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The budget-friendly Sony HT-S100F has low latency and a relatively balanced sound profile, perfect for dialogue-heavy shows. However, action movie enthusiasts won’t be happy because movie-watching isn’t immersive due to its lack of a subwoofer, narrow soundstage, underwhelming sub-bass, and absence of EQ presets.
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Table of Contents
Product Snapshot
Overview
The Sony HT-S100F is an entry-level 2.0-channel soundbar released by Sony in 2018, offering Bluetooth streaming for TVs. This device offers very crisp voices and boasts a top SPL of 95.9 dB, getting as loud as higher-end 5.1 soundbars.
However, it lacks a dedicated subwoofer, so it doesn’t reproduce the kind of deep extended bass that many movie buffs like. Check out the top speakers for better bass-heavy systems.
Although the Sony HT-S100F has an always-on surround feature, it downmixes surround sound to stereo, providing a middling 3D soundstage. It also lacks support for DTS or Dolby Atmos, so it is not the best choice for movie or gaming content.
Connectivity options include a shared HDMI ARC+Out connector, an Optical port, and USB interface. However, it only streams via Bluetooth, and doesn’t support Wi-Fi.
Music lovers will be pleased by its neutral out-of-the-box sound profile. Continue reading our Sony HT-S100F review and see how it stacks up against the most-popular soundbars today.
Consensus
our Verdict
The Sony HT-S100F has a reliable wired connection but lacks a Full HDMI in port, limiting TV connectivity to ARC and an optical connector. For music, there’s USB and wireless Bluetooth connection and no audio disturbances.
The tested latency is good for video streaming, measuring 62ms via ARC and 70ms via Optical.
The soundbar has a narrow soundstage and sounds feel like they’re coming from the front rather than the side. There’s no Atmos support, and the less-extended sub-bass means no low rumbles during action sequences.
Still, it gets fairly loud and reproduces dialogues accurately for dialogue-oriented shows. Its remote enables quick tweaking of playback modes, and the soundbar’s dense plastic is sturdy.
While you get responsive controls, EQ presets are absent, and there’s no app for controlling soundbar functions.
ReasonS to Buy
Secure connectivity options and low latency
Although its moderate-tested latency is better than only one-third of our tested products, the Sony HT-S100F offers a reliable connection (ideal for video streaming) via eARC (62 ms) and Optical (70 ms). You can also play music through its USB port, and its handy Bluetooth connection eliminates the need for cumbersome wires.
Sturdy design
The soundbar’s dense plastic feels durable, and its metal grille shields the drivers from damage. Moreover, its compact 2.5” height won’t get in the way of your favorite shows.
Simple user interface
You can access basic functions from the top of the soundbar, like power, input, volume, and Bluetooth connections. For controlling advanced functions, such as preset modes, simply switch to the easy-to-use remote.
Reason to Avoid
Mediocre sound quality and no Atmos support
The soundbar has a narrow soundstage, making sounds feel more front-focused rather than surrounding you. The underemphasized treble makes the audio slightly muddy, and the less-extended sub-bass doesn’t deliver deep rumbles during action sequences. It doesn’t help that there is no Atmos to boost the immersion either.
Lacks a Full HDMI In port and EQ presets
Since there is no Full HDMI In port, the soundbar can’t function as a hub for connecting multiple devices. Moreover, you can’t tweak the sounds to match your preferences due to the lack of EQ presets.
No smart features
It lacks a companion app and built-in voice assistant for hassle-free access to functions, and if the remote goes missing, there is no alternative to manage the soundbar.
Sony HT S100F Specs
Bluetooth Enabled
Yes
Depth
3.5"
Dialogue Enhancement Feature
na, Yes
Energy Star Certified
No
HDMI ARC
Yes
Height
2.5"
Subwoofer
na, No
Voice Assistant
No
Wall Mountable
na, Yes
Weight
5.3 lbs
Width
35.4"
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Yes
Works With
Bluetooth
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Soundbars based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
Low End Roll Off (Hz)
93.773
High End Roll Off (Hz)
2,751.676
Max Volume Test (db)
95.9
Latency (ms)
62
THD @ 80dB
0.47
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The Sony HT-S100F is an entry-level 2.0-channel soundbar released by Sony in 2018, offering Bluetooth streaming for TVs. This device offers very crisp voices and…
The Sony HT-S100F is an entry-level 2.0-channel soundbar released by Sony in 2018, offering Bluetooth streaming for TVs. This device offers very crisp voices and boasts a top SPL of 95.9 dB, getting as loud as higher-end 5.1 soundbars.
However, it lacks a dedicated subwoofer, so it doesn’t reproduce the kind of deep extended bass that many movie buffs like. Check out the top speakers for better bass-heavy systems.
Although the Sony HT-S100F has an always-on surround feature, it downmixes surround sound to stereo, providing a middling 3D soundstage. It also lacks support for DTS or Dolby Atmos, so it is not the best choice for movie or gaming content.
Connectivity options include a shared HDMI ARC+Out connector, an Optical port, and USB interface. However, it only streams via Bluetooth, and doesn’t support Wi-Fi.
Music lovers will be pleased by its neutral out-of-the-box sound profile. Continue reading our Sony HT-S100F review and see how it stacks up against the most-popular soundbars today.
The Sony HT-S100F is very similar to the Sony HT-S200F in that both are two channel entry-level soundbars with a similar set of ports. That…
The Sony HT-S100F is very similar to the Sony HT-S200F in that both are two channel entry-level soundbars with a similar set of ports. That said, the Sony HT-S200F comes with a built-in subwoofer channel, producing slightly deeper bass than the Sony HT-S100F, which doesn’t have that feature. You can learn more by reading our Sony HT-S200F review today.
Featuring a dedicated subwoofer, the Samsung HW-T450 produces deeper extended low bass than the Sony HT-S100F, which doesn’t have a sub. It also has a…
Featuring a dedicated subwoofer, the Samsung HW-T450 produces deeper extended low bass than the Sony HT-S100F, which doesn’t have a sub. It also has a wider surround soundstage and features a more neutral sound profile. On the flip side, the Sony HT-S100F has an ARC port, so it is easier to connect to modern TVs.
Featuring better stereo and surround soundstage, The Yamaha YAS-109 is better for movies and music than the Sony HT-S100F. It also streams wirelessly over both…
Featuring better stereo and surround soundstage, The Yamaha YAS-109 is better for movies and music than the Sony HT-S100F. It also streams wirelessly over both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, unlike the Sony HT-S100F which only has Bluetooth technology. That said, the Sony HT-S100F achieves a 95.9 dB top SPL, getting louder than the 89.1 dB maximum SPL of the Yamaha YAS-109.
