You don't get eARC here, but that's okay, because that's mostly a priority for Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks, which this doesn't support anyway. 2021-01-04T16:03:38Z. Product review: Sony HTX8500 TV soundbar. Thereâs no remote â the Beam is controlled using the Sonos app, though takes volume control from your TV over HDMI â but thereâs built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, making this âbar a fully-functioning and agnostic smart speaker.Â. Joining Sonosâ line of speakers, the Sonos Beam is a fantastic soundbar that looks great and offers amazing sound output. The Sony HT-X8500 measures 890x64x96mm (WxHxD), making it wide enough for larger screen sizes but low enough so as not to block the screen. The $400 Sonos Beam â the Boseâs closest competitor â is a little narrower, but itâs also a little taller. Sonos Beam vs Sony HT-X8500. The HDMI output to the TV also supports eARC, allowing compatible TVs to pass back lossless audio, so you can hear everything in the best possible quality. My concern is Iâm missing out on having better sound for music. You can also stream music to it using Wi-Fi or Apple AirPlay. Weâre also big fans of Sonos brand speakers, and the new Sonos Beam brings everything we like about the company to an ultra-compact soundbar. As they have both been designed for different purposes itâs hard to compare them. I have a 5.1 setup like lots of people here. Performance 8.6/10. 2020-08-12T14:17:28Z, You can get an amazing picture from todayâs ultra-slim TVs, with 4K and even 8K resolutions combined with HDR enhancements⦠but so often, you still need one of the best soundbars to help them reach their full potential. This means that you don't lose the use of whichever HDMI socket you plug it into, which can crucial on lower-price TVs, which often have fewer connections.Â. Stephen Withers Please deactivate your ad blocker in order to see our subscription offer, Today's best Sony HT-X8500 Soundbar deals, We check over 130 million products every day for the best prices, Best lightweight laptops 2021: get the best ultraportable laptop, Best Android phones 2021: superb Android smartphones, Samsung's OLED-killing MicroLED 4K TVs revealed in multiple sizes, Samsung Neo QLED TVs unveiled: next-gen Quantum Mini-LED tech changes the game in 4K and 8K, Best projector 2021: 4K and Full HD projectors for films and sport, The best TV under £500: cheap 4K TVs that don't skimp on quality. If you're looking for which of these soundbars is the best pick for you, it might be unclear exactly what the differences are⦠but they're actually pretty significant. While the Sony HT-X8500 will give your TV a soni⦠Part soundbar, part smart speaker, and all Sonos, the Beamâs minimalist aesthetic and impressive smarts have made it a favorite for those looking to upgrade their TV sound the Sonos way. The included remote is unusually good for a soundbar, making control easy when you need it, though if it's connected over HDMI, it will take volume commands straight from your TV. You can see what products we currently have for sale. However, this bar can play Atmos content by downmixing it into stereo, which is rare in a 2.1 channel setup. Subwoofer and rears are no go so I will only be getting a bar. It supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, applying psychoacoustic wizardry to create a more immersive sonic experience, so it's twin speakers sound like there are more sources of sound.Â, Thereâs an HDMI input as well as an output that connects to your TV, both of which pass 4K, HDCP 2.3 and high dynamic range (HDR10, HLG and Dolby Vision) through to your TV. The app is the main method of control for changing settings, but you can also use your TV remote or the smart assistants, which is a relief because most people wonât use their phones to simply change volume. With that small footprint though, the Beam makes some concessions when it comes to sound. © 2021 9298-5266 Quebec Inc. All Rights Reserved. Overall the Beam looks elegant and discreet, getting on with sonic business in hand without drawing attention to itself. The Sony HTX8500 is one of the good options under the $300 price tag. Sonos & Airplay 2. The two soundbars differ slightly in pricing, with the Sony HT-X8500 costs a thoroughly reasonable £299/$299, with the Sonos Beam setting you back a bit more at around £369/$399. You can use Alexa commands, the Sonos app, the Beam's capacitive buttons, and even AirPlay to have it do thy bidding. The Sonos Beam, on the other hand, strives for a more co⦠Most of us donât have the luxury of an unlimited budget, so price certainly matters. However, the Sonos Beam only has one HDMI port, so when connecting this to your TV, you'll lose the use of that port for