Sony Announces Fall Availability for Latest Home Theater Gear

Sony added to its home theater lineup Tuesday, announcing the HT-A9 home theater system ($1,799) and the flagship HT-A7000 sound bar ($1,299), both due to ship in the September-October time frame. The HT-A9 includes Sony’s Spatial Sound Mapping technology, which uses dual mics in each speaker to measure height and position and then create “phantom” speakers by synthesizing sound waves based on position information, said the company. The four-speaker A9 supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive sound formats. A wireless subwoofer such as the SA-SW3 $399 or $699 SA-SW5, due in fall, is optional. The A7000 sound bar, also supporting Atmos and DTS:X, is a 7.1.2-channel system with two upfiring speakers for overhead sound. The sound bar features voice activation and works with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.