Sony BRAVIA Theatre Quad Official In-Depth Review

[@richarda3764]

I really appreciate that you moved speakers all over the place and kept retesting to see how it sounded. This is something Sony is advertising these speakers can handle, but most reviews don't really dig into that fact. I have a great location for the front speakers, but the rear speakers are going to be in weird places to make it work for my living room. Seems like these could be a good choice and I also like how clear the dialog was.

[@S1mmz]

Thanks for the review, always appreciated the dedication :) While i already own the system, it's nice to see other people's take on it. One thing i can confirm, having the system in a more dedicated room, rather than open plan really does enhance it a lot more (tried and tested in my mates room who is similar to yours as he was on the fence buying it). Sounded much more alive in my closed off one and definitely bests some traditional wired systems.

[@HPMIKE55]

Ok thanks and Last question is the subwoofer. I already have a 15 inch subwoofer is there anyway I could modify the Sony subwoofer to make it work with mine?

[@S1mmz]

@@HPMIKE55 Not a clue sadly. I sold my Kef KC62 sub when I moved over. Would have loved to have kept it. They seem to have sorted the bass response out a bit better though. Sony subs used to always sound boomy but seem to be a lot better with them getting the IMAX enhanced certification.

[@HPMIKE55]

@@S1mmz ok thanks for your honesty and with that said I’ll see over the weekend if I could pick it up. 😎👍🏻

[@ealanosborne]

Only Sony wireless subs will work with Sony speaker systems like this. They have their own unique tech to make them talk to one another. Only the Sennheiser AMBEO Max has a wired subwoofer connection, so you can use whatever sub you want with that one. 👍

[@HPMIKE55]

@@ealanosborne I have the max i’m not sure if it’s gonna sound a little bit better or the same. that was the question I was trying to ask you guys. lol 😂

[@ShaneMac-e4s]

Can we put these on four corners exactly? We have a 16.5ft x 12ft media lounge room. TV screen is going to be centered on the 16.5ft wall. Can we just set these speakers in all corners for better virtual sound vs in the middle of the room?

[@ealanosborne]

Maybe. The 360 Spatial Sound Mapping will do its best to put you in the middle of the action - and I can see it doing a fairly decent job. Only problem I could see you running into is volume. The speaker drivers themselves are 3.5” (if I remember correctly), which might not be enough to get that sound traveling those distances in certain scenarios. But that’s just guessing. It could be the best thing since sliced bread in your lounge room. 😁👍

[@ShaneMac-e4s]

​@@ealanosborne Actually, I wanted to push the speakers away to the corners. Just didn't want them so close to ears. Other than the sound volume, would you see any other issues? I could've tested this but our home is still building and already put in for 5.1.2 wiring.

[@ealanosborne]

@@ShaneMac-e4s Yeah, that’s really the only issue I could see is not getting loud enough or as detailed as it could be. But should be good otherwise. But if you want my honest opinion, if your new build home is already being pre-wired for 5.1.2, I’d invest in a traditional home theater setup. The wiring is the most tedious part. But if that’s already being taken care of before drywall is being put up, sweet! I’m still in favor of a good ol’ receiver and wired speakers. 🤷‍♂️😁

[@Mckebabed]

Hey there - really interested in the Quad’s. We only have 10” between the back of the sofa and the wall-will the rears work with such small clearance? Thank you in advance.

[@ealanosborne]

It should still work, for the most part. The rear height information may miss the couch slightly, but I woudn't worry too much. That 360 Spatial Sound Mapping tech does a great job trying to deal with limitations like that. 👍

[@MaZEEZaM]

Thumbs up for promoting Andrew Robinson's review, I'm a big fan of their channel and that's where I've just come from.

[@ealanosborne]

We all gotta support each other, you know? 🤘

[@JL-ku7wo]

@@ealanosborneAR seems to be on the accuracy camp. He was saying the subs don’t go down to 20hz, is this true and are you gonna get the new subs Nakamichi just launched for more power?

[@ealanosborne]

@@JL-ku7wo I had to send the Dragon back right after I reviewed it. And the Dragon subs only work with the Dragon. So no, I will not be getting the Dragon 12” subs.

[@scotsmanmike]

My Sony a95l speakers sounded so great I retired my pair of Apple HomePods, considering that they’ve made the Bravia range even better, you should be in for a treat!! I can vouch for their tv speakers at the high end (and I was VERY skeptical about that) I have hearing problems & this is great for me Thanks for the hard work!

[@ealanosborne]

Sweet! Thanks for the vote of confidence! 😊🎉

[@michael-4k4000]

Funny, I have similar setup with the OG Apple speakers. My wife and I both love how they sound. However, when using them for the TV they do disconnect a lot. I’ve contacted Apple about this many times and there a very little help. Wonder if the newer version fixed this issue. Like if I’m using an app such as Disney or Plex the sound just drops then I have to back out of it and then restart the program. It’s very frustrating. From what I understand the sound on the a95L is incredibly good for tv speakers. Too bad you couldn’t connect the Sony sub and perhaps a pair of Sony wireless surround speakers that would be a nice little set up, without full-blown sound bar and all the other accessories.

[@scotsmanmike]

@@michael-4k4000 happy to report that the 2nd gen didn’t have this problem (for me) It’s not all rosy though Playing Atmos through the ATV 4k on the Sony can sometimes have a slight crackle (in Dolby Atmos) and requires a tv reboot… Annoyingly, they are both aware of this & am waiting to see it solved in a future update, it never happens on anything else, tv normal channels, Sony Bravia Core app or music etc, bit weird but still worth the trade-up in general

[@ginoj56]

Thanks for the video! I am on the fence between the Dragon and the Quad. How does the 8" dual sub (supposed to be counted as 4) of the Dragon compared to the Quad with SW5 sub? My budget doesn't allow me to go with the 12s for the Dragon.

[@ealanosborne]

I think the Sony SW5 sub performs better, IMO. But the Quad (for now?) only supports one subwoofer. Hopefully that changes with a future firmware upgrade, though. 🤞🤞

[@ginoj56]

@ealanosborne thank you!! Leaning more towards the Quad, the setup is also so much cleaner and sleeker.

