Well, it depends on the type you choose. If you opt for a standalone subwoofer, you will not need a soundbar to connect it. However, if you are using it with the home theater system, it is an optional device to provide better results. Either way, it is not necessary to own a subwoofer. It is an additional device that makes your experience much more enjoyable, immersive, and entertaining. Final Thoughts That being said, if you want a more in-depth setup and calibration process, Sony makes that relatively simple by building a basic UI into the soundbar itself. A wireless subwoofer means that it requires no wires or cables to connect with the soundbar or other devices. However, that does not prevent its power source. You will still need a power cable to connect and start the device. Is it necessary to buy a subwoofer? The 300W of SA-SW5 offers an immersive and explosive bass experience. Even better, the subwoofer is equipped with a passive radiator and a 180mm driver. Whether you are listening to songs or watching movies, it impacts the entire environment. Although it is not the cheapest subwoofer in the market, it holds up well against its competitors. That’s due to its reasonable price and impressive features. Finding a subwoofer with this sound quality is almost impossible in today’s market. 3. Portable

Making the most of the Atmos/DTS:X compatibility, each speaker uses a built-in dual microphone to measure their position within the room. 360 Sound Mapping then creates up to 12 ‘phantom’ speakers, giving you an even more enveloping sound – without increasing the actual speaker count.Bass, especially lower bass, is more controlled and detailed compared to the SW3. When playing bass heavy movies, I could hear the nuances in the low notes. Possibly slightly more low end extension than the SW3, but it is negligible . It could be time to upgrade your home audio system with a Sony wireless subwoofer, but which is the one for you? A Sony home stereo system with subwoofer is one of the best sub speaker brands you can have. The combination of a Sony speaker bar and stereo woofer can elevate your movie nights to the next level. Super punchy and clean mid-bass, I have my subs by my couch, and it physically felt like someone was hitting or shaking it during action scenes. Turning on some Spotify, we were impressed with the force of the soundbar and, again, that robust mid-range. Trebles could’ve been a little clearer and the bass - while easy to hear - just didn’t have the same depth that a separate sub can provide. For a bottom end boost to your compatible* Sony soundbar or home cinema system, you need the Sony SA-SW3 wireless subwoofer.

Much smoother bass, sounds more natural and blends in with the A7000. Male voices sound a lot better on the SW5 compared to the SW3. The double woofers on the front of the bar do provide a bit of oomph - especially when you crank the volume up above the 60% mark - but they in no way replace what a discrete subwoofer can provide. The same can be said for the upfiring speakers and drivers responsible for surround sound that come off as a little weaker than what we’d like.

Specifications

At over 30cm, the HT-A9’s speakers are taller than most soundbar surrounds, but Sony has tried to make the design as understated as possible. The front and top faces are covered in a matte perforated grille while the rear of each unit is flattened off, allowing them to sit flush against walls, and there is a concealed hook for easy rigging. The positioning and focus of the speakers is flexible but they should maintain a direct line of sight to the listening position and the ceiling, so placing them in recessed cabinets or shelves should be avoided. Skipping ahead to the disorientating maypole scene, we try some more challenging speaker layouts (recalibrating the system each time). The HT-A9’s adaptability in this respect is commendable. While it may not have constructed a perfect ‘bubble’, it does create a very forgiving, well-blended soundfield, with an easy flow and handover between each speaker. Most importantly, no matter how haphazard our speaker positions, the sound design never feels off-kilter or detracts from the action on-screen. Consisting of four, wireless speakers and a compact control hub, the Sony HT-A9 makes surround sound easier than ever. Simply connect your TV, and one other AV source, to the control hub, place the wireless speakers around you, and enjoy immersive sound in minutes from unboxing. There are so many connections that the cavern on the rear that’s designed to hold all the ports is on the cramped side, which is worth bearing in mind if you think you might want to access it regularly. The Sony HT-A9, consisting of four identical-looking wireless speakers and a hub that connects to your TV, is keen to offer a third way, reconciling convenience with improved sound quality and consistent coverage. But it also aims to offer something that neither of these categories currently does: a flexible, complete Dolby Atmos cinema, in one box.

If there were no limits to our income or living space we’d happily add the optional surrounds and sub, but the A7000 does not feel wanting of any extra support. It’s an incredibly competent, future-proofed performer that enhances everything we watch and sets a new benchmark for Dolby Atmos soundbars at its price. Sony has opted to use a combination of driver placement and psychoacoustic techniques to enhance the width and height of the soundstage whether you’re watching immersive content or not, and it works very well. Alongside the upward drivers, there’s the company’s Vertical Surround Engine (VSE), which up-mixes standard content to make use of the height channels. But more key to the A7000’s overall performance are the wide-spaced beam tweeters, which channel audio through a series of flute-like chambers, and Sony’s S-Force Front Surround Technology, which is engaged when the ‘Cinema’ and ‘Standard’ sound modes are selected.Another Sony proprietary technology, Separated Notch Edge, uses an innovative woofer surround to reduce cone distortion. Less distortion means a cleaner, punchier sound, without the excessive ‘boom’ and wallow that can afflict some subwoofers. More moving/exposed parts = more things to break. The plastic/metal bottom cover is easily damaged. All the floor display models at the store I’ve see already have scratches on the bottom plate. Also, it’s not too hard for a curious child or cat to reach into the bottom opening and rip the radiator. With the Atmos format (or the less common Sony 360 Reality Audio) the HT-A7000 really shines. It was a treat to watch big-budget movies that clearly put attention into Atmos sound mixing. In Dune, the rotary dirge of the dragonfly-like ornithopters, the paranormal voices during Paul Atreides’ hallucinations, and the desert-shaking movements of the sandworms took on a multidimensional realism as sounds scattered over, around, and through the room. Are you new to using speakers and subwoofers? Well, it is not difficult at all. Thanks to Sony SA-SW5 300W wireless connection, you can easily connect to your soundbar. It automatically establishes the connection and indicates a green light to show it is set up.

I’ll add the rear speakers at some point when they go on sale, but at the moment I couldn’t really be happier with it.

Sony’s newest flagship is a big ‘bar for big bucks

Sony's new HT-A7000 soundbar is great on its own, but there's no denying the benefits of a discrete, standalone subwoofer. Sony has introduced two options of wireless subwoofers to pair with the A7000: the more compact 200W SW3 subwoofer, and this 300W SW5 subwoofer, which is an absolute beast. If you have the room (and cash) to spare, the SW5 subwoofer is an essential add-on for the A7000 soundbar. For the best immersive audio results, a soundbar’s top-firing speakers and side-firing beam tweeters need to reflect off of a ceiling and walls that are neither too close nor too far. However, Sony tells HT-A7000 users not to worry about that too much, because upon setting up, it takes you through a series of tones, from which the built-in microphone and DSP measure the reflections off of your room’s surfaces to optimize the unit’s surround sound mix for your space. I’ve no idea why they were pushing it so hard because there were hardly any in the country and I had to wait a month for it to even arrive.