Sony SA-SW5 Premium Subwoofer

Product Information

The A7000 produces powerful, cinematic audio and an immersive, detailed soundfield from a single soundbar that impresses more than most multi-box systems. I,ve paired mine with an XR65A80J OLED, and to be honest the effect is amazingly cinematic. The tv is a stunner and the bar just adds the boom. The sound from the a80 was already good because it uses “acoustic surface” which is amazing in and of itself, but because the pairing is all on brand the bar uses that AS as an extra centre speaker.

In terms of stereo imaging and soundstage, there’s a lot to like about the HT-A7000 - it’s a very musically talented soundbar. Testing out some 360 Reality Audio music, you get a real room-filling sound with a clear idea of where all the instruments are located.

Bass, especially lower bass, is more controlled and detailed compared to the SW3. When playing bass heavy movies, I could hear the nuances in the low notes. Possibly slightly more low end extension than the SW3, but it is negligible . Updating the bar to firmware version 1.779 adds support for ALLM and HDMI Forum. The Video Passthrough to TV score improves from 8.4 to 9.5 as a result. With the Atmos format (or the less common Sony 360 Reality Audio) the HT-A7000 really shines. It was a treat to watch big-budget movies that clearly put attention into Atmos sound mixing. In Dune, the rotary dirge of the dragonfly-like ornithopters, the paranormal voices during Paul Atreides’ hallucinations, and the desert-shaking movements of the sandworms took on a multidimensional realism as sounds scattered over, around, and through the room. It could be time to upgrade your home audio system with a Sony wireless subwoofer, but which is the one for you? A Sony home stereo system with subwoofer is one of the best sub speaker brands you can have. The combination of a Sony speaker bar and stereo woofer can elevate your movie nights to the next level.

Sony has opted to use a combination of driver placement and psychoacoustic techniques to enhance the width and height of the soundstage whether you’re watching immersive content or not, and it works very well. Alongside the upward drivers, there’s the company’s Vertical Surround Engine (VSE), which up-mixes standard content to make use of the height channels. But more key to the A7000’s overall performance are the wide-spaced beam tweeters, which channel audio through a series of flute-like chambers, and Sony’s S-Force Front Surround Technology, which is engaged when the ‘Cinema’ and ‘Standard’ sound modes are selected. This setup comes with a Sound Field Optimization room correction feature that you can activate when the bar is connected to your TV. This feature works automatically, but you can also manually enter your room's dimensions to calibrate the bar. We tested using the automatic Sound Field Optimization feature. However, we also tried the manual configuration and found it was a bit less loud than the automatic calibration, but the frequency response curves were identical. While these results may be unique to our testing room, we feel that the automatic calibration will be sufficient for most users.

Sony HT-A7000 Review

I’ve no idea why they were pushing it so hard because there were hardly any in the country and I had to wait a month for it to even arrive. You do not have to worry about buying additional equipment with the subwoofer. The Sony SA-SW5 300W comes with an AC power cable. You need it to connect the device to the power source. And that is the only cable you will need with your subwoofer. Throughout the film, dialogue is naturalistically, and often quietly, spoken – but once again the A7000 shows excellent presence, and while adding in the Sony TV to bolster the centre channel doesn’t dramatically alter the already impressive soundfield, it nicely adds to the openness and character of voices. Should you need it there’s a dialogue boost setting, and if you’re watching DTS:X content you can individually adjust the dialogue level using the remote. You can manually adjust those settings for yourself in the simple UI Sony provides, but most folks should be fine with just the automatic calibration. Another Sony proprietary technology, Separated Notch Edge, uses an innovative woofer surround to reduce cone distortion. Less distortion means a cleaner, punchier sound, without the excessive ‘boom’ and wallow that can afflict some subwoofers.

