Who needs it: I think The Beatles sound better in mono, HDMI ARC and HDMI eARC: everything you need to know, PS5 restock news: where to buy a PlayStation 5 console in 2022, The best home entertainment buying advice, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. By The LG offers a better soundstage performance, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass to help you feel the deep thump and rumble in your audio. There's also a virtual surround sound feature called S-Force PRO that's always on, as well as its Vertical Surround Engine, and DTS Virtual:X. The HT-ST5000 is a 7.1.2 setup that's better-built and offers more wireless playback options. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it gets louder. It also has better center and surround performances. Unlike the Beam, the Sony HT-G700 comes with a wireless subwoofer, supports Dolby Atmos and has a dedicated HDMI input, however, it doesnt have music streaming, multi-room or voice control.

Unlike the Sony, it also has built-in voice assistant support. Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-G700 or the JBL Bar 5.1 Surround. Its center,surround, and height performances arebetter, and it haseARC support. It also offers a better center, surround, and height performance, and has room correction. It even comes with more sound enhancement features, such as room correction. This setup doesn't have any satellite speakers. Its a serious-looking bar, with a matte black finish and simple black grille, through which a small dot-matrix display shines we like how the display doesnt draw your attention away from the screen. It also has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances.

Not only is a large, smart-looking subwoofer part of the package, but the soundbar itself is also more substantial and solid than most in its class. The pitter-patter of the rain hitting the cars windscreen is less precise than wed like, too. Unfortunately, this results in a less than accurate and clear representation of surround objects, which won't be very immersive as these objects are also perceived as coming from in front, rather than from the sides or behind you. The Sony is a 3.1 setup with better center and surround performances. Similarly, the Sony exhibited a certain boxiness with male vocals such as Hearts a Mess by Gotye but it still had my toe tapping in time.

The soundbar will also pass through 4K HDR signals (including Dolby Vision) to the TV. Unfortunately, it doesn't have DTS support like the Sony.

Major companies such as Sonos and JBL, have only just announced their first Atmos models in 2020, while other brands simply offer Dolby "compatibility". What Hi-Fi? NY 10036. The 5.1 Polk has a better surrounds performance thanks to its dedicated satellites, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Unlike the Sony, it comes with a graphic EQ and built-in voice assistant support. On 'Standard' mode, its subwoofer struggles to produce a thumpy low-bass.

The Klipsch reproduces a more extended low-bass, so you feel more thump and rumble in your audio.

He lives in New York City where he writes about streaming and home audio. This sub connects wirelessly to your soundbar and it only needs its power cable.

It also supports more wireless playback options.

The Sony HT-G700 is a 3.1 channel setup with a superb center channel performance. Also, it comes with an auto-volume mode and a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Bose. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! There's also an 'Auto Sound' EQ preset that automatically adjusts the sound profile to better suit your audio. The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module is more versatile than the Sony HT-G700. The Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the Sony HT-G700 for most uses. The Sony HT-G700 has okay stereo dynamics. The Sony HT-G700 has a small screen behind its grille that displays the inputs as well as settings you change. That said, the 2.1 HT-S350 has a better stereo soundstage. Things also get a bit cluttered and hard to follow when the action really kicks off, too. The HT-G700 is a soundbar and wireless subwoofer combo which promises up to 7.1.2 channel surround sound according to Sony's marketing. The Klipsch Cinema 600 is better than the Sony HT-G700 for most uses. Heres why you can trust us.

The Bose is a 5.1.2 setup with discrete satellites. It reproduces a more extended low-bass and offers a better surround performance. The Vizio is a 5.1.2 setup with dedicated satellites. I compared the Sony with the cheaper JBL 2.1 Bar for music. As it also supports eARC, it can play object-based surround signals and lossless formats as well. There are also mounting holes on either side of the bar, but this soundbar doesn't come with wall mounting brackets or screws, so you have to purchase them separately. Ty Pendlebury is a journalism graduate of RMIT Melbourne, and has worked at CNET since 2006. Unlike the Sonos Arc the separate HDMI in gives you more flexibility in the devices you can use -- for example you won't need a new TV in order to hear Dolby Atmos streams from a 4K Blu-ray.