[@ealanosborne]

@ Very true! 🙌

[@mauricioarze5465]

Great review. The comparison to the Dragon is quite helpful. I think some people are going to really want the power of the Dragon, but the 3D sound field, clarity, and element separation of the Bravia Quads is a revelation. I tested the Quads against a traditional home theater with full size B&W speakers, sub, and Sony 360 spatial receiver. I did my best to tweak the home theater and it definitely had more power and presented mids and lows in a more satisfying manner. HOWERVER, the Bravia Quads did a way better job with the 3D sound field and again bested the B&Ws for clarity, separation, and lifelike voices. It's important to note that in my living room, the Quads only impressed when using Sony's proprietary processing mode (not Dolby or DTS). If I started with no mode or Dolby or DTS, nothing about the sound was memorable (they sounded like cheap consumer speakers). However, once Sony's mode was enabled, it really sounded like someone swapped out the cheap speakers with high end components. It was a night and day difference. I bring this up because clearly Sony's processing is what is making these tiny boxed speakers sound like so much more than they are. Point in fact, I spent two hours experimenting with the home theater options and I couldn't come close to what the Quads did after a sixty second self calibration. If I had not heard the Quads, I would have been very happy with the home theater, but in the end, I compromised for what the Quads do well even though it was tempting to go with the more powerful home theater. My point is that while you may be certain that you want the power of the Dragon,...... you might change your mind if you hear the Quads.

[@ealanosborne]

Thanks for your insight! And kudos to your extensive experimentation! 🎉

[@haphzrd]

2 questions: Great video! Do you know if the base station be placed in the rear of the room, instead of the front? (my AV sources are in the rear of the room) Also, do the speakers need line-of-sight to the base station?

[@ealanosborne]

Thanks for the kind words! 1) Sure! It’s all wireless anyway, so in back of the room would still work. 2) No. I had mine in the cabinet at the front of my room behind a door at times, so it doesn’t need line of sight. 👍

[@haphzrd]

@@ealanosborne many thanks for the info. I think I’m going to purchase. I’ve watched many of your videos. Very helpful channel.

[@haphzrd]

@@ealanosborne also, I see you have a Crutchfield affiliate link. I’m going to use that to purchase… you basically made the sale for them. 😊 Thanks again.

[@ealanosborne]

@@haphzrd Wow! Thanks so much! 🎉♥️

[@danielyoun9554]

Thank you for your review! I currently have a Bose Lifestyle 650, but I'm considering switching to Bravia Quad. Would this be an upgrade or a downgrade? My main reasons for considering this change are that my current system doesn’t support Dolby Atmos and lacks wireless capability.

[@ealanosborne]

Upgrade, for sure. 😊👍

[@dans1891]

Great review, thanks for all the hard work you put into your videos. In your trials, would mounting the speakers higher and slightly tilting them towards the viewer improve the surround capabilities on 12 foot ceilings?

[@ealanosborne]

You are correct with that assumption, having 12 foot ceilings. 👍 Not the most ideal height for bouncing audio off the ceiling, but compensating by raising the speakers may help. Although it also depends on where your TV sits. Since mine is higher than ideal, I could get away with putting my front speakers on light stands.

[@joentell]

Appreciate the thorough review and Toolkit shout outs!

[@ealanosborne]

Hell yeah, dude!

[@kevincherry2215]

GoldenEar, which I know you have and like, were on the ground floor and made the decision of not using a bounce off the ceiling Atmos system. Saying that it was not very good, although they were more elegant about their statement. I agree with you about systems having a wireless charging overhead speakers, that would make room design much easier. Imagine if you wanna move some furniture around and you can reposition the overhead speakers. It would be a game changer. I have the original HT9 and have experienced zero dropouts since the firmware updates. Finally, if these systems had a smaller true center speaker, that did not rely on the television itself, that would be awesome

[@ealanosborne]

I know, right? That seems like an easy next step to add a center channel to a BRAVIA QUAD 2. 🤷‍♂️

[@bryananacleto7014]

Would the quad be a good upgrade from my bose acoustimass 10 series 4? I've been wanting to upgrade to some sort of dolby atmos for a while

[@ealanosborne]

Yes. Definitely an upgrade, as long as you opt for the SW3 or SW5 wireless subwoofer as well. 👍

[@michael-4k4000]

Thank you so much for this, and thank you for spending the time to study the tech, rather then just pop out a video to be first. It pays off, trust me. Your reviews are far superior to others.

[@ealanosborne]

Thank you so much for those kind words! 😊

[@michael-4k4000]

@@ealanosborne I had bought the original A9, I loved it, except one issue. The dialogue was difficult to understand at times with certain content. Tried everything I could find, I am not sure if this was a drop out issue or what. But it was a distraction and the dialogue is the most important part of any sound system. Contacted Sony and they were not much help either, they just had me reset everything. Hopefully this new A9 two will correct those issues. When the A9 was working properly I was very impressed and the sound was like a movie theater. One complaint about the new system, it’s ugly (I know that’s subjective) but the original looked much better.

[@KennyPerry-t6w]

Love the depth of this review. What are the chances of you doing a review like is on the Sony bar 9?

[@ealanosborne]

My Sony rep said they’d send me out a Bar 9 as well, but haven’t received it yet. 🤷‍♂️

[@KennyPerry-t6w]

@@ealanosborne that’s great! My wife hates the look of the quad. We are leaving the amp style surround system. So bar 9 is our first choice because I have Sony oled plus ps5! My wife and I are over 50 any game together!

[@ealanosborne]

@@KennyPerry-t6w That’s awesome! Yeah, the Bar 9 seems legit. Andrew Robinson has reviewed that system, if you want to check out his take on it. 👍

[@KennyPerry-t6w]

@@ealanosborne yes I already watched it. But super enjoyed your review! Love the whole setup and such

[@spybeef]

Great review! Thanks! Did you play around with the rear speakers? I wonder if putting them on the ground would still work - I don't have much space and speaker stands is not an option due to an incoming toddler...

[@ealanosborne]

Thanks! 😊 And yeah, I guess you could put them on the ground if they were in a position where they were aimed at the back of your head so you at least get some surround effects. Although in that position, it would mean rear Atmos effects would be compromised a bit. 🤷‍♂️ Better than nothing, though!

[@stopthefomo]

My only ask of Sony is the option to add multiple Subs designed to be stacked for more low end SPL or spread out for even bass!

[@ealanosborne]

I know, right? Sennheiser and Nakamichi are already doing that, and they’re the direct competitors in this price range.

[@schwalleyf]

Did you test the q sound to use center speaker on Samsung. By the way to get the actual sound control for up and down. Use the universal remote wizard to full control the sound system Fraser

[@ealanosborne]

Haven’t had the chance to test a Samsung soundbar with Q Symphony. Maybe someday!

[@schwalleyf]

@ no what I ment some of the Samsung TV have q sound for comparable sound bars. I was thinking of trying the Sony sound system you reviewed. Let me know if you a tv with q sound. It would allow the tv to work as the center Chanel. Fraser

[@ealanosborne]

@@schwalleyf I haven’t been able to test it personally, but I’ve heard from others that Sony’s Acoustic Center Sync still sounds a little “off” in that it doesn’t quite match the timbre of the Quad speakers.

[@HPMIKE55]

Amazing job once again so to ask one last time do you think I should invest in this Sony wireless or wait to see if Sennheiser come out with rear speakers?

