So many soundbars.

The functionality has grown exponentially. Well, the claims of functionality have certainly exploded anyway.

These days the humble soundbar seems to be able to simulate any multi-speaker surround sound system available. Apparently.

How good can one bar really be? Or maybe we should lower our expectations. You know, just a little...

 

The Sony HT-X8500 definitely falls in the under-promise/over-deliver camp.

There's something almost retro about the look of it; the rounded corners, the textured surface of the leather-like casing... even the contrasting trim on the base of the device - for some reason there's a more organic feel to the HT-X8500 than a lot of those other, anonymously black and boring bars.

The look of it isn't the only retro element here, you could argue operation of the HT-X8500 is kind of old-fashioned too - but only in a good way.

Take the setup process for example. Plug it in. Done. That's literally it. There's no app. It doesn't connect to your WiFi. There's a power cord, an HDMI cable, or if you want to get really tricky, you could use an optical lead instead. Of all the devices I've reviewed this year, this one was probably up and running quicker than any other.

This is not to suggest a lack of options or sound settings. There are plenty and you'll find all of them right in front of you on the remote. These days it's very unusual to have so many preset configurations available from designated buttons on the remote. Usually we're presented with some kind of jog-wheel or up/down/left/right controller to scroll through myriad options on a screen. Not here.

Apart from anything else - there is no screen.

 

I’m used to setting up a sound system with one EQ I'm happy with to generally cover off all the things I’m watching, but with the slim, lightsaber-like Sony remote, it's so easy to switch from one setting to another I've had to adjust my mindset. For example, you can just change from Cinema to News EQ's with the push of a button. If you're finding there's so much soundtrack you can't hear the dialogue, just give the Voice button a press.

 

In many ways, super convenient but I wouldn’t want to lose the remote!

 

I'm not totally convinced about the lack of any kind of display, other than a combination of LED’s on the top of the soundbar itself. You basically have to memorise each combination of lights to know if it’s doing the thing you think it’s doing. Here's what I mean; there's a Night Mode button, which automatically tones things down a bit if you're still watching telly after everyone else has gone to bed. But how do you know if you've activated it or not? Easy. If Night Mode is on, the HDMI and BLUETOOTH indicators will light for two seconds. If it's off, the Dolby ATMOS and DTS:X indicators light up instead. Got it? No, me either.

Okay then, how about adjusting the bass settings? Easy. There are three levels to choose from - Normal, Strong and Light. You'll know which one you've selected because the HDMI and BLUETOOTH indicators have just lit up for two seconds. Which of the three settings is that for? Sorry, can't remember.

If you're going to be fiddling with this stuff on a regular basis, I'd definitely recommend keeping your instruction manual handy for reference.

Of course, the best way to know if you've set things up correctly is by listening. You know, with your ears. Although options like Multiplex Broadcast Sound and DTS:X may sound a bit overwhelming, always remember; you don't have to use them. In fact, unless what you're watching supports these sorts of features, they probably won't make any difference anyway.

 

What you absolutely will notice with the HT-X8500 is its sheer power. This is one of the new breed of soundbars with a subwoofer built-in. There are generous aural cavities at each end to let those big, low-end frequencies roll around and you can certainly tweak a decent boom out of this box. So much so I tend to leave the bass setting at its default level to prevent it taking over the whole soundscape and making things sound a bit muddy.

So the bass abilities definitely have me impressed. What about the HT-X8500's other "rockstar" feature - the Vertical Surround Engine?

Sony claims this new technology is able to simulate a 3D-like 7.1.2 sound environment. How this is even remotely possible out of just two speakers and a dual-subwoofer is up for debate. However, damn if this thing doesn't sound amazing - especially if you're sitting in or near the prime viewing zone, directly in front of your TV. I don't know how "vertical" things really seem, or how you'd ever measure that, but the HT-X8500 is definitely capable of distinct stereo separation and pushing out clear dialogue over music and sound effects. The result is convincingly more immersive than anything you'll get out of your TV's built-in speakers alone - it's not even a close contest.

 

If you're hoping to run a multitude of devices through your soundbar, the HT-X8500 is probably not the device to do it. There are only two HDMI ports, one being the eARC option. Obviously you can connect via bluetooth and streaming music from your phone or tablet sounds great.

The lack of ports doesn't bother me in the slightest as I'm sure the vast majority of consumers purchase a soundbar to play the noises their telly makes and for no other reason whatsoever. The HT-X850 does that effortlessly, with decent enough surround sound and excellent bass, without having to purchase and connect a separate subwoofer. Being able to switch easily from setting to setting with a big selection of dedicated buttons on the remote basically makes this a soundbar for dummies and I have no problem with that at all.

Click here for more information and pricing on the Sony HT-X8500 2.1ch Dolby Atmos soundbar.