First impressions | Setup | Listening test: Music | Listening test: Movies & games | Conclusion
We previously tested at Sony's alternative take on a Dolby Atmos system in the form of the HT-A9 (review). There is now a refreshed and upgraded version called the Bravia Theatre Quad. It is not a soundbar, but instead four wireless separate active speakers, each equipped with drivers to deliver Dolby Atmos.

We tested the Quad (HT-A9M2) with the Sony SA-SW5 subwoofer, but this is a separate purchase.


Price and retailers:
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Sony Theatre Quad (HT-A9M2) – specifications
Design 
4x square speakers
- colors
gray
- dimensions (HxWxD)
27.9 x 27.9 x 7.3 cm
- weight
2.6 kg
- wall mounting

Speakers 
16 channels (4.0.4)
- Total output
504W
- Other
Can be expanded with two different subwoofers from Sony: SA-SW5 (300W) or SA-SW3 (200W)

Sound formats 
Dolby and DTS
- Dolby Atmos 
- Dolby TrueHD 
- Dolby Digital Plus 
- Dolby Digital
- DTS:X 
- DTS-HD 
- DTS 
- LPCM 
- MPEG-H 
- Hi-Res Audio 
- 360 Reality Audio 



HDMI In/Out  
- HDMI Inputs
(1x)
- HDMI ARC / eARC 
/ 
- HDMI CEC 
- Passthrough 4K 
(4K120)
- Passthrough HDR10 
- Passthrough Dolby Vision 
- Passthrough ALLM 
- Passthrough VRR 
- Passthrough QMS 

Inputs
1x HDMI, 1x Ethernet, 1x S-center Out
Outputs
1x HDMI
WiFi 
(WiFi 5)
Wireless Audio Protocols 
Yes
- Chromecast 
- AirPlay 2 
- Spotify Connect 
- Bluetooth 
 (5.2)
- Other
Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa

In the box
Control box, 4x speakers, remote control, HDMI cable, power cables, quick guide



First impressions
Sony launched their alternative Dolby Atmos speaker system, HT-A9, a couple of years ago, which we reviewed last year. It consists of four separate active speakers, each equipped with Atmos drivers to reproduce sound from the sides, top and rear. They all connect wirelessly. This year, Sony has refreshed the design, refined the technology and come up with a catchier name for the system: Theatre Quad (model number HT-A9M2). Quad refers to the four speakers that make up the entire system.

The older HT-A9 was a collection of barrel-shaped speakers that could appear somewhat bulky, but with Quad the design has been streamlined and the form factor changed to a flat, square unit. In the previous version, there were three speaker drivers in each speaker, which has now been upgraded to four, totaling 16 drivers for 4.0.4 channel sound. The front-facing part of the speaker has shifted from a two-way system to a three-way system, complemented by a top-mounted driver for overhead Atmos sound.

Each speaker is wrapped in gray front fabric, covering both the front and back, with mounting holes on the rear for wall installation. Each speaker comes with a set of feet that are easy to assemble, and they simply require a standard power cable, as they are active speakers. The quality of the speakers is excellent, and aesthetically the flat design likely fits better in a living room, especially if the speakers are wall-mounted, compared to HT-A9. The power cables are of good length and gray; if desired, they can be replaced with standard power cables featuring 8-pin connectors.




Communication with your TV occurs wirelessly via a control box, which connects to the TV over HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC – or alternatively through the optical SPDIF port. For Dolby Atmos, an eARC/ARC connection is required. The box is not compact enough to be hidden behind a TV and our previous experience tells us that it should not be placed behind anything that could obstruct communication with the speakers.

At the front of the box is a small display that shows information about the source, volume. On the back are connections to the TV plus an extra HDMI input so you do not lose the HDMI port that you sacrifice on the TV. It features HDMI 2.1, which supports 4K120, Dolby Vision and VRR passthrough. Quad work with all TV models from all brand but is designed to work in a special way with newer Sony models, where the TV can act as the center channel in the system; for this to work, there is an analog output (S-Center Out) on the box that connects to the TV's speakers via a dedicated port.

The box is equipped with a fan and unfortunately the noise from this is audible. It is not a whine, but rather a slight hum, and from about 3.5 meters away on the TV stand it could be heard during quiet sequences. Any active cooling fan comes with the risk that the ball bearing could wear out, changing the fan noise over time.


 The control box for the Sony Theatre Quad. Photo: Flatpanels

In this test, we paired the Quad with the same subwoofer, SA-SW5, that we used in our HT-A7000 review and earlier with the HT-A9. We tested the center channel sound on a Sony Bravia 9 (XR90) TV, which we have also reviewed separately. It is worth noting that the subwoofer is far from as aesthetically pleasing as the Quad speakers and it takes up quite a bit of space in the room. When considering design and how it fits into your living room, you should assume that you will also need to accommodate the SA-SW5 – read on for more details about why this is the case.


Setup
Included with the Quad is a basic plastic remote control that allows you to adjust the speakers' basic functions. However, for the setup itself you use Sony's Bravia Connect app, which guides you through pairing devices, room calibration and the general system setup. Volume control happens via HDMI-CEC so you will not need to use the included remote at any point. You can control the volume on Quad using your TV remote or a media player's remote.

The app was a bit slow in detecting the system and some adjustments caused the sound to pause. However, the overall experience of configuring it through the app is an improvement compared to HT-A9, where the setup had to be done using the TV interface through the system's HDMI port.

 Certain sound functions on the Quad can be controlled directly from a newer Sony TV. Photo: Flatpanels
During this test, we connected the Quad to Sony's latest zone-controlled LCD TV, XR90, which provides access to some of the sound features through the TV's settings menu. In practice, there is typically no need for ongoing adjustments so these features can be removed from the TV's interface later to avoid unnecessary clutter. To make the TV function as a center channel, you need to connect an analog mini-jack cable between the box and the TV. Additionally, the TV needs to know that it should act as the center channel (Acoustic Centre Sync), which you must find in the TV's menus. During testing, there were some back-and-forth changes between this setting, and unfortunately the box and TV were not always in agreement about whether the function was enabled or not. The average user will likely stick to one setting and stay there, so this issue is probably limited to testing scenarios.

If you do not own a newer Sony TV to serve as the center, the system will emulate the center channel. However, for a decent result, you should calibrate the equipment for the position where you typically sit, as the timing between the speakers is adjusted through the app (and your phone's microphone).

If you are into music streaming, Quad supports AirPlay 2, Bluetooth and Spotify Connect, but Chromecast support is no longer available (it was support in the older HT-A9). On the format side, it supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X – as well as older Dolby and DTS audio formats – plus Sony's own 360 audio format.


Listening test: Music
We have on FlatpanelsHD traditionally focused primarily on TV audio in the form of soundbars, and in that competitive field it is often challenging to get a broad enough sound perspective to deliver a good music experience. This is not a problem with Quad. Even when placed relatively close to the TV, the stereo perspective remains much wider and more pleasing than most soundbars. There is plenty of volume headroom and Quad, with its four identical speakers, can fill moderate rooms with good sound.

Compared to the Sonos Arc soundbar in the same room, there is a significant difference in sound pressure. Looking at tests from other sites, Rtings has reported that one should be cautious with continuous use near maximum volume, as they managed to burn out the system – while we did not test this scenario, consider yourself warned.

 The components in each Quad speaker. Photo: Sony
The vocals and midrange are well-controlled and significantly fuