Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5: A Simpler Way to Get Better TV Sound

Sony has released a soundbar called the BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (model HT-B500) that aims to give you noticeably better sound from your television without requiring a complicated installation. It includes a separate wireless speaker for deep bass tones and supports advanced audio formats that most streaming services are beginning to offer.

What You Get

The system comes in three pieces: the main soundbar that sits under or near your TV, a wireless subwoofer (a box that produces bass), and a remote control.

The soundbar uses a 3.1 channel setup. This is audio terminology for how the sound is separated into different directions. The main bar handles three channels: one for the left side, one for the center (especially important for hearing dialogue clearly), and one for the right side. The separate subwoofer takes care of all the low-frequency rumbling and thumping sounds you feel more than hear.

Because the subwoofer is wireless, you don't have to run cables across your living room. That's a practical advantage for most people setting up the system at home.

Audio Formats and Height Effects

The Theater Bar 5 supports something called Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. These are newer audio technologies that try to create a sense of height — as if sounds are coming from above you. Movie theaters have been using this for years.

Here's how it works: traditional surround sound comes at you from the sides and front. Atmos-enabled content adds information about sounds that should feel higher up, as if they're coming from the ceiling. This matters in action scenes where a helicopter flies overhead or rain feels like it's falling around you from all directions.

The catch is that this soundbar doesn't have physical speakers pointing upward. Instead, it uses a computational trick — processing algorithms that fool your ears into perceiving height through the speakers it does have. Think of it like the difference between looking at a photograph of a landscape and standing in front of the actual landscape: the photo creates an illusion of depth, but it's not quite the same as being there. It works well enough for most people, and it costs considerably less than adding ceiling speakers.

The system also handles older audio formats like standard stereo and Dolby Digital, so it will work with broadcast television, streaming services, and older films on disc.

Connecting and Controlling It

You can connect your phone or tablet to the soundbar wirelessly via Bluetooth to play music. This means it doubles as a standalone speaker for your home, not just a television audio upgrade.

Sony provides a smartphone app that walks you through the setup step by step. This reflects a shift across the home audio industry toward making installation easier for people who aren't audio enthusiasts. A traditional infrared remote is also included, so you can control it the conventional way if you prefer.

Power Use

The system uses 30 watts of electricity during normal operation — quite modest for a home audio device. Sony manufactures different versions for different regions: some operate on 120-volt power (found in North America), while others use 220-240 volts (found in Europe, Asia, and most other parts of the world). Both versions handle both 50Hz and 60Hz electrical frequencies, making them compatible worldwide.

Why This Matters

The soundbar market has become crowded, with Samsung, LG, Yamaha, and others offering similar products at similar prices. The real differences between them come down to how well they're built, how good they actually sound once you're using them, and whether the virtual height effects feel convincing. We have seen this pattern play out before when flat-screen televisions first became the standard — suddenly people needed external speakers because the TVs themselves got thinner and thinner, leaving no room for decent speakers inside.

The 3.1 channel setup is a practical compromise. A simpler 2.1 system (two main channels plus bass) is cheaper but gives you less clear dialogue. A full 5.1 or 7.1 system (with extra speakers for the sides and rear) delivers more immersive sound but requires more speakers, more cables, and more cost. The 3.1 sits in the middle.

Sony's emphasis on app-based setup also reflects a broader industry shift: as these devices connect to the internet and collect data about how people use them, simpler installation means fewer customers calling for help and fewer returned products.

From covering home audio for thirty years, I can tell you that soundbar buyers consistently choose solutions that give them noticeably better sound without hassle. The Theater Bar 5's wireless subwoofer, virtual height processing, and guided setup represent current best practices for hitting that balance. Whether it succeeds in the market will depend more on how well it actually performs — the audio quality, the build durability, and how convincing those virtual height effects feel — than on whether it has all the right features on a spec sheet.

If you're currently using only your television's built-in speakers, this system should provide a substantial upgrade in hearing dialogue clearly and feeling bass. If you already own a basic soundbar, you'd want to think carefully about whether the extra center channel and height effects are worth the additional cost for your particular needs and budget.