Sony HT-A3000 guide

The Sony HT-A3000 is the most affordable model in its A series lineup, sitting below the HT-A5000 and HT-A7000 - the latter of which impressed us towards the end of 2021.

As impressive as it is, the A7000 will set you back around £1000, making it an unjustifiable expense for a lot of people. The A3000, on the other hand, can be had for around half the price.

Sony HT-A3000 review: A solid, upgradable, one-box solution

BY

LUKE BAKER

PUBLISHED MAR 6, 2023

The Sony HT-A3000 is the most affordable model in the brand's A-series lineup, but can it perform like its pricier siblings? We find out.

The question is, can the more affordable model still deliver the goods when it comes to audio performance?

We've been using it daily for TV and movie watching, music listening and gaming. Here's what we think.

We enjoyed our time testing the Sony HT-A3000. It's feature packed and produces great sound as an all-in-one solution. We just wish that the additional speakers were more affordable, as they greatly enhance the experience.

Sony’s HT-A3000 does virtual Dolby Atmos right, if you can handle the price

Sony’s A-Series of Dolby Atmos home theater soundbars and speakers are impressive, but they also cost a lot, with prices that begin at $1,000. That’s what makes its latest model so interesting. At $700, the HT-A3000 hardly qualifies as cheap, but it’s still the most affordable way to buy a premium Sony soundbar.

CONTENTS

What’s in the box?

Design

Setup, controls, and connections

Sound quality

Expanding via wireless speakers

And it is indeed premium, bring in many of the features that make the A-Series ($1,000 HT-A5000, $1,300 HT-A7000, $1,800 HT-A9) a family to be reckoned with. With AirPlay, Chromecast, hi-res audio, expandability, and advanced compatibility with Sony’s Bravia XR TVs, there’s little these soundbars can’t do.

But bringing the price down to $700 means making cuts in a few areas, most notably the lack of any up-firing drivers to help deliver Dolby Atmos’ signature height-effect sounds.

Sony HT-A3000 review: Good on its own, better with surrounds

Paired with Sony's optional wireless rear speakers and subwoofer, the 3.1-channel HT-A3000 delivers exceptional and immersive sound.

The 3.1-channel Sony HT-A3000 delivers solid Dolby Atmos and DTS:X performance on its own, but it wows when connected to Sony’s optional wireless rear speakers and subwoofers.

The Sony HT-A3000 is a 3.1 setup released in 2022. It's a more affordable alternative to the more premium options in Sony's lineup, like the Sony HT-A5000 and the Sony HT-A7000. Like these other bars, it supports Sony's Virtual Surround Engine and S-Fore Pro Front Surround technologies to create a more immersive listening experience. If you have a compatible BRAVIA TV, you can also use its speakers as an additional center channel via the Acoustic Center Sync feature. That said, the bar doesn't "truly" support more advanced audio formats like Dolby Digital or Dolby Atmos since it has to downmix them into stereo. There's no Sound Field Optimization room correction feature available unless you add on the separate satellites. You can also purchase a compatible subwoofer from the manufacturer to improve its bass reproduction.

When I think of Sony audio components, I think of solid, detailed, and unfussy sound, and that’s what the HT-A3000 soundbar delivers. On its own, the HT-A3000 cranks out impressive Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound, albeit for a lofty $699 price tag. But once paired with an optional wireless speaker kit and subwoofer, the HT-A3000 really begins to sing, making it one of my favorite soundbars yet.