Sony SA-SW5 Premium Subwoofer

Product Information

The virtual 7.1.2-channel HT-A7000 works with all the major Dolby and DTS surround-sound formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, as well as the growing Sony 360 Reality Audio format. However, built-in DSP, which Sony calls the Vertical Surround Engine, converts any audio material to utilize the full 7.1.2 channels, making any piece of music or video take advantage of the soundbar’s top-firing speakers and side beam tweeters. The remote control’s Immersive AE (Audio Enhancement) button turns on this function. Even on material that’s already formatted for all the channels, such as Dolby Atmos movies and music, Immersive AE still adds a boost of overhead spaciousness to the soundstage. I liked using the Immersive AE function on almost all the music and videos I played, with the exception of some live talk shows where the audience’s laughter and applause were too high in the mix. Connection and compatibility options Since it is an optional addition, many people do not even know about the subwoofer. If it were a standalone Sony speaker, it would have gained more popularity. 2. A bit Costly

A wireless subwoofer means that it requires no wires or cables to connect with the soundbar or other devices. However, that does not prevent its power source. You will still need a power cable to connect and start the device. Is it necessary to buy a subwoofer? Setting up the SA-SW5 is a breeze, thanks to its wireless connectivity. Simply connect it to your audio system using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and you're good to go. This wireless feature not only reduces cable clutter but also provides the flexibility to place the subwoofer anywhere in the room for optimal bass response. This is particularly useful if you have limited space or if you prefer a clean and minimalist setup. We’ve known for years that getting a full surround sound effect from a soundbar has been, well, difficult. As more manufacturers have figured out how to do it thanks to room calibration features, we’re now at the point where we’re seeing the same thing happen with upfiring Atmos speakers. They’re good - but they’re just not the same as discrete speakers. Once everything was set up, my Samsung Smart TV remote could turn on the HT-A7000 and TV, plus control the soundbar’s volume. However, unlike other home theater system remotes, the HT-A7000 remote would not conversely turn on the Samsung TV, making a one-remote situation untenable.Much smoother bass, sounds more natural and blends in with the A7000. Male voices sound a lot better on the SW5 compared to the SW3.

Out of the box, without any additional hardware hooked up, what you’ll hear is robust and clear dialogue. Throughout our testing, no matter the source, we were able to make out dialogue clearly, even when we changed the sound mode of the TV to something more dynamic, like, say the Cinema sound mode on a Sony TV. This setup also has a Sound Field Optimization room correction feature. To access this feature, you need to connect the bar to your TV. You can see a clip of the setup process here. 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. 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.Although it is not the cheapest subwoofer in the market, it holds up well against its competitors. That’s due to its reasonable price and impressive features. Finding a subwoofer with this sound quality is almost impossible in today’s market. 3. Portable Consisting of four, wireless speakers and a compact control hub, the Sony HT-A9 makes surround sound easier than ever. Simply connect your TV, and one other AV source, to the control hub, place the wireless speakers around you, and enjoy immersive sound in minutes from unboxing. 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.

Making the most of the Atmos/DTS:X compatibility, each speaker uses a built-in dual microphone to measure their position within the room. 360 Sound Mapping then creates up to 12 ‘phantom’ speakers, giving you an even more enveloping sound – without increasing the actual speaker count. Turning on some Spotify, we were impressed with the force of the soundbar and, again, that robust mid-range. Trebles could’ve been a little clearer and the bass - while easy to hear - just didn’t have the same depth that a separate sub can provide. The HT-A9 is perfect for more than just movies. Compatible with 8K HDR and 4K 120fps pass-through, the system gets the best from the latest games, too. For a single bar it can fire sounds to the side and above surprisingly well. The bass is nicely meaty even with only the built in subs. For the best immersive audio results, a soundbar’s top-firing speakers and side-firing beam tweeters need to reflect off of a ceiling and walls that are neither too close nor too far. However, Sony tells HT-A7000 users not to worry about that too much, because upon setting up, it takes you through a series of tones, from which the built-in microphone and DSP measure the reflections off of your room’s surfaces to optimize the unit’s surround sound mix for your space.

Sony’s newest flagship is a big ‘bar for big bucks

Plus, you can also do it manually if you want. It takes seconds to set up and connect. Once it is sorted, you are now able to enjoy the unmatchable bass experience of the Bluetooth subwoofer. Sony SA-SW5 300W Wireless Subwoofer Cons 1. Not a Standalone Device