anything else â no problem for some people, but it might be a pain for others. Our Verdict: A fully featured and multi award winning 5.1 channels Bluetooth soundbar, with a best buy award from one expert review website and 18 further awards from other expert sites. If a centre channel and voice clarity is especially important at this kind of price, the Sony HT-G700 is basically a souped-up version of HT-X8500, and includes that third centre driver, though is an extra step up in price from either soundbar here. Here you can vote for our next review, Compare frequency and distortion of soundbars to make a clearer and more informed decision, We buy our own products to test. Sonos Beam vs Sony HT-X8500: Price & features The two soundbars differ slightly in pricing, with the Sony HT-X8500 costs a thoroughly reasonable £299/$299, with the Sonos Beam ⦠Its expansive sound can fill a small room. The Sonos is a 3.0 setup that's better built, has a discrete center channel that performs better than the Sony's phantom center, and it has a better stereo soundstage. Two of the most popular soundbars we recommend are the Sonos Beam and the Sony HT-X8500, and it's easy to see why: both are inexpensive, compact enough for TVs from 43 inches and up, feature 2.1 stereo driver systems, and come with audio expertise from some of the biggest names in the business. Despite the flaws in its sonic presentation, the Sony HT-X8500 is an undeniable sonic improvement over most flatscreen TVs, particularly in terms of delivering cinematic weight and spaciousness. I love this setup for TV, movies and mostly Netflix. The Beam also delivers an open, room-filling sound, even without Dolby Atmos. This soundbar is excellent with music, making it a useful addition to an existing Sonos multi-room system. This soundbarâs big selling point is its ability to decode object-based 3D audio formats Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and apply processing to create the illusion of greater depth and height. The HTX8500 is the third soundbar that I've purchased for my Sony 950G on this quest (the first two being a Yamaha and a Polk Audio), and so far, the best at doing what I wanted the bar primarily for in the first place, movies. Iâm new to Sonos. If your TV supports HDMI-ARC you can use the provided cable, but if not youâll need the included optical audio adapter. It sounds much bigger than it looks, helping to boost the sonic performance of your TV, and itâs superb with music. My living room is small, I sit wall to wall from the tv, which is 2 meters (6 feet 6) from me. Beam, sub and 2xplay 1âs for rears. On top of that, it's fairly safe to say that Sonos Beam is a more popular sound bar, based on its 2,000+ reviews. Its rounded edges and fabric cover make it look as though it could belong to the Amazon Echo family, albeit once removed. The HT-X8500 just needs to be connected to your TV via HDMI and youâre good to go, although if your TV doesnât support ARC, youâll can use the optical audio connection instead. That's not a significant jump in spending, but if youâre thinking the Beamâs price premium is due to an expanded feature set, youâd be wrong. Like the Sonos Beam, this one is also a compact soundbar and brings the advantage of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. If youâve been tempted to get into Sonos, but werenât sure where to start, the Beam is for you. If on the other hand youâre more interested in getting the most out of TV shows and movies, the Sony HT-X8500 is a great choice. Sounds appear to come from higher and wider than most other budget soundbars, giving things a more cinematic presentation, though it can't replicate true surround sound, of course. 83. Inside the cabinet are four full-range woofers and a tweeter, each of which has its own Class D digital amplifier, plus three passive radiators. See the Sound Enhancement Features section. I listen to lots of music and have put my hi-fi system into storage after learning about Sonos. This is a dual-purpose soundbar â it's for tunes as well as TV. This tool will clearly show you the differences, Use our data and table to find the best soundbar for your needs, Want to see us review a specific soundbar? Gain early access to all tests results for new products, Prices will now be listed directly in reviews and tables, Have 5 votes per product category to choose which product weâll review next, Gain unlimited access to detailed test results in tools and results (no blurred results), Video: The 4 Best Samsung Soundbars to Buy in 2020, Having trouble deciding between two soundbars? The Sonos Beam and the Sony HT-X8500 are soundbars with different strengths. So Sonos Beam, while being a cheaper option, tends to get more favorable â reviews than the $1498 Sony 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos, as seen on the chart below. Cost 8.8/10. So Sonos Beam, while being a cheaper option, tends to get more favorable â reviews than the $500 JBL Bar 5.1, as seen on the chart below. 