Is The Sony HT-S500RF Real 5.1ch Dolby Digital Soundbar Home Theatre System Underrated? Let's Find Out

Last Updated on 16 September, 2022 by Sourav Roy

Sony has something in store for you if you’re looking for a top-of-the-line home theatre system. The Sony HT-S500RF Real 5.1ch Dolby Digital Soundbar Home Theatre System is an excellent product that will transform your living room into a personal cinema. It has a soundbar, two rear speakers, and a subwoofer, offering you a complete 5.1 surround system. The sound quality is impeccable, as expected from Sony. There are a few small flaws, but nothing serious. We’ll tell you about them shortly. Let’s discuss the general performance first.

Main Unit Weight	3.0 kg
Main Unit Dimensions	90 x 6.4 x 9 cm
Subwoofer Weight	9.0 kg
Subwoofer Dimensions	20.7 x 40.2 x 33 cm
Max Output	1000W
Sound Channel	5.1
Advanced Surround Sound Formats	Dolby Digital
Available Connections	Bluetooth, USB, HDMI ARC and Optical IN

Features

1000W Power Output ensures high sound pressure.
Comes with front tweeters fitted to the soundbar for better surround sound.
A large 18 cm subwoofer produces excellent bass.
Easy to set up as it comes with multiple connectivity options.
Has a dedicated app that offers more convenient control.

Advantages

Good build quality.
Easy installation.
Well-rounded sound output.
The good output of 2.1 Channel songs in 5.1 Channel.
Various connectivity options.

Downsides

No HDMI passthrough.
The front channel separation is a bit weak.

Here’s Why You Should Buy The Sony HT-S500RF Real 5.1ch Dolby Digital Soundbar Home Theatre System

Balanced Yet Dynamic Audio: One thing is certain: in terms of raw power, this system is a beast. It has a maximum power output of 1000 watts, and its internal components are larger than average. Furthermore, the entire system is specifically tailored to Indian music and films. So, whether you’re watching a Hollywood blockbuster or listening to your favourite singer, you can expect exceptional audio quality.

Strong Bass: One of the things about this home theatre that really stood out to us during testing was the subwoofer. It’s one of the largest ones we’ve come across, measuring 18 cm. And it doesn’t just look good – it performs excellently too. The bass is deep and punchy without being overwhelming. Even better, there’s no sign of distortion, even at high volumes.

Rear Speakers Enhance The Experience: The audio quality of the bookshelf rear speakers is also noteworthy. They’re much larger than most bookshelf speakers, measuring 21.6 cm and 65 mm. As a result, they produce clear and well-balanced sounds. The soundstage is wide and expansive, making for an immersive experience.

Sony’s Music Centre App Offers Extra Convenience: The Sony HT-S500RF comes with a handy remote control. But if you want to take things one step further, you can download the Music Centre app. With this app, you can control music playback wirelessly and even use it to manage your pen drive content. So, if you want to play only certain songs from it, you can do so easily.

Some Comments About The Downsides

Front Channel Could Be A Little Better: Though the home theatre does sound like a 5.1 system, we’d say it’s almost more like a virtual 5.1 system. This is because the front channel separation isn’t as strong as it could be. So, this may not be the right system for you if you’re looking for a truly immersive surround experience.

FAQ

How long is the wire for the rear speakers?

The wire is about 5-6 metres in length.

Since it supports Dolby, will it work with Dolby Atmos?

No, it won’t. Dolby Atmos is different from Dolby Digital, which is what this home theatre supports.

Does it come with a remote?

Yes, it does.

It doesn't sound like I'm getting surround audio, is something wrong with the system?

No, you just need to make sure that the content you’re watching has 5.1 channel sound.

Our Thoughts

Performance-wise, the speakers on the Sony HT-S500RF Real 5.1ch Dolby Digital Soundbar Home Theatre System do as well as you would expect from a Sony product. The bass and treble are great, though the mids are average. It’s great for listening to music and watching movies. However, do keep in mind that the bass occasionally drowns out vocals. To get the best performance out of it, install it properly and remember to tune it to whatever you’re watching.

You can see where to locate this home theatre by looking at our list of the 9 best home theatre systems in India 2022 that we’ve hand-picked. We’ve also provided more choices with short summaries of their advantages and capabilities.

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Abir B.

Product Analyst at Homeliness

Abir is an expert with electronics that more frequently used and interacted with. Computers and Smartphones, to be more specific. However, his expertise also extends to categories like Audio Equipment, which are some of the things he’s done jobs for over the years. In fact, at 34 years old now, he’s been working professionally for the earlier fields for plenty of years and has built up a large repertoire of knowledge.