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Table of Contents
Product Snapshot
Overview
The Sony HT-S400 is an entry-level, 2.1-channel sound system that was launched into the market in early 2022.
The system ships with a wireless subwoofer for a satisfying bass response, but it misses out on being listed as one of the best speakers in its category because of its lack of support for Dolby Atmos content.
Its wireless connectivity options are also limited to only Bluetooth connectivity, and being a 2.1-channel soundbar, its soundstage is widened through its use of Sony’s S-Force Pro Front Surround technology.
Unfortunately, its soundstage isn’t as wide as some of the best soundbars in the industry.
The S400 only has an Optical port and an HDMI in connection, while the Sony HT-X9000F has a Full HDMI In port that can be used for Dolby Atmos or DTS content. Check it out in our Sony HT-X9000F review.
The Sony HT-S400 2.1 channel soundbar offers reliable connectivity through Bluetooth streaming as well as its wired connections, where it has a tested latency of 79ms and 99ms over both ARC and Optical.
The soundbar also gets quite loud, with a clear reproduction of both vocals and instrumentals, as well as a good bass range that has an extra thump courtesy of its subwoofer.
However, its surround surround performance is bad because of a lack of support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, and its input options are also pretty limited, with only one Optical Audio In and one ARC HDMI Out.
While the soundbar has good build quality, its wireless connectivity options don’t include WiFi or Apple AirPlay, and there’s also no app for sound customization.
ReasonS to Buy
Offers a significant sound quality improvement over built-in TV speakers
The included subwoofer delivers powerful bass
Easy to set up
A sleek and modern design
Offers reliable Bluetooth connectivity
Reason to Avoid
Reported delays in volume adjustments
No app for sound customization
Poor surround sound performance
Limited Bluetooth range
Volume doesn’t adjust incrementally
Sony HT-S400 Specs
Bluetooth Enabled
Yes
Depth
3.5"
Dialogue Enhancement Feature
na
Energy Star Certified
No
HDMI ARC
Yes
Height
2.6"
Number of Audio Channels
2.1
Subwoofer
Included
Surround Sound Supported
Virtual Surround
Voice Assistant
No
Wall Mountable
Yes
Weight
5.5 lbs
Width
35.5
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Yes
Works With
n/a
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)
44.3
High End Roll Off (Hz)
16,500
Max Volume Test (db)
92.8
Latency (ms)
79
THD @ 80dB
0.41
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The Sony HT-S400 is an entry-level, 2.1-channel sound system that was launched into the market in early 2022.
The system ships with a wireless subwoofer for…
The Sony HT-S400 is an entry-level, 2.1-channel sound system that was launched into the market in early 2022.
The system ships with a wireless subwoofer for a satisfying bass response, but it misses out on being listed as one of the best speakers in its category because of its lack of support for Dolby Atmos content.
Its wireless connectivity options are also limited to only Bluetooth connectivity, and being a 2.1-channel soundbar, its soundstage is widened through its use of Sony’s S-Force Pro Front Surround technology.
Unfortunately, its soundstage isn’t as wide as some of the best soundbars in the industry.
The S400 only has an Optical port and an HDMI in connection, while the Sony HT-X9000F has a Full HDMI In port that can be used for Dolby Atmos or DTS content. Check it out in our Sony HT-X9000F review.
The Sony HT-S400 is a 2.1-channel speaker, while the Sony HT-G700 is a 3.1-channel setup. The two are different because the G700 includes a discrete…
The Sony HT-S400 is a 2.1-channel speaker, while the Sony HT-G700 is a 3.1-channel setup. The two are different because the G700 includes a discrete center channel (which the S400 lacks), and as a result, its vocal reproduction is better than that of the S400.
The Sony HT-S400 can produce a more profound bass output than the Sony HT-S350, despite both shipping with a subwoofer. Feel free to check out…
The Sony HT-S400 can produce a more profound bass output than the Sony HT-S350, despite both shipping with a subwoofer. Feel free to check out what else the S350 has to offer by going through our Sony HT-S350 review.
Even though they both ship with a subwoofer, the Sony HT-S400 has a bass-heavy sound compared to the Samsung HW-B450, which has a more neutral…
Even though they both ship with a subwoofer, the Sony HT-S400 has a bass-heavy sound compared to the Samsung HW-B450, which has a more neutral and balanced sound. However, unlike the Sony soundbar, the HW-B450 does not support surround sound formats over a HDMI connection.