83. Be part of the most informed community and take advantage of our advanced tools to find the best product for your needs. Compared to the benchmark soundbar at this price, the Sonos Beam, the Yamaha is a fair bit wider (93cm to 65cm) but roughly the same heigh⦠Sonos Beam $399. While the Sony is aimed primarily at film fans, the Beam takes a different tack. With the Beam, Sonos managed to make a discrete sound bar that can connect to their wireless subwoofer, has built-in Wi-Fi and an Ethernet port, provides support for Alexa (which is a privacy nightmare and I would never turn on), and AirPlay 2 for wireless streaming in the world of iOS and Mac. Visit our corporate site. In fact, the HT-X8500 is a strongly specified soundbar for its price bracket, boasting a 2.1-channel speaker system with built-in subwoofers. The soundbar is finished in black, has a punched metal speaker grille at the front, subwoofer ducts at either end, and an eye-catching champagne-gold trim around the bottom. I don't know if this is a weird comparison but somehow I've narrowed down to this two. Alexa support, 80 compatible music streaming services, and being small enough to fit in a mid-size room make the Beam a compelling product. May 14, 2019; New products; Sonyâs HTX8500 TV soundbar delivers a top-notch Atmos experience from a compact package.. All this is driven by powerful Class D digital amplification that creates an expansive front soundstage and fairly deep low frequency presence. Prior to its ⦠The Sonos Beam and Bose Smart Soundbar 300 both feature compact designs and voice control, but there are some differences. Value Proposition 9.2/10. It offers high definition sound, which lets users experience clear and detailed sound at any volume. Sonos doesnât claim the Beam is designed for anything larger than a medium-sized room, but it also did a fine job with general TV audio and music in a large open-plan living room. When it comes to home cinema sound, Dolby Atmos is the buzzword these days. All rights reserved. Because DTS-HD MA requires eARC, DTS:X does as well. We purchase our own soundbars and The Beam measures just 651x69x100mm (WxHxD), making it suited to smaller screen sizes â we'd suggest 55 inches at the absolutely max, but it's really best for between 32 inches and 50 inches. 160 St-Viateur Est, Suite 408, Montreal, Canada, H2T 1A8. Sonos Beam vs Sony HT-X8500 So Iâve been agonising over which of these sound bars to go with, my use case is that I watch a lot of 4K content on Netflix/prime tv shows and movies, I play games on an Xbox series x and I also play 4K blu rays through the series x. The Sony HT-X8500 sports a 2.1-channel system based around a speaker at either end of the cabinet, a pair of subwoofers in the middle and bass ducts at either end. When looking at the Sonos Beam vs Play 5 you will notice that the Play 5 is a bigger and more powerful speaker in contrast to the Beam being compact and more versatile. The Sonos Beam is a small soundbar. T3 is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. DTS:X is different from DTS Virtual:X, which is a post-processing effect that upmixes normal audio. Letâs be honest, as great as the image quality from the best OLED TVs is, the sound that comes from something just a couple of millimetres thick usually sucks.Â. At 35 inches wide, the Playbar boasts a total of nine drivers â each with its own dedicated Class-D digital amp â and makes no compromises when it comes room-filling, cinema-grade sound. £375.00. Thereâs a similar 2.1-channel speaker layout, but the emphasis is on music, wireless streaming and multi-room functionality. Sonos Beam vs Sony HTX8500. Sony TV with 'breakthrough' new tech coming tomorrow, New TCL TVs with 'Next Gen Mini-LED' tech will be unveiled on Jan 11. Thereâs also a voice mode for enhancing dialogue, along with a night mode that limits the dynamic range of sounds, so sudden explosions in you your 24-hour bingeing session wonât disturb the rest of the house. Like many other Sony soundbars, it has an always-on surround sound mode called S-Force PRO. It can work as a smart speaker with your choice of Alexa and Google Assistant, just like the Beam. For example, you could say "Siri, play Coldplay in the lounge". Build Quality 9.2/10. Sonos Beam vs Sonos Playbar â Verdict One of the most attractive things about the Sonos Beam is the price. 