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Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 vs Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 HT-S60

Buy the Bar 9 if you want the best single-box sound and a clean wall-mounted setup. It has 13 speaker units, 360 Spatial Sound Mapping and room calibration, and it passes 8K HDR and 4K120 to your TV. Buy the Theater System 6 if you want real rear speakers and a separate subwoofer for a true 5.1 layout. Owners rate both well, but the Bar 9 scores slightly higher and needs no subwoofer or rear speaker placement.

  • Choose the Bravia Theatre Bar 9 if you want one bar under the TV with the widest soundstage and the fewest boxes and cables.
  • Choose the Theater System 6 if you want dedicated rear speakers and a powered subwoofer for deeper bass and true surround.

Prices

  • Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9: $1,498.00 at Abt Electronics & Appliances (last seen Nov 5)
  • Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 HT-S60: $476.95 at AV Shack (checked today)
  • Difference: the Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 HT-S60 is $1,021.05 cheaper than the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 at the latest prices (Nov 5 and Nov 9)
Sony
Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9
4.4(74 ratings)
$1,498.00at Abt Electronics & AppliancesObserved Nov 5, 2026, 11:00 AM
See all prices and details
Visit Abt Electronics & Appliances
Pros
  • Wide, room-filling sound from a single bar
  • Auto-calibrates to the room
  • Full HDMI 2.1 passthrough for consoles and 8K sources
  • AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect and LDAC
  • Clean wall-mount install
Cons
  • No subwoofer in the box, so deep bass is limited
  • Rear effects are simulated, not physical
  • Subwoofer and rear speakers cost extra
Sony
Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 5.1ch Soundbar, HT-S60

Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 HT-S60

Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 5.1ch Soundbar, HT-S60

4.3(37 ratings)
$476.95at AV ShackObserved at 12:30 PM
See all prices and details
Visit AV Shack
Pros
  • Real rear speakers and a powered subwoofer
  • Strong bass from the included sub
  • True 5.1 channel separation
  • Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
  • Simple eARC hookup to the TV
Cons
  • No HDMI inputs or video passthrough
  • No room calibration
  • Rear speakers and sub need placement and power
  • Bluetooth codecs limited to SBC and AAC

What separates them

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 HT-S60
Speaker layout13 units in one bar, including up-firing, side-firing and beam tweeters10 units across a bar, subwoofer and two rear speakers
BassBar woofers only; a subwoofer is sold separatelyPowered subwoofer included
Surround realism360 Spatial Sound Mapping creates phantom speakers from one barPhysical rear speakers behind the listener
Room calibrationSound Field Optimization auto-calibrates to the roomNo room calibration listed
HDMI passthrough8K HDR, 4K120, VRR, ALLM, Dolby VisioneARC/ARC output only, no HDMI inputs
StreamingAirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, LDAC BluetoothBluetooth 5.3 with SBC and AAC only
Setup footprintOne bar, wall-mountableBar plus subwoofer and two rear speakers to place and power
Owner rating4.4 out of 5 from 74 ratings4.3 out of 5 from 37 ratings

Price history

$1,529.99$648.00
Nov 3Nov 9
  • Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9: lowest $1,498.00 on Nov 5 at Best Buy; $1,529.99 on Nov 9.
  • Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 HT-S60: lowest $648.00 on Nov 3 at B&H Photo-Video-Audio; $648.00 on Nov 9.

Prices at every store

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9

  • eBayNew

    Availability unknownSold by electronic_express (99.7% positive, 252,600 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $1,498.00Free shippingObserved at 12:30 PM
    Visit eBay
  • WalmartNew

    Availability unknown

    $1,498.00Observed Nov 5, 2026, 11:00 AM
    Visit Walmart
  • CrutchfieldNew

    Availability unknown

    $1,498.00Observed Nov 5, 2026, 11:00 AM
    Visit Crutchfield
  • Abt Electronics & AppliancesNew

    Availability unknown

    $1,498.00Observed Nov 5, 2026, 11:00 AM
    Visit Abt Electronics & Appliances

Also available at

  • eBayCheck price at eBay

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All 13 stores and price history →

Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 HT-S60

  • AV ShackNew

    In stockShips from India · priced in INR (₹44,800.00) · duties may applyReturn policy

    $476.95Observed at 12:30 PM
    Visit AV Shack
  • Abt ElectronicsNew

    In stock

    $648.00Free shippingVerified
    Visit Abt Electronics
  • NeweggNew

    In stock

    $648.00Free shippingVerified
    Visit Newegg
  • eBayNew

    Availability unknownSold by crutchfield_electronics (99.9% positive, 23,400 ratings)Returns: Set by the eBay seller; the eBay Money Back Guarantee covers an item that doesn't arrive or isn't as described.

