Sony SA-SW5 Premium Subwoofer

Product Information

The virtual 7.1.2-channel HT-A7000 works with all the major Dolby and DTS surround-sound formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, as well as the growing Sony 360 Reality Audio format. However, built-in DSP, which Sony calls the Vertical Surround Engine, converts any audio material to utilize the full 7.1.2 channels, making any piece of music or video take advantage of the soundbar’s top-firing speakers and side beam tweeters. The remote control’s Immersive AE (Audio Enhancement) button turns on this function. Even on material that’s already formatted for all the channels, such as Dolby Atmos movies and music, Immersive AE still adds a boost of overhead spaciousness to the soundstage. I liked using the Immersive AE function on almost all the music and videos I played, with the exception of some live talk shows where the audience’s laughter and applause were too high in the mix. Connection and compatibility options The soundbar connects wirelessly to the A7000, so all you need to do is plug it into a power outlet. Even though the A7000 is sold separately, it pairs instantly and automatically with the soundbar. All I had to do was turn on the soundbar, then plug in the SW5 to a power outlet, and wait for the light on the front of the subwoofer to turn green. Within about 5 seconds, the subwoofer was paired with the soundbar and I was ready to go. If you have trouble connecting the subwoofer automatically, you can attempt a manual connection through the settings menu (Home > Setup > Advanced Settings > Speaker Settings > Wireless Speaker Settings > Start Manual Linking). Once paried, the soundbar turns on and off with the soundbar. A solid red light on the front indicates that the subwoofer is off ("standby mode"). A solid green light means that it is on and connected to your soundbar. Once successfully paired, I recommend running the "sound field optimization" wizard again from the settings menu. Take your compatible* Sony soundbar or home cinema system to new a new bass dimension, with the Sony SA-SW5 wireless subwoofer. Rounded edges not only enhance the sound, by reducing harmful reflections, but also give the speaker system an unobtrusive, harmonious style. The light pearl grey colour blends with most decors, too.

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. 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 . 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. During Finch, it was the Atmos spaciousness that heightened the tension in moments like the tornado scene, when objects and debris are swirling around and steel cables break under the stress. Of course, the latest James Bond romp No Time To Die has plenty of bullets, explosions, aircraft, tire-screeching car chases, overhead glass breaking, and water deluges to exploit the Atmos capabilities as well. The soundbar’s side channels expertly send signals around the sides of a moderately sized living room. The top channels for overhead effects are also successful, but not as immersive as with a fully outfitted Atmos cinema or home theater, where the speakers are actually overhead. But the HT-A7000 is far more enjoyable than watching movies with TV speakers, stereo speakers, or soundbars without top- and side-firing speakers. As another bonus, quiet movie dialog that is often hard to discern when using stereo speakers is much clearer when the sound mix is spread out to a multichannel format like Atmos.The Samsung Q990 on the other hand is another story. Obviously the Samsung has a sub-woofer and rear speakers, so it has the advantage of separating sound. I never tested just the soundbar alone. The sound really seems to surround you, very immersive, crisp, great bass (I had to turn down the sub to -2), the Adaptive sound did an amazing job of separating all around the living room and kitchen area to the point where it made me want to re-listen to some of my favourite music for the joy of it. It’s also worth noting that the installation guide calls for a space of 80mm between the bar and the tv to allow the up-firing speakers to work. This is pretty impractical visually and I’ve just tilted the bottom of the set in to the wall. I’m not sure how it’s possible if using a set on its legs rather than wall mounted. Out of the box, without any additional hardware hooked up, what you’ll hear is robust and clear dialogue. Throughout our testing, no matter the source, we were able to make out dialogue clearly, even when we changed the sound mode of the TV to something more dynamic, like, say the Cinema sound mode on a Sony TV.

By itself, the Sony HT-A7000 is capable of producing a 7.1.2-channel sound. While that sounds like a lot of sound output - and it certainly is - it’s mostly focused around the mid-range if you don’t go in and manually change the EQ. Updating the bar to firmware version 1.779 adds support for ALLM and HDMI Forum. The Video Passthrough to TV score improves from 8.4 to 9.5 as a result. 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. Converted to Test Bench 1.1. With this update, we've added a Mounting test and added information about Subwoofer Output, Spotify Connect, and Microphone Mute. The Sony SA-SW5 is built with modern technology. It includes a separate Notch Edge and magnetic circuit. It powers and enables the device to produce low-frequency sounds.

The Sony HT-A7000 is the flagship Sony soundbar and I wanted to test it on its own before hooking up optional components. Because the HT-A7000 handles the flaming-hot Dolby Atmos surround-sound format, I threw a lot of Atmos-encoded movies and music at it, while also using it for normal TV and music, most of which was not made for Atmos or Sony 360 Reality Audio. This design and shape match Sony’s speakers and home theater systems. That’s because all their sound devices are designed with this shape in mind.

I have many Sony products, from the AV amp, 4k BluRay and turntable, and even an Xperia 1III mobile which can play high-res spacial audio via Tidal over LDAC, therefore I wanted the Sony Soundbar as I felt it would play nice with the rest of the kit. Fortunately, it did work with everything, including the AV amp with turntable and FM radio. I connected the 3.5mm audio cable from the headphone out on the AV amp to the analog input on the soundbar. Swapping to Blade Runner 2049 in Dolby Atmos, we skip to where K meets the memory-maker Dr Ana Stelline. As the atmosphere in her hermetically sealed chamber transitions from rainforest to laboratory, the shift in the scale of the space that the A9 produces is effective. The sound fills our listening room nicely, and while we don’t get the sense that there are 12 sound sources in the room, there are no prominent gaps in the soundfield. In terms of stereo imaging and soundstage, there’s a lot to like about the HT-A7000 - it’s a very musically talented soundbar. Testing out some 360 Reality Audio music, you get a real room-filling sound with a clear idea of where all the instruments are located. 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.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. Final thoughts: I ended up returning the SW3 and keeping the SW5 because I liked it’s sound profile more. But is the SW5 really better than the SW3? Not really, I think both subs have their strengths in different areas. The SW3 would be great for apartment-dwellers, or anyone with sensitive neighbors. Even at low volumes, the SW3 provided me with an exciting movie/gaming experience with it’s punchy mid-bass. The SW5 really shines when you turn up the volume enough to make use of it’s passive radiator and send deep detailed bass notes throughout your room. You can manually adjust those settings for yourself in the simple UI Sony provides, but most folks should be fine with just the automatic calibration.

It may be just one unit but the HT-A7000 is an incredibly weighty 8.7kg and, at 8cm high, it’s taller than most, only just sneaking under the Sony A80J OLED TV that we test it with. Setting up the SA-SW5 is a breeze, thanks to its wireless connectivity. Simply connect it to your audio system using Bluetooth or Wi-Fi, and you're good to go. This wireless feature not only reduces cable clutter but also provides the flexibility to place the subwoofer anywhere in the room for optimal bass response. This is particularly useful if you have limited space or if you prefer a clean and minimalist setup. Many home cinema enthusiasts feel that the sonic trade-offs of a soundbar are simply too significant for them to be worth considering. Still, the impracticality of a full system, especially in smaller homes or for those with children, makes them prohibitive to most people. Both options rely on fairly strict placement to create a ‘sweet spot’ for listening, which is often frustratingly narrow, and in the case of soundbars, front-heavy with inadequate rear speakers that often seem tagged on as an afterthought. The Sony SA-SW5 300W easily outmatches its competitors when it comes to sound quality. It offers an experience with immersive and blowing bass experience. If you are not satisfied with your soundbar or home theater, give the subwoofer a try. It makes any song much more enjoyable. Thus, it is the perfect device for parties, weddings, and other such events. Another critical component we mentioned in Sony SA-SW5 300W wireless subwoofer is the separated notch edge. It enhances vertical amplitude symmetry, allowing the device to offer clear quality.The most significant benefit of its 300W is the clear and authentic sound. You can easily listen and understand every sound as it does not have distortion. What more could a music lover ask for? 3. Upgrade your Sony Soundbar 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. We’ve known for years that getting a full surround sound effect from a soundbar has been, well, difficult. As more manufacturers have figured out how to do it thanks to room calibration features, we’re now at the point where we’re seeing the same thing happen with upfiring Atmos speakers. They’re good - but they’re just not the same as discrete speakers. 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.