Sony Audio 2026: New soundbars Theatre Bar 7 and Bar 5, as well as accessories

After our announcement of Sony TVs for 2026, it's time for the audio segment! On our website (not yet), you may not find original reviews of this type of equipment, but it's worth knowing what's new from the Japanese manufacturer. After all, let’s not forget – it's additional equipment for the TV! Sony has prepared two new soundbars and three accessories to complement the entire Theatre series for us this year.

Sony BRAVIA Theatre Bar 7: One soundbar, nine speakers

Let’s start with the model that’s meant to be an all-in-one solution. Bar 7 is built around nine speakers that Sony has packed into a fairly slim housing. The key here are the drivers that are angled upwards and sideways – they “fire” sound at the ceiling and walls to bounce it back and trick your ears into thinking the sound is coming from the sides of the couch.

The whole setup is supported by software called 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, which simply recalculates the signal so that these nine speakers emulate a much larger system. Importantly, the soundbar has built-in microphones for sound calibration. Thanks to them, the equipment will automatically adjust the power of the speakers so that the centre of the soundstage is always where you are seated.

Sony BRAVIA Theatre Bar 5

For those looking for something simpler, the Bar 5 model has been prepared. It's a classic 3.1 layout which already includes a wireless subwoofer. The greatest advantage of this model is the physical centre channel – it ensures that the voices of the actors are clear and do not blend with the music or explosions.

Although we won't find any physical speakers playing in the ceiling like in the higher model, the sound processor tries to simulate height using mathematical algorithms. There are no miracles, but it's still a leap of light years compared to what the speakers built into a standard television offer.

Subwoofers Sub 9 and Sub 8

However, if you want the set to really “blow your mind”, the bar is just the beginning of the fun. Sony has released accessories this year that you can add to your existing soundbars.

The flagship subwoofer Theatre Sub 9 features two 200 mm speakers positioned back to back. This design means that when one diaphragm pushes in one direction, the other does the same in the opposite direction. As a result, you get a powerful low bass punch, while the subwoofer itself remains stationary and doesn't cause everything around it to buzz.

If you’re looking for something cheaper, there’s the Sub 8 – a classic design with a single 200 mm speaker that delivers a solid dose of low frequencies, though without advanced vibration dampening technology.

Rear 9 Speakers

Completing the whole setup are the Rear 9 speakers, which solve the problem of the "flat" sound coming from behind. They are equipped with 80-millimetre speakers angled towards the ceiling. Instead of just hearing footsteps behind you, you’ll actually feel like rain or other flying objects are "falling" on you from above.

Sony is also heavily investing in collaboration with its TVs through the Voice Zoom 3 feature. This is an algorithm based on artificial intelligence that recognises human speech and allows you to amplify it independently of the rest of the audio track. Importantly, all configurations and daily settings can now be managed from within an app on your phone, which is significantly more convenient than navigating through the TV's menu with a remote.

Overview of Sony Audio News 2026

The Japanese, once again this year, focused on modularity. Instead of forcing us to buy ready-made sets, they provide a base in the form of the Bar, Sub, or Rear series, which we can expand depending on how much space we have and how thick our wallet is.