    $648.00Free shippingObserved at 12:30 PM
    Visit eBay

Also available at

  • WalmartCheck price at Walmart
  • eBayCheck price at eBay

Store links may earn us a commission. Some prices via Klarna.

All 18 stores and price history →

Specs compared

SpecSony Bravia Theatre Bar 9Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 HT-S60
WirelessYesYes
Configuration2 Channel5.1 Channel
ColorBlackBlack
StyleWall MountWall Mount
Dolby Atmos EnabledYesYes
ConnectivityBluetooth, Wi-Fi, USB, HDMI, EthernetBluetooth, HDMI
Max Wattage585 W90 W
BluetoothtrueYes
Bluetooth Version5.2Bluetooth® version: 5.3
Bluetooth CodecsAAC, SBC, LDACSBC,AAC
Battery Life10 hr battery life—
Wi-Fitrue—
Show all 40 specsShow fewer specs
SpecSony Bravia Theatre Bar 9Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 HT-S60
NFCfalse—
Water Resistantfalse—
Number of Speakers In Set1—
AirPlaytrue—
App Controlledtrue—
Rechargeablefalse—
Control Button(s)true—
Channel Configuration13—
HDMI Inputtrue—
HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC)

What reviewers say

Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9

  • 4.4 / 574 ratings

Rated 4.4 out of 5 from 74 ratings. Owners praise the wide, immersive sound and the phantom surround effect from a single bar. The main complaints are the cost of adding a subwoofer and the bar's size.

What people mention
  • SoundstagePraisedOwners say the 360 Spatial Sound Mapping throws sound well beyond the bar's width.
  • DialoguePraisedReviewers report clear center dialogue, especially with a Bravia TV's acoustic center sync.
  • BassMixedThe bar alone has modest low end; deeper bass needs the optional SW3 or SW5 subwoofer.
  • SetupPraisedRoom calibration and app setup are described as quick and straightforward.

Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 HT-S60

  • 4.3 / 537 ratings

Rated 4.3 out of 5 from 37 ratings. Buyers generally like the genuine surround effect from the rear speakers and the clear center-channel dialogue, while the limited HDMI inputs and wired-power rears draw complaints.

What people mention
  • Surround effectPraisedOwners say the separate rear speakers give a real wrap-around effect that virtual bars cannot match.
  • DialoguePraisedThe dedicated center channel is called out for keeping speech clear during loud action scenes.
  • BassPraisedThe powered subwoofer is described as delivering deep, room-filling low end.
  • InputsCriticised
Reviews
  • We tested four premium Dolby Atmos soundbars: can JBL, LG or Sony defeat Sonos?

Questions and answers

Which is better for movies?
The Theater System 6 gives more convincing surround because the rear speakers sit behind you. The Bar 9 wins on dialogue clarity and room calibration, and its phantom speakers come close in a small room.
Do I need a subwoofer with the Bar 9?
It works without one, but bass is modest for action films. Sony sells the SW3 and SW5 subwoofers separately if you want more low end.
Which is easier to set up?
The Bar 9. It is one bar on the wall with a single HDMI cable to the TV. The Theater System 6 needs power and placement for the subwoofer and two rear speakers.
Which is better for gaming?
The Bar 9. It passes 8K HDR and 4K120 with VRR and ALLM, so a console can run through it. The Theater System 6 has no HDMI inputs.
Is the Bar 9 worth stepping up to?
Yes if you want one box, room calibration and HDMI 2.1 passthrough. Skip it if deep bass and real rear speakers matter more, since the Theater System 6 includes both.
Can both pair with a Sony TV?
Yes. Both work with BRAVIA TVs, and the Bar 9 adds TV-menu control and a boosted center channel for dialogue when paired with a compatible BRAVIA set.

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true
—
4K Video Passthroughtrue—
8K Video Passthroughtrue—
Remote Control Includedtrue—
HDR Supporttrue—
Tweeter Size0.4—
Tweeter(s)2 x 0.4" Soft domeTweeter—
Woofer(s)2 x 1 13/16 x 3 5/8" X-Balanced Speaker Unit—
Side-Firing Speakertrue—
Up-Firing Speakertrue—
With Surround Sound—Yes
Special Purpose—Subwoofer
Subwoofer Type—Powered, Studio
Width—3.6 in wide
Main unit size—907 x 64 x 90 mm
Main unit weight—2.6 kg
Subwoofer size—275 x 388 x 388 mm
Subwoofer weight—11.6 kg
Rear speaker size—106 x 216 x 98 mm
Reviewers complain that a single HDMI port forces them to route devices through the TV.