Sony Audio 2026: New Theatre Bar 7 and Bar 5 and accessories announced

After the announcement of Sony's 2026 televisions that we described, it's time for the audio segment! You may not find original reviews of this type of equipment on our site (yet), but it's worth knowing what new features the Japanese manufacturer is introducing; after all, let's not forget – this is additional equipment for the television! 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 bar, nine speakers

Let's start with a model that is supposed to be an "all-in-one" solution. Bar 7 is a construction based on nine speakers that Sony has packed into a single, quite slim housing. The key here are the upward and side-facing drivers – they "shoot" sound at the ceiling and walls to reflect it and trick your ears into thinking the sound is coming from the sides of the couch.

The entire system is supported by software called 360 Spatial Sound Mapping, which simply recalibrates the signal so that these nine speakers mimic a much larger setup. Importantly, the soundbar has built-in microphones for sound calibration. Thanks to them, the device automatically adjusts the power of the speakers so that the center of the stage is always where you are sitting.

Sony BRAVIA Theatre Bar 5

For those looking for something simpler, the Bar 5 model has been prepared. It is a classic 3.1 setup that already includes a wireless subwoofer in the package. The biggest advantage of this model is the physical center channel – it is responsible for making the voices of the actors clear and not blending with the music or explosions.

Although we won't find physical speakers playing up into 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 built-in speakers in a standard TV 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 has two speakers with a diameter of 200 mm positioned back-to-back. This design means that when one diaphragm moves in one direction, the other does the same in the opposite. As a result, you get a powerful low bass impact while the subwoofer itself remains still and does not cause everything around to rattle.

If you are looking for something cheaper, there is the Sub 8 – it is a classic design with one 200 mm speaker that provides a solid dose of bass, although without advanced vibration cancellation technology.

Rear 9 Speakers

The Rear 9 speakers complement the whole system, solving the problem of the "flat" sound coming from the back. They are equipped with 80-millimeter ceiling-facing speakers. Instead of just hearing footsteps behind you, you will actually feel like rain or other passing objects are "falling" on you from above.

Sony also strongly emphasizes collaboration with its televisions through the Voice Zoom 3 feature. This is an algorithm based on artificial intelligence that recognizes human speech and allows it to be amplified independently of the rest of the sound track. Importantly, the entire setup and daily settings can now be managed from the app on your phone, which is much more convenient than navigating through the TV menu with the remote.

Overview of Sony Audio New Releases 2026

The Japanese this year once again focused on modularity. Instead of forcing us to buy ready-made sets, they offer 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.