If the bigger, and more expensive Sony HT-A7000 Soundbar isn't your cup of tea, the Sony HT-A3000 Soundbar may work better. It delivers a great home theatre experience with room-filling sound. But you may need to crank it up a bit more to get the best experience.
Quick specs
- 3.1 channels with virtual Dolby Atmos
- Built-in subwoofer
- Spotify Connect, Chromcast, Google Assistant, Alexa
- Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Optical in, HDMI (eARC)
Much like the more expensive A7000, the S$1,112 A3000 doesn't come with a separate subwoofer. Instead, it packs everything into the soundbar itself. Size-wise, the speaker is smaller, but will fit under most 55-inch TVs easily. It still delivers a reasonably good sound. I mentioned that you may need to increase the volume — I turned it a bit louder than I usually do when at home. Vocals and mids are great. But the bass is clear, though slightly lacking. You won't feel the room rumble, or your cabinets rattle.
That can be remedied by getting the subwoofer add-ons, and this soundbar lets you do that. You can also pair rear wireless speakers for 360-degree sound, or add up-firing rear wireless speakers. Note that this will add around S$800 to S$1,500 more. I tested the soundbar with the Sony SA-SW3 200W, and SA-RS3S rear wireless speakers. It does add quite a lot more punch to your home theatre setup. I do think you can do without, especially if space is a concern.
The sound overall is quite balanced, though as mentioned, bass is not that powerful. This is quite obvious when watching shows such as Netflix's Formula 1: Drive to Survive, where the loud cars racing around the track don't quite have the impact. Furthermore, the magnetic boat scene in 6 Underground feels a little lacking without a standalone sub. But Dolby Atmos effects work great, despite being virtual. I could make out newspapers being tossed over my head in the opening scenes of the first episode of Stranger Things Season 4.
At around S$1,100, the Sony HT-A3000 soundbar is a decent buy that doesn't take up a lot of space. And you can upgrade it with add-ons, though perhaps it makes more sense budget-wise to get a soundbar with all you need right from the get-go. Get it from Lazada, Shopee, or Amazon.
Note: Review unit provided by Sony.
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