OVERALL
ALTERNATIVES
SPECS
VS AVERAGE
REVIEWS
Scored using Soundbars Methodology v3.0
Soundbars Methodology v3.0
Mathematical & Unbiased Scoring
Products in this category are scored under Frontum Soundbars Methodology v3.0: the technical score from the specifications is the base, and independent expert and video reviews (up to ±0.5 points), owner opinions (up to ±0.3) and best-of lists (up to +0.3) move it up or down.
Explore Soundbars Methodology v3.0

Sony HT-B500 review: 108 specs compared

Avg. price:~£280N. of audio channels:3.1Audio output power:?HDMI ARC type:eARC

Sony HT-B500 Review: Compare 108 technical specifications to see how this product ranks in the Soundbars category and whether it is worth buying.

Sony HT-B500
7.2/10

Overall score

Score
7.2/ 10
✕
What it is
Our main score for this model, 1–10. It combines specs, best-of lists, expert reviews and owners.
How we count it
Parts: Technical score 35%, List score 30%, Reviews score 25%, Sentiment score 10%
Marks: Each part gets a mark out of 10. For reviews, lists and owners, a typical model in this category gets about 8 and the best one gets 10.
No data yet: A part with no data shows "?". It counts as the mark of a weaker model in this category (4 in 5 models with data score higher). This way, models with reviews, lists and owners usually come out ahead.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 70% of models
Score components

35%

6.7

Technical score

30%

?

List scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.5, the mark of a weaker model in this category

25%

?

Reviews scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 7.6, the mark of a weaker model in this category

10%

?

Sentiment scoreNot enough data yet, so we use 6.8, the mark of a weaker model in this category

â–²Better than 70% of soundbars
7.7

Value for money

Value for money
7.7/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the soundbar's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a soundbar with a good balance between audio quality, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 56% of models
Score components

70%

7.2

Overall score

30%

9.0

Price

â–²Better than 56%
6.7

Technical score

Technical score
6.7/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 35% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 73% of models
Score components

25%

6.4

Audio

18%

7.0

Formats

16%

6.9

Connectivity

14%

7.9

Controls

12%

6.7

HDMI

10%

4.0

Streaming

5%

7.5

Design

â–²Better than 73%
?

Reviews score

Reviews score
✕
What it is
Average grade from independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers, 1–10.
How we count it
Grades: Each review's own score is converted to 1–10; without one, we grade the review ourselves. Every review counts the same: written or video, short or full test.
Score: The average grade is 80% of the review mark; the number of reviews is the other 20% (1 review = 5, the typical number in this category = 8, the most-reviewed model = 10).
Enough data: With few reviews, the average grade is pulled toward the typical grade of this category. No reviews yet: 7.6 for now.
Share: Reviews count 25% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
Grades by review (0)
We have not found an independent test of this model yet. Until we do, its review part counts as 7.6.
User ratings collected online are not part of this score.
No expert tests yet
?

List score

List score
7.5/ 10
✕
What it is
How often independent test sites, magazines and video reviewers put this model in their best-of lists for this category.
How we count it
Points: The model in the most lists of this category gets 10; the others get 8 to 10 in proportion. In no list yet: 7.5. Lists count 30% of the overall score.
Enough data: Every list counts, even a single one. With fewer than 5 best-of lists in the category, this part is left out.
Lists with this model (0)
Not in any best-of list yet, so this part counts as 7.5. Models in a list get 8 to 10.
Not in any best-of list yet
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Where to buy
*As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Best rankings
Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).All: ranking among all products in the database.
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Soundbars model ranking

Ranked #81 of 324 models in Soundbars (Overall score)

Technical Specifications of soundbar Sony HT-B500

Technical score
Technical score
6.7/ 10
✕
What it is
How good the specs are compared with the other models in this category, 1–10.
How we count it
Areas: We rate the specs in each area against the other models in this category.
Weighting: The areas that matter most to buyers count more. The shares are shown under Score components.
Share: The technical score is 35% of the overall score.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 73% of models
Score components:

25%

6.4

Audio

18%

7.0

Formats

16%

6.9

Connectivity

14%

7.9

Controls

12%

6.7

HDMI

10%

4.0

Streaming

5%

7.5

Design

6.7
Reviews score
7.6
List score
?
Value for money
Value for money
7.7/ 10
✕
What it is
An indicator that combines the soundbar's overall rating with its cost.
When it matters
When you are looking for a soundbar with a good balance between audio quality, features, and price.
Score distribution
â–¼
<55-66-77-88-99-10
â–² Better than 56% of models
Score components:

