If you’ve ever wanted a Dolby Atmos-style soundbar experience for your phone, laptop or tablet, then Sony has the product for you – but be prepared to shell out big bucks for it.
The Japanese tech giant is introducing the Sony HT-AX7 to its home entertainment portfolio. It’s a Bluetooth-enabled “portable cinema system” consisting of three speakers, with its own custom 360° spatial sound mapping technology.
The main speaker is designed to sit in front of you, while the two smaller portable speakers can be placed on either side to ensure sound is projected in multiple directions. It only comes in a gray colourway, but the design is refined and would blend in with many rooms.
The speaker fabric is made from 100% recycled PET bottles and the packaging is plastic-free.
You might be wondering why you can’t just use standard Bluetooth speakers instead. Well, Sony’s audio system analyzes sound and separates it into different components. It then redistributes them to create a more immersive experience, even with audio that only has two channels like YouTube videos.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
It comes with 30 hours of battery life, and the speakers are lightweight and fit in your hand, so they can be placed in many different positions. However, there are no straps or magnets to attach them securely to surfaces.
I went along with the HT-AX7, listening to a live concert video of Harry Styles on YouTube in an outdoor setting and a clip from No Time To Die inside. In the first demo I felt like I was part of the crowd – and even the insane traffic of Euston Road didn’t detract from the music.
Inside, the audio was even more impressive. The gunshots in the movie clips seemed to reverberate around the room, and the cars driving by had that totally immersive feel I’d get from a soundbar with Dolby Atmos.
Spatial sound can be turned off, so you can also use the speakers for things like parties, with sound evenly distributed across every component.
The Sony HT-AX7 is compatible with the Sony Home Entertainment Connect app, available on iOS and Android. You can use it to control power and playback, and change night mode audio and voice mode presets – although there are no customizable EQ sliders for the device.
Hannah Cowton / Foundry
While this is all really impressive, there is one big problem with this product: the price.
Sony has confirmed that the HT-AX7 will cost $499/£499/$550. And it doesn’t have any physical ports like HDMI, optical, or 3.5mm jack to connect it to anything that doesn’t have Bluetooth.
Realistically, everyone who watches TV shows and movies on laptops and phones is most likely the ones who can’t splurge on a TV and home entertainment system, so it’s hard to see at who exactly this product is intended for.
Maybe if you don’t have a second TV and you’re watching content in another room, this might come in handy. However, it seems extremely expensive for what it is.
The Sony HT-AX7 will hit stores in August in the UK, with a US release date to be confirmed. In the meantime, you can take a look at our tables of the best soundbars and the best Bluetooth speakers.
