Soundbars / Sony
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500)
Sony's new 2026 entry bar — clear dialogue, but the Atmos is barely there.
Overall score 6.3/10
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
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) review: what the specs say
Sony's new 2026 entry bar — clear dialogue, but the Atmos is barely there. At $349.99, Sony's 2026 model sits in the middle of the range — the soundbars we compare run from $129.99 to $1,999.99. It scores 6.3/10 overall, calculated from published specifications across 8 categories rather than from a subjective impression.
Its strongest showing is Dialogue Clarity at 7.5/10 — how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack. The weakest is Connectivity at 4.5/10, which is the trade-off to weigh before buying: if that is the specification you care about most, one of the alternatives below will serve you better.
Worth knowing before you buy: reviewers report almost no sense of overhead height despite the Atmos badge; and no room calibration. Every specification on this page comes from Sony's own documentation or a verified retail listing — where a figure is not published, the table says so rather than estimating it.
Specifications and price last verified . Report an error
Full Specifications
| Channels | 3.1 |
| Total Power | Sony publishes power consumption only (bar 30W, subwoofer 20W), not system output W |
| Subwoofer | Included (wireless), model SA-WB500 |
| Rear Speakers | None — Sony has published no compatible wireless rear kit for this model |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| DTS:X | Yes |
| HDMI Ports | 1 ports |
| HDMI Passthrough | None — there is no HDMI input, only eARC out |
| eARC | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | None — no AirPlay, Chromecast or Spotify Connect |
| Bluetooth | 5.3 |
| Voice Assistant | None |
| Connectivity | HDMI eARC, Optical, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Material | Fabric-wrapped bar with wireless subwoofer |
| Warranty | 12 months |
Compare Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (HT-B500) With
Cheaper Alternative
TCL S55H — $139.00
Premium Alternative
Polk Audio Signa S4 — $449.00