Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Most people will want to connect via the HDMI port, which syncs with your TV’s HDMI eARC/ARC input for high-quality audio transmission and the ability to control power and volume with your TV’s remote. The optical input is a backup for (much) older TVs, or even a CD player, but there’s no spare HDMI port to connect a Blu-ray player or game console directly, let alone an analog input for older audio devices like turntable.
You won’t want to go any further without downloading the Bravia Connect app, which walks you through the full setup process and is the only way to access settings like Bluetooth pairing so you can stream music from your phone. The single power button on the left side of the bar is the only on-board control switch, while a two-point LED system on the front provides a basic visual display.
Bar essentials
Photography: Ryan Wanyata
The Sony app picks up where the hardware left off, including an easy-to-use function that identifies the current audio format and resolution quality. The app’s uncluttered design makes it easy to switch between limited input options, adjust the bass level, or even start the tape from sleep mode to stream music. The Twix-style remote is essentially redundant, but it’s nice to have a backup for when your phone is out of reach.
The bar offers a few sound mode options, including Voice Mode, which I never felt the need to use; Night mode to quieten the bass for late-night listening; and Sound Field Mode, which uses Sony’s virtual surround sound software to enhance surround sound and 3D audio formats.
Speaking of audio formats, this is the one place where the Theater Bar 5 doesn’t skimp, supporting all the high-resolution options from Dolby and DTS, including Dolby Atmos spatial audio and its rival, DTS:X. The bar’s 3.1 channel configuration means you won’t get surround speakers or the type of drivers found in The best Dolby Atmos speakers Which provides superior sound immersion. However, I was blown away by the tape’s virtual sound trick of its ability to expand the sound from its sides.