Soundbars / Polk Audio Signa S4 vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)
Polk Audio Signa S4 vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)
Polk Audio Signa S4
Real up-firing Atmos drivers under $450 — no smarts, just height.
Wins overall by 0.5 points
Quick Verdict
The Polk Audio Signa S4 takes this by a clear 0.5 points. Real up-firing Atmos drivers under $450 — no smarts, just height. The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) 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 5 (HT-B500) are both closely matched soundbar models, and the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) is $99 cheaper than the Polk Audio Signa S4 ($349.99 vs $449). On Surround & Height, the Polk Audio Signa S4 leads (7.0 vs 5.5/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. On Bass, the Polk Audio Signa S4 leads (7.5 vs 6.5/10) — low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer. On Design & Build, the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) leads (7.5 vs 6.5/10) — finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room. Overall, the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 6.8/10 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 | Polk Audio Signa S4 | Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $449.00 | $349.99 |
| Release Year | 2022 | 2026 |
| Channels | 3.1.2 | 3.1 |
| Total Power (W) | Not published by the manufacturer | Sony publishes power consumption only (bar 30W, subwoofer 20W), not system output |
| Subwoofer | Included (wireless), 5.9-inch driver | Included (wireless), model SA-WB500 |
| Rear Speakers | None — Polk's SR2 wireless surrounds pair with the MagniFi range, not the Signa S4 | None — Sony has published no compatible wireless rear kit for this model |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| DTS:X | No | Yes |
| HDMI Ports (ports) | 1 | 1 |
| HDMI Passthrough | None — eARC output only | None — there is no HDMI input, only eARC out |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | None | None — no AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect |
| Bluetooth | Not published by the manufacturer | 5.3 |
| Voice Assistant | None | None |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 7.0 — a 0.5-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 Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-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 Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 8.0 against 7.5 — a 0.5-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 Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 7.0 against 5.5 — 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 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Polk Audio Signa S4 and Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) are level here, at 4.5/10 each. HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Features
The Polk Audio Signa S4 leads clearly here, 5.5 against 5.0 — a 0.5-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 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) leads clearly here, 7.5 against 6.5 — a 1.0-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 5 (HT-B500) does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Polk Audio Signa S4 if…
- • Surround & Height matters most to you — the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 7.0/10 here (dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio).
- • 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).
- • Value matters most to you — the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 7.5/10 here (performance and features relative to price).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Polk Audio Signa S4 scores 7.5/10 here (overall tonal balance, clarity and detail).
- • Your main use case is home-theater.
Choose the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) if…
- • Design & Build matters most to you — the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) scores 7.5/10 here (finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room).
- • You want to spend less — it's $99 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is compact.
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 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 Polk Audio Signa S4 or Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Polk Audio Signa S4 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 Surround & Height, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 scores higher on Surround & Height (7.0/10 vs 5.5/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio.
Which is better for Bass, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 scores higher on Bass (7.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer.
Which is better for Design & Build, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) scores higher on Design & Build (7.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room.
Which is better for Value, the Polk Audio Signa S4 or the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 scores higher on Value (7.5/10 vs 6.5/10) — performance and features relative to price.
Is the Polk Audio Signa S4 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 $449. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Surround & Height.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 is the better fit if you mainly care about home-theater. The Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) is the better fit for compact.
What's the warranty on the Polk Audio Signa S4 vs the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)?+
The Polk Audio Signa S4 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
Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) — $499.95
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.