Sony Bravia Theater System 6 ZDNET's key takeaways The Bravia Theater System 6 consists of a center channel soundbar, two rear speakers, and an external subwoofer for $800.
It offers great sound, in-app Bravia audio features, and a simple user experience.
Without Wi-Fi connectivity, many wireless streaming options are unavailable, but the movie and TV watching experience remains unchanged $798 at Walmart $768 at B&H Photo-Video $798 at Crutchfield more buying choices
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A soundbar is a must-have to accompany your TV -- your TV's speakers won't cut it. Even if you think you don't need one, you'll never go back once you get one. Trust me. However, a soundbar only gets better when it has rear speakers and a subwoofer working alongside it. Although some enthusiasts may encourage you to assemble your own home theater, you can buy one in a box.
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You don't need to pay over $1,000 for a decent home theater in a box, although a cheaper system will omit some premium features. A midrange option like Sony's Bravia Theater System 6 is a solid option for people who want to upgrade their TV without going over the top.
The System 6 is not a flagship soundbar, but it's not necessarily for beginners, either. The system consists of a center channel bar, two rear speakers, one external subwoofer, and all the necessary wires and connectivity boxes.
Unlike Sony's flagship Bravia home theater products, the System 6 lacks Wi-Fi connectivity and relies on wired connections for power. The System 6's lack of Wi-Fi means it's incompatible with wireless streaming options like AirPlay, Spotify Connect, or Google Cast.
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Although this system lacks Wi-Fi wireless streaming, Sony fitted it with its Digital Sound Enhancement Engine to enhance the sound quality of compressed audio via Bluetooth streaming.
The System 6 is compatible with wireless streaming via Bluetooth, and the main soundbar includes an optical input for a host of Dolby Digital audio formats. The soundbar's HDMI eARC input is responsible for accessing Dolby Digital audio formats, Dolby Atmos, and DTS:X spatial audio formats.
The System 6's external subwoofer. Jada Jones/ZDNET
Back to the lack of Wi-Fi -- its absence means you'll have to update the System 6 the old-school way. Instead of an in-app, over-the-air update, you'll need to download the software update to a flash drive, plug it into the soundbar, and upload the updated software.
However, if wireless streaming isn't on your list of must-haves, the System 6 performs well at delivering big sound for movie and TV watching. The system's star is the external subwoofer. Once you lug it to your desired location, it brings everything together. The sub is enormous, weighing in at 25 pounds with a 15-inch cabinet.
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The System 6's rear speakers are wired and must be plugged into the included amp box for connectivity. Once everything is plugged in, Sony's Bravia Connect app will help you get the System 6 up and running.
One of the System 6's rear speakers. Jada Jones/ZDNET
The System 6's 10 speaker lineup supports a 5.1 or 7.1-channel configuration, notably without dedicated upfiring speakers. This soundbar supports Sony's virtual surround technology, which is a solid option for people with high ceilings, since upfiring speakers need a ceiling to bounce sound from.
Watching a Monday Night Football game with the System 6 was nothing short of a good time. The subwoofer gets plenty deep, and the main soundbar clearly replicated the announcers' play-by-play commentary. Even better, there was one particularly excited fan in the crowd whose constant cheering from the right rear speaker made me feel like I was in US Bank Stadium with the traveling Atlanta Falcons fans.
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System 6 is compatible with Sony's Night Mode, which decreases bass and clears dialogue at lower volumes, and Voice Mode, which enhances dialogue. Additional dialogue enhancement technology is available to users with select Bravia TVs.
ZDNET's buying advice
At $800, the Sony Bravia Theater System 6 is a capable theater-in-a-box, best suited for people who don't want a system with all of the latest bells and whistles, but still want great performance. It's a bit of a monster to unpack and set up, but once the System 6 is going, it's incredibly straightforward.
The System 6 lacks Wi-Fi; therefore, desirable wireless streaming options aren't available. Still, if you believe soundbars are strictly for watching TV and movies, then the missing Wi-Fi connectivity shouldn't be a pressing issue.
High-performing theaters-in-a-box are typically $200 to $400 more than the System 6, and if you have a compatible Bravia TV, choosing the System 6 is a no-brainer. However, if you want an even higher-performing soundbar, consider the flagship Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9. If permanently wired rear speakers aren't your vibe, but you still want immersive surround sound, consider the JBL Bar 1000MK2.