Sony HT-S400 soundbar review: affordable, but out of balance

Before we set off, we would like to mention that the Sony HT-S400 is now for sale online for 200 euros or even slightly less. And that makes it a particularly accessible 2.1 audio solution. Just to say that you should see our review in that perspective.

Design and materials

When you take the soundbar out of the box, you will immediately notice that the material quality is more than decent. The housing (900 x 64 x 88 mm) is made of plastic, but the top has a metal layer that has some texture and feels quite premium. The speaker grill is also neatly finished and sturdy. This is not entirely true for the subwoofer. It looks less refined and the panel around the large opening looks like cheaper plastic, although the bass cabinet as a whole is certainly sturdy and quite large (192 x 387 x 400 mm). Again: a point of criticism that can be put into perspective if you take the price into account. Usually the subwoofer is also not in sight and the soundbar itself will certainly not look out of place under a more expensive TV.

Installation

Installing the Sony HT-S400 is ridiculously easy. You literally only need to connect three cables: an audio cable to your TV (via HDMI-ARC or the included optical cable) and the power cables for the soundbar and the bass cabinet. In the past, you had to go through an exhausting pairing process with Sony soundbars, which we sometimes had to repeat a few weeks later because the soundbar and bass cabinet could suddenly no longer find each other. There are no connection problems with the HT-S400. In terms of pairing, Sony now seems to have actually found a watertight solution. As soon as you turn on the soundbar for the first time, you will see a green LED on the subwoofer after a few seconds. No pairing required. Rarely has it been so easy to install an audio system.

Anyone who uses the HT-S400 in combination with a Sony Bravia TV will be pleased to hear that wireless connection is possible and that you can operate the soundbar from the TV menu. You can also connect wirelessly to a TV from another brand that supports A2DP Bluetooth, although the sound quality will not be as good as with a physical connection. The soundbar can also be mounted on the wall and Sony supplies a foot and some screws for this.

Audio quality

In its segment, the HT-S400 certainly scores above average, but don’t expect it to compete with systems twice as expensive. For example, there is no support for Dolby Atmos or DTS Virtual:X. Sony offers a solid 330W of total power, although that does not say much about how the soundbar sounds. The S-Force PRO Front Surround of soundbar speakers does provide a nice mix that (as we are used to from Sony) creates a high-quality surround feeling. The greatest strength of the HT-S400 also lies at the basis of its most important drawback: the subwoofer can come out very firmly, and the low tones quickly drown out the mid-tones of the soundbar itself, which threaten to become silent. You can control the bass level via the remote control, and unfortunately we had to bring that down a lot to get the overall picture right. And so you also get the feeling that you can’t use the full potential of the subwoofer (with a 160 mm speaker).

Our critical ears lacked a bit more dynamic range, making it all sound a bit too hollow in our experience. And you will notice this especially if you want to listen to music a lot, or if you usually like to adjust your audio devices in such a way that voices and fine tones float to the top. You will find a Voice button on the remote control to give those sounds a little more power, and we were happy to use that. Don’t get us wrong: with some tweaking, we have certainly succeeded in finding a decent balance, which the average consumer will really not be bothered about.

Ministry

The operation is also very simple. In addition to the already mentioned Voice button and separate volume control for the subwoofer, you can switch inputs between the TV or a Bluetooth source, mute everything with Night mode or mute the sound. The Sound Field button is a bit misleading, because it doesn’t let you switch between different audio configurations, but simply turns the surround effect on or off. A small OLED screen behind the grille shows you which mode you are in and gives feedback if you change something. If you find those lights annoying, you can also turn off the display with the physical button on top of the soundbar.

Sony HT-S400: final verdict

If you take into account Sony’s excellent reputation and keep your expectations in this segment realistic, then the HT-S400 is a more than decent soundbar that – as an upgrade of your TV speakers – can certainly put a smile on your face. However, do not expect a high-quality, rich sound, because the midrange is too hollow for that. If you turn the bass too loud, it quickly drowns out the other frequencies. However, if you like straightforward and want a solution that is friendly to your wallet, it will be difficult to find a better alternative.