pros
- Dolby Atmos and DTS:X surround-sound
- Excellent build quality
Cons
- No centre speaker or subwoofer included
What external reviewers found***
External score 70% (not directly comparable across industries)
Pros
- Excellent sound quality
- Excellent integration with Sony’s HT-A9 system
- Impressive tonal depth
- Supports Dolby Atmos
- Supports 360 Spatial Sound Mapping
- Supports 4K UHD, HDR, and Dolby Vision
Cons
- Lacks a discrete center channel
- No dedicated centre channel
- Doesn’t support Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, or Spotify Connect
- Doesn’t work with Sony Bravia TVs
- Doesn't get very loud
- No subwoofer
Price Comparison
Specifications
Connectivity
Ports
[Input] 1x HDMI (ARC) + 1x S-Center Out | [Output] 1x HDMI + 1x Ethernet + 1x USB-A
Wireless Connectivity
WiFi 5 + Bluetooth 5.0
Construction
Form Factor
All-in-One Soundbar
Speakers
12 drivers
Dimensions
Size | Depth
142 mm (5 5/8")
Size | Height
80 mm (3 1/4")
Size | Width
1300 mm (51 1/4")
Weight
8.7 kg (19lb 2oz)
Function
Amplifier
Digital Amplifier, S-Master HX
Audio
Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Dual mono, DTS, DTS HD High Resolution Audio, DTS HD Master Audio, DTS ES, DTS 96/24, DTS:X, LPCM
Bluetooth Codecs
AAC, SBC, LDAC
Channels
4.0.4-channel
Software
Chromecast built-in, Spotify Connect, Music Service Button, Google Home, Works with Google Assistant
Performance
Power Consumption
15W (box) + 4x 22W (speaker)
Power Output
504 W
Production
Accessory
Subwoofer: Optional SA-SW3 or SA-SW5
Availability
2021-09
Debut
2021-07-20
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Launch Comparison
Clear List
External Reviews
rtings[1]
Reviewer score 34%The Sony HT-A9 is decent for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. It has a balanced mid-range that reproduces dialogue pretty clearly. Its four satellites offer an immersive surround sound experience, and you can also turn its up-firing speakers on and off using its Immersive AE feature. It also supports Dolby Atmos content.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Balanced mid-range
- Supports Dolby Atmos
- Integrates with compatible Sony TVs
Cons
- Lacks a discrete center channel
- Doesn't get very loud
techhive[2]
Reviewer score 86%The Sony HT-A9 system is designed to be used with a 4K UHD player or a gaming system. Users can stream any music service they prefer via Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, or Spotify Connect. The system was incredibly impressive when viewing John Wick: Chapter 3 on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Dolby Atmos/DTS:X
- Integrates with Amazon Music, TIDAL, and Deezer
- Supports 4K UHD, HDR, and Dolby Vision
- Works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa
Cons
- Doesn’t support Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2, or Spotify Connect
techradar[3]
Reviewer score 77%The Sony HT-A9 supports almost all kinds of audio and wireless technology including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, hi-res audio, AirPlay, Bluetooth, GoogleCast and Alexa. The four speakers create a better sound array with phantom speakers that work surprisingly well for an immersive audio experience. It’s definitely a step up from a sound bar for anyone looking to get a more immersive experience.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, AirPlay, Google Cast and Alexa
- Excellent sound quality
- Easy setup
Cons
- No subwoofer
techradar[4]
Reviewer score 86%Sony HT-A9 Home Theater System has four real speakers, and 12 ‘phantom speakers’ These phantom speakers are upfiring tweeters that can bounce sound off the ceiling and back down to ears. Sound Field Optimization technology creates a virtual dome of sound within the invisible boundaries it sets. System works with Google Assistant and Alexa; as long as you have a compatible smart speaker, you can give voice assistant commands.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Vibrant, immersive sound
- Huge array of upfiring tweeters
- Supports 360 Spatial Sound Mapping
Cons
- Doesn’t work with Sony Bravia TVs
whathifi[5]
Reviewer score 68%The sound fills our listening room nicely, and while we don’t get the sense that there are 12 sound sources in the room, there are no prominent gaps in the soundfield. No matter how haphazard our speaker positions, the sound design never feels off-kilter or detracts from the action on-screen. The tonal depth of the satellite speakers exceeds that of other compact systems but adding the sub helps to counterbalance the high frequencies.
Find the original article here.
Pros
- Excellent integration with Sony’s HT-A9 system
- Impressive tonal depth
- Easy to use
Cons
- Lop-sided placement
- No dedicated centre channel
User Reviews
Comments
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References
- ^ Sony HT-A9 Soundbar Review. [rtings]. https://www.rtings.com/soundbar/reviews/sony/ht-a9. 2021-10-21. Retrieved 2021-11-08.
- ^ Sony HT-A9 Home Theater System review: This all-in-one wireless surround system delivers . [techhive]. https://www.techhive.com/article/3642892/sony-ht-a9-home-theater-system-review.html. 2021-11-30. Retrieved 2021-12-02.
- ^ Sony HT-A9 review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/sony-ht-a9. 2021-12-06. Retrieved 2021-12-07.
- ^ Hands on: Sony HT-A9 Home Theater System review. [techradar]. https://www.techradar.com/reviews/sony-ht-a9-home-theater-system. 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2021-09-30.
- ^ Sony HT-A9 review. [whathifi]. https://www.whathifi.com/reviews/sony-ht-a9. 2021-11-22. Retrieved 2021-11-25.
The MSRP provided on this page may not apply to all regions equally. For the current price, please refer to the Price Comparison section.
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These key takeaways ("pros" and "cons") and summaries are identified from third-party reviews. They may differ from the original texts.
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