Sony HT-S400 Soundbar: Is This the Right Soundbar for You?

Investing in a soundbar is the perfect accompaniment to your new television and home entertainment center setup. Sony has been instrumental in designing, developing, and delivering high-quality soundbars for years. The electronics giant continues to enhance the home sound system experience for home entertainment lovers who treasure the sonic experience.

The latest Sony offering, the Sony HT-S400 Soundbar, is on the market, so you might wonder if it is the soundbar for you. Let’s look more closely at Sony’s approach in general and how the HT-S400 reflects that.

The soundbar device contains multiple high-quality and high-volume speakers that you can use with everything from your TV to your computer or mp3 player. It is an external speaker system to amplify another sound-issuing device, first developed in the late 1990s.

The sleek design is part of what makes the soundbar so popular. It projects audio from an enclosure that is far wider than it is tall, which is partially for acoustic reasons. However, the design also makes it possible to mount it above or below the display or primary sound devices, such as your flat-screen television or computer.

With soundbars, the manufacturers place multiple speakers inside of a single cabinet. In contrast, traditional speakers stand on their own around the room but take up more space. Both options allow for a stereo-sound or surround-sound effect, which is what most home entertainment center owners want. Today, manufacturers include a subwoofer to supplement the soundbar’s core capabilities. Units that include a subwoofer are considered hybrids and have become increasingly popular.

The best soundbar ticks all the boxes of what you’re looking for in a sound system. Factors to consider might include:

The main features to consider when searching for a specific soundbar are the widest listening angles and the highest maximum volumes. With this, you can count on the sound reaching all corners of the room, so everyone can hear what is going on, no matter where they are sitting or standing.

It’s also essential for the speech quality to shine through. Modern television sets’ sound systems often garble dialogue, even when you are watching in relative silence. Add in a few guests for a viewing session, and you might have a room full of baffled viewers.

With some ideas in mind about which soundbar strategy works for you, let’s see if the Sony HT-S400 fits the bill.

According to AV Caesar, Sony recently announced the Sony HT-S400 as a basic, entry-level soundbar model, including a Dolby Digital decoder. However, don’t rule it out yet because it also benefits from S-Force Pro Front Surround technology, mimicking a virtual surround system with a simple 2.1 soundbar.

Here are some key audio and video specifications to consider before making your decision:

While the price point on this soundbar is low at around $300, the quality is high enough to satisfy high-end users. In addition, Sony created some clever workarounds to make this unit budget-friendly and space-friendly without sacrificing a high-quality sound experience.

Engadget reports that the HT-S400 isn’t available until April 2022, so you have more time to think about this option, especially compared to brands at similar price points, like Samsung and Vizio.
Ultimately, it seems like Sony’s team put a lot of thought into creating something that more people can afford as an entry point into the soundbar market.

If you want to bolster your home television or music listening experience, the HT-S400 is a great place to start. However, like all home theater devices, soundbars and TVs are vulnerable to damage. Luckily, you can protect your new devices with an Upsie extended television and home entertainment warranty. Upsie’s warranties protect from screen burn-in, connection failures, early wear, and more.

Best of all, Upsie costs up to 70 percent less than warranties from retailers or manufacturers. Customers can purchase an Upsie warranty for TVs bought in the last 11 months and speakers bought in the last 60 days.