If there were no limits to our income or living space we’d happily add the optional surrounds and sub, but the A7000 does not feel wanting of any extra support. It’s an incredibly competent, future-proofed performer that enhances everything we watch and sets a new benchmark for Dolby Atmos soundbars at its price. Changing to music, we listen to Ani DeFranco’s Little Plastic Castle on Tidal. The stereo imaging is good, and the vocal has plenty of nuance and character. While it adds to the lively spaciousness of transients such as the ringing snare or the reverb on the solo acoustic guitar, the top-end feels a little insistent, especially when the arrangement becomes busy and brassy. The tonal depth of the satellite speakers exceeds that of other compact systems but adding the sub helps to counterbalance the high frequencies, as does listening with Immersive AE. Though in this instance, the up-mixing sounds a touch cluttered. Are you new to using speakers and subwoofers? Well, it is not difficult at all. Thanks to Sony SA-SW5 300W wireless connection, you can easily connect to your soundbar. It automatically establishes the connection and indicates a green light to show it is set up. I have the HTA7000 Soundbar and it is excellent overall as standalone. Adding this subwoofer releases the Soundbar from performing bass duties and delegates that to the Soundbar. The Soundbar will now allow more subwoofer audio levels going from only 3, to more than 10. This allows the Soundbar to provide the cleanest audio along with bass. Without the subwoofer the Soundbar can produce decent bass at the cost of introducing muddiness when cranking the bass levels to high. The addition of this subwoofer the muddiness goes away. Converted to Test Bench 1.2. Updated the results for audio format support via ARC/eARC, HDMI In, and Optical. Added Video Passthrough to TV results as well.Another subwoofer that can be paired with is SW3 200W. However, it is more compact than SA-SW5. The latter is considered an ‘absolute beast’ when it comes to bass production. Sony’s A9 speaker system redefines accessible home cinema sound with an innovative, immersive and flexible solution.” ’What Hi-Fi?’ – 5 Star review.

During Finch, it was the Atmos spaciousness that heightened the tension in moments like the tornado scene, when objects and debris are swirling around and steel cables break under the stress. Of course, the latest James Bond romp No Time To Die has plenty of bullets, explosions, aircraft, tire-screeching car chases, overhead glass breaking, and water deluges to exploit the Atmos capabilities as well. I wanted to improve my listening experience, my existing speakers were average quality for a medium size room, but they didn't wow me. I wasn't so interested in Atmos effects as I have a very odd shaped room with one side of the soundbar close to a wall, plus a vaulted ceiling. Although Sony’s line of speakers already has an impressive sound, you might hear distortion. That’s due to their less focus on bass and more on increasing the volume. However, Sony SA-SW5 makes that right by producing low-frequency sounds with clear-cut quality. 4. Impressive Design Due to its wireless technology, you also do not have to worry about wires and cables. All you need is the power cable, and you are all set.Take the sound to a deeper dimension by adding an optional subwoofer. The optional SA-SW3 and SA-SW5 models connect seamlessly and, like the surround speakers, use a wireless connection. With power outputs of 200 watts and 300 watts, respectively, expect edge-of-seat cinema style thrills. Switching to the dynamically diverse Et In Carnatus Est and Santus of Mozart’s Grosse Messe there’s a pleasant warmth and consistency in the strings across the lower midrange, and the sub makes a decent attempt at the majestic timpani rolls and organ bursts. Here the vertical surround engine is an enjoyable addition and seems to add a touch of sweetness to the higher frequencies. Even with non-Atmos media, the HT-A7000’s Immersive AE effect makes excellent use of the top-and side-firing drivers to create an enveloping soundstage than they would be when listening to lesser-equipped soundbars or the best bookshelf speakers. The HT-A7000 creates a large sweet spot that I estimate as a spherical space with a radius of 3 to 4 feet, where listeners can enjoy close to the optimal listening experience. We also noticed that the soundbar cut out once or twice during our two-week testing period. It would happen without rhyme or reason and would momentarily cause the audio to stop before resuming - however, it was certainly annoying whenever it happened. Not only that, but you can also enjoy movies. If you have a big gathering of friends or family, the subwoofer is excellent. It produces low-frequency sound. But, the best part is its clarity. You understand the dialogues, music, and environment with a cinematic experience. 2. Competitive Price