Sony Bravia Theatre Quad Surround Sound Review

Verdict

This all-in-one Dolby Atmos home cinema sound system is a virtual triumph for Sony

Introduction

Expanding its Bravia home cinema line-up, the Bravia Theatre Quad is a compact four piece active speaker system that brings home the big screen bacon far more effectively than you might imagine, given its size.

The system, comprising four lookalike wireless speakers and a central control box system, is positioned as a replacement for both soundbars and AV receiver based systems.

Effectively an update on Sony’s HT-A9 speaker package, it uses 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, along with Soundfield Optimisation and Monopole Synthesis, to create an immersive listening environment from just four speakers.

But can virtually positioned height speakers really be as effective as old fashioned physical enclosures? I extricated the Bravia Theatre Quad system from its (surprisingly compact) shipping box to find out…

Availability

Available now, a Sony Bravia Theatre Quad system could be yours for £2,499 in the UK, or $2,500 in the US and €2699 in Europe. In Australia, you can pick one up for AUS$3699. Hardly a budget option then, but given there’s no other components required to get you up and running, it’s not fiercely overpriced.

Design

• Slim, wireless enclosures
• Separate control box

The four Quad speakers are relatively unassuming. Measuring just 275 x 289 x 55mm, they ask only to be positioned squarely in each corner of your room. The system doesn’t ship with a subwoofer, but Sony offers compatible wireless models, specifically the SA-SW3 and the SA-SW5, if you want to be guaranteed low end wobbles (more on this anon).

Look closely and you’ll see the speakers feature both forward facing and up-firing height drivers. Each enclosure is clearly marked for left, right and rear duties and comes with a simple stand that screws into the base; this can also double as a wall fixing. There’s no dedicated centre speaker. A wireless control box acts as the system hub.

The system ships with a basic remote control. This has Input, Soundfield selection and Voice/Night presets, plus volume and bass level adjustment.

Remember, you’ll need a nearby power point for each of the four speakers and the control box.

Features

• 360 Spatial Sound Mapping
• Acoustic Centre Sync
• Dolby Atmos & DTS: X support
• Cumulative power output 504W

Power output is rated at a cumulative 504W. In my typical living room there was plenty of volume on offer.

Connectivity comprises one HDMI eARC connection, and one HDMI input. Clearly this box isn’t intended for those with a myriad of AV sources. Once you’ve used up your allocation of TV inputs, and the bonus port provided on the control box, you’re done. Wireless connectivity covers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.

Codec support covers Dolby Atmos, DTS:X and PCM, as well as 360 Reality Audio encodes. There’s also IMAX Enhanced certification, plus two channel upmixing. The latter works surprisingly well, producing a convincing multichannel sound mix from two channel stereo sources.

Installation is a doodle, just place and calibrate. Sound Field Optimization compensates for any imbalances that might occur if you can’t park all four speakers in their ideal position.

For owners of Bravia tellies, there’s an additional nicety. Acoustic Centre Sync can be used to enlist the TV’s own speaker array as the centre in your surround sound layout, creating a genuine left/ centre/ right array. You’ll need to cable the control box to the TV, using a 3.5mm jack, for this.

Sound Quality

• Dolby Atmos compatible
• Credible immersive experience
• Decent bass from small boxes

The Bravia Theatre Quad system is a brilliant alternative to a full-blown home cinema system, and blows the average soundbar out of the water.

Each compact speaker cabinet houses four drivers: a tweeter, midrange cone, X-balanced woofer and X-balanced up-firing height driver. With two speakers located to the front, and two to the rear, the system uses Sound Field Optimisation to create phantom speakers required for an immersive Dolby Atmos listening experience.

The system works amazingly well with big blockbusters. The precision of its spatial steering, as demonstrated by the Sandworm attack sequence from Dune, is superb. Panning around the soundfield is seamless, while frantic dialogue is locked dead centre. 

When I first hear Godzilla roar in Godzilla Minus One (Netflix), initially from the rear and then across the entire front soundstage, the noise is epic. Big G engulfs the soundstage. He then stomps cleanly to the rear left, and as our pilot looks up in fear, the rumble of the beast audibly passes overhead.

The system excels with musical content encoded in Dolby Atmos, and there’s not a better demo than Illumination’s homage to Thriller, via its Sing universe of characters. The craft and ingenuity of the sound design is a delight, and this theatre system pulls you right into the mix.

When the main Thriller dance routine begins, there’s tangible heft to the beat, all the while remaining crisp and overtly musical.

Arguably the most impressive trick performed by the Bravia Theatre Quad system is its ability to create a fully convincing, phantom centre channel. It does a brilliant job pinpointing details across the front soundstage, be it fully left, half left, centre, half right or fully right.

Perhaps the biggest concern when shelling out for this system is bass performance. Given the price tag, many might expect a wireless sub to be included. So how low does it go? Surprisingly deep, actually…

While I fully expected mid-bass to peter out around 80Hz, the system was measured down to 50Hz, with some murmurs below that. Impressive by any standard.

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