NEWS: Sony launches HT-G700 Dolby Atmos soundbar

Early thoughts about the HT-G700 are that it sounds great, but... I'm yet to notice any kind of vertical sound space. Don't get me wrong, the horizontal space is great and the sound is crisp and not muddy at the bottom end like you get with cheaper subwoofers, but don't leap in to buy this if the chief reason is the supposed overhead Atmos effect. I need to do some more research on that I think.
 
Early thoughts about the HT-G700 are that it sounds great, but... I'm yet to notice any kind of vertical sound space. Don't get me wrong, the horizontal space is great and the sound is crisp and not muddy at the bottom end like you get with cheaper subwoofers, but don't leap in to buy this if the chief reason is the supposed overhead Atmos effect. I need to do some more research on that I think.

That's not so good - the few reviews I have seen say that Sony's Vertical Surround Engine do a good job of creating a wall of sound.

Let's face it that is this bars main selling point and if it isn't up to scratch then it's left looking seriously overpriced. Hopefully a bit of tweaking and playing different content you will be able to get some more joy out of it.
 
Early thoughts about the HT-G700 are that it sounds great, but... I'm yet to notice any kind of vertical sound space. Don't get me wrong, the horizontal space is great and the sound is crisp and not muddy at the bottom end like you get with cheaper subwoofers, but don't leap in to buy this if the chief reason is the supposed overhead Atmos effect. I need to do some more research on that I think.
Cheers for that mate, would you say it’s worth the money as a budget sound bar, or is there a better one you know of thats a similar price? Also do you know how it compares against the ZF9 at all As thats the other I was considering about purchasing

Still surprised there’s hardly any reviews on this
 
I'm currently on live chat with a Sony "specialist" who is talking nonsense. I've requested that he/she finds someone who knows what they are talking about and they've gone away to ask.

It sounds brilliant, but I suspect that other non-Atmos bars would sound brilliant too. I could have spent £200 less and had similar results as far as I can tell at the moment, so I'm hoping for guidance from Sony.
 
So, a bit of progress. Will try again later, but discovered "immersive AE" setting which is where the clever stuff is meant to happen. Definitely a far more "spacious" feel to the sound without making it overly echoey or odd. Had a listen to a few minutes of Infinity War and Ready Player One - both with Atmos soundtracks - and there's a whole lot more depth with Immersive AE turned on. Will watch a film later and see how it all feels.
 
OK. Breakthrough moment. Noticed soundbar was telling me "LPCM" when I played a Dolby Atmos enabled film. Went into settings on TV and set the Audio out to HDMI ARC and, crucially, it would appear, format to Passthrough as it was set to PCM. Now when I play Dolby Atmos enabled films, the soundbar tells me it is receiving Dolby Audio and there is a significant difference. Watched the Avengers Endgame final fightscene just now and there's a lot more depth and even height to the sound stage. It's not going to be as good as upward-firing speakers, of course, but then again it's pretty bloody impressive considering what it's using to produce the sound.
 
OK. Breakthrough moment. Noticed soundbar was telling me "LPCM" when I played a Dolby Atmos enabled film. Went into settings on TV and set the Audio out to HDMI ARC and, crucially, it would appear, format to Passthrough as it was set to PCM. Now when I play Dolby Atmos enabled films, the soundbar tells me it is receiving Dolby Audio and there is a significant difference. Watched the Avengers Endgame final fightscene just now and there's a lot more depth and even height to the sound stage. It's not going to be as good as upward-firing speakers, of course, but then again it's pretty bloody impressive considering what it's using to produce the sound.
Is this a product you’d recommend now it’s sorted or you still got more tests to do?
 
Is this a product you’d recommend now it’s sorted or you still got more tests to do?

Wow. Well, I'm not really a massive expert on soundbars. I had a £150 one before and it was ok, but now I hear the Sony one, it's a world of difference to hear the clarity and bass. I would record it on a mobile phone or something but it's just not going to give you any idea of what it *really* sounds like. All I can say is that - only 2 days in - I'm very happy with it. Rear speakers wouldn't work in my setup, so it's probably the best I can do.
 
Anyone have any idea how this compares or what the biggest difference would be between this and the Sony HT-ZF9?
Same question: is this an update of ZF9, an alternative, a substitute or what?
 
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Can you please share your view on speech?

