HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar with Powerful Wireless subwoofer, S-Force PRO Front Surround Sound, and Dolby Digital, Black

$228, Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar with Powerful Wireless subwoofer, S-Force PRO Front Surround Sound, and Dolby Digital, Black Pros: - Decent bass and separate adjustability for the bass - ARC connectivity integrates well with Sony TV; Cable NOT included -- Sony TV remote controls the system audio; no programming needed; be sure to set the TV to external audio -- Has Optical inputs in case I ever need it - Volume goes from 0 to 100 - White LED is not overly bright - Bluetooth connectivity is straight forward - Came with Batteries for the remote Cons: - Model has been around since 2022 and does not include eARC, but you won't need it with only 2.1 channels - Fairly steep price for limited capability such as lack of surround sound I'm connecting to a 2010 Sony Bravia 1080 TV with ARC connectivity. Sounds decent with streaming services via Playstation 4. Bluetooth connects easily and sound reasonable. I don't pay for the upgraded streaming plans, so no point in paying extra money to get Dolby Digital Plus (or 4K). But, surround sound features can be had from other manufactures at this price point. This sounds punchier and fuller than my 2010 Polk Audio Surroundbar 3000, which is still going strong. If this system can last 15 years, then I feel I will have gotten my money's worth. Try to get it on sale; don't may over $228

After using the basic little speakers on my Sony Bravia TV for quite some time this was a very welcome upgrade. It works very well for my small bedroom gaming/movie watching set up, just the right size. Sound quality is awesome especially with the quality sub woofer that comes along with the bar. Very easy to setup basically plug and play. I'd recommend it to a person whose looking for quality that isn't really expensive

Lacks top end clarity, but, mids and bottom end are not harsh, but warm toned. It was initially purchased for the living room as an alternative to the center channel speaker in my surround sound but, it lacked the top end clarity I was hoping would separate it from my Bose center channel. It didn’t. So I bought and Onn 5.1 surround system at Walmart, and it sounds so good, I actually took my theater system down for it, instead. The Sony is in my bedroom because I don’t often watch tv there.

Fantastic soundbar and subwoofer for the price. Works extremely well with our TV and other devices.

I love this sound bar. I have it hooked up to a Sony tv using an HDMI ARC cable and the compatibility is amazing. One of the things I looked for in a sound bar is clear audios, especially for movies that the music overpowers the dialogue. There are times where it feels like the sound is a little cheap but I want to blame that more on what I’m watching/playing. Otherwise, the sound is so crisp my neighbors could watch my TV from my window and still hear everything if I have it loud enough. I’ve only had an issue with connectivity once but it was an easy fix once you get to know the system; a short nuisance if anything. I barely use the remote control since I control everything from my TV remote, but I do find it nice that I can use the sound bar remote to adjust the bass. I did get the speaker on sale, but I feel like it’s been worth every penny so far.

Sony looses its reputation with me after 15 years of preferring their products. The software running this sound bar is based on windows 8.1 and is out of support. Sony no longer offers updates and any issues will not be addressed. As well, you cannot update online. You need a usb drive and have to move the sound bar from its mounting or placement to get to the back of it and install the one and only "out of date" update available from the Sony website. That said, the unit performs poorly because it turns off randomly during use. If connected using eARC, it turns off your TV too....right in the middle of shows, movies, whenever. Solutions offered by Sony blame this on hdmi cables and power problems, but addressing these do not fix the problem. New hdmi cables fail and a fiber optic cable performs better because only the sound bar goes off. This may seem like a minor issue, but is very annoying especially during intense times in shows and movies because the mood is lost. It then takes a few seconds to turn off before it can be manually turned on again. Sometimes this happens once a day, and other times it happens multiple times an hour. I thought matching a tv and sound bar brand would be a perfect setup, but further research using a reputable ratings organization online showed that there are better and cheaper sound bar options available. Think twice before choosing this product. UPDATE: It has been 2 years and still no solution to the random power cycling. After acting up multiple times a day a couple weeks ago I pulled the plug and bought a new "not-a-Sony" sound bar. I have been using the new sound bar for a week with no power cycling issues - NONE! Thought I would move this old sound bar to a small tv in the bedroom and more issues! First, all settings on this product require a combination of button presses on the sound bar and/or remote control while you read the huge map-like instructions. There is no app or screen settings, all done manually with results showing on the tiny scrolling single line screen on the sound bar. So resetting and configuring for an optical sound out connection (old tv with no HDMI out for sound) took over an hour - ARGH! Also, there is an issue now with the power button failing on the remote as mentioned in other reviews. Had to get up out of bed to turn it off last night, and it was so warm under the covers. I hate to say this, but seems like this sound bar keeps getting closer and closer to the recycle bin.

Very pleased with product and price. Sound is wonderful.

I recently purchased the Sony HT-S400 soundbar to replace my old Sony soundbar, which had started to experience issues with low volume playback. Overall, I am pleased with the upgrade, as the HT-S400 offers significantly better sound quality and bass. However, there are a couple of minor drawbacks that I would like to highlight. Let's start with the positives. The sound quality produced by this soundbar is impressive. Whether I'm watching movies, listening to music, or playing games, the audio is clear, immersive, and rich in detail. The bass response is particularly noteworthy, delivering deep and powerful lows that enhance the overall listening experience. Additionally, the build quality of the product is excellent, reflecting Sony's commitment to durability and aesthetics. However, there is one recurring issue that I've noticed with this soundbar, which is similar to my previous Sony model. When the volume is set at a low level, the sound tends to shake or become distorted. It's unfortunate that Sony hasn't been able to perfect this aspect, as it can be a bit frustrating when trying to enjoy quieter moments in movies or music. Nevertheless, if you primarily listen to audio at moderate to high volumes, this issue is unlikely to be a significant concern. Another aspect worth mentioning is the Bluetooth range of the soundbar. While it works flawlessly within a reasonable proximity, I have experienced some skipping and interruptions when I move too far away in my 500 sq foot studio. It would have been preferable if the Bluetooth range was more extensive, allowing for seamless connectivity throughout the entire space. However, this limitation can be easily mitigated by keeping your device closer to the soundbar. In conclusion, the Sony HT-S400 soundbar offers excellent sound quality, impressive bass, and a solid build. Despite some drawbacks related to low volume performance and Bluetooth range, I am overall pleased with the product. If you primarily use the soundbar at moderate to high volumes and don't require long-range Bluetooth connectivity, this is a great choice for enhancing your audio experience. Sony has almost perfected the product, and with a few minor improvements, it could easily become a top-tier soundbar in its category.