Sony’s new HT-S400 soundbar promises to bring “cinematic surround sound” to your living room for just £260
Looking to get a bit of extra juice from your TV speakers without breaking the bank? Sony’s new budget soundbar from its 2022 audio line-up might be the solution.
Image: Sony
The competitive sub-$500 soundbar market now has a new contender as Sony is releasing an HT-S400 soundbar that promises to deliver “virtual surround sound” for £260 / $300.
- READ MORE: Gear Of The Year: Best soundbar of 2021
Unveiled from Sony’s 2022 audio lineup, the HT-S400 is a 2.1-channel system comprising one soundbar with two channels and a wireless subwoofer. When combined, the system offers a total power output of 330W, which is fairly powerful for its class.
While it does not come with the premium Dolby Atmos immersive audio format, the soundbar features Sony’s S-Force PRO Front Surround technology which allows it to emulate cinema style surround sound. Sony says that by using front speakers only, the “digital sound field processing technology virtually reproduces the surround sound field, with audio coming at you from both sides.”
In addition, the HT-S400 offers a choice of sound settings to suit whatever you’re watching or listening to. There’s Voice mode for clearer dialogue, Night mode for when you want to watch TV without waking the house, and Sound Field, which converts conventional soundtracks such as stereo audio into a surround sound experience.
Users who own one of the newer Sony Bravia TVs can enjoy extra features like settings integration and full wireless audio support for a clutter-free setup. You can check whether your TV is supported here.
Available in April 2022, the HT-S400 is a solid contender if you’re looking to get a bit of extra juice for your home theatre setup without breaking the bank.
