When it comes to home audio, any family does invest a lot for a good TV but usually disregard a sound system to pair with it. That’s because of they often relly with the TV speakers for everything, which isn’t the best experience if you want to watch movies like in the cinema.
That’s why Sony have soundbar products, like this MT-HT500 which is a wireless subwoofer soundbar. It’s to complete the cinematic experience without the large multi-speaker systems that we are used to before.
To be honest, I’ve been used to long format soundbars and this one is a lot smaller…around 50% smaller than my JBL SB200 speakers. But not to be underestimated as Sony is a reputable brand for sounds.
Our review unit also comes with a Sony X80E series TV which is the latest Android TV and 4K resolution screen. This is to completely experience the Sony music experience.
Here is the product video to see more details
This is what the soundbar looks like, not even 3/4 of a 46″ TV, so the size is small and compact. The speaker and subwoofer have separate power sources and the subwoofer is wireless, meaning you can even put it underneath your sofa or bed for better bass effect.
At the back, you have an analog insert, optical, Ethernet LAN, power supply and HDMI out for the TV communication. It also comes with its own remote and the body is wrapped in plastic and faux leather.
The subwoofer is DTS digital surround, Hi-Res Audio, and Dolby digital certified, just some worth considering for such an investment for a home entertainment system. The unit comes with options for Bluetooth audio, wireless streaming like Spotify, NFC and of course TV source.
A home screen for the soundbar is available to tweak the settings, you can cast videos and audio from apps like Youtube, Spotify, Netflix and more. What’s good for both device is that it is available for Google Cast.
But what’s the sound quality?
One of our main source of testing the unit immediately was Bluetooth, overall the music quality via Spotify high-quality audio is suspected to be right. The soundbar produces a surround sound-like effect, which gives a room with a size of 40sqm no problem.
Treble is clear, mids are prominent while the bass doesn’t overshadow the vocals. That’s only for Bluetooth streamed audio, overall performance improved when we used Google Chromecast to play Spotify music or youtube videos, ah the bandwidth is bigger.
Watching videos on a 4K screen is also enjoyable, too bad that it’s not 120hz to see the major difference in smoothness. But overall photo contrast, color, and even detail are really spot-on. What’s good to this setup is that the TV is now an Android TV, so Sony had an ingenious way to add a microphone to the remote. So, voice commands are easy for a fast google search on even youtube or others.
Other things to consider
One problem I encountered using the system is neither the connection or power requirement, but more of the structural status of our house. Our house is made of wood with some age in it…already vulnerable to rattling sounds when the volume is too loud.
Unfortunately, we have no ways of restructuring our house so make sure you’re the house is fitted not to rattle such as loose wood fixtures or even nails are intact so that less vibration is felt the cause of your sound system. Trust us, it’s really annoying to hear the 2nd-floor rattling when someone is watching.
Overall, watching or even just listening using the MT-HT500 is a great multimedia centerpiece for your home. It has the latest connectivity, admirable sounds and great quality of display from the X800E series.
The MT-HT500 is available for Php29,990, definitely, this sound bar is an investment for anyone’s house that needs a modern touch. Sound quality wise, it’s more than average and even convenient with the touch of being wireless for the subwoofer, distortion on loud volumes is not a problem as in our experience reaching 90% volume and above is already unpleasant for the ears.
So if you need a small subwoofer that is serious about sounds and aesthetics, it’s worth considering this one and especially if you already have a Sony TV to complete the whole eco-system experience.
