Background

Well, if you showed up, you're probably intrigued by Sony's soundbar-free, four-maybe-five-maybe-six piece 360 spatial sound mapping experiment. As a YouTuber who's been reviewing speakers, soundbars, and other audio products for four years, I've seen my fair share of bold claims with various levels of follow-thru. The Sony Bravia Theater Quad, priced similarly to a seasoned golf cart at $2,500, aims to deliver immersive sound without even giving you a soundbar. It's a significant price hike from its predecessor, the HT-A9, which you can now snag for a cool $1,500. But does this price jump come with a proportional leap in performance? Buckle up, audio enthusiasts, because we're about to dive deep into this soundbar-free experiment.

Key Takeaways

Let's lay out the basics faster than you can say "overpriced audio gear." The Sony Bravia Theater Quad will set you back $2,500, a whopping $1,000 more than the HT-A9. It boasts 16 drivers, up from the A9's 12, pumping out 504 watts of audio goodness through four wireless speakers. This bad boy supports all the fancy audio formats you'd expect: Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced, and Sony's own 360 spatial audio. Plus, it's got 2.5 times stronger radio strength compared to the A9, which should mean fewer dropouts and a higher quality stream. Not too shabby for a soundbar-less wonder, eh?

Pros and Cons of the Sony Bravia Theater Quad

Pros

Let's start with the good stuff, shall we? The Quad's 4.0.4-channel sound setup is no joke. It supports more audio formats than you can shake a remote at. The 16 drivers pack a serious punch, and the improved wireless connectivity means you're less likely to experience those annoying dropouts that plagued the A9 like a bad case of audio hiccups. Plus, it's got wide codec support, so whether you're streaming from your fancy new gaming console or dusting off your old Blu-ray player (Angry Birds 2 in IMAX Enhanced, anyone?), the Quad's got you covered.

Cons

Now, let's address the elephant in the room – that $2,500 price tag. Ouch. That's enough to make your wallet pinch your rear in protest. The limited connectivity options are also a bit of a head-scratcher. With only one HDMI input, you might find yourself playing a frustrating game of "which device gets to be connected today?" And if you've got furry friends, beware – those fabric-covered speakers might just become the world's most expensive cat scratching posts. Lastly, the lack of a built-in subwoofer might leave some bass heads feeling low … but not in a good way.

Design and Physical Appearance

Speaker Design

Sony's gone for a sleek, modern look with the Quad that screams "I'm not a speaker, I swear!" Each speaker is a rectangular box wrapped in what I can only describe as "living room material." It's almost square, a bit wider than tall, and could easily be mistaken for an air purifier, cat scratcher, or a modern art statement your rich friends will love.

Now, I've got to be honest – these speakers look too thin to be serious home theater contenders. They're smaller and lighter than Samsung's much cheaper Music Frame, which makes you wonder if Sony's trying to pull a fast one on us. It's like they're trying to walk a tightrope between blending into your living room and being the baddest-sounding thing on the block. Let's hope they don't fall flat on their face.

Controller Box Changes

The control box got a glow-up too. It's bigger now, with a transparent plastic oval covering the display. Your kids with their eagle eyes can probably read it from 10 to 12 feet away. Sony's toned down the branding, swapping the gold logo for a matte black one and ditching the high-res sticker. 

Features and Setup

Setting up the Quad is easier than explaining to your significant other why you need a $2,500 speaker system. The Bravia Connect app guides you through the process like a patient audio sherpa.

However, I did run into some issues with the sound field optimization process. The app kept telling me the mic was blocked or there was too much background noise. I tried everything short of sending my family on a weekend vacation and draining the gas from all the lawn mowers in the neighborhood. Eventually, I just held the phone right up to the problem speaker, and voila! It worked. Not ideal, but hey, the show must go on.

The Subwoofer Question

Now, let's talk about the elephant-sized subwoofer in the room. The Quad comes with an optional SA-SW3 or SA-SW5 subwoofer. The SA-SW5 is the one worth considering and will set you back another $700. Do you need it? You can pretend you don’t … but we can wait.

Without the sub, the Quad's bass performance is surprisingly good. Each speaker now has three drivers instead of two, including a bass-oriented woofer with a bass reflex port. This setup gives you a bit more oomph than you'd might expect - from carpet samples

Adding the SA-SW5 allows the system to be its best self. Suddenly, those tribal drums in "Black Panther" have real weight, and the bass drop in Skrillex's "Bangarang" might just force a dance party - stretch if its been a while.

My advice? Start with the Quad on its own. If you find yourself consistently wishing for more bass (or if you really want to annoy your downstairs neighbors), then consider adding the sub. This way, you can spread out the cost and really appreciate the difference the subwoofer makes.

Performance

The Quad's performance is like that overachieving kid in class who not only aces the test but also brings the teacher an apple. Its 360 Spatial Sound Mapping creates an audio experience so immersive, you might forget you're in your living room and not actually on Arrakis fighting sand worms.

For movies, the Quad delivers a wide, enveloping soundstage that'll make you wonder if you've accidentally walked directly into the scene. The wide front separation is a sound enveloping magic trick that soundbars just can’t replicate. Sound effects are placed with surprising accuracy. And dialouge is surprisingly clear considering there is not center channel clear. Just don't expect it to get hospital-trip loud – you can get to impressive volumes, but your clothes will remain in place.

Music performance is surprisingly refreshing on the Quad. Remember how the A9 used to diss your '90s playlist? Well, the Quad's here to save the day. With its extra woofer in each speaker - It brings more dirt to the grungy stuff, making Pearl Jam's "Black" and Stone Temple Pilots' "Meat Plow" sound the way they were meant to. And don't even get me started on how it handles Pink Floyd's "Comfortably Numb" – with the chorus floating beautifully all around you in a way neither stereo nor soundbars can mimic.

Comparison to HT-A9

Having extensively tested both the A9 and the Quad, I can confidently say: the Quad is the superior sounding system, hands down. It's not even up for discussion. If you're starting fresh, go for the Quad. Yes, you'll feel the sting of that price tag, but once you set it up and start listening, you'll likely feel justified. And if you already own the A9? Well, selling it to upgrade might be worth considering if you're an enthusiast and a heavy user. Just don't end up like me, owning both systems – that's a level of audio addiction best avoided.

Final Thoughts

So, there you have it, folks. The Sony Bravia Theater Quad represents a bold step forward in home audio technology, challenging conventional home theater setups. At $2,500, it's a significant investment that delivers superior home theater performance without the complexity of traditional separates.

The Quad blows away soundbars and gives separates a run for their money, offering a level of audio immersion that must be heard to be believed. Its innovative 4.0.4-channel configuration, with 16 drivers and 504 watts of power, creates an expansive and precise soundstage that rivals much more expensive AVR and speaker combinations.

Versatility is a key strength - with support for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, IMAX Enhanced, and Sony's 360 spatial audio, it handles virtually any audio format with ease. From nuanced dialogue to explosive action, the Quad delivers with a clarity and precision that sets a new standard for wireless speaker systems.

Is it perfect? No. Is it expensive? Hell yes. But if you're looking for a soundbar-free system that can deliver an immersive audio experience without blocking your TV, the Quad might just be your audio soulmate. It's a significant improvement over the A9, addressing many of its predecessor's shortcomings. While it has minor drawbacks like having just a single HDMI port, these are overshadowed by the Quad's overall performance. And bass enthusiasts may want to consider the additional SA-SW5 subwoofer, which further elevates the system's capabilities.

In recognition of its groundbreaking design and exceptional performance in conjunction with the editors at HomeTheaterReview, we're proud to award the Sony Bravia Theater Quad an Editor's Choice Award. This accolade reflects not just the system's technical prowess, but its potential to reshape how we think about home audio setups.