Sony HT-ST5000

Sony’s First Dolby Atmos Soundbar Is Worth Digging Deep for, if You Love Action Movies and High-res Audio

If you’re going to pony up the best part of £1,500 for a soundbar it had better be darn special. Happily, Sony’s HT-ST5000 is a serious performer.

A full-width (1.18m) offering, it’s best partnered with 55-inch plus screens. In addition to Dolby Atmos compatibility, it offers 24-bit high-res audio support and DSD playback. It comes with a smartly designed wireless subwoofer.

The finish is fittingly premium. The bar’s fabric cover is removable, so you can admire the high-end drivers. Two matching coaxial speakers with gold-rimmed tweeters sit left and right, while a less-golden coaxial driver flanked by a quartet of mid-rangers take centre stage. Top mounted, behind metal grilles, hide upfiring Dolby-enabled speakers for Atmos and Surround duties. Sony describes the configuration as 7.1.2.