Soundbars / Polk Audio Signa S4 vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100)
Polk Audio Signa S4 vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100)
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100)
8K/120Hz pass-through and the best dialogue tech — but buy the sub too.
Wins overall by 1.1 points
Quick Verdict
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) takes this by a clear 1.1 points. 8K/120Hz pass-through and the best dialogue tech — but buy the sub too. The Polk Audio Signa S4 only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Polk Audio Signa S4 and Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) are both closely matched soundbar models, and the Polk Audio Signa S4 is $421 cheaper than the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) ($449 vs $869.99). On Connectivity, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) leads (9.5 vs 4.5/10) — HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support. On Features, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) leads (8.5 vs 5.5/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. On Bass, the Polk Audio Signa S4 leads (7.5 vs 5.0/10) — low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer. Overall, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) scores 7.9/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 6.8/10 for the Polk Audio Signa S4. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Polk Audio Signa S4 | Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.00 | $869.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2026 |
| Channels | 3.1.2 | 5.0.2 — Sony's own materials describe 9 speaker units with no built-in subwoofer |
| Total Power (W) | Not published by the manufacturer | Sony publishes power consumption (52W) only, not system output |
| Subwoofer | Included (wireless), 5.9-inch driver | Optional add-on — Theater Sub 7, Sub 8 or Sub 9; dual-subwoofer capable |
| Rear Speakers | None — Polk's SR2 wireless surrounds pair with the MagniFi range, not the Signa S4 | Optional add-on — Theater Rear 9 or Rear 8 |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| DTS:X | No | Yes |
| HDMI Ports (ports) | 1 | 2✓ |
| HDMI Passthrough | None — eARC output only | 8K HDR and 4K/120Hz with VRR and ALLM, plus Dolby Vision |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | None | Wi-Fi 6 with AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect; Chromecast is not supported |
| Bluetooth | Not published by the manufacturer | 6.0 |
| Voice Assistant | None | None built in |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-point margin on overall tonal balance, clarity and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Polk Audio Signa S4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 5.0 — 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 7 (HT-A7100) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Dialogue Clarity
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack. If that is what you are buying for, the Polk Audio Signa S4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Surround & Height
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 7.0 — a 1.5-point margin on dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Polk Audio Signa S4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) leads clearly here, 9.5 against 4.5 — a 5.0-point margin on HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support. If that is what you are buying for, the Polk Audio Signa S4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) leads clearly here, 8.5 against 5.5 — a 3.0-point margin on room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. If that is what you are buying for, the Polk Audio Signa S4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) leads clearly here, 8.0 against 6.5 — a 1.5-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 Polk Audio Signa S4 does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Polk Audio Signa S4 if…
- • Bass matters most to you — the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 7.5/10 here (low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer).
- • You want to spend less — it's $421 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is tv-upgrade.
Choose the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) scores 9.5/10 here (HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support).
- • Features matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) scores 8.5/10 here (room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability).
- • Surround & Height matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) scores 8.5/10 here (dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio).
- • Design & Build matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) scores 8.0/10 here (finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room).
- • Your main use case is gaming.
Pros & Cons
Polk Audio Signa S4
Pros
- +True up-firing height drivers rather than virtualised Atmos, which most bars at this price lack
- +VoiceAdjust genuinely helps with mumbled dialogue
- +Dolby Atmos Certified
- +Included wireless subwoofer
Cons
- −No Wi-Fi or smart features of any kind
- −No DTS:X support
- −Cannot be expanded with rear speakers
- −2022 hardware still selling at a 2022 price
- −42 inches wide, so it needs a wide TV stand
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100)
Pros
- +8K and 4K/120Hz VRR pass-through, which almost nothing else at this price offers
- +Voice Zoom 3 with a Sony BRAVIA TV is the best dialogue system in the category
- +Both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, plus IMAX Enhanced
- +A clear modular upgrade path to subs and rears
Cons
- −No subwoofer included, and reviewers describe the bass as poor without one — budget at least $330 more
- −No on-screen setup menus and no alphanumeric front display
- −No EQ, bass or treble controls at all
- −No USB, DLNA or local file playback
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Polk Audio Signa S4 or Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) 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 Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100)?+
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) scores higher on Connectivity (9.5/10 vs 4.5/10) — HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support.
Which is better for Features, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100)?+
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) scores higher on Features (8.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability.
Which is better for Bass, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100)?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 scores higher on Bass (7.5/10 vs 5.0/10) — low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer.
Which is better for Surround & Height, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100)?+
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) scores higher on Surround & Height (8.5/10 vs 7.0/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio.
Is the Polk Audio Signa S4 worth the price difference over the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100)?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 is the cheaper option at $449 versus $869.99. 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 Polk Audio Signa S4 is the better fit if you mainly care about tv-upgrade. The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) is the better fit for gaming.
What's the warranty on the Polk Audio Signa S4 vs the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100)?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 7 (HT-A7100) 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
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) — $349.99
Premium Option
Sonos Arc Ultra — $1099.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.