70%

7.2

Overall score

30%

9.0

Price

7.7
N. of audio channels
3.1
This soundbar offers 3.1 audio channels, more than 74.4% of soundbars and equal to 5.5% of soundbars.
Audio output power
?
Max SPL
?
Min frequency
?
Max frequency
?
Show more
Dolby Atmos
yes
This soundbar supports Dolby Atmos. 70% of soundbars include this feature.
DTS:X
yes
This soundbar supports DTS:X. 83.6% of soundbars include this feature.
Dolby TrueHD
no
This soundbar does not support Dolby TrueHD. 16.5% of soundbars include this feature.
DTS-HD Master Audio
no
This soundbar does not support DTS-HD Master Audio. 7.6% of soundbars include this feature.
Dolby Digital Plus
?
Show more
N. of HDMI inputs
0
Market range: <0 – >5
This soundbar has 0 HDMI inputs, fewer than 41.5% of soundbars and equal to 58.5% of soundbars.
Wi-Fi connectivity
yes
This soundbar supports Wi-Fi connectivity. 71.5% of soundbars include this feature.
Wi-Fi version
?
Bluetooth connectivity
yes
This soundbar supports Bluetooth connectivity. 4.6% of soundbars include this feature.
Bluetooth version
?
Show more
Smartphone app
yes
This soundbar has smartphone app. 57.7% of soundbars offer this feature.
Remote control
yes
This soundbar has remote control. 17.5% of soundbars offer this feature.
Control panel
yes
This soundbar has control panel. 5.5% of soundbars offer this feature.
Voice assistant compatibility
?
Far-field microphones
no
This soundbar does not have far-field microphones. 7.1% of soundbars offer this feature.
Show more
HDMI version
?
HDMI ARC type
eARC
This soundbar has eARC as its HDMI TV-audio return type, which is more advanced than what 71.5% of soundbars and the same as what 28.5% offers.
HDMI-CEC support
yes
This soundbar supports HDMI-CEC. 29.2% support HDMI-CEC.
HDMI pass-through resolution
none
This soundbar passes through none, which is lower resolution than 27.2% of soundbars and equal to 72.8% of soundbars.
HDMI pass-through frame rate
none fps
This soundbar supports HDMI pass-through up to none fps, lower than 21.4% of soundbars and equal to 78.6% of soundbars.
Show more
AirPlay
no
This soundbar does not support AirPlay. 19.9% of soundbars include this feature.
Chromecast built-in
no
This soundbar does not support Chromecast built-in. 11.4% of soundbars include this feature.
Spotify Connect
no
This soundbar does not support Spotify Connect. 20.8% of soundbars include this feature.
TIDAL Connect
no
This soundbar does not support TIDAL Connect. 9.2% of soundbars include this feature.
Amazon Music native support
no
This soundbar does not support native Amazon Music. 13% support native Amazon Music.
Show more
Width
?
Height
?
Thickness
?
Weight
?
Build material
plastic
This soundbar is built from plastic, which is more premium than 3% of soundbars and equal to 92.6% of soundbars.
Show more

Sony HT-B500 vs the average soundbar

246810TotalAudioFormatsConnectivityHDMIStreamingControlsDesign
  • Supports Dolby Atmos
    This soundbar supports Dolby Atmos, the average soundbar does not.
  • Dedicated center channel
    This soundbar has center channel driver, the average soundbar does not.
  • Supports DTS:X
    This soundbar supports DTS:X, the average soundbar does not.
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
    This soundbar supports Wi-Fi connectivity, the average soundbar does not.
  • Companion smartphone app
    This soundbar supports smartphone app, the average soundbar does not.
  • More audio channels
    This soundbar has more audio channels than the average soundbar (3.1 vs 2.1). The average soundbar has 2.1 audio channels.
    3.1 vs 2.1
  • Dedicated center channel
    This soundbar has center channel driver, the average soundbar does not.
  • More audio channels
    This soundbar has more audio channels than the average soundbar (3.1 vs 2.1). The average soundbar has 2.1 audio channels.
    3.1 vs 2.1
  • Supports Dolby Atmos
    This soundbar supports Dolby Atmos, the average soundbar does not.
  • Supports DTS:X
    This soundbar supports DTS:X, the average soundbar does not.
  • Wi-Fi connectivity
    This soundbar supports Wi-Fi connectivity, the average soundbar does not.
  • Companion smartphone app
    This soundbar supports smartphone app, the average soundbar does not.
  • No AUX input
    This soundbar does not have AUX input, the average soundbar does.
  • No AAC support
    This soundbar does not support AAC, the average soundbar does.
  • 2.55x more expensive
    Sony HT-B500 is more expensive than the average soundbar (£280 vs £110).
    £280 vs £110
  • 2.55x more expensive
    Sony HT-B500 is more expensive than the average soundbar (£280 vs £110).
    £280 vs £110
  • No AAC support
    This soundbar does not support AAC, the average soundbar does.
  • No AUX input
    This soundbar does not have AUX input, the average soundbar does.

Video reviews

Hands-on testing, unboxing, and real-world video evaluations

Overview video
Overview video

Third-party reviews

What customers like about Sony HT-B500

  • Wi-Fi is built in for connecting to a home network.
  • It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X.
  • A center speaker keeps dialogue in the middle of the screen.
  • Dialogue enhancement lifts speech when effects are loud.
  • eARC carries high-quality sound from the TV over one HDMI cable.
  • Bluetooth lets you play music from a phone.

What customers don't like about Sony HT-B500

  • There is no subwoofer in the box, so bass is limited.
  • There is no AirPlay or Chromecast for casting from other devices.
  • The app cannot adjust the sound, since there is no EQ customization.
  • There is no automatic room calibration to tune the sound to the room.
  • Bluetooth does not connect two devices at once.

Verdict

Wi-Fi is what sets the Sony HT-B500 apart in this 3.1 bar with a center speaker and Dolby Atmos. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X give films a wide, layered sound, and the center speaker keeps dialogue anchored to the screen. Dialogue enhancement lifts speech when it is buried under music or effects, which suits news and drama. There is no subwoofer in the box, so the bass stays modest. The app guides setup, and HDMI eARC, optical and Bluetooth cover the usual connections. The trade-off is what is left out: no AirPlay, no Chromecast and no room calibration. The app cannot adjust the sound, so it stays as the bar sets it. It suits a buyer who wants Wi-Fi streaming and Atmos in a living room and does not need to tweak the sound.

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