Sony HT-A3000 Review: Premium Soundbar that will liven up your living room
Sony is a veteran of the audio segment in different price categories. You have a wide selection of wireless speakers in the mid-range price range that are starting to catch your eye, and adding to the selection will improve the audio experience. We’ve mostly tested soundbars in the budget segment, but when Sony decided to let us experience their HT-A series systems for a long time, it was too good an opportunity to turn down. The soundbar is priced at Rs 69,990, but if you buy the subwoofer, Sony is offering you a special price of Rs 83,980.
The Sony HT-A3000 is a 3.1-channel soundbar and the basic version with the A5000 and A7000 soundbars. The company also supplied us with a wireless subwoofer and two satellite speakers that come separately, and in this review we’ll talk about the performance, quality, and experience of immersing your space in this high-quality setup.
Sony HT-A3000 Review: What’s Cool?
Sony has kept it simple in the design of the soundbar, which isn’t a bad thing for us. The soundbar gets a matte black finish and a metal mesh grille that covers the front of the speaker unit.
The built-in bass speakers are placed on the side, and the soft power controls are on the upper right corner of the device. You even have an LED display that tells you the operating modes of the soundbar, the song being played and the volume. Pairing a soundbar with a subwoofer gives you a double mix of sound with added bass that you might not feel with a default subwoofer. You can go through the process by connecting to your local Wi-Fi network and pairing the add-ons.
When the boxes are delivered, all the units may seem overwhelming, but once you start putting them together and hooking them up to your TV, it doesn’t feel like a tiring exercise. A versatile soundbar has become an essential ingredient for success, and the HT-A3000 ticks all the boxes in that regard. You have Bluetooth, HDMI, Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay and built-in Chromecast. Even in wireless mode, you support high-resolution audio codec files such as AAC, SBC and LDAC, which have become popular among users.
You can even switch to voice commands via Google Assistant and Alexa for a hands-free experience. A remote control is included with all the options, but you can also download the Sony Music Center app on your smartphone (both iOS and Android) to control the settings to some extent. We’ve already talked about the 3.1 channel supported by the soundbar, but once the subwoofer is paired, you get a 5.1 channel unit and you’ll notice the difference right away.
Soundbar reviews aren’t worth mentioning when it comes to performance, and it’s fair to say that Sony’s well-balanced Soundstage delivers on all fronts. It is equipped with Dolby Atmos surround sound, which fills the room with emphasis.
Whether you’re listening to classical music or heavy rock, you’ll notice the vocals are crystal clear and the touch of the bass complements the overall sound production of the woofers. The 5-channel sound setup livens up the room, and I have to admit that watching movies without the HT-A3000 felt incomplete. You can hear the dialogues and the action sequences are powerful enough to enhance the overall experience.
Sony HT-A3000 Review: What’s Not So Cool?
While we praised the countless connection options, the soundbar strangely lacks an HDMI pass-through. That might not be a big deal for many, but it’s still something to consider when you’re spending over Rs 80,000. As for audio equipment, we didn’t like the limited selection of equalizer settings. When a person spends a lot on a soundbar, they certainly expect the product to tick all the feature lists, and since everyone has their own tastes and preferences, an equalizer comes in handy.
We can’t end the review without talking about the price. The HT-A3000 is an expensive proposition, and while it does manage to keep the levels in check, people will be scrolling through the features several times before pulling out the checkbook (not literally).
Sony HT-A3000 Review: Should You Buy?
The Sony HT-A3000 soundbar alone is a heavy device in many ways, and when you pair it with a subwoofer, the 3-channel sound becomes a 5-channel product, which is enough to satisfy most consumers. You spend more than Rs 80,000 for Sony’s premium sound quality, versatile connectivity options and intelligence. It also helps that Sony leaves room to add additional speakers for a 360-degree audio experience. Buy it if you are upgrading your house sound system and you like the sound brand that Sony offers.
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