Soundbar Reviews

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the Sony HT-ST5000 Soundbar (purple trace) and subwoofer (blue trace). The left channel was measured with grille at a distance of 1 meter in Music mode.

The HT-ST5000 Soundbar’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +5.00 /–11.7 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. Note that the bottom end of the bar begins to roll-off at an unusually high frequency. When stated over a more limited range of 500 Hz to 10 kHz, the listening-window response measures + 5.00 /–2.54 decibels. An average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal responses measures +5.34/–2.76 dB from 500 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3dB point is at 468 Hz, and the –6dB point is at 314 Hz.

The subwoofer’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3dB point is at 36 Hz and the –6dB point is at 33 Hz. The upper –3dB point is at 141 Hz. —MJP