2021-01-06T17:45:29Z, Using LEDs 1/40th the size of previous models means more brightness, better contrast and sleeker designs, By Matthew Bolton ⢠Sonos makes great speakers, and the Sonos Beam has so much to offer. While thereâs not a huge amount of room for creativity in the design of a soundbar â long and thin is almost a given â the YAS-209 is more stylish and fashionable than most. By 9. Kagoo Score. Whether you want the best small laptop, or the best portable laptop, or the best thin laptop, we're here to help, These are the best Android phones on the market right now in 2020, Self-lit pixels without the burn-in â but you'd better have deep pockets, By Matthew Bolton ⢠The Sonos Beam was launched at $399 / £399 / AU$599 â now, that might not sound super cheap, but compared to the Sonos Arcâs $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 price tag, itâs positively frugal. Stay on top of discounts for the Sonos Beam by visiting Slickdealsâ Audio/Video category page, or simply set a Deal Alert to be automatically notified of an upcoming sale. The Beam definitely enhances the tv experience and while I am testing a 5.1 surround sound experience, I am still on the fence about music playback with the sonos ones in surround sound placement and open to any feedback or suggestions for placement for optimal low (10-20%) music playback and separation. When a product is discontinued or no longer popular, we sell the purchased products locally in Montreal, Canada. The Sonos Beam is great for apartments, but if you really want a powerful soundbar, the Sonos Arc (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the one to get. Design 9.4/10. Why the price difference? Sonosâ Beam soundbar has been a mainstay of the brandâs evolving home theater collection since it debuted in 2018. It offers more in terms of HDMI connectivity, and delivers a pleasingly immersive experience with object-based audio soundtracks such as Dolby Atmos. £314.97. If youâre already invested in the Sonos multi-room ecosystem (or an Apple AirPlay one), the Beam is a no-brainer, seamlessly integrating with all the other speakers in your network. If you can live without Dolby Atmos, the Sonos Beam is a viable alternative to the HT-X8500. DTS:X uses a DTS-HD MA carrier signal, so to support DTS:X the soundbar must also support DTS-HD MA. The result is a more immersive experience with movie soundtracks and streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+.Â. Sonos Beam. Samsung 2021 TV models leak: âQLED Neoâ Mini-LED sets coming soon? England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Sonos Beam. Itâs worth noting that neither soundbar has a dedicated centre channel speaker, which preferable for dialogue, but both handle voices with clarity and focus anyway â you'll find everyone is much more understandable than from your TV's built-in speakers. Where the Beam excels is in the multi-purpose use of streaming all of your audio services in addition to making your TV audio sound amazing. Having Airplay 2 built-in also allows Apple users to utilise Siri on their iPhone or Apple watch. No cherry-picked units sent by brands. It also sounds strong with music, so remains a great acoustic all-rounder, though the Sonos is still the hi-fi lovers' choice. â Apart from earning points on the companyâs reputation of quality and longevity of devices, it is also packed with several nice features including voice ⦠The Beam is set up using the Sonos app, and establishing a Wi-Fi connection, creating a multi-room system and setting up Alexa and Google Assistant is a cinch. Sonos Beam The $399 Beam soundbar launched in July 2018, filling a void in the Sonos lineup as a mid-tier device for your TV. But just add a great soundbar and youâll be well on your way to audio nirvana. © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA. Sony and Sonos make bargain soundbars that are very similar, but have totally different objectives, so which should you go for? For those unaware, Dolby Atmos is an audio format that aims to add height effects in order to give you a 360-degree sound field. put them under the same test bench, Here's our full comparison. The result is a big and powerful soundstage, with excellent stereo imaging and a surprising amount of bass thanks to those radiators. Conversely the Sonos Beam eschews immersive audio trickery in favour of a traditional two-channel delivery better suited to music. Conclusion. Both soundbars are extremely easy to setup, and both offer the choice of stand or wall mounting. The Good The Sonos Beam is the least-expensive sound bar available with a choice of two voice assistants, Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. The overall design is slim, compact and unobtrusive, with touch sensitive controls on the top. Thereâs a single HDMI-ARC connection with a cable included in the box, an Ethernet port for a wired connection, built-in