Soundbars / LG S95AR vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)
LG S95AR vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)
LG S95AR
A complete 9.1.5 system with rears and sub in the box — the LG OLED match.
Wins overall by 2.5 points
Quick Verdict
The LG S95AR is the stronger all-round pick, ahead by 2.5 points. A complete 9.1.5 system with rears and sub in the box — the LG OLED match.
The LG S95AR and Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) are both closely matched soundbar models, and the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) is $1,349 cheaper than the LG S95AR ($349.99 vs $1,699). On Connectivity, the LG S95AR leads (9.0 vs 4.5/10) — HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support. On Surround & Height, the LG S95AR leads (9.5 vs 5.5/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. On Features, the LG S95AR leads (9.0 vs 5.0/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. Overall, the LG S95AR scores 8.8/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.3/10 for the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500). Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | LG S95AR | Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1699.00 | $349.99 |
| Release Year | 2025 | 2026 |
| Channels | 9.1.5 (17 drivers, five up-firing including a centre height channel) | 3.1 |
| Total Power (W) | 810 | Sony publishes power consumption only (bar 30W, subwoofer 20W), not system output |
| Subwoofer | Included (wireless), 8-inch driver in a 20-litre cabinet, extending to 27.1Hz | Included (wireless), model SA-WB500 |
| Rear Speakers | Included — six-channel true wireless rears with up-firing drivers | None — Sony has published no compatible wireless rear kit for this model |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| DTS:X | Yes | Yes |
| HDMI Ports (ports) | 2✓ | 1 |
| HDMI Passthrough | 4K/120Hz with VRR and ALLM, HDCP 2.3, HDR10 and Dolby Vision | None — there is no HDMI input, only eARC out |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | Yes — AirPlay 2, Google Cast and Spotify Connect all supported | None — no AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect |
| Bluetooth | Not published by the manufacturer | 5.3 |
| Voice Assistant | Works with Alexa and Google Home; whether either is built in is not confirmed by LG. The built-in microphone is documented for room calibration | None |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.0 — a 2.0-point margin on overall tonal balance, clarity and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 9.0 against 6.5 — a 2.5-point margin on low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Dialogue Clarity
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.5 — a 1.0-point margin on how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Surround & Height
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 9.5 against 5.5 — a 4.0-point margin on dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 9.0 against 4.5 — a 4.5-point margin on HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 9.0 against 5.0 — a 4.0-point margin on room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The LG S95AR leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the LG S95AR if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the LG S95AR scores 9.0/10 here (HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support).
- • Surround & Height matters most to you — the LG S95AR scores 9.5/10 here (dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio).
- • Features matters most to you — the LG S95AR scores 9.0/10 here (room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability).
- • Bass matters most to you — the LG S95AR scores 9.0/10 here (low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the LG S95AR scores 9.0/10 here (overall tonal balance, clarity and detail).
Choose the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) if…
- • You want to spend less — it's $1,349 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is tv-upgrade or compact.
Pros & Cons
LG S95AR
Pros
- +Rear speakers and subwoofer both included, so it is a complete system out of the box
- +The only bar here with a centre up-firing height channel
- +810W published power and full 4K/120Hz VRR pass-through
- +WOW Orchestra and WOWCAST make it the natural match for an LG OLED
Cons
- −LG does not publish the Bluetooth version
- −Whether Alexa or Google Assistant is genuinely built in is unclear from LG's own materials
- −Large footprint — the bar, sub and two rears need real space
- −2025 hardware, and LG has announced a modular Sound Suite successor with no price or date
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)
Pros
- +A genuine 2026 model rather than old stock
- +Dedicated centre channel makes dialogue noticeably clearer than a 2.1 bar
- +Slim profile designed to fit under a BRAVIA without blocking the screen
- +Both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X
Cons
- −Reviewers report almost no sense of overhead height despite the Atmos badge
- −No room calibration
- −No Wi-Fi streaming of any kind
- −No HDMI input
- −Only a power button on the unit itself, so you depend entirely on the remote
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the LG S95AR or Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the LG S95AR comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Connectivity, the LG S95AR or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The LG S95AR scores higher on Connectivity (9.0/10 vs 4.5/10) — HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support.
Which is better for Surround & Height, the LG S95AR or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The LG S95AR scores higher on Surround & Height (9.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio.
Which is better for Features, the LG S95AR or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The LG S95AR scores higher on Features (9.0/10 vs 5.0/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability.
Which is better for Bass, the LG S95AR or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The LG S95AR scores higher on Bass (9.0/10 vs 6.5/10) — low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer.
Is the LG S95AR worth the price difference over the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) is the cheaper option at $349.99 versus $1,699. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Connectivity.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The LG S95AR is the better fit if you mainly care about home-theater or gaming. The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) is the better fit for tv-upgrade or compact.
What's the warranty on the LG S95AR vs the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The LG S95AR ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
TCL S55H — $139.00
Premium Option
Samsung HW-Q990H — $1999.99
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.