Sony Launches $700 Sound Bar With Immersive Audio Technology

Sony’s HT-A3000 sound bar went on presale Tuesday at Amazon and other retailers for $699 and can pair with existing SA-RS5 ($599) or SA-RS3S ($349) wireless rear speakers, the company said. The HT-A3000, a 3.1-channel sound bar with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding, has three front speakers, a dedicated one for dialogue and a built-in subwoofer for bass. The sound bar has Sony’s Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force Pro front surround technology and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping that creates multiple phantom speakers so users feel immersed in the sound anywhere in the room, Sony said. It works with Google Assistant-enabled devices with Chromecast built-in or Amazon Alexa-enabled devices. Users can play music on the sound bar using Bluetooth, Chromecast, Spotify Connect or Apple AirPlay 2.