[@HPMIKE55]

See the only issue I have with the Sony is my couch that we sit in does not have enough space in the back for enough distance for those rear speakers. so that means the speakers would be at least 4 feet away from our ears.😢

[@S1mmz]

You might be waiting a long time haha. If they don't announce in September (when they always announce their Ambeo stuff) I don't personally think it will happen. That being said, the amount of people having drop out issues with their wireless subwoofer, doesn't bode well for the rears not doing the same.

[@HPMIKE55]

@@S1mmz yes i know your right!

[@S1mmz]

​@@HPMIKE55 Can you place them to the side of your seating position rather than directly behind as the mapping works wonders and still will sound great in that position.

[@HPMIKE55]

@@S1mmz ok thanks ill try it over the weekend! 😎👍🏻

[@michael-4k4000]

Elan, wanted to let you know I finally purchased my Sony Quad, was able to get an amazing deal. Everything you said was true and can tell you spent a lot of time with your system. I did try hooking up my A95L as the center, something is not working properly now, it either works well or all plays out of the right speaker. Need to call sony for a fix. The A95l is the best sounding tv ive ever heard and the speaker system is unfortunately wasted when using a sound bar. The system on is own with the SW3 is amazing, it tokk a while to set up compared to other systems, but its done and wint have to do again. Its almost as a good as a seperate system, their are times when i can tell something should have hit a little harder or just different. The Quad did the best job iv ever heard a movie. At atmos its at its best and it should be, but where the Quad really stands out is on whaf it does to older content. 98% of movies and tv shows are not mastered in dolby atmos. So the ability to upgrade the signal to near atmos track is really important and impressive. With the Quad you hear things in movies that you may have missed before, the Quad is just so good at seperating the sound.

[@ealanosborne]

Aw man, congrats! And thank you for your insight! 🎉

[@JL-ku7wo]

The fact that you spend so much money and have to use sw3 or sw5 is a mistake from Sony. They should have launched a new 8”-12” sub along with the quad for extra power.

[@S1mmz]

It will probably be updated next year. With the quads, then the Bravia 8/9 bars just out, most will buy a sub which is money in their pockets. BAM, next year a new sub comes out, we all upgrade, even more money in their pockets. Well played Sony, unlucky us suckers. 🤣

[@Sas-wk9lj]

@JL careful there, you're risking getting heavily trolled for saying that, haha. Well, I was when I made essentially same remark at some other reviewer's den ( hint: Ealan referenced him in this review many times 😉 ).

[@fonkenful]

@@Sas-wk9ljGiven a few more weeks of reviews by the rest of the on-line community, I suspect there’ll be more consensus with the numerous critiques Andrew and Kristi delivered in their review. I’ve owned numerous pieces of Sony gear in my over 50 years in the audio / video hobby, and while I could never complain about the build quality or performance in the various price categories, sometimes they definitely miss the target in terms of features, etc.

[@datdudeinred]

And you can only use 1.😂

[@rprev2345]

For this price it should include a sub…

[@christophergould2466]

I like to add the that the ht a9 and a Sony a80j the center channel sync works well for my situation. I think it does a good job with voice clarity.

[@ealanosborne]

Nice! 🎉

[@robertgusberti527]

I have same tv and setup. I still have occasional difficulty with center channel voice (with in and off). Thinking of disconnecting the s-channel. Overall I’m pretty happy with the results

[@MrBritishComedy]

Hi, and thanks for your neat review. What I'm wondering is this: In their manual, Sony suggest that the rear speakers are either flat on a wall behind the listening position or behind the listening position with just a little bit of tow-in. In my case, there's a window behind the listening position, and if I want to be able to open the window, I cant have the rear left speaker behind the listening position (lined up parallel to to back of the sofa or with just a bit of tow-in). The only spot feasible spot is the wall left to the listening position - which means lining up the speaker of perpendicular or -depending on the bracket - almost perpendicular to the back of the sofa. Can you tell me how this would affect the quality of the sound bubble? Does this system recognize that the fronts and rears are not facing each other or that they are not towed in ideally, and can they effectively mitigate the issue? Thanks in advance for your input on this.

[@ealanosborne]

True, ideally you’ll want the surrounds a little behind, but that’s the whole idea behind Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, so accommodate some less-than-ideal scenarios and still making the bubble sound decent. I think in your situation, it isn’t TOO bizarre, so I think it’ll still be an effective bubble. 👍

[@MrBritishComedy]

@@ealanosborne Thank you! 😉

[@robinching5565]

Also make a video on sony bar 9 with sony bravia tv

[@Garage_gg]

Considering you had to tone down the sub, would you suggest i pair the quad with a sw3 rather than the sw5?

[@ealanosborne]

No. You want that extra power turned down, rather than getting a smaller sub that might struggle to get to the same volume level, or have the same impact. 👍

[@gustavoy8815]

Great review!! Thanks for your sharing thoughts on this set

[@ealanosborne]

You’re very welcome! 😊🎉

[@or1on89]

Sonos sells a separate HDMI to SPDIF adapter…so they support non eARC setups at the cost of some features.

[@usmankhalid990]

Thanks Ealan, loved the review!! Quick thought if you still have the Quad, do you think it would perform even better in your dedicated listening space as compared to your living room, and if so, how much further does that bridge the gap between a traditional home theater and the Bravia quad? Thanks!!

[@ealanosborne]

That’s what I want to do in my supplemental review once I get a Sony TV in there. Stay tuned! 🎉

[@usmankhalid990]

@@ealanosborne awesome, can’t wait!!

[@Sas-wk9lj]

​​@@ealanosborneif you do experiment with it a bit, please make sure you try the soundtrack of the movie Dune part 1. I get a feeling for specific audio tracks, these systems are tuned well but doesn't quite so work well with just any 10 years older movie soundtracks.

[@madebyut]

Do Quads support max volume limit in the app? I live in an apartment and don’t want to accidentally spike the volume beyond 30%. Sonos app has this feature. I hope Sonys do too.

[@jason_mc77]

It's my understanding that systems like this don't do well with call outs, same with the Sennheiser Ambeo, due to how they process the information. Don't quote me but I think Chana's call outs are channel based, not object based, which is why it doesn't "place" the sounds properly. As for subs, if you could pair a pair of subs or if it had a dedicated subwoofer out I'd be more interested

[@S1mmz]

Yeah, it is the case due to their algorithms and I've owned the Sennheiser Ambeo plus and I now have the quads. Should have tested it with an actual movie rather than call outs and pink noise and would have been a better test.

[@joentell]

It's object-based.

[@Richbroth]

How do you watch your TV being so high and not have a broken neck.

