Sony Bravia Theater Quad Review | Stunning Surround Sound for Any Space
A video review describing the Quad as a surround system that adapts well to different room layouts.
Sony · 2024
Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad
Four wireless speakers for discreet Dolby Atmos: clear and spacious, but pricey, with thin bass unless you add a subwoofer.
Where to buy
List $2,499
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The verdict
The Quad suits people who want immersive Dolby Atmos without a soundbar under the TV, and What Hi-Fi rates its features and convenience highly. Its high price and thin bass mean most buyers should budget for one of Sony's optional subwoofers, and it has no physical center channel unless a compatible Sony TV takes that role. Buyers who need a stronger bass foundation at a lower total cost should compare full soundbar packages.
The BRAVIA Theater Quad (HT-A9M2, sold as the Bravia Theatre Quad in the UK) is a 4.0.4-channel wireless surround system made up of four slim speakers with 16 drivers in total, plus a small control box with HDMI eARC and one HDMI input. Sony's 360 Spatial Sound Mapping creates phantom speakers around the room. Reviewers praise its clear, spacious sound and simple setup, but it is expensive, includes no subwoofer, and What Hi-Fi says its bass lacks weight.
Strengths
- Clear, spacious sound with convincing phantom speaker placement, per What Hi-Fi and Trusted Reviews.
- Very compact active speakers that can be wall-mounted or stood on the included stands.
- Supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and Sony's 360 Reality Audio, and scores five out of five for features at What Hi-Fi.
- Control box passes 4K 120Hz, VRR and ALLM through its one HDMI input.
- AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect for music, plus easy app-guided setup.
Weak spots
- Expensive, and no subwoofer is included.
- What Hi-Fi says the bass lacks weight and depth without an optional subwoofer.
- Just one HDMI input on the control box, and every speaker needs its own power socket.
- No physical center channel; Tom's Guide says dialogue can feel strained in busy scenes.
- Tom's Guide criticizes the Bravia app as buggy and says firmware updates depend on it.
Great for
- Rooms where a soundbar under the TV is impractical or unwanted
- Sony TV owners who can use the TV as the center speaker
- People who want Atmos without cables between speakers
Skip if
- Buyers wanting deep bass without adding a subwoofer
- Anyone needing several HDMI inputs on the control box
Full specifications
From the manufacturer unless noted. Shown for this model.
Sound
Audio formats
- Dolby Atmos
- Yes
- DTS:X
- Yes
Connections
- eARC
- Yes
- HDMI inputs
- 1
Wireless
- Wi-Fi
- Yessource
- Bluetooth
- Bluetooth 5.2
Primary source: whathifi.com
Setup notes
- The control box has HDMI eARC to the TV and one HDMI input with 4K/120Hz, HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG, ALLM and VRR passthrough, per What Hi-Fi.
- Compatible Sony TVs with an S-Center Out terminal can act as the center channel, per Tom's Guide.
- Chromecast is not supported, per What Hi-Fi.
- Optional wireless subwoofers such as Sony's SA-SW3 and SA-SW5 can be added, per What Hi-Fi.
Video reviews
Each video was checked to exist and to be about the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad.
Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad Review w/ Sub & Without
A review comparing the Quad's sound with and without an added subwoofer.
The Sony Bravia Theater Quad vs. The Sony HT-A9
A comparison of the Quad and the older Sony HT-A9 wireless speaker system.
What reviewers found
Summaries in our own words. Follow the link to read each review in full.
Likes the clarity, spatial effects and easy setup, and says it improves on the older HT-A9 in many ways, but finds the bass light on weight and depth and the system hard to recommend wholeheartedly given the cost of adding a subwoofer.
Read the originalCalls it a virtual-surround success with compact active speakers, convincing phantom speaker placement and strong stereo upscaling, while noting the lack of a subwoofer, a control box with limited inputs and the need for plenty of power outlets.
Read the originalAfter about a month of use, the writer praises the audio but dislikes the missing physical center channel, says dialogue can strain in busy scenes, and calls the Bravia app buggy, concluding it best suits buyers who do not want a soundbar.
Read the original
Questions
Does the Sony BRAVIA Theater Quad come with a subwoofer?
No. It consists of four wireless speakers and a control box. Sony sells optional wireless subwoofers such as the SA-SW3 and SA-SW5, and What Hi-Fi says the system really needs one for bass depth.
Does the Quad have a center channel?
Not a physical one. It uses 360 Spatial Sound Mapping to simulate one, and compatible Sony TVs with an S-Center Out terminal can act as the center channel, per Tom's Guide.
How does the Quad connect to a TV?
Through its control box, which has an HDMI eARC output to the TV and one HDMI input for another source. The four speakers connect wirelessly but each needs a power socket.
Does the Quad support Dolby Atmos and DTS:X?
Yes. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X as well as Sony's 360 Reality Audio, per What Hi-Fi and SoundGuys.
More surround systems
Sources for this page
- whathifi.com /reviews/sony-bravia-theatre-quad
- trustedreviews.com /reviews/sony-bravia-theatre-quad
- tomsguide.com /tvs/i-just-tested-sonys-new-usd2-200-speaker-syst
- soundguys.com /product/sony-bravia-theater-quad/
- techradar.com /televisions/soundbars/sonys-2024-dolby-atmos-soun
- abt.com /Sony-BRAVIA-Theater-Quad-with-16-Total-Speakers-D
- abt.com /Sony-Optional-Wireless-Subwoofer-For-HT-A9M2-HT-A
Last reviewed Nov 9, 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.