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Sony HT-ST5000 Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar

Written by:

Updated 11:23 pm

Expert Rating

94

For Sony, the HT-ST5000 soundbar is as premium as it gets. This flagship model is almost 47 inches long, and has five front-facing drivers, with another two facing its upside. You also get an attractive front-facing grill that you can use to cover the tweeters, as well as an equally good-looking subwoofer. Compare the specs on this speaker to our Sony RDP-S500IP iPad speaker dock review. This soundbar comes with Dolby Atmos support to provide a 360-degree sound experience and a wide range of connectivity options that make it easy to stream and share music from your favorite apps or devices. Most critics will agree that this is indeed the best soundbar from Sony, but for the few that object, perhaps this Sony HT-ST5000 review might help in changing their perspective. Although, it’s definitely a step up from tabletop radios, as you’ll see in our Sony CFDS70 review. Speaking of review, check out our review of the best speakers around.

Why We Like It – Sony HT-ST5000

Released in 2017, the Sony HT-ST5000 combines everything you’d want to have in a soundbar, and delivers it in a nice premium package. This flagship model from Sony consists of a 7.1.2 channel sound, Dolby Atmos support, and a wireless subwoofer for a true surround sound experience.

Pros
  • Great connectivity and diverse input options
  • Great build quality
  • Dolby Digital, DTS:X support
Cons
  • Expensive
  • Noticeable distortion at loud volumes

Performance

This Dolby Atmos Soundbar delivers great sound, as would be expected from a product with such a hefty price tag. The soundbar is a 2.1 sound system like the Yamaha YAS-108, and is capable of processing Dolby Digital sound, DTS Surround sound, and DTS X sound formats, all without the use of any rear speakers. The soundbar also allows for multiple HDMI inputs, and comes with an extra HDMI cable to sort you out in case one of yours is missing. It does not however come with a digital optical cable. Connecting the Sony soundbar to a Sony TV should also be quite easy thanks to a plug-and-play configuration.

Related: If you like this soundbar, you might be interested in our Sony HT X8500 review.

Design

This Sony soundbar features a very stylish design, and is quite wide compared to other models in the market such as the Vizio SB3820-C6. You’d also need the help of a second person to move it around at 59.2 pounds, but once you find a nice spot for it, it’ll blend in very well. As you unbox the Sony HT-ST5000 soundbar, you’ll see that it comes packaged with one HDMI cable, 2 x AAA batteries, a mounting template, and remote control (which can also be a TV remote thanks to HDMI CEC over ARC). Its connectivity options are also diverse, as it has up to three HDMI inputs that are compatible with 4K HDR content, as well as support for Bluetooth, WiFi, and NFC for wireless playback.

Value

As Sony’s first soundbar to support Dolby Atmos, the Sony HT5000 has set quite a high standard in terms of the sound quality that should be delivered by a premium product. This alongside its wide app support makes it the perfect audio system to have in your home especially if convenience is something that you value. Speaking of which, the HT-ST5000 soundbar also has Chromecast built-in support, which can be used to cast, stream and play from apps such as Pandora, Spotify, YouTube, Google Music, Tidal, and others from your mobile device or computer, just as you would with the Sonos Playbar.

Related: Also check out our Sceptre SB301524W Smart Speaker Sound Bar 2 1With Built-In Subwoofer And Android Platform review.

Sony HT-ST5000 Wrap Up

The Sony HT-ST5000 may be an expensive purchase, but for the high cost, you do certainly get the best of the best. Its wide range of connectivity options and inputs gives way to many possibilities, and its support for surround sound can almost rival any home theater system you might have installed. This is a product for the individual who doesn’t want to compromise on their sound, and who of course has the means to enjoy such a privilege.