[@SanMan2k5]

Because people like this guy are Fakes. No TV enthusiasts would ever do this. It's a clown setup.

[@JollyGiant1213]

Because he listens to Busta Rymes’ Break yo Neck all time!😎🤙🏻

[@CalCobra]

Not that I would ever replace my dedicated HT AVR/speaker system with them, but I have the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 AND 9 Sound Bars en route for product testing. Now if they'd only send me a TV haha :)

[@ANT75A]

When will you be reviewing the Sony Bar 9? Cant wait for it!

[@ealanosborne]

Not sure! 🤔 Sony has yet to send it to me. 🤞🤞

[@From-sl3yg]

Hey, you recommended keeping the sub level between -3 & -5. Andrew Robinson also recommended this with the SW3. At that sub level what would be the difference between the SA-SW3 & the SA-SW5 & would you recommend one over the other as this will be my first home theater set up with the Quad? Cheers and awesome review.

[@ealanosborne]

It depends on your personal preference of bass response. Obviously the SW5 will give you more bass/higher output power if you tend to lean into more bass, or if you have a fairly large living room. I felt the SW5 gave me a more cinematic vibe than the SW3, being larger and more powerful. But if you just want some added bass that fills in the low frequencies well, the SW3 is probably good for you.

[@stevieg3078]

Hello... I have the new Sony Quad sound system. I'm deciding between the Bravia 9...or Bravia 7. Other than using Voice Zoom 3.......am I wasting my money choosing the Bravia 9 and not really using its excellent built-in sound system? Thanks!

[@ealanosborne]

Eh, it really depends on your preferences. I'd honestly check out Andrew Robinson's glowing review of the BRAVIA 9, since he pretty much thought it was the best TV Sony has released 🤷‍♂️

[@stevieg3078]

@@ealanosborne Thanks. I agree that the Bravia 9 offers the best picture. How much of its surround sound speakers will I be enjoying if I'm using the Sony Quad speakers?

[@ealanosborne]

@ Unless you’re using the TV as your center speaker, the built-in speakers are a moot point if you’re using the Quad, since the TV speakers will be disabled at that point.

[@stevieg3078]

@@ealanosborne Thank you for your response. I will be using the TV speakers as the center channel. Is the Bravia 9s worth $1500 more than the B7?

[@nathanbrown8466]

To raise the height channel volume, could you just lower both the front and the rear levels? Since height can’t be adjusted if you lower all ear level output then raise volume of entire system the heights should appear louder

[@nathanbrown8466]

*correction* my bad i think in the app there is only control for the rear levels.. so my idea might not work. im not sure though, i will find out in a week when mine gets hear. going from a large house 7.2.4 (driven by onkyo rz50) system to this because im moving into a 1bed condo. wish me luck If this doesnt work out i will build a 5.1.4 in new place with a sony es5000 but ive heard the noise floor is very high with 360 mapping on, and thats the main selling point for me. im into this stuff for atmos movies and not really music listening, ive been underwhelmed by the immersiveness of my current setup. i did my best to dial it in with dirac but still not as enveloping as id like

[@michael-4k4000]

Yeah, I think it's just for the rears.

[@Johnzilla2179]

I had the Dragon for a few weeks but ended up returning it. The sound was loud, but I felt it was brittle and shrill no matter what I did with the settings. This was particularly true on non-Atmos content, like classic movies that only have mono or stereo tracks (I don’t do upmixing, I like to hear the sound as it was originally intended). With that in mind, since the Quad is neck and neck with the Dragon as depicted here (more “accurate”), would that maybe be the superior pick for someone like myself? And what about the Bravia Theater Bar 9?

[@ealanosborne]

Can’t say for the Bravia 9 Bar, but I believe I’m having one sent to me eventually for review. But yes, I believe the Bravia Qaud would be more up your alley with the preferences you’ve mentioned. 👍

[@Johnzilla2179]

@@ealanosborne Thanks!

[@michael-4k4000]

Is WISA still around? Or is Dolby Flex taking over? WISA seems like such a smart and convenient way to get great sound

[@ealanosborne]

Yeah, they’re still alive and kicking. Just not enough people have really latched onto their tech as a necessity. Everyone favors convenience over audio quality, mostly, so their claim to have hi-res 24 bit wireless audio doesn’t resonate with the vast majority of consumers. Bummer.

[@michael-4k4000]

@@ealanosborne It’s to bad, that tech really didn’t take off. You need a huge marketing budget to get people to understand and buy the tech. Bose is excellent at that, probably half their budget goes to marketing, I know people bash them for this, but if they didn’t spend a lot of marketing and advertising then no one would have known about there gear nor buy their products. Most people need to be told which is best for them in the home theater market, us here are the minority. I’ve never even seen a KZbin review on WISA products, at least not a full video. Digital Trends have mentioned WISA and a few others have, but not one person showed how they work and how easy or difficult it is to set up. I have a LG C9 65” and it’s WISA compatible, but I have to buy an additional adapter and then then the limited speakers with the tech. Hopefully Dolby Flex does a better job getting the word out. The idea that u can add speakers as u go and the mixing will be applied by Dolby is really cool. A lot of people can use a sound bar or big speakers or run ceiling speakers.

[@garretts431]

if you could add your own subwoofer to either of these systems (dragon or sony) - would you replace your dedicated atmos setup?

[@ealanosborne]

Nope. I still prefer discrete height speakers mounted up high over bouncing audio off the ceiling any day. And being able to dial in distance, timing, EQ, etc. I like ultimate control, rather than trusting an algorithm to do it for me.

[@garretts431]

@@ealanosborne got it thanks. Also for the dragon - how was the updating the firmware via USB (if you did that). Was it fine or difficult?

[@ealanosborne]

@@garretts431 The firmware had already been updated to its latest version (at the time of recording) so I didn’t need to perform an update on my own. But yes, it can be a little tricky if you’re not used to reformatting a USB thumb drive, etc.

[@jaredhu1]

I have 8 foot ceilings and have outlets placed about a foot from the ceiling. Would having these setup at that height work or would you suggest having the light stands and placing at near ear level?

