Sony is among the many largest names within the soundbar and residential leisure speaker phase, however a lot of the Japanese model's mainstream choices are within the premium value bracket. Consumers with a funds of round Rs. 25,000 or much less you often want to have a look at choices from manufacturers like JBL and Polk Audio, or very inexpensive merchandise from Blaupunkt, Zebronics, and the like. Sony's newest soundbar, the HT-S400, offers it a stable presence within the considerably inexpensive soundbar house, and guarantees succesful efficiency at an affordable value.
The worth of Rs. 21,990, the Sony HT-S400 is a 2.1 channel soundbar that focuses on the vital issues, together with design, connectivity and ease of setup. With a wi-fi subwoofer, a nominal sound output of 330W, and each wired and wi-fi connection choices, is that this the most effective fairly priced soundbar system you should purchase proper now? Discover out on this evaluation.
The two.1-channel Sony HT-S400 has a two-driver soundbar and a wi-fi subwoofer.
Sony HT-S400 design and specs
Though it’s less expensive than the Sony HT-S40R soundbar, the brand new HT-S400 seems to be and feels higher, because of a nicer grill on the entrance, and an attention-grabbing texture on the physique. That stated, it's nonetheless discreet and fairly straightforward to overlook completely, which is precisely what a soundbar ought to appear like. The dimensions of the bar speaker means that it’s best used with a 43-inch tv, though I examined it with a 55-inch tv for this evaluation.
After all, the cheaper price of the Sony HT-S400 is as a result of significantly totally different key specs. In contrast to the 5.1-channel HT-S40R, this can be a 2.1-channel soundbar, with a single two-channel bar speaker, and a separate wi-fi subwoofer. The rated sound output can also be slightly decrease at 330W, divided between the 130W subwoofer and a 200W bar speaker. The subwoofer weighs 7.3 kg and solely helps wi-fi reference to the two.4 kg speaker, with the latter serving as a grasp system and managing the reference to exterior units.
The gross sales package deal of the Sony HT-S400 contains energy cables for the bar speaker and subwoofer, an optical audio cable (Toslink) for the wired connection, and a small distant management (together with batteries). The bar speaker has a small monochrome OLED show on the entrance, which exhibits fundamental data, together with audio supply and quantity ranges.
On the prime of the bar speaker are touch-sensitive buttons, which can be utilized to regulate energy, quantity and audio supply even with out the distant management. The again of the speaker has two ports – HDMI and Optical (Toslink) – for wired connection, and there may be additionally Bluetooth 5 for wi-fi connection, with help for the SBC codec.
The distant of the Sony HT-S400 soundbar system is small and fairly handy, it’s powered by two AAA batteries, and has only some buttons to regulate the fundamental capabilities and customizations. This contains core capabilities equivalent to energy, quantity and supply choice, together with the flexibility to regulate the quantity degree of the subwoofer to regulate the bass, and a few choices to optimize the sound for vocals or Sony's Sound Discipline mode.
The space of the Sony HT-S400 soundbar system is small and handy, and lets you alter the quantity of the subwoofer to regulate the extent of bass.
The Sony HT-S400 is kind of straightforward to arrange. The bar speaker and subwoofer wanted to hook up with separate energy sockets, however the wi-fi connection meant there was no wire between the 2 elements themselves. Sony's patented wi-fi connection protocol labored reliably, with the subwoofer instantly connecting to the bar speaker when the latter was powered, and sustaining a secure connection. I used HDMI ARC to hook up with the TV for my evaluation, with the occasional Bluetooth connection to take heed to music from my smartphone.
Different options of the Sony HT-S400 embrace HDMI CEC, TV Wi-fi Connection (which permits wi-fi reference to Sony Bravia TV with out utilizing Bluetooth), and help for the Dolby Digital audio format. HDMI CEC labored effectively, and I used to be in a position to management the Sony HT-S400 (fundamental capabilities equivalent to quantity) even with the Chromecast distant with Google TV that I had linked to my tv, whereas turning on or off the managed TV related the facility of the soundbar system when utilizing HDMI ARC for connection.
