Soundbars provide immersive audio with a chest-pumping bass that standard speakers cannot produce. Sony and Sonos are renowned in the audio industry for producing some of the best high-quality soundbars.
Sony manufactures soundbars at different price points with modern, sleek designs to integrate well into your space. The soundbars have sophisticated tech onboard to help get the best sound output. Sonos does not fall behind in the battle of soundbars; they manufacture some of the most premium and immersive soundbars in the market, with various designs to ensure they can merge well with your decor. Read on to find out how these two soundbar brands compare and which is better regarding features, quality of sound, and design.
Sony vs. Sonos Soundbars: Side-by-Side Comparison
| Sony | Sonos | |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Sony Corporation | Sonos, Inc. |
| Amplifier | Digital amplifier, S-Master, S-Master HX | Digital amplifier |
| Subwoofers | Wired, Built-in, wireless | Wireless, Wired |
| What is in the box | Remote Control, Batteries for the remote, HDMI Cable, AC Cord | Power cable, Instruction manual, Optical audio cable/HDMI |
| Design | Manufactured with sleek and modern designs that integrate well into most homes | Come in a variety of designs, including those that can be mounted on walls for a cleaner look |
| Expandability | Generally manufactured as standalone products, but can be paired with a subwoofer or additional speakers. | They are made to be part of a larger ecosystem, allowing for easy expansion with additional Sonos speakers |
| Price range | Offer soundbars at different price points to fit within various budgets | They are more expensive than Sony soundbars |
| Control | Sony Music Center App, Voice control, Buttons, TV remote, Sony Soundbar Remote Control | TV remote, Sonos App, Touch/buttons, Apple Airplay 2, Voice control |
- Includes support for Alexa voice commands, AirPlay 2, and more
- 3D sound with Dolby Atmos
- Trueplay tuning technology produces sound optimized for your room's acoustics
- Eleven high performance drivers
Sony vs. Sonos: What’s The Difference?
Save for the fact that different companies manufacture Sony and Sonos soundbars, it can be tricky to differentiate between the two. Both offer high-quality soundbars that are guaranteed to elevate your audio experience. However, Sonos soundbars are more premium than Sony, and thus pricier.
Sound Quality
- DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, Vertical Surround Sound Engine
- 360 degree sound mapping
- converts audio to 7.1.2 Ch automatically
- 4K/120 and 8K passthrough for the best visuals and gameplay.
Sony soundbars, unlike Sonos’, produce a more dynamic and powerful sound. They are manufactured with powerful subwoofers and sophisticated audio processing technologies, focusing on producing a more cinematic sound experience. This feature makes Sony soundbars ideal for movies and other multimedia content. For instance, the Sony HT-A7000 performs well with movies and music, and it has a subwoofer that produces powerful bass, ensuring you experience movies as if you are in a movie theater.
Conversely, Sonos soundbars deliver natural and more balanced sound to give you an immersive audio experience. Advanced audio technologies in Sonos soundbars, such as Trueplay, help you tune your soundbar to the room’s acoustics, so you can achieve the best sound quality wherever you place your soundbar. Additionally, they feature better spatial imaging for a more immersive listening experience. Note that the specific sound quality of a soundbar will depend on features and specifications.
Prices
- Tweeter built in, with 2-channel speaker
- Bluetooth enabled
- USB port
- Bass Reflex style speaker for an especially deep sound
- S-Force Pro Front Surround sound feature included
Soundbars are generally expensive. However, Sony offers soundbars across a wide range of price points, some at a high price point and others at a more affordable range. This allows users to find a soundbar within their budget and needs. The prices will fluctuate depending on features. Entry-level Sony soundbars such as Sony HT-S100F cost about $84, while high-end soundbars will cost more. For instance, the Sony HT A-7000 costs about $2694.
Sonos soundbars are more premium than Sony ones and cost more due in part to their advanced technology and integration with the Sonos ecosystem. The Sonos Ray Essential Soundbar is the most affordable Sonos soundbar, ideal for small and middle-sized rooms with fantastic dialogue clarity retailing for about $279. However, they do not have HDMI ports, Dolby Atmos, or Bluetooth support. The prices go up to $799, with the stand-alone Sonos Arc. Sonos soundbars allow you to connect them together for a comprehensive sound system. If you intend to expand your system, you will spend more.
