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Soundbar
With less pressure and expectation placed upon them, middle children are often those most likely to succeed and outshine their siblings as the brightest of the bunch.
Occasionally we find the same to be true in AV, with cheaper models delivering a better value performance than pricier products; but typically it’s the flagship that reigns supreme with the best features, build and tech that a brand has to offer. Which can sometimes make it difficult for mid-range models such as Sony’s HT-A5000 to stand out.
Originally priced at £899, the A5000 is the middle model of the brand’s premium A range with 5.1.2 channels of Dolby Atmos/DTS:X sound in a single soundbar with HDMI 2.1 passthrough. Above it sits the HT-A7000 (£1299), offering 7.1.2 channels and an additional HDMI input, while below it is the HT-A3000 (£429) with 3.1 channels and nocan be added to the range, the 300W SA-SW5, and the 200W SA-SW3. There are also two surround speaker models to choose from for the A5000, the SA-RS3S speakers with front-facing drivers, and the SA-RS5, which also has upward-firing drivers. The price point of the A5000 is comparable with that of the Sonos Arc, which casts a long shadow in the Dolby Atmos soundbar market.
