Sony has launched a brand new soundbar, the Sony HT-ST7, which is aimed at the premium end of the home audio market.
Sony announced the new soundbar device in New York, calling it the “first-ever entry in the premium sound bar category.” To that end, it will cost $1,299 and will include a bunch of high-end features.
The Sony HT-ST7 packs in a 7.1 speaker set-up, featuring nine independent speaker drivers and seven discrete amplifiers. It also includes a separate wireless subwoofer to handle those low-end frequencies.
It features built-in Bluetooth and NFC, so you can hook up to any modern smartphone quickly and easily through a press of the Bluetooth Sync button or a simple tap respectively.
With seven inputs including three HDMI, three digital audio and one analogue, the Sony HT-ST7 is intended to be ready to slot into your home cinema set-up with the minimum of fuss.
Currently the fastest growing piece of kit in the audio market, the once-humble soundbar format rolls a typically sprawling and – let’s face it – often impractical, home cinema audio set-up into a single extended device that can be wall-mounted or laid flat on a table.
In recent times, the likes of LG, Philips and Sonos have provided solid soundbar experiences for attainable prices. The Trusted Reviews-recommended Sonos Playbar costs just £599 or $699 brand new, which is almost half the price of the Sony HT-ST7.
We’re not sure when the Sony HT-ST7 will make its way to the UK, but it will have to be something special to offer twice the Sony Playbar experience when it does.
Next, read our round-up of the best soundbars to buy.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
