For most living rooms, What Hi-Fi? preferred the Sonos Beam Ultra for its more cohesive sound, stronger spatial positioning and more convincing Dolby Atmos effect from a single soundbar. Choose the Sony BRAVIA Theatre Bar 7 + S instead if you want more forceful bass from a separate subwoofer or need DTS:X support. These are What Hi-Fi?’s listening-test judgments, not independent measurements.
At a glance: which one fits your priorities?
| Priority | Sony BRAVIA Theatre Bar 7 + S | Sonos Beam Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Overall sound and Atmos | Expansive sound; What Hi-Fi? found the Sonos more cohesive and its Atmos effect more convincing. | What Hi-Fi?’s overall pick, with more convincing Atmos and slightly better spatial positioning in its test. |
| Bass | More forceful and meatier in the review, with a separate subwoofer; the reviewer also heard some buzzing on the lowest notes from the bar. | More integrated, even and nuanced bass in the review. |
| Dialogue | Crisp and expressive in What Hi-Fi?’s test. | Crisp and expressive in What Hi-Fi?’s test. |
| Configuration | Soundbar plus separate subwoofer in the compared package; described as a 5.1.2-channel system. | One soundbar; described as a 7.1.2 system with two up-firing drivers. |
| Formats | Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. | Dolby Atmos; What Hi-Fi? says it does not support DTS:X. |
| Price reference | What Hi-Fi? reported £699 in the UK for the Bar 7 + S comparison package on 28 September 2026. Sony UK subsequently listed the standalone Bar 7 at £599; that is not the same package. | What Hi-Fi? reported £699 in the UK on 28 September 2026. A current price was not established. |
Why What Hi-Fi? chose the Sonos Beam Ultra
In its September 2026 comparison, What Hi-Fi? found that both soundbars created soundfields that extended beyond the TV screen and kept dialogue crisp and expressive. Dialogue clarity, on its own, therefore does not separate these two in that test.
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The Beam Ultra edged ahead in spatial positioning and held its sound together more effectively for the reviewer’s preferred near-dome Atmos effect. What Hi-Fi? also described its overall presentation as more cohesive and engaging. The 7.1.2 channel configuration is a specification, not proof by itself of how immersive a system will sound; the preference here comes from the publication’s listening assessment.
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What the listening scenes showed
What Hi-Fi? used the start of Chapter 2 of Blade Runner 2049 to compare bass and the interrogation scene between Officer K and the interviewer to assess spatial placement. In those scenes, the reviewer found the Sony meatier, while the Sonos blended its bass more evenly and placed sounds slightly more convincingly.
#1 Best Overall
- ULTIMATE SURROUND SOUND WITH 360 SPATIAL SOUND MAPPING: Experience the ultimate in home surround sound with technology that creates 5 phantom speakers in front of you and reflects sound off the ceiling and walls.
- MAKE EVERYWHERE THE BEST SEAT: Enjoy a cinematic surround experience calibrated specifically for your room with Sound Field Optimization that ensures every seat is the best seat.
- SOUND STRAIGHT FROM CINEMA: Get premium streaming experience with support for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and an IMAX Enhanced certification for a truly premium experience
- IMMERSIVE SOUND FROM 9 SPEAKER UNITS: Experience cinematic surround sound from a single soundbar featuring 9 speaker units including dedicated woofers and tweeters for precise imaging, up-firing speakers enhanced by 360 Spatial Sound Mapping,1 side-firing speakers that fill your room with expansive sound, and a full-range center speaker for clear, natural dialogue.
- DEEPEN YOUR SOUND: Expand your setup with dual subwoofers and rear speakers for an even more immersive experience. (sold separately)
When the Sony Bar 7 + S is the better choice
The Sony is the more compelling fit if bass impact matters more to you than the Sonos’s overall cohesion. Its package includes a separate subwoofer, and What Hi-Fi? found the result weightier and more floor-shaking. The trade-off noted in that review was some buzzing from the bar on the very lowest notes.
Sony also supports DTS:X as well as Dolby Atmos. That makes it the relevant choice of these two if DTS:X compatibility is a requirement. Sony’s UK product information lists DTS:X and Dolby Atmos support for the standalone Bar 7, while the comparison describes the Bar 7 + S system as supporting both formats.
Rank #2
- WIRELESS SUBWOOFER INCLUDED: BRAVIA Bar 7 + Sub 7 pairs 9 speaker units and 360 Spatial Sound Mapping with the slim Sub 7 to create cinematic surround sound and deeper, more precise bass in a space-saving design. (BRAVIA Connect App setup is required to connect the Soundbar and Subwoofer.)
- ULTIMATE SURROUND SOUND WITH 360 SPATIAL SOUND MAPPING: 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology creates 5 phantom speakers in front of you and reflects sound off the ceiling and walls, enabling cinema-style surround sound from a single soundbar.
- MAKE EVERYWHERE THE BEST SEAT: Sound Field Optimization ensures optimal performance based on your room’s acoustics.