Thanks to HDMI-CEC, you wont even need to set anything up, with both devices automatically knowing that theyre linked. The LG SN9YG is better than the Sony HT-G700. Our coveted five-star rating and Awards are recognised all over the world as the ultimate seal of approval, so you can buy with absolute confidence. The standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 700 is slightly better for mixed usage than the Sony HT-G700. The Sony HT-G700 is alright for mixed use. In fact most of those channels are emulated and not true Atmos surround sound -- the bar has neither upfiring speakers nor rears. That said, the Sony supports Dolby Atmos content, so it may be better suited for movies. Its dedicated sub can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass. You can even use your TVs remote control to change the soundbars volume. The JBL was enjoyable but didn't make the leap from the screen in the same way. The HT-G700 is a 3.1 setup that's better built and offers better soundstage and surround performances than the 2.1 HT-X8500. The Sony, on the other hand, is a 3.1 setup with slightly better build quality, it can play DolbyAtmos content by downmixing it into stereo,and its center channel offers up a superb performance. However,it's also not compatible with theSony Music Center app.

The Sony HT-G700 can only play audio wirelessly using a Bluetooth connection, which is a little disappointing. However, the Sony feels better built, and it has a better height performance. It also has better soundstage and surround performances and supports more wireless playback options. It also comes with some more sound enhancement features, including room correction. Like the soundbar itself, the glossy-fronted subwoofer also feels weightier and more solid than expected. It also comes with more sound enhancement features like bass and treble adjustments as well as a graphic EQ. The Yamaha is a 2.1 channel witha better-balanced sound profile overall, and you can stream your favorite audio to it using Wi-Fi, which is pretty handy. I found the sound could be a little hemmed in, which actually suits most music playback, but hitting the Cinema preset unlocked the sonic fairground ride. The Samsung feels slightly better built, it has a more balanced and neutral sound profile right out-of-the-box, and even though it doesn't get as loud as the Sony, it can reach its max volume with less thumping and compression artifacts. It also has a better center channel performance. is supported by its audience. While it has a subwoofer, it lacks low-bass, which can impact the immersiveness of your favorite action flicks. The Sony is a 3.1 setup that's ideal for listening to vocal-centric content, and unlike the Polk, it supports Dolby Atmos. It also comes with a graphic EQ so you can customize its sound.

It even supports more wireless playback options and offers built-in Alexa voice assistant support, unlike the Sony. That said, the Sony has a better surrounds performance, and it also supports Dolby Atmos content. The Sony also supports 4k passthrough, so you can use the bar as a hub between your TV and your game console or PC. When I played Mad Max Fury Road there was a spaciousness in the opening. The Sony HT-G700 is a 3.1 setup that's better than the 2.1 Sony HT-X9000F. It was also hard to listen to in the first few bars of George Harrison's My Sweet Lord, but was better balanced once the bass guitar kicked in. The Sony HT-G700 has several inputs. The Bose is still a decent choice for dialogue-centric content like TV shows as well as music. Having trouble deciding between two soundbars?

The Sony HT-G700 goes into standby mode after being idle for some time.

The soundbars HDMI output is fully eARC (Enhanced Audio Return Channel) compatible, so as long as your TV also supports that or standard ARC, it will send the audio of whatever youre watching through to the bar instead of through its own speakers. Its treble range is a bit better balanced, it has a graphic EQ so you can tweak your audio experience, and there's a USB port so you can play your favorite music from a thumb drive. It doesn't come with a sub like the 3.1 HT-G700. While the Sony HT-G700 is less of a music speaker than the Sonos Beam, a Bluetooth connection and dedicated Music mode may encourage you to send tunes its way from time to time. The Sonos is a 3.0 setup that's better built and has built-in voice assistant support. The back of this soundbar has two openings: one for its power cable and the other for its inputs.

Even though it has to downmix surround content into stereojust like the Sony, its surround performance is better.

The Sony HT-G700 has a just unremarkable height performance. We purchase our own soundbars and Unlike the Sonos, it comes with a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sony HT-G700 or the Polk Audio MagniFi MAX SR. Some listeners may also prefer its more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. Nonetheless it manages to outdo competing $700-plus all-in-one models like the Sonos Arc and theBoseSoundbar 700 in one important respect: the addition of the wireless sub. That means there are many soundbars available at almost identical prices that take very different approaches. The LG is better balanced and has more sound enhancement features. While the Sony comes with seven EQ presets to help you customize your sound, the Samsung has more customization options like a 7-band graphic EQ.

The LG SN10YG is better than the Sony HT-G700. There's even some more sound enhancement features, including room correction. Unlike the HT-G700, it also uses its front-firing speakers to produce asurround and height experience, but it doesn't perform as wellas the HT-G700 with this content. It can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass. It offers better center and surround performances, and it can reproduce a more extended low-bass. The Sony HT-G700 is a sleek soundbar that's very similar in look to other Sony soundbars such as the Sony HT-Z9F. The Sony HT-G700 is a bit better for mixed usage than the Denon Home Sound Bar 550. It cansupport all common audio formats via its HDMI ARC andFull HDMI In ports, and ifyou like to watch movies, itcan also play Dolby Atmos content, but it has todownmix itinto stereo. That said, the Polk has a better soundstage. Our comprehensive tests help you buy the very best for your money, with our advice sections giving you step-by-step information on how to get even more from your music and movies. This soundbar supports Dolby Digital and DTS content which are usually found on Blu-ray discs or streaming platforms via its Optical port. The Sony supports Dolby Atmos and DTS content, unlike the Bose. It also has a better soundstage and more wireless playback options. Unlike the Polk, it also supports DTS content. It also has a better soundstage as well as more wireless playback options. It also hasan auto-off power-saving feature.

Its not all good news, though. The Sony HT-G700 is marginally better for mixed usage than the LG SN6Y. What Hi-Fi?

The Sony HT-G700 has sub-par sound enhancement features.

It can also tell you what kind of audio format you're playing. The JBL Bar 9.1 is better than theSony HT-G700. At a normal listening volume, the amount of THD falls within good limits, so you get pure and clean audio reproduction. The Sony comes with a dedicated sub, which can reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass. The LG is a 5.1.2 setup that's better-built and reproduces a more extended low-bass. The Sony HT-G700 is better than the Sony HT-S350. The Samsung HW-Q70R is better for music than the Sony HT-G700. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. The problem for Sony, however, is the existence of capable Atmos speakers such as the Vizio SB36512-F6which cost the same or even less while managing to include actual height and rear speakers. Unlike the Sony, it comes with built-in voice assistant support, a room correction feature, and bass and treble adjustments. For a bar with a better soundstage, check out the Klipsch Cinema 700. Everything is tested by our dedicated team of in-house reviewers in our custom-built test rooms in London and Bath. The Samsung HW-R650 is a slightly better performing soundbar than the Sony HT-G700. Although it doesn't get as loud as the Sony, the Samsung also has less thumping and compression artifacts at max volume. The Sony is a 3.1 setup with better center and surround performances.

It can get very loud, which is well-suited for large rooms or crowded environments. 2022 CNET, a Red Ventures company. This is a strictly 3.1-channel soundbar, with no actual rears or height speakers and no ability to add them later. The overall sound is definitely less clear and crisp, too, but for some people, the extra weight will make that trade-off worth it. It delivers a weighty fullness that makes the Beam sound rather lightweight, but while theres lots of deep bass, its not terribly flexible or musical. Unlike the Samsung, it supports Dolby Atmos content, although it won't provide the most immersive listening experience because it has to downmix it to stereo. The Samsung is better-built, and it offers a better soundstage performance. It can get loud enough to fill a large or crowded room, too. The Sony HT-G700 is a completely different proposition to the similarly-priced Sonos Beam. The Sony is a 3.1 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content, unlike the Yamaha. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances, and it gets louder with less compression at max volume.

Update 09/22/2020: We've discovered a value input bug that would cause the Dynamics box results to be slightly off. It lacks a room correction feature, so it may sound differently depending on your room. Also, it reproduces a more extended low-bass.

It also has better center and surround performances, and it reproduces a more extended low-bass.

The Sony is a 3.1 setup with a dedicated subwoofer that reproduces a more extended low-bass. The main issues potential Sony buyers need to weigh are that the HT-G700 costs $100 more than the Vizio SB36512-F6 bar and it doesn't offer the same level of features, specifically "true" Dolby Atmos playback. There was a problem. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The Sony HT-G700 can be used as a hub between your TV and another source like a gaming console to play 4k content at 60Hz.

All rights reserved. The standalone Sony HT-A7000 is marginally better for mixed usage than the Sony HT-G700. The Samsung is better built and comes with more sound customization features including bass and treble adjustments as well as a graphic EQ. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and it supports more wireless playback options. Instead it simulates both height and surround effects from the Atmos stream, and does a damn fine job. Getting sound into the HT-G700 is simple. The Sony HT-G700 is a fairly wide soundbar and most likely won't fit between the legs of most 55" or smaller TVs. Unlike the Sonos Beam, the Sony HT-G700 also has a dedicated HDMI input thats fully compatible with Dolby Atmos (in both the Dolby Digital Plus and True HD formats) and DTS:X. New York, This soundbar has an okay THD performance. While the Sony HT-G700 can't do "proper" Atmos it was capable of a truly entertaining performance.

It also comes with a dialogue enhancement feature. This soundbar can also get loud, but unfortunately, there's a lot of thumping and compression artifacts at max volume. Also, it supports Dolby Atmos content, so you're able to take advantage of more immersive object-based formats often found on streaming platforms. I only wish the feature count was a little more generous for the price. Theres also a remote control with dedicated buttons for the soundbars various sound modes.

The LG is a 5.1 setup with better soundstage and surround performances. The Sony HT-G700 is good for dialogue and TV shows. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it has better soundstage and surround performances.

However, the Sony has better surround and height performances. As it also supports HDMI CEC, you can use your TV remote to control some of the soundbar's features like volume and input control. The Sony was much more fun to listen to. As it's a 3.1 setup, it uses its left and right speakers to downmix everything into stereo to play surround content. Dimensions (hwd) 6 x 98 x 11cm (bar); 39 x 19 x 40cm (subwoofer).

The Bose is a better-built setup with discrete satellites. While you can adjust the subwoofer's level, there aren't bass or treble adjustments, which is a little disappointing. The Bose is a better built 5.0.2 setup with a standalone design. It also has a better stereo soundstage, and it offers a room correction feature. Its soundstage is wider and more focused, and it can get louder than the TCL. It also has a graphic EQ plus bass and treble adjustments, and you can stream audio content to it using Wi-Fi or its companion app, which is nice.

The HT-G700 is a 3.1 setup that supports Dolby Atmos content. Unlike the Samsung, it has Dolby Atmos support. However, only the 3.1 Sony comes with a dialogue enhancement feature. published 24 September 20, The Sony HT-G700 is big on sound and on value for cinematic scale and weight, there are few better soundbars at the price. As you remove the Sony HT-G700 from its packaging, theres a real sense that youre getting a lot for your money. It has a better stereo soundstage, and it comes with bass and treble adjustments, which some users may prefer for sound customization. The Sony HT-G700 is marginally better for mixed usage than the Yamaha YAS-408. The JBL is a 5.1 setup that's better built and supports more wireless playback options.

is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. There's a power cable on the bottom and that's about it. Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the LG SP7Y or the Sony HT-G700. The HT-G700 is a 3.1 bar, so it has a discrete center channel to improve vocal clarity. The HT-G700 also has a dedicated night mode, which temporarily reduces bass and dynamics to avoid annoying the other members of your household. You can even apply height and surround processing to 5.1 and even stereo signals, using something called Immersive AE processing, which Sony claims upscales audio close to 7.1.2 channels. However, only the 3.1 HT-G700 has a dedicated sub included. The LG is a better-built soundbar that can reproduce a more extended low-bass. Although it can't get as loud as the Sony, it has less thumping and compression artifacts at max volume too.