[@ealanosborne]

At ear level is best, since that’s what they’re made for. And with 8 foot ceilings, you should be golden! 🎉

[@sumitdua7078]

What would you suggest between sony theatre quads or a proper 5.1 ch bookshelf home theatre system (same price of quads )for a bedroom of 15x17

[@ealanosborne]

I personally think it comes down to your future plans for your home theater. Traditional setups are much easier to upgrade piece by piece over time, and I think will sound better in the end, once properly dialed in and calibrated, with its larger woofers and speaker cabinets. But I totally understand the appeal of the easy setup of a system like the Quad. It really does sound good for what it’s worth, but can’t be upgraded. So it comes down to this: Would you rather be able to upgrade piece by piece? Or have a one-and-done system that you would have to replace the entire thing when you wanted something better down the road? 🤔

[@sumitdua7078]

Thank you sir 😇🙏🏻

[@wolfmanjack530]

Hi Ealon, Hey, I have an interesting question. So, my current theater setup involves: TV: LG G1 (Doesn't Support DTS-X) Streamer: Apple 4k TV (Doesn't support DTS-X) AV: Just updated to the new Sony Quad from the HT-A9s. (Which has DTS-X support & IMAX Enhanced ) How can I enjoy the Imax Enhanced DTS-X audio that Disney has added since May 15th? Is there a special way of connecting or bypassing to get DTS-X? I also have an Oppo 203 player, which has everything DTS-X.. Can I connect the player in any special way to allow DTS-X from my Apple 4k TV to play? I think I may need to update my LG G1 TV to an LG G4, which now supports DTS-X. However, will I even get DTS-X if my Apple 4k TV doesn't support this feature? One of the main reasons for my audio upgrade, besides dropsouts on HT-A9 to the Sony Quad, is that it's an IMAX Enhanced feature. However, after connecting all the devices above, I still do not see the option to enjoy DTS-X on the selected movies on Disney+. I have my Apple 4k TV HDMI connected directly to the Sony Quad theater yet, not seeing the DTS-X option on the Disney + movies (Marvel Movies) Appreciate any feedback. Thank you!

[@ealanosborne]

Yeeeaaahhh, unfortunately with this initial rollout, it is EXCLUSIVELY only possible on select Sony, Hisense or TCL TVs that support DTS:X output. 😩 That being said, newer LG TVs (like the G4 you mentioned) will support DTS:X later this year (at least it’s rumored to be that soon). And streamers (like AppleTV 4K) won’t get support until 2025. So - for now - only using the built in streaming apps on Sony, Hisense and TCL TVs can get you IMAX Enhanced support on Disney+. 😭

[@wolfmanjack530]

😢Thank you for your feedback, Ealon! That's what I thought. I will wait until Black Friday to get the LG G4, hoping that prices drops to $2,499.

[@wolfmanjack530]

@@ealanosborneUPDATE: I returned the Sony Quads to the Best Buy store and picked up the Nagamichi Dragon 11.4.6 system. Although the Sony Quads are an upgrade from the HT-A9s, I'm so pleased I switched to the Dragon. It honestly sounds like a theater with true power! One question that I'm having difficulty finding online. I have an oppo 4k player, and when playing the 40th anniversary ET disk, my Dragon AV displays DTS-X MA but doesn't display DTS-X Pro. Is the movie playing on DTS-X Pro even though it's displaying DTS-X MA?

[@PursueHappiness]

Do I have to turn on my tv to play music on this? Can I connect it (for example) to a streamer so the tv doesn’t have to be on? Seems not doable since there is only one input.

[@ealanosborne]

Technically, no. Since it was connected to the TV, if I started playing music via Bluetooth, it would turn the TV on for a few minutes, but then would turn off due to inactivity. So not bad, I’d say. 👍

[@PursueHappiness]

Ah looking for something lossless/wired not Bluetooth

[@Target135]

I see your speakers stands in the video description. Did you just sit them right on top of them or are they secured in any way? Just got my speakers and the unconventional shape and default stand doesn't really jive with standard universal speakers :/ Trying to figure out a good solution that my wife will accept.

[@ealanosborne]

Yeah I just set them on top of the speaker stands. The feet that come with the speakers made it pretty secure, unless they happen to be bumped aggressively. 🤷‍♂️ But it is true, not the most ideal. But I did find these that seem to be made for something like the Quad. 👇 vebos.com/vebos-floor-stand-sony-bravia-theatre-quad-white-set.html

[@stevenmcneely1466]

FYI, the timbre of my X95L acoustic center sync matches great with the HT-A9

[@ealanosborne]

Nice! 🎉

[@lukevanderwaal]

Nice in depth review Ealan! Quick question: what speaker stands did you use for the satellite speakers?

[@ealanosborne]

Sanus SF34 stands. 👇👇🎉 howl.me/cmmNMjbP2SY

[@richlandzee8686]

1) So the Quad does not have couch to rear surround adjustment found on HT-A9 because its replaced by the Phone's mic. 2) The rear surrounds will always be subdued even at max levels hence the 3 to 6-foot rear placement recommendation? Are you also saying that the atmos speakers are at different angles between the front and rears? 3) I thought receivers have a setting for true surround with equal volume speaker outputs when it comes to music? That is the problem that I have with HT-A9. 4) I'm surprised by your comment on height adjustment is only related to higher phantom center. I thought it is to boost the Atmos effects. Did you confirm this with Sony? I think this will change with Bravia 7 or 8. I would like to know if theres a huge difference between Acoustic Multi Audio and Acoustic Surface Audio+.

[@S1mmz]

It's always been that way even on the original. The height just effects the center. It's designed if your TV is like on a lower stand or up high so that you can still keep the sound like it's coming from the center of the TV.

[@MrBjorn6]

Well my friend in the UK has the Quad theater and I have the dragon, we are both very satisfied with our purchase

[@ealanosborne]

Heyyyy, best of both worlds! 😄🎉

[@michael-4k4000]

He has both? Wow. I think the Sony is more wife friendly. My wife would kill me if I bought the Dragon home.

[@chibbyylol]

@@michael-4k4000 his friend in the UK has the theater quad and he himself has the dragon. they're both satisfied

[@MrNorcal81]

Hey Ealan, can we assume that this system will not work well with a textured ceiling or has Sony overcome that?

[@ealanosborne]

My ceiling isn’t like a popcorn ceiling, but it does have SOME texture to it, and it performed well! I don’t think it would cause much of a problem.

[@is3commander]

Is there an option to adjust balance?

[@ealanosborne]

If I remember correctly (since it’s been awhile) I don’t recall a balance feature in the app. But I believe Sony omitted that feature since that’s what 360 Spatial Sound Mapping should correct in the end. 👍

[@sambowks]

I hope I'm never in a position where I have to mount my TV above a fire place.

[@docuzzie]

I'm waiting for more reviews before making any decision. I do expect some companies to make advancements in the future as it pertains to wireless offerings as wires in your home suck. In a dedicated display/theater room, the sky is the limit. I presently have a Sennheiser Ambeo Plus which I'm pleased with. Admittedly, I purchased this fully expecting that they'd at some point introduce rears or true wireless height speakers as the system allows a connection for up to 4 wireless subs. Who on the planet would need that? None the less, the sony offering has me a bit intrigued. The Sennheiser is phenominal less no rear channel, but voice clarity at low volume on the newer tracks is unappreciated. Things need to be at 16 to 18 to be able to hear everything at all times and also, volume increments by 2. I am not totally satisfied with the sennheiser and anxiously await Bose, Sony or one of the other top contenders to bring forth a wireless solution with true wireless height channels, multiple subs and the like. If I get to hear the sony, I could be influenced to upgrade sooner.

