So far this year, we’ve had a number of soundbars pass through our test room. From the cheap and cheerful Majority Bowfell Halo Atmos system to the beefy LG Sound Suite package, and everything in between.
The latest competitor to enter our doors is the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 7 + S, a Dolby Atmos sound bar and subwoofer. You can also get the soundbar itself, for £699 / $870, but if you add the Bravia Theater Sub 7 to the mix, the price rises to £799 / $1100.
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However, when we remove the Bravia Theater Sub 7 from the mix, it’s a different story.
As we say in our review: “Although it still offers clear voices and convincing high-end results, the sound is reduced and lacks the sense of scale and authority that we get when the subwoofer is added.”
To put it simply, the soundbar itself no longer sounds worth the price. The subwoofer and soundbar feel like they’re tuned to work together, which is why we called the whole system a “match made in heaven” in our review.
We have to admit that we did not expect this big difference considering the size and cost of the subwoofer.
Let’s not forget that subwoofers, especially on the affordable side of the market, are difficult to repair and can often be the weakest link in a system.
This means that most soundbars without subwoofers that enter our test room are often lacking in bass, so Sony offering a bundle at a reasonable price that directly addresses this problem is a promising step.
And this really got me thinking: should more manufacturers add cheap, compact subwoofers to take their soundbar system performance to the next level? On this evidence, I really think so.
MORE:
Here’s our full review of the Sony Bravia Theater 7 + S Bar
Check it out Sony’s best soundbars
And these The best soundbars for Dolby Atmos