Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 & Bar 9 Dolby Atmos Soundbar Review (HT-A8000 & HT-A9000)
Audio Advice reviews the Bar 8 and Bar 9 together as Sony's 2024 Dolby Atmos soundbars.
Sony · 2024
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
Sony's compact 11-driver Atmos bar: clear dialogue and HDMI 2.1 passthrough, but reviewers find it needs extras and lags rivals on sound.
Where to buy
List $999
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The verdict
The Bar 8 is a tidy single bar with clear speech and useful HDMI 2.1 passthrough, but reviewers agree real surround impact depends on adding a subwoofer and rear speakers, which raises the total cost. What Hi-Fi thinks it falls short of rivals at its price, so buyers who can stretch should compare the Bar 9 or a Sonos Arc Ultra first.
The BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 (HT-A8000, sold as the Bravia Theatre Bar 8 in the UK) is a 5.0.2-channel soundbar with 11 drivers, 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It has an HDMI eARC output, one HDMI 2.1 input with 4K 120Hz passthrough and works with Sony's optional subwoofers and rear speakers. Reviews are split: TechRadar and Trusted Reviews rate its clear dialogue and easy setup, while What Hi-Fi finds it sonically compromised next to the Bar 9.
Strengths
- Reviewers praise exceptionally clear dialogue and a quick, easy setup and calibration.
- One HDMI 2.1 input supports 4K 120Hz passthrough with VRR and ALLM, unlike the Sonos Arc Ultra.
- Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, plus AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and Bluetooth for music.
- Slim 64mm-tall design with a wall-mount kit and spacers included.
Weak spots
- What Hi-Fi scores its sound three out of five, citing weak dynamics and limited spaciousness.
- Bass is underwhelming on its own and can distort in demanding scenes, per TechRadar and Trusted Reviews.
- Needs a subwoofer and rear speakers, sold separately, for truly immersive sound.
- No front display, and reviewers would have liked a clearer way to see the current sound format.
Great for
- Smaller rooms that need a slim single-bar Dolby Atmos option
- Buyers who want HDMI 2.1 passthrough on a mid-size bar
- Listeners who prioritize clear dialogue
Skip if
- Buyers who want deep bass without adding a subwoofer
- Anyone wanting the most immersive sound for the money
Full specifications
From the manufacturer unless noted. Shown for this model.
Sound
- ChannelsWritten as bar.sub.height, or total channels. 5.1.2 means five main channels, a subwoofer and two overhead “height” channels.
- 5.0.2source
- Stated power
- 495 Wsource
- Subwoofer included
- Nosource
- Rear speakers included
- Nosource
- Room correction
- Sound Field Optimisation via the BRAVIA Connect app
- Dialogue enhancementA setting that lifts voices above music and effects, useful if dialogue is hard to follow.
- Voice mode
Connections
Wireless
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.2
- Apple AirPlay
- Yes
- Spotify Connect
- Yes
Size & placement
- Bar width
- 1,100 mm
- Bar heightIf a soundbar sits in front of a low TV stand, its height can block the bottom of the picture or the remote sensor.
- 64 mm
- Bar depth
- 110 mm
- Bar weight
- 4.7 kgsource
- Wall mountable
- Yes
Primary source: whathifi.com
Setup notes
- Connects to the TV via HDMI eARC, leaving one HDMI 2.1 input for a console or player.
- Sony's Acoustic Center Sync works with recent BRAVIA TVs, with results depending on the TV, per What Hi-Fi.
- IMAX Enhanced support requires adding surrounds and a subwoofer, per What Hi-Fi.
Video reviews
Each video was checked to exist and to be about the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8.
Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 8 Review - Best Soundbar 2024?
An independent review of the Bar 8 asking whether it stands among the best soundbars of 2024.
Review of Sony Bravia Theater Bar 8 Premium Soundbar
A tech YouTuber's review of the Bar 8 as a premium single-bar soundbar.
What reviewers found
Summaries in our own words. Follow the link to read each review in full.
Likes the expansive soundfield in smaller rooms, very clear dialogue and easy calibration, but finds the bass unexciting and music only fair, and argues that buying the extra subwoofer and rears costs more than rival complete Atmos packages.
Read the originalA disappointing step down from the Bar 9: dynamics are weak, voices sound distant and the soundstage lacks three-dimensional scale, though the delivery is clean and detailed. Praises the BRAVIA Connect app and the 4K 120Hz HDMI passthrough.
Read the originalConsiders it a solid single bar with dynamic, enjoyable sound and good dialogue, plus support for both Dolby and DTS formats, while noting that bass can break up in demanding scenes and that real immersion needs added rears and a subwoofer.
Read the original
Questions
Does the Sony Bar 8 come with a subwoofer?
No. The Bar 8 is a standalone 5.0.2-channel soundbar with no subwoofer or rear speakers in the box. Sony sells both separately if you want more bass and true surround.
How is the Bar 8 different from the Bar 9?
The Bar 8 is narrower at 110cm versus 130cm, with 11 drivers instead of 13. What Hi-Fi found the Bar 9 far stronger sonically, while both share the same design style and connections.
Does the Bar 8 have HDMI passthrough?
Yes. It has one HDMI 2.1 input supporting 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM, alongside the eARC output to the TV.
Does the Bar 8 support DTS:X?
Yes. Reviewers confirm both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, and Trusted Reviews also lists DTS and Dolby TrueHD among its audio formats.
More soundbars
Sources for this page
Last reviewed Nov 9, 2026. Released July 2024. Spotted an error? Tell us.