Sony Electronics new HT-A3000 soundbar features 3.1 channels, three front speakers including a dedicated center speaker for clear dialogue, and a built-in dual subwoofer for deep bass. Coupled with Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround technology, the A3000 creates multiple levels of virtual surround sound depending on the content and the speaker configuration that users can conveniently configure at any moment, including to support movies with soundtracks in Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
The Sony HT-A3000 soundbar also gives access to Sony's own 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology when connecting the soundbar to Sony's wireless rear speakers, such as the newly launched, SA-RS5 and SA-RS3S. With 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology, users can feel sound from every direction and distance. Sound Field Optimization uses the built-in microphones to ingeniously measure the relative height and position of the soundbar and rear speakers and then creates multiple phantom speakers by synthesizing sound waves based on positional information.
Adding an optional subwoofer that handles low frequencies allows the system to reproduce sound with greater impact and power than before and Sony offers two different models to complement the HT-A3000 soundbar. Users can add the SA-SW5 subwoofer with 300W of deep, rich bass from a 7" driver with passive radiator or, opt for the SA-SW3 subwoofer with 200W of sound from a compact bass reflex subwoofer with a 6" driver.
To take the home cinema experience to new heights, users can also add the SA-RS5 wireless rear speakers with a total 180W of wider surround sound. Featuring up-firing speakers, the SA-RS5 speakers are able to create richer and more immersive 360 Spatial Sound. Sold in pairs with built-in battery power or, opt for the SA-RS3S wireless rear speakers with a total 100W.
The HT-A3000 soundbar allows for an enhanced home cinema experience by pairing with compatible Sony Bravia XR TVs, using the Acoustic Center Sync feature, to make the TV speakers act as a center channel. Action and sound become precisely aligned, creating complete immersion, with dialogue coming from exactly where the character is standing in the scene. Additionally, Acoustic Center Sync works together with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping set up to deliver clearer dialogue and a more immersive viewing experience than ever before.
With the Sony HT-A3000, users can also have improved music listening sessions. The soundbar even supports Sony's own 360 Reality Audio with content available and streamed from Amazon Music HD, nugs.net and TIDAL. The HT-A3000 also offers easy access to popular music services from the built-in Wi-Fi +, or using Chromecast, Spotify Connect or Apple AirPlay 2, as well as stream wirelessly from a smartphone or other devices with Bluetooth technology, with support for AAC and LDAC codecs.
The HT-A3000 also features DSEE Extreme, which uses its own built-in AI-based processor for real-time upconversion from compressed digital music formats. And the soundbar works with Google-assistant enabled devices with Chromecast built-in, or Amazon Alexa enabled devices.
In terms of design, the new Sony HT-A3000 soundbar and the optional speakers have a common Omnidirectional Block concept with rounded edges, while the combination of rich material textures emphasizes an affinity with any living room environment.
In terms of connectivity, the HT-A3000 soundbar is an interesting music center by itself. It connects to the TV using the HDMI eARC connection, with USB and optical in available for external sources, as well as HDMI out (eARC) and S-CENTER OUT for compatible BRAVIA XR TVs. Using the HDMI eARC connector, users will be able to receive Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Dual mono, DTS, DTS HD High Resolution Audio, DTS HD Master Audio, DTS ES, DTS 96/24, DTS:X, LPCM 2ch/5.1ch/7.1ch, and 24-bit/192kHz LPCM. The Optical Input supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Dual mono, DTS, LPCM 2ch, and LPCM up to 24-bit/48kHz, and finally the USB interface offers support for DSD (.dsf / .dff ), DSD Fs 5.6MHz, WAV, FLAC, ALAC, AAC and all other standard formats.
The Sony HT-A3000 Soundbar has a suggested retail price of $699.99, the SA-RS5 wireless rear speakers have a suggested retail price of $599.99, and the SA-RS3S wireless rear speakers have a suggested retail price of $349.99. All should be available from October 2022, depending on the region.
www.sony.com
