A DETAILED STUDY OF THE SONY HT-S500RF HOME THEATER SYSTEM WITH 5.1 CH SOUND PANEL
TVs are getting thinner and thinner, and the biggest compromise is the sound quality of the built-in speaker. With the thin profile of most modern TVs, the best option is to get two 10-watt step-down speakers. It’s safe to say that most modern TVs (especially low-budget ones), with the exception of news and regular TVs, don’t provide the sound quality you deserve when you watch a blockbuster on your new flat screen.
To enhance the sound capabilities of your TV, you have two options to choose from. The first is the soundbar, which provides good 2.1-channel playback. The second is a home theater in a box, which not only improves the sound of your TV, but also provides surround sound.
A brief OVERVIEW OF THE CAPABILITIES OF THE SONY HT-S500RF home theater system
Total maximum power: 1000W
Sound panel weight: 3 kg
Subwoofer weight: 9 kg
Weight of the rear speaker: 1 kg
Audio Inputs: Optical audio input, Analog audio input (mini stereo input), USB Type A, Bluetooth
Sound panel dimensions: 900 x 64 x 90 mm
Subwoofer dimensions: 207 x 402 x 330 mm
Rear speaker dimensions: 91 x 216 x 91 mm
HDMI input: 0
HDMI output (reverse audio channel): 1
CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN
The traditional 5.1 home theater is equipped with 5 separate speakers, each of which displays channels, and a subwoofer. Sony has decided to combine the three front channels into a soundbar that will be installed flush with your TV. This design has its advantages and disadvantages, which we will highlight in the “Characteristics” section, but let’s start with the design. The soundbar is built very well. It has a metal grille that covers the front and protects the drivers. You can see the drivers through the grille. It has 8 rubber feet at the bottom, which provide it with a good grip when held on the table. You can also attach the soundbar to the wall if you want. When buying this system in India, the good thing is that you can call a Sony specialist to install it and make sure you get the perfect setup for your room. There is no screen on the sound bar. The screen is on the subwoofer, which we have introduced a bit. For aesthetic reasons, the soundbar is slightly smaller than the 50-inch TV we have, which means that this soundbar may seem small on a huge TV. However, if you have a 43-inch, 50-inch, or 55-inch TV, it should be for you.
The speaker wiring is non-removable and is built into the sound bar and speakers. This is good because you don’t have to worry about properly connecting cables to each speaker. The downside is that if the cable is cut, you won’t be able to replace it at home.
The rear satellite speakers of the home theater are small in size, and their design is ideal for those who want to install surround speakers on the wall. This system is affordable with the HT-S500RF, but Sony has the HT-S700RF with a surround speaker mounted on the floor. The rear satellite speakers of the S500RF have the same design as the front soundbar, with a metal grille covering the front speakers and an all-black surface, which gives them a very minimalistic look. We have installed a home theater system in two different living room configurations, and its aesthetics and design are minimal enough to fit into the space and configuration of a home theater.
Switching to a subwoofer is at the heart of the system. All speaker connectors are located on the back of the subwoofer, and that’s the problem. Don’t get me wrong, the cables that connect to the back of each speaker are long enough to fit the larger-than-average living room size. The fact is that audio inputs such as HDMI represent optical sound, etc. They are all located on the back of the subwoofer, which means that you will have to place the subwoofer under or next to the TV, which may not be an ideal position, or you may need to purchase a very long HDMI or audio cable. We did the latter because the location of the submarine under the TV did not help us. We would like the connection options to be located on the back of the sound bar for easy setup.
The subwoofer is also equipped with an LED display that displays information such as input, as well as information about sources and the ability to adjust the speaker level in dB. It is simple and easy to use and does not include the complexity of a special amplifier. The subwoofer also supports NFC, which makes it easier to pair your smartphone. The body controls are based on a subwoofer and are touch sensitive.
Overall, the design of the home theater is very good. It is minimalistic without an attractive design, which ensures that it fits well with almost all TV settings.