Currently have Canton soundbase, it’s around 5 years old and we often struggle to hear dialogue (despite using the speech mode)
 
Haven't noticed any problem at all with speech. There's a dedicated speech-focused centre speaker(s) on the bar and that has made everything really clear for me. Not even felt we've had to engage dialogue mode at any point yet. Watched an episode of BluePlanet 2 last night and even my non-tech wife remarked how the bass wasn't "boomy" like with the old subwoofer. The low end is there, it's just tight and crisp - really appreciating it.

Watched some of Max Max Fury Road as well with the sound cranked up - was really immersive, loved it.
 
This may not be the best place to post this, but comparing the HTG700 and the HTZF9 one key difference I can see other than WiFi is the 700 has 1 HDMI out (eARC) and 1 HDMI in, whereas the ZF9 has 1 HDMI out (ARC0 and 2 HDMI in

The one thing that has confused me wiht soundbars having not owned any previously is the in/out options, can anyone explain what this actually means?

Also with my current set up Below can anyone say which would be the best
Sony TV
Sky Q
Xbox One X
PS4
 
Haven't noticed any problem at all with speech. There's a dedicated speech-focused centre speaker(s) on the bar and that has made everything really clear for me. Not even felt we've had to engage dialogue mode at any point yet. Watched an episode of BluePlanet 2 last night and even my non-tech wife remarked how the bass wasn't "boomy" like with the old subwoofer. The low end is there, it's just tight and crisp - really appreciating it.

Watched some of Max Max Fury Road as well with the sound cranked up - was really immersive, loved it.

Good to hear your experience is better than before with Atmos and dialogue in viewing (this was a pain point on my old 5.1 system). How is music playback on it generally?
 
Good to hear your experience is better than before with Atmos and dialogue in viewing (this was a pain point on my old 5.1 system). How is music playback on it generally?

Music sounds tremendous to me. Easy to link phone via bluetooth and play music. Bass low and punchy, good dynamic range. Sounds great to me. Very pleased.
 
Music sounds tremendous to me. Easy to link phone via bluetooth and play music. Bass low and punchy, good dynamic range. Sounds great to me. Very pleased.

How good would you say the sub was? I'm a bit wary with Sony home cinema products given my past experience where bass from the subwoofer was rather underwhelming.
 
How good would you say the sub was? I'm a bit wary with Sony home cinema products given my past experience where bass from the subwoofer was rather underwhelming.

I don't know what else to say other than what I already have, sorry. It shakes the floor and I can feel it at 60% volume. It's deep and powerful but not muddy and boomy. I really like the sound - others may find it underwhelming if they're used to Glastonbury-sized speakers ;-)
 
Music sounds tremendous to me. Easy to link phone via bluetooth and play music. Bass low and punchy, good dynamic range. Sounds great to me. Very pleased.
Wtihout bombarding requests at you (sorry!) have you listened to any Sports and which mode have you felt is best? I notcied the HT ZF9 had a dedicated sports button on the remote, but the HG700 doesn’t

Best price I’ve seen is £450 will go with John Lewis as have vouches with them too, I’m about 80-20 going for this model though
 
Wtihout bombarding requests at you (sorry!) have you listened to any Sports and which mode have you felt is best? I notcied the HT ZF9 had a dedicated sports button on the remote, but the HG700 doesn’t

Best price I’ve seen is £450 will go with John Lewis as have vouches with them too, I’m about 80-20 going for this model though
Well, to be honest, what sports are on at the moment to actually watch!? What is it you'd like me to listen for and I can try tracking something down to listen to. I've not used anything much apart from "Cinema" mode to be honest - even when using normal TV. Is there anything specific you'd like me to listen out for when watching sport of some kind?
 
Where did you find it at that price? Most places I can see are still at £449 launch price.

Company called Martin Dawes. £399 and then an extra £25 off with code New25 for signing up to their newsletter.

 
Well, to be honest, what sports are on at the moment to actually watch!? What is it you'd like me to listen for and I can try tracking something down to listen to. I've not used anything much apart from "Cinema" mode to be honest - even when using normal TV. Is there anything specific you'd like me to listen out for when watching sport of some kind?
I was just curious if Sport sounded better on a particular setting seeing as they had taken the Sports option away from the ZF9
 
Mine just arrived today and it does sound really nice but on some Sky channels it sounds a little tinny...

What settings are you using including the SW level?

My only Atmos content is from Netflix currently.
 
I just ordered one. @Eagle2943 it would to good to hear your continuing thoughts on it.
 
Mine just arrived today and it does sound really nice but on some Sky channels it sounds a little tinny...

What settings are you using including the SW level?

My only Atmos content is from Netflix currently.
What have you got the soundbar plugged into? e.g. port type, TV?
 

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