- SOUND STRAIGHT FROM CINEMA: Supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X for a truly premium experience.
- IMMERSIVE SOUND FROM 9 SPEAKER UNITS: Up-firing, side-firing, and center speakers create expansive surround sound.
Setup and connectivity differences
Sony: a bar-and-subwoofer package
The compared Sony configuration pairs the Bar 7 with a separate subwoofer. What Hi-Fi? describes it as a 5.1.2-channel system and reports two HDMI sockets, including eARC for a TV and a separate input. Sony’s UK product information describes the standalone Bar 7 as having nine speaker units, HDMI 2.1 capability and expansion options with compatible wireless subwoofers and rear speakers. Those standalone-bar specifications should not be mistaken for a complete description of every item included in the Bar 7 + S package.
Sonos: one soundbar
The Beam Ultra is a single-bar 7.1.2 system with two up-firing drivers, according to What Hi-Fi? and Sonos UK. It is the simpler configuration if you want the compared system to consist of one soundbar rather than a bar and separate subwoofer.
Rank #3
- ULTIMATE SURROUND SOUND WITH 360 SPATIAL SOUND MAPPING: Experience the ultimate in home surround sound with technology that creates 5 phantom speakers in front of you and reflects sound off the ceiling and walls.
- MAKE EVERYWHERE THE BEST SEAT: Enjoy a cinematic surround experience calibrated specifically for your room with Sound Field Optimization that ensures every seat is the best seat.
- COMPATIBLE SONY SOUNDBARS, HOME THEATER SYSTEMS & RECEIVERS: BRAVIA Theater QUAD, BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, BRAVIA Theater Bar 8, BRAVIA Theater Bar 7, HT-A7000, HT-A5000, HT-A3000, and STR-AN1000.
- BOLD, BOOMING BASS: With deep bass from a powerful 130mm driver, this subwoofer amplifies every moment. Experience booming explosions and deep, distortion-free beats. Clearer voices and enhanced fidelity ensure soundtracks come through with authenticity.
- COMPATIBLE SONY SOUNDBARS: BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, BRAVIA Theater Bar 8, BRAVIA Theater Bar 7, HT-A7000, HT-A5000, HT-A3000
How to compare prices without mixing up packages
What Hi-Fi? listed each product at £699 in the UK when its comparison was published on 28 September 2026. That is a dated price reference, not a guarantee of today’s price or a figure for other countries. Sony UK later displayed £599 for the standalone Bar 7; it is not the Bar 7 + S bundle compared here. The material available for this comparison does not establish a current Sonos price.
Before buying, check the live price in your country and verify the exact box contents. In particular, compare the Sony bundle with the bundle price—not a standalone Bar 7 listing—and confirm whether the subwoofer is included.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- UNLEASH THE FULL POTENTIAL OF SURROUND SOUND: Hear cinema-style surround sound all around you with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping.
- ROOM OPTIMIZED SOUND: Sound is auto calibrated to your room’s characteristics with Sound Field Optimization.
- SOUND STRAIGHT FROM CINEMA: Supports industry-standard formats including Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and IMAX Enhanced.
- INNOVATIVE ACOUSTIC DESIGN: With 11 speaker units, hear exceptional acoustic performance and precise room filling spatial audio.
- EXPAND YOUR SURROUND SOUND: Expand the cinematic experience with optional wireless subwoofer (SW3/SA-SW5) and rear speakers (RS3R/RS5).
Rank #4
- ULTIMATE SURROUND SOUND WITH 360 SPATIAL SOUND MAPPING: Experience the ultimate in home surround sound with technology that creates 5 phantom speakers in front of you and reflects sound off the ceiling and walls.
- MAKE EVERYWHERE THE BEST SEAT: Enjoy a cinematic surround experience calibrated specifically for your room with Sound Field Optimization that ensures every seat is the best seat.
- SOUND STRAIGHT FROM CINEMA: Get premium streaming experience with support for Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and an IMAX Enhanced certification for a truly premium experience
- IMMERSIVE SOUND FROM 9 SPEAKER UNITS: Experience cinematic surround sound from a single soundbar featuring 9 speaker units including dedicated woofers and tweeters for precise imaging, up-firing speakers enhanced by 360 Spatial Sound Mapping,1 side-firing speakers that fill your room with expansive sound, and a full-range center speaker for clear, natural dialogue.
- COMPATIBLE SONY SOUNDBARS: BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, BRAVIA Theater Bar 8, BRAVIA Theater Bar 7, HT-A7000, HT-A5000, HT-A3000
Which should you buy?
- Choose the Sonos Beam Ultra if you want the stronger overall balance in What Hi-Fi?’s test: cohesive sound, convincing Atmos and slightly better spatial placement from a single bar.
- Choose the Sony BRAVIA Theatre Bar 7 + S if you want more emphatic bass from a separate subwoofer or need DTS:X support.
- Do not use dialogue clarity as the deciding factor based on this comparison: What Hi-Fi? found voices crisp and expressive on both.
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