Efficiency Sony HT-S400
The Sony HT-S400 is just not a very difficult or well-equipped soundbar system. The two.1-channel setup means it should combine higher-resolution audio codecs to stereo for output, and the precise size of the bar is the one differentiator between the HT-S400 and an odd three-piece stereo speaker system. Nevertheless, regardless of its technical shortcomings, the Sony HT-S400 delivers a surprisingly easy efficiency that may be a appreciable enchancment over most tv audio system.
The speaker association additionally implies that the Sony HT-S400 is especially good with music, and does a good job of creating even films and tv exhibits sound louder and higher. I discovered the sound to be clear, the stage to be fairly spacious, and the sonic signature to be pretty balanced. The subwoofer was not too highly effective for the bar speaker, and the 2 elements labored effectively collectively.
Connectivity choices within the Sony HT-S400 embrace HDMI, Optical (Toslink) and Bluetooth
After all, the considerably fundamental driver association implies that the Sony HT-S400 is just not all for superior audio codecs, having to combine the fundamental encoding of 5.1 channels that almost all fashionable content material within the companies of streaming gives. Nevertheless, it did a good job with it no matter the kind of content material I watched. The spaciousness of the stage was notably nice to take heed to, particularly with movies like The Grey Man and The Batman the place the background rating and sounds made an enormous distinction to the viewing expertise.
The place the Sony HT-S400 actually makes a distinction is in how loud it may be. With a nominal energy of 330W between the bar speaker and the subwoofer, the soundbar system is significantly stronger than what most televisions – funds or premium – are in a position to present. With the quantity turned up, the HT-S400 soundbar system was in a position to produce a loud, broad and clear sound that labored with any sort of content material. Voices have been crisp, background scores have been distinct and clear, and there have been no vital quantity spikes that required frequent changes.
I tended to have the Sony HT-S400 system at a comparatively excessive quantity degree more often than not, however there was at all times room to go additional if wanted. At very excessive volumes, the sound tends to lose some refinement, however this isn’t a quantity degree that you just typically, if in any respect, want to succeed in. The 60 % quantity degree was enough for many content material for me, however I pushed it as much as 75 % for sure dialogue-focused content material like Higher Name Saul and Masaba Masaba.
Buttons on the highest of the bar speaker management the fundamentals, together with energy, quantity and supply choice
The sound additionally felt very balanced, with the subwoofer feeling just like the optimum dimension and output for the speaker bar. The bass by no means felt too aggressive as is commonly the case with funds and mid-range soundbars, nevertheless it didn't really feel held again or insufficient. It’s doable to regulate the quantity of the subwoofer solely utilizing the distant, however I discovered the default degree to be positive for probably the most half, and I solely adjusted it often once I wanted to maintain the quantity low and couldn't hear dialogue. very clearly.
The Sony HT-S400 has one thing the model calls “S-Power Professional Entrance Encompass,” which is alleged to supply a digital encompass sound impact utilizing solely the entrance audio system. This was probably not the case in my expertise, no vital impact of the sound coming from the rear and even from the edges, even from the Sound Discipline mode. Voice and Night time modes (which will be chosen by way of the distant) made the sound extra vocally targeted and softer respectively, however not by a lot.
The two.1 channel setup meant that the Sony HT-S400 soundbar system did fairly effectively with music, whether or not from the linked good TV or by way of Bluetooth. The sturdy output, spacious soundstage, and balanced sound have been pleasing for a reasonably sized room even at low quantity ranges, and the flexibility to tweak the subwoofer's quantity for slightly additional assault and punch was fairly helpful.
Verdict
The Sony HT-S400 soundbar could also be a bit underequipped and missing in options, however that's not essentially a nasty factor. The place the soundbar shines is in its simplicity of configuration and use, sturdy and balanced sound, and smart value for what’s on supply. That stated, the dearth of superior audio format help and encompass sound (actual or digital) are issues to remember, as is the truth that that is actually a 2.1-channel speaker system constructed to work as a sound bar.
Get the Sony HT-S400 when you have a funds of round Rs. 25,000 and also you want one thing that can add quantity, assault and drive to your private home leisure setup. You may as well contemplate choices from manufacturers like Polk Audio and JBL, however Sony's simple strategy and deal with core options makes the HT-S400 value a glance.