- Clear, powerful sound
- wide soundstage for enhanced drama
- Sonos' App helps with simple setup
- App, Spotify connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and Wi-Fi enabled
Design
Depending on the soundbar model, Sony and Sonos soundbars vary significantly when it comes to design and build. However, there are general differences between the two brands. Sony soundbars have a modern and sleek design with a very distinct appearance compared to Sonos soundbars. The former can range from eye-catching to minimalistic designs that come in a variety of finishes and sizes to suit different home decor and preferences.
Sonos soundbars also feature modern designs focusing on elegance and simplicity. They also provide soundbars of different sizes and finishes for different preferences, including Sonos Ray, Sonos Beam, and Sonos Arc. The clean look of the soundbars enables them to blend well with most spaces and setups.
Sony and Sonos soundbars differ notably in placement and type of controls. While Sony soundbars mostly have traditional button controls on the side or front of the soundbars, Sonos soundbars generally have touch controls on top of the soundbars that give them a clean look.
Compatibility
One of the significant aspects that separates Sony and Sonos soundbars is their compatibility with other devices and ecosystems. Sonos soundbars have been designed in a way that makes it possible to connect them seamlessly with other Sonos products such as subwoofers, speakers, and other audio devices, which allows users to expand their sound system, making it more comprehensive. With an integrated system like this, it is possible to control everything from the Sonos app. It is also worth noting most Sonos soundbars are compatible with several streaming services like Amazon Music, Apple Music, and Spotify.
On the other hand, Sony soundbars are more accepting. You can connect them to a wide range of ecosystems and products. Most of these soundbars offer Bluetooth connectivity, enabling wireless connections to smartphones, laptops, and other devices. Moreover, Sony soundbars have HDMI ports that enable you to connect them to television and audio devices like gaming consoles.
Sony vs. Sonos Soundbars: Must-Know Facts
- Sonos manufactures premium soundbars, which are typically more expensive than Sony soundbars.
- Sonos soundbars can connect and work seamlessly with other Sonos products and ecosystems to give a more comprehensive audio experience.
- Sony manufactures a wide range of soundbars to fit different budgets and needs. Their entry-level soundbars like the Sony HT-S100F cost about $84 and offer basic features while premium soundbars offer advanced features such as Dolby Atmos and retail at around $2500.
- Some Sonos soundbars come with the Sound Field Optimization feature which allows you to tune your soundbar according to your room’s acoustics.
- Sonos offers a variety of soundbars with a minimalistic design and can integrate well with different home decor.
- Some Sony and Sonos soundbars have voice control abilities that allow you to control them using your voice.
- While Sony soundbars produce a more dynamic and powerful sound, which makes them great for movies and other multimedia content, Sonos soundbars produce a dynamic and balanced sound.
- Sonos supports several streaming services such as Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, and Stitcher, to name a few. Sony soundbars only have a few built-in services like Spotify. However, it can support other music platforms via Bluetooth.
Sony vs. Sonos Soundbars: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Sonos soundbars have better soundstage, build, and Atmos performance. The premium models have a room correction feature that allows you to tweak the settings based on your room’s acoustics. Additionally, the Sonos soundbar ecosystem allows you to connect your soundbars with other Sonos products seamlessly, which enables you to create a more comprehensive and powerful sound system.
Sony soundbars, on the other hand, are more affordable with soundbars cutting across a wide range of price points. Nonetheless, they do not compromise on the quality of sound. However, note that entry-level and mid-range soundbars may lack some features that you will find in premium soundbars like the Sony HT-A700 and Sonos Arc.
If you want a minimal soundbar, go for Sonos soundbars. If you want a powerful theater experience, go for Sony.
- Sonos Arc Soundbar
- Includes support for Alexa voice commands, AirPlay 2, and more
- 3D sound with Dolby Atmos
- Trueplay tuning technology produces sound optimized for your room's acoustics
- Eleven high performance drivers
- Sony HT-A7000 7.1.2ch Sound Bar
- DTS:X, Dolby Atmos, Vertical Surround Sound Engine
- 360 degree sound mapping
- converts audio to 7.1.2 Ch automatically
- 4K/120 and 8K passthrough for the best visuals and gameplay.
- Sonos Ray Essential Soundbar
- Clear, powerful sound
- wide soundstage for enhanced drama
- Sonos' App helps with simple setup
- App, Spotify connect, Apple AirPlay 2, and Wi-Fi enabled
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