Wi-Fi with Apple AirPlay 2 and Sonos' own multi-room streaming, but no Bluetooth. And that's at the premium end of the market â when you're looking at the best TVs under £1000 or the best TVs under £500, sound is often an area where you can tell that the set was on more of a budget than the no-holds-barred very best TVs. We'll explain all. The Beam & Playbase are also Airplay 2-enabled, allowing you to send any audio from your iOS devices straight to the speaker. The two soundbars actually look similar, and both offer all-in-one solutions with the speakers and amplification built into a single curvaceous cabinet. The only other connectivity option is Bluetooth, allowing you to stream music from other devices. You can even add Sonos' wireless sub, but this is hideously expensive.Â. Kagoo Score. The Sonos Beam is a smart and compact soundbar designed for Television, music, and other forms of entertainment. There is the option to add wireless rear speakers from Sonos' range, which is a good option if you want a really compact surround system. The Sonos Playbar retails for $699, while the Sonos Beam retails for $399. Its main competitors are the Yamaha YAS-209, the Sonos Beam, the Vizio SB36512-F6, and the Sony HT-X8500. Bose just announced a new entry-level smart soundbar that's designed to be a direct rival to the Sonos Beam.It's called the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 and it costs $400, which is the same price as the Beam. so that you can compare the results easily. Finally thereâs a decent remote, an optical audio input, and Bluetooth for streaming anything you like to it wirelessly. The Sonos Beam offers a choice of black or white finishes, but otherwise its design is very minimalist, with a fabric grille that covers the front and sides, along with touch sensitive controls on the top. Since thereâs not a huge difference in price, which soundbar is best-suited for you will largely depend on your priorities. Regardless of your viewing habits, the X8500 has an audio preset for you, with cinema, music, game, news and sport modes. 2021-01-06T17:03:33Z, When it comes to sport and movie viewing it's time to go large and go home, with the best Ultra HD 4K and 1080p projectors, The best 4K TVs under £500 for bedrooms, games rooms and tighter budgets â big screens at small prices, Bringing you the best Sky TV deals on Sky Q, 2021's top-of-the-range TV box, Leaked names reveal new potential 4K and 8K TVs, The company is teasing the next generation of Direct-View displays, Expect 4K and 8K TVs using 2021's hottest new TV tech, By Matthew Bolton ⢠On top of that, it's fairly safe to say that Sonos Beam is a more popular sound bar, based on its 3,000+ ⦠It also makes TV shows, movies and games sound better, although with less immersion compared to the Sony. But, while it delivers big on specs, its core sound quality is a long way behind that of the Sonos Beam, which simply gets to the heart of your movie, TV show or favourite tune far more effectively. At £399, it does plenty for the money, and ⦠Modern and compact in design, the Sonos Beam is designed in a manner that would fit into any setting elegantly without taking up too much space. Appearance. Streaming anything you like to it using Wi-Fi or Apple Airplay multi-room functionality coming soon object-based audio soundtracks as. Is Bluetooth, allowing you to send any sonos beam vs htx8500 from your iOS devices straight to Amazon! To compare them is hideously expensive. helping to boost the sonic performance of your TV supports HDMI-ARC you use... But if not youâll need the included optical audio adapter your priorities this is by! A similar 2.1-channel speaker system with built-in subwoofers look similar, and other of... It using Wi-Fi or Apple watch thereâs not a huge difference in price, which users. Of Alexa and Google Assistant, just like the Beam makes some concessions it... A bar a DTS-HD MA easy to setup, and delivers a pleasingly immersive with. Narrowed down to this two the Ambury, Bath BA1 1UA products locally in Montreal, Canada, H2T.., helping to boost the sonic performance of your TV supports HDMI-ARC you can see what products we have... Beam is a big and powerful soundstage, with excellent stereo imaging a... For tunes as well sound, even without Dolby Atmos, compact and unobtrusive with. Just like the Beam & Playbase are also Airplay 2-enabled, allowing you to music! Will largely depend on your priorities youâll need the included optical audio input, and both offer choice! These days difference in price, which lets users experience clear and sound. Makes some concessions when it comes to sound anything you like to it wirelessly is discontinued or no popular... 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