[@HPMIKE55]

I forgot to say that you’re 100% right about what sony needs to fix and add. lol 😂 Keep up the great job! 😎👍🏻

[@ealanosborne]

Thank yooouuu! 😊

[@Dcaker]

If both systems were the same price, would you recommend "The Quad" or "The Dragon"?

[@ealanosborne]

QUAD

[@great100m]

Very thorough review, thanks. I am now considering Sony Quad as opposed uo upgrading my AVR and front L & R speakers in my 5.1.2 HT system

[@ealanosborne]

Cool! 🎉

[@FNGyoutube]

Could you compare two soundbars : JBL Bar 1300 and SONY Bravia Theatre Quad, and which one is better?

[@ealanosborne]

My best guess is the Theater Quad is better. But I don’t currently have any contacts at JBL, so it’s difficult to obtain any of their products…yet. 🤞

[@Pete_or_Peter4Long]

Wish Sonos would make a system of 5 Era300 speakers and call it a day.

[@SvenScholz-m6c]

Ich habe eine Frage ich komme aus Deutschland. Ich habe die Sony HT A9 Ich habe eine Deckenhöhe von 8 Fuß. Ich habe aber keine Effekte von oben. Ich habe mir jetzt Boxen Ständer bestellt, weil die Boxen zur Zeit vom Boden bis zum Ohr 90 cm stehen und dadurch habe ich keine Effekte von oben wenn ich die Boxenständer jetzt habe. Wie weit müssen die Boxen von der Decke entfernt sein, dass der Effekt auftritt die Geräusche die Soundeffekte

[@LoganScottY]

Oh another question. If i put rear speakers at ear level then the distance from the upfiring speakers to the ceiling is 5.5 feet. Do you think thats a deal breaker?

[@BornIn82]

Nice. Legoooo! Would love to own this set

[@absar810706]

Height of Sound Field you set to Default or Higher?

[@ealanosborne]

If I recall correctly, I set it to high personally, since my TV is fairly high and I have 10 foot ceilings in the living room.

[@joshdimovski4483]

Did you find if you didn't sit centre to the 2 front speaker's the phantom centre wouldn't perform and you would hear the speaker you were closer to more for vocals ?

[@ealanosborne]

It actually performed better than I thought it would. Sure, the closer I got to one speaker, the more it sounded like dialog was coming from one speaker, but slightly off center wasn’t bad. 👍

[@joshdimovski4483]

@@ealanosborne Having the ht A9 I'm lucky I have a Sony OLED to make the Centre channel more Centre as when I used it without I found it annoying sitting on the couch closest to one speaker , the Phantom Centre was lost . Totally agree with the fact the speaker drivers and sub should be bigger, the 360 performance is there but not the shears Power and grunt .

[@Dranomoly]

Great review as always. That price tag has me looking at other options, however the partner hats the way most surround sound systems look.

[@JohnSeitz]

Now that the Dragon is on sale and so happens to match the price of the Quad w/sub. What’s best for movie tv entertainment with focus on dialogue and height effects?

[@ealanosborne]

Quad 👍

[@JohnSeitz]

@@ealanosborne thanks Ealan! Not sure why this is such a difficult decision to make on my side lol.

[@Slick1020]

I love my quads, especially after testing out ATMOS and DTS watching Bad Boys 3. My quads and SW-5 are paired with an 83 inch Sony OLED (A90J). I'm using a Harmony remote. So I can use it or my Sony tv remote to make audio adjustments. Since my quads are on Sanus stands and I have a Sony tv. The app never asked where my speakers are located in relation to my tv. Interesting 🤔.

[@S1mmz]

With the latest update the TV gets calibrated with the speakers. You should get a prompt saying "Experience the enhanced acoustic center sync" then you can do the optimisation. Quads have been updated for it but might not have reached your TV model yet as they pushing them out via firmware updates at the moment.

[@Slick1020]

@@S1mmz I have a Sony tv as my center channel. That's why it already knows where my speakers and subwoofer are located. It has nothing to do with firmware.

[@S1mmz]

@@Slick1020 I didn't say it didn't. I said on the new firmware update that was released for the Quads the TV now gets calibrated with the speakers. As an example before the update and on the original HT-A9 speakers, the TV and speakers would play together but they would play independently which is why some people preferred to just use the phantom center. With the new update the TV and speakers now play in unison and will sound miles better. This was a recent update on the Quad speakers and your TV will also need the firmware update.

[@davidcorbett6693]

For giggles , could you hook both up together to make one ultimate system

[@ealanosborne]

Ha! No, sorry. 😊

[@bhosekar1982]

Hi there! A general question, please. I have a 2020 TV with ARC (not eARC). I use Xbox Series X as the source for everything I watch on the TV. If I were to plug the console in a pass through Atmos capable soundbar, will I receive Dolby Atmos signal?

[@ealanosborne]

That’s correct. That’s why the Theatre Quad in particular has that one HDMI input for situations like yours. 👍

[@bhosekar1982]

@@ealanosborne thank you very much!

[@MohsinWadee]

Two things: 1. Why does the remote not have a pause/play button? For Spotify listening, I'd quickly like to pause music if, say, I get a visitor. 2. Are there modes where you can save your bass/treble settings to? As you said for music you reduced the bass. I would not like to do this everytime when switching from movies to music.

[@dannylegare5598]

We know (because you told us) that the Dragon uses the receiver level Dolby Atomos, and I assume that the Quad does not. So wouldn’t that cause a MAJOR DIFFERENCE in how they compare in sound quality?

[@ealanosborne]

Apparently not as much as I had hoped (for the Dragon’s sake) since Sony’s 360 Spatial Audio is one fantastic bit of virtual surround sound technology. 🤷‍♂️

[@richlandzee8686]

Can you tell me where you got the "light" stands from? I didn't know you can mount speakers with these! I like the fact that they are height and angle adjustable.

[@ealanosborne]

Honestly, I did have to get creative to rig the speakers to the light stands, needing to use adapters, washers and nuts that fit around the bolts that come with the Quad. But it worked! And I just used light stands that came with a lighting kit that I use for a lot of my videos.

[@richlandzee8686]

Since you sit about 13 feet away from the system. What is the volume setting at this distance? I have my HT-A9 at 58-60 range about 9 feet away. I wonder how far it will push before the limiter kicks in. Also the QUAD has a larger LCD display on the main receiver unit so maybe you can still make out the text.

[@ealanosborne]

@@richlandzee8686 I find I have the volume typically somewhere around 30-35.

