Sony has a history of producing high-end soundbars that would ordinarily cost much more, from the HT-A7000 to the HT-G700 and HT-X8500. This is what sets the Bravia Sony HT-S400 Bravia Soundbar apart: not only does the soundbar/subwoofer combo deliver an amazing 330W of total audio output. But it also does it at a reasonable $299 / £269 / AU$499 price point.
S-Force PRO Front Surround and Dolby Digital are included in the 2.1ch front surround sound speaker, and the subwoofer is totally wireless. Sony TV owners can connect the speaker set wirelessly and provide integrated controls in addition to using Bluetooth A2DP, HDMI ARC, and optical cable connectivity.
However, there is no 3.5mm input on the soundbar itself, nor is there a USB port if you wish to play music from a USB stick – two tiny flaws in an otherwise excellent Loudon on its own, the HT-S400 performs admirably in film/television, general music, and gaming on a variety of platforms. Look no further for potential purchasers wishing to get their feet wet in the world of high-quality soundbars at a reasonable price speaker.
What you will see here?
Release Date and Price
The Bravia Sony HT-S400 Bravia Soundbar will be available for / £269 / AU$499 on Sony’s web store and major stores beginning April 15. The HT-S400 is a winner when compared to similar audio solutions in the $200-300 price range. Such as the Yamaha SR-B20A Sound Bar, Razer Leviathan, and even Sony’s own Sony HT-X8500.
Buyers who want additional speakers or Dolby Atmos may want to spend a little more on a genuine spatial audio system like the Sonos Arc, but we appreciate Sony’s aim to strike a balance between the decent feature set listed and a no-frills packaging.
Design
The slim blacks for both the soundbar and the speaker, like on other Sony soundbars, add to the luxury design of the HT-S400, which looks as beautiful as it sounds. Even better, ecologically conscious purchasers will appreciate the fact that the subwoofer’s rear plate composing of recyclable plastics. Of course, more recycled material would be preferable, but this is a solid start.
The soundbar has an OLED display that displays information such as input mode, volume, Bluetooth connectivity, and bass levels, among other things. This, as well as the loudspeakers, are all covered in a sleek metallic-like mesh. The subwoofer boasts a gorgeous basic black-on-black appearance. As well as a green light to indicate that it’s linking to the soundbar.
On the back, there’s an HDMI 2.0 ARC port, an optical port, and a USB-A port for firmware updates only. It’s frustrating that the USB port is essentially worthless and those aux-cord DJs are not supported by a 3.5mm jack.
While the subwoofer is around three inches across, a foot wide on one side, and about a foot tall with some height variation. When it comes to using Bluetooth, the same ease of setup applies. Connection to a compatible BRAVIA TV is likewise straightforward, and the integrated user interface eliminates the need for the provided remote. The settings on the soundbar are decent as well, aside from the remote. This controls everything from volume and woofer levels to setting off/on the sound source sound system technology.
Features
For its budget, the Bravia Sony HT-S400 Bravia Soundbar includes a number of useful functions, including Voice mode. This prioritizes spoken conversation above other audio aspects such as music score or soundtrack.
Night mode reduces bass to reduce vibration in situations where utilizing a subwoofer can be annoying, such as at night or in a small apartment. On top of the remote’s built-in bass level adjustments, it’s almost like having a mute button for the subwoofer. This was especially helpful when viewing HBO’s Julia or more action-packed flicks like Furious 9. The option may appeal to buyers who prefer films with a lot of dialogue, though the clarity isn’t quite night and day.
Sound Field, the final audio-centric function, converts stereo sounds into surround sound. It’s a good implementation of Sony’s S-Force PRO virtual surround sound technology. It’s analogous to the impression of more simulated surround sound features on recent mid-to-low range gaming headsets. It is not ideal and isn’t a replacement for multiple speaker setups.
The audio performance
When it comes to pure audio quality, the HT-S400 delivers far more than its low sticker price suggests. The volume quality of a 2.1 channel soundbar/subwoofer system can reach some astounding heights. Because audio clarity matches loudness levels, the HT-S400 is probably perfect for individuals in compact apartments searching for a cinematic audio experience without the need for numerous speaker setups.
This is especially noticeable when you’re watching a movie that’s set to be excessively loud by default. Such as an action picture or a horror film with a somber soundtrack. Because of the clarity of the dialogue, the score, and the rumbling of the bass, seeing Disney’s Moon Knight was a far more immersive experience.
God of War on PS5 one of the first titles is testing with the HT-S400. It’s been a delightful experience playing the first-party classic at high volume. Since Sony patched their current-gen system to allow Spatial Audio via television speakers last September.
The already dramatic presentation game pushed things to new heights previously thought to be only feasible with VR glasses. When playing games like Gran Turismo 7, the audio effects were quite useful in determining which direction cars were attempting to pass on.
Conclusion
The Sony HT s400 is an affordable soundbar combo that offers phenomenal audio performance at an incredible price. Sony has released its latest soundbar, the HT-S400. It has a small OLED display of information about remote control inputs. It brings a cinematic surround sound to any living room. Sony has unveiled the HT S400, a mid-range soundbar that packs plenty of features.
