Meet the Sony 7.1 Surround Soundbar (HT-ST5) With Nine Independent Speakers

As much as Sony would like it, not all of us are able to jump into a X900B 4K TV series that take away the need for a soundbar, thanks to the built in Magnetic Fluid Speakers. The solution? A sound bar, of course. At IFA, Sony unveiled the HT-ST5, a ‘premium’ sound bar that offers 380 watts of 7.1 surround sound. All that power is pushed through seven digital amps and nine independent speakers. If this sounds like your kind of device, we have more details after the jump.

The Sony HT-ST5 is capable of maximizing what Blu-ray has to offer, thanks to the 7.1 surround sound and support of Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio formats. Beyond meeting your home theater requirements, the ST5 can also be your music player of chance, thanks to the incorporated Bluetooth and NFC. Devices like the Xperia Z3 that support NFC can with a simple tap connect and begin to stream. Those without NFC can connect via Bluetooth and stream from their device of choice, be it iOS or Android.

Taking a cue from SONOS, Sony is also releasing a free app called SongPal which incorporates controls and services like Spotify and Pandora. The app is available for iOS and Android devices. If all that is too fancy, the HT-ST5 also comes with a traditional remote control. Those looking to connect their home theater equipment without the need of a receiver will also be happy to know that the HS-ST5 offers three HDMI 2.0 inputs with a single HDMI output with 4K passthrough. Despite its size, this beast of a system can also be wall mounted, making it a clean solution for those without a TV stand.

The Sony HT-ST5 soundbar will be available later this month for $999.99.