First Reviews ( by a novice reviewer)
So please bear with me and I'll try and answer as much as I can.
Unboxing images below and the later ones show the bar under a Sony 75 inch tv so the size is no issue.
The sub is heavy! I have a REL I'm going to sell and still think that the Sony sub has quite some weight.
The sound bar feels solid and finished beautifully in black. It's a good weight when I compare to my Yamaha soundbar I use in my other room.
My comparisons are going to be based on Sony vs Yamaha vs dedicated 5.1 which I have always had before sound bars.
For simplicity, let's say that neither soundbar can match a dedicated 5.1 system. But then we all know there's going to be a compromise if we're shopping for soundbars!
Set up is either easy or I'm doing something wrong. I connected the HDMIs as required and switched on both the Sub and bar via the remote. It then knows what signals are coming through and starts working.
I didn't need to set my tv up as it seems to know that the bar is there. This must be Bravia comms. You then have no further parameters to set as far as I see. Iirc, Yamaha have a way of reading the optimum audio for your seating point via an Auddessy style set up. The Sony has no such thing and just tells you to keep it within a certain ceiling height and the centre of the tv. Am I missing something or am I wrong about yamahas set up process?!
Now, the sound. I'm quite impressed by the sound within reason. Im not sure it's anyway better than Yamahas and I am not sensing the 'Atmos' feature very much as I watch Sing. Maybe that's the movie or maybe that's my set up? If not, then height info is not clear to me.
The tv has a function to level audio so that you don't get huge variations in sound output that might wake the kids. The sound bar has 'night' mode but I'm. It sure if that's the same thing. Also, Yamaha have this wonderful directed sound which really works at night. You use your phone and just have the audio directed to where you're sat. Maybe Sony has this but I'm only on the first two hours and can't be sure.
The sound seems to be quite balanced. The treble isn't ever harsh, midrange and bass seem to flow from one another with the sub having just a decent amount of fill-in to round out the sound. Is it way better than the far cheaper Yamaha? Not at this early stage. Maybe more viewing time would help. I'll also put the same sky channel on both TVs and run between the two to compare the two soundbars.
That's all from me for now.