[@richlandzee8686]

@ealanosborne - Wow that is very low. I wonder if its because of the larger 3 way speakers. Could be the built-in woofer.

[@ealanosborne]

@@richlandzee8686 Quite possibly!

[@stephenlowes2161]

Im still a little torn. Theatre quad with sub or sony avr taan1000 5.1.2 with 2 ceiling speakers. Is there much difference compared to easy setup. Great review

[@ealanosborne]

It's honestly 2 schools of thought, really. Have a more difficult setup process, but more control over fine tuning and more easily upgrade pieces over time? Or go with a one-and-done system that performs well for what it's worth, super easy setup process, but can't be upgraded? The choice...is yours. :)

[@grewblet]

I may have replied to your same question on Andrew Robinson's video. You have the Monitor Audio speakers, is that right? Anyways, Ealan's response sums it up well. I'll add (if you do have the monitor audio speakers): it also depends what you want to get out of the system visually. The Quads look like they will blend in to the room better. The Monitor Audio is going to be more of a visual statement. Neither option is right or wrong. And in case there is any hesitation about tech-know-how regarding the setup, I'd just call Crutchfield customer support. They are super nice people in my experience.

[@stephenlowes2161]

Thank-you so much for the reply. Great to hear

[@alphaomega1351]

I have these speakers no subwoofer necessary. 😳

[@spoony88888]

Had the system for 2 weeks - did you notice that the higher sound field produces more bass? I'm certain of this - played with this a lot

[@ealanosborne]

Huh...I'll test that out when I get the Sony TV in my dedicated theater. 👍

[@harirao12345]

Great review!!! Can you please provide links to the speaker and light stands for the quad. Thanks!!!

[@ealanosborne]

Thank you! Here are the links: Sanus SF34 Speaker Stands - howl.me/cmmNMjbP2SY NEEWER Photography Light Stands - amzn.to/3Vl6jRA

[@bgaviator]

If my wife sits off to the side on our main couch, will the phantom center sound bad to her? Only 2 of 3 of us can sit center to the tv at a time so someone is always sitting off to the side on the opposite perpendicular wall.

[@ealanosborne]

Well, yeah, whoever is sitting off center will hear dialog more out of whichever speaker they’re closer to. But sounding bad? That’s subjective to the listener. You get used to it. 🤷‍♂️

[@LoganScottY]

Can I place the bravia quad rear speakers on the wall above my couch or should i place them on a stand to the side of my couch. Lastly since im implying that my couch is against the wall which it indeed is, would that make this system obscelete for me? My room is tiny btw so also very close to the TV.

[@ealanosborne]

If your room is as tiny as you say it is, the Quad may even be a little overkill, TBH. But you could get by with the surrounds being on either side of your couch, regarding the layout.

[@LoganScottY]

@@ealanosborne I currently have the samsung Q990C. Just been trying to figure out if the samsung is technically more overkill than the Sony quad system or not.

[@calvingladue4470]

Have you tried playing 360 reality music on your sound test

[@ealanosborne]

Nope! But I plan on doing a follow-up on this system connected to the BRAVIA 8 OLED TV soon. 👍 Maybe I’ll squeeze in 360 Reality Music in there. 😁

[@CristianWinkler-c8q]

The connection to the home theater system has failed because the front right speaker is not connecting. I have already performed both a reset of the speaker and a reset of the entire system - unfortunately, without success. The LED on the front right speaker remains solid red. When attempting to connect, it blinks green quickly at first, then more slowly, before eventually turning red again. I am completely at a loss and have no idea how to get this working. It’s truly frustrating to have such an expensive system serve as mere decoration in my home after only ten days.

[@ealanosborne]

An issue like that seems like you may have a lemon on your hands. It should automatically connect without much fuss, as I experienced.

[@CristianWinkler-c8q]

Thank you for your feedback. I’ll visit the dealer today to have it checked out. Hopefully, they can fix this issue.

[@emuemu07]

I have a question I have a 5.1 system that was working fine at my previous house I set it up in the new house and my rear satellite speaks crackle a little when I first start a show or movie but it cleans up after 1 minutes or 2 it all so does it if a pause or extended time the only thing I've change in the system is the two rear speaker wires are from a new wire roll that a thicker gauge wire.

[@grewblet]

The first thing I would try is to disconnect the speaker cables and reconnect them.

[@Ali-M2]

In the older hta7000 bars at the back there is a panel if you remove you can hard wire rear speakers and subwoofer though i don't know if it works

[@ealanosborne]

Whoa! Interesting! 🤔

[@BornIn82]

What speaker stands did you use? They look similar to the ones Andrew used in his review.

[@ealanosborne]

Sanus SF34 stands howl.me/cmmNMjbP2SY

[@BornIn82]

@@ealanosborne thank you

[@Onetime910-y4t]

So would you recommend this Sony setup or the Sonos Arc with the Era 300’s for surrounds for height effects?

[@ealanosborne]

I haven’t been fortunate to review a flagship Sonos system like that, but Andrew Robinson said this system bested even the Arc + Era 300’s. 🤷‍♂️

[@remco3819]

If Sonos releases a new soundbar this year (according to the rumors) it will be an interesting challenge 😊. Personally i don't like the look of this system and Sony has terrible aftersales. Plus the price is way too high.

[@chibbyylol]

@@remco3819 I think the theater quad will always have an advantage at least in soundstage and imaging since you can place the left and right as wide as you want. They'd have ot make a ridiculously loooong soundbar to match that

[@remco3819]

@@chibbyylol i agree , you can have some atmos effects in the back but not as effective in the front. Unless Sonos makes it possible to use two era's in the front but i don't think that is going to happen.

[@mickblast5794]

I wonder if a.i can make atmos sound better from fewer smaller speakers? I hope they are working on that rather than the other destructive crap you read about.

[@kman9387]

I think your TV is in the perfect spot! I find it easier to watch TV like that. 👍

[@ealanosborne]

Haha! You’re one of the few on my side! Thanks! 😄🎉

[@daniahmed]

hey, you should definitely get your hands on the ht-a9 and then compare the theatre quad to that.

[@S1mmz]

The quads are a lot better. I had the original but it went back after a few weeks. Sound was just too tinny and the center wasn't that great alongside voices. The introduction of the midrange driver has made a big difference. Sound quality is much more refined and powerful, voices are absolutely incredible and the center more pronounced, alongside all the drop out issues being fixed, although I never had that issue.

[@scotteaton4868]

My question is why the system has to be tied to hardware in the first place. The speakers are good, but not amazing. Its the software doing all the work. Im real curious if rear speakers are required at all. Just use a pair of big towers up front that are,atmos configured.

[@ealanosborne]

Convenience, really, for those who don’t already have speakers and just need a “home theater in a box” solution. What you’re referring to is any of the newer Sony ES series receivers with 360 Spatial Audio built in. Connect any speakers you want. Boom. Golden. 🤘

[@souadtahr8148]

Bonjour j’aime beaucoup vos test détaillé malgré que j’ai regardé la revue complète sa ne me répond pas a ma question je compte acheter dans quelques jours un home cinéma j’hésite entre un sonos arc era 300 et sub ou le théâtre quad et sub lequel me conseillez vous et pourquoi ?

[@ealanosborne]

I haven’t personally reviewed the Sonos system, but Andrew Robinson has, and he compared it to the Theatre Quad 👇 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rIXLY5Sve8p6osksi=pc9u6y67W0IqjDMb

[@Chillboyx]

Using the Sony center only sounds good with the sony acoustic surface as center speaker. Which was only available on the OLED models. I haven’t checked this years TVs to see which use it.

[@ealanosborne]

Yeah, exactly. I believe that same tech is built into the new 2024 TVs, and even more speakers in the Bravia 9 TVs. That’s why I want to still test it out once that Sony TV arrives. 🤘🎉

[@S1mmz]

​@@ealanosborneThe Bravia 9 uses side and top beam tweeters, however, the OLED acoustic surface audio is still much better. The mini led can't use this technology unfortunately. So if want the best center TV experience you will need to test with either the A95L or the Bravia 8.

[@kwakuadae5758]

How does these compare to the enclave cinehome pro?

[@ealanosborne]

I think the Quad is better overall with its 3D soundstage and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping. 👍

[@giacintorenta7579]

How does it compare with a Sonos Arc + 2 Era 300 + dual Sub system?

[@ealanosborne]

🤷‍♂️ Although Andrew Robinson commented that the Quad bested an Arc + Era 300’s + Sub system. Although 2 Sonos subs I imagine would win in the LFE department…

[@MattyDaddy14]

Wow. I feel like you covered everything I had commented on in previous videos! 🎉 thank you! Awesome review!! Seriously! Top notch! Can’t wait for you to get the Bravia 7/8 in to find out how it compares to the Q-Symphony! Ps. Loved your comparo with dragon! 🎉

[@ealanosborne]

Thank you very much!!! 🎉

[@trydenrocks]

Can you add 2 subwoofers?

[@ealanosborne]

No, sorry. At least not right now. Maybe they’ll add support for a second sub in the future with a firmware update? 🤷‍♂️ But that’s just speculation.

[@Sas-wk9lj]

Great and what's very rare to find, honest review. I get your PoV 100%. It's a no for my taste. Appreciate your diligence btw. I own HT-A9+ SW5 but don't listen to it for about a year now. They are shelved somewhere at the corner of my store room. Reason? except for very latest audio codecs ( Dune 1 Dolby Atmos track) they aren't any impressive to my taste. I mostly watch SDR movies between 80's and 2015. Non Dolby Atmos or DTS-X tracks feel anemic to me on A9's. I'm coming from traditional HT setup with custom Sub so I know I can't do with the SW5, which feels rather weak and muddy, sometimes boomy ( missing clarity or that agile, tight bass). I can bet, if you ever get to review Samsung Q990 series SB, you'll be able to clearly distinguish the overall, all rounder performance and particularly the superiority of Samsung's Atmos height effects and bass response. Be it latest Atmos or DTS-X track, or 90's audio codecs, Q990B handles everything so well, and yes with exceptional dialogue clarity. ( I can't forget the fulfillment of real Atmos experience from the movie 10 Cloverfield lane. You must review the Q990D once to see if your 10 feet celing is falling short for Atmos. I acknowledge that if you want tha room filling enveloping dome experience in audio, HT-A9 or its next generation quad system can be probably next to none in getting you those nuances as well as good rumbling bass when you are watching Dune for instance ( please try it once on the quad), but that's it. You try something from 10 years ago, it'd feel anemic (at least to me).

[@jimbatsoulini4663]

(( important )) Hello congrats on your channel, I have a problem I have the Sony HT-A7000 soundbar together with SA-SW5 subwoofer, and SA-RS5 surround speakers, The problem is when I select 360 Spatial Sound Mapping the front speakers of the sound bar play monophonically, it does not switch the sound left to right, Why is this happening???

[@ealanosborne]

I have no idea, sorry. I would try and perform a factory reset to start off troubleshooting, or perhaps double check that you have the latest firmware.

[@DavidBrown-eo3hw]

Great review. Any chance of doing a roku streambar pro 5.1 review? Its a true 5.1 (front left, center, front right, rear left, rear right, and sub) wireless system with a sealed 10 inch sub. It doesn't have atmos, but its only $700 for the whole system. I'm really interested in your opinion of how a true 5.1 compares to a faux atmos system (upfiring speakers instead of ceiling mounted) Thanks.

[@ealanosborne]

I’m not sure if I’ll get that one in since I don’t have any connections with Roku (yet), but that does sound like a solid system!

[@DavidBrown-eo3hw]

@@ealanosborne Thanks for the reply. Few youtubers take the time to reply. Im looking forward to the review of the Quad with a Bravia 7/9 as a center channel.

[@ManofSteel007]

Compare these to the Klipsch Reference 5.1 theater box!

[@ealanosborne]

That’s kind of apples and oranges, since the Klipsch 5.1 theater box needs an AV receiver to power it. I still prefer an AV receiver system myself, because wireless systems still aren’t quite on the same level as a traditional system with speaker wires, etc. The Theater Pack is also only 5.1, where the Sony Quad has upward firing speakers to create a 3D bubble of sound above too. Again, hard to compare. 🤷‍♂️

[@ManofSteel007]

@@ealanosborne I'm here from techno dad's recent video suggesting of 2 sets of the Klipsch with the Onkyo TX NR-7100 to get 5.2.4. Sounds like you'd lean to the Klipsch set up in that case? It's this kinda apples to oranges comparison I'm doing in my head and I'd like to hear from someone who thinks about this more than I do. I'm sure there's lots of other (non-techno) dad's like me out there just trying to maximize bang for buck.

[@nonothing9685]

Thanks for talking about the audio drop outs. That's one of those things where if it happens even once, i'm ripping out the system and selling everything. Going wireless would be a dream, but i've had experiences of a back right speaker that stops working haflway through a movie, and will only work after a power reset, and I refuse to do that again.

[@ealanosborne]

Yep! Never dropped out in the middle of a movie or TV show. That would be a deal breaker for me too.

[@michaellatta]

Good job adding value in areas Andrew did not cover.

[@ealanosborne]

Thanks! I hope others who review this system cover things I might’ve missed too! 😊

[@jaymessim2379]

what speaker stands are you using?

[@ealanosborne]

Sanus SF34! Link is in the video’s description! 😊