Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9

Elegant, small-footprint design ; Powerful, immersive sound ; HDMI 2.1 input ; Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect ; Expandable via sub and surrounds

No analog or optical inputs ; No physical controls/front display ; Many missing features ; Very limited audio settings

“You still get that great Sony sound, but the Bravia Theater Bar 9 feels like a downgrade.”

Fabulously enveloping, three-dimensional delivery ; HDMI passthrough with 4K/120Hz support ; Subtle and thoughtful design

Sound lacked punch during the demo ; Just one HDMI input

While our early listening session has left us with some concerns over the Bar 9’s punch and impact, for spaciousness and Atmos-ness it appears to be a step up from the HT-A7000. Here’s hoping for a more all-round performance when we get a final sample...