Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9

Name: Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9
Brand: Sony
SKU: 72168

Manufacturer: Sony

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 is a wide-format soundbar measuring 1300 mm across and weighing 5500 g, designed to deliver 7 channels of sound output through a single unit. It includes a remote control and an on-device control panel, and supports Spotify Connect for direct streaming without a separate app. AirPlay is also built in, giving users a straightforward way to send audio from compatible devices.

On the connectivity side, the bar features a single HDMI 2.1 port with both ARC and eARC support, along with Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) and Bluetooth 5.2. Codec support spans aptX, aptX Adaptive, and AAC for Bluetooth audio, while the format side covers Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus. There is no AUX input, S/PDIF output, or Ethernet port, and NFC pairing is not available.

Pros

Supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus, covering a wide range of surround sound formats
Seven channels of sound output from a single soundbar unit
Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX, aptX Adaptive, and AAC codec support offers flexible wireless audio quality
Wi-Fi 6 compatibility ensures a fast and stable wireless connection
Both AirPlay and Spotify Connect are available for direct streaming without extra hardware
HDMI 2.1 with both ARC and eARC support provides a future-ready connection to compatible displays

Cons

No dedicated smartphone app for configuration or control
Remote control is not rechargeable, requiring disposable batteries
No AUX input, S/PDIF output, or Ethernet port limits wired connectivity options
Does not support Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri and Apple HomeKit, ruling out voice control entirely
NFC pairing is absent, requiring manual Bluetooth setup
No Chromecast built-in, which may affect users within a Google ecosystem

Who is this for?

This soundbar is well suited to home theater setups where Dolby Atmos and DTS:X content is a regular part of the viewing experience, particularly in living rooms built around a large display with an eARC-capable HDMI connection. Users who stream music directly through AirPlay or Spotify Connect without relying on voice assistants will find the wireless feature set practical and straightforward. The seven-channel output and broad codec support also make it a strong fit for those who prioritize audio format versatility from a single bar unit.

Who is this NOT for?

Users who rely heavily on voice assistant integration — whether through Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri and Apple HomeKit — will find this unit incompatible with those ecosystems entirely. It is also a poor match for those invested in a Google Chromecast workflow, as built-in Chromecast is absent. Additionally, anyone expecting to control the soundbar through a dedicated smartphone app or manage settings remotely will be limited to the physical control panel and a standard non-rechargeable remote.

Audio:

number of channels of sound output	7
has aptX	✓
has aptX Adaptive	✓
has AAC	✓

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 delivers audio through 7 channels of sound output, providing a wide spatial spread across a single bar unit. For Bluetooth audio, it supports aptX and aptX Adaptive codecs alongside AAC, covering a range of wireless streaming quality levels from standard to adaptive bitrate transmission.

Features:

HDMI ARC / eARC	HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC
compatible with Google Assistant	✕
works with Alexa	✕
has Spotify Connect	✓
has Dolby Atmos	✓
has DTS:X	✓
has Chromecast built-in	✕
works with Siri/Apple HomeKit	✕
has AirPlay	✓
supports Dolby Digital Plus	✓
supports Dolby Digital	✓
supports Bluetooth pairing using NFC	✕

The Bravia Theater Bar 9 supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Digital for a broad range of surround sound formats, and its HDMI connection carries both ARC and eARC signaling. Streaming options include Spotify Connect and AirPlay, allowing audio to be sent directly from compatible devices without additional hardware. Chromecast built-in is not present, and the unit does not work with Google Assistant, Alexa, or Siri and Apple HomeKit. NFC pairing for Bluetooth is also not supported.

Connectivity:

has an AUX input	✕
HDMI ports	1
has an HDMI output	✓
HDMI version	HDMI 2.1
Bluetooth version	5.2
Has Bluetooth	✓
supports Wi-Fi	✓
Wi-Fi version	Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n)
RJ45 ports	0
has a microphone input	✕
Has S/PDIF Out port	✕

The Bravia Theater Bar 9 includes a single HDMI 2.1 output and no additional HDMI ports, with no AUX input, S/PDIF output, microphone input, or Ethernet connection. Wireless connectivity covers Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax), Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), and Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n), alongside Bluetooth 5.2 for cable-free audio pairing.

General info:

volume	9401.6 cm³
has voice commands	✕
control panel placed on a device	✓
has a remote control	✓
has a rechargeable remote control	✕
Has a dedicated smartphone app	✕
thickness	64 mm
weight	5500 g
width	1300 mm
height	113 mm

The Bravia Theater Bar 9 measures 1300 mm wide, 113 mm tall, and 64 mm thick, with a total volume of 9401.6 cm³ and a weight of 5500 g. It includes an on-device control panel and a standard remote control, though the remote is not rechargeable. Voice commands and a dedicated smartphone app are not available, and control is limited to the physical panel and remote.

Final Verdict

The Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9 is a feature-complete soundbar that delivers on audio format breadth, supporting Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, Dolby Digital, and Dolby Digital Plus through seven channels in a single wide-profile unit. Its HDMI 2.1 with eARC, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.2 with aptX Adaptive make it technically well-equipped for modern home theater use, and the inclusion of both AirPlay and Spotify Connect adds genuine streaming flexibility. Where it falls short is in ecosystem compatibility — the absence of voice assistant support and Chromecast narrows its appeal for users tied to those platforms. For those whose setup does not depend on smart home integration, the Bravia Theater Bar 9 presents a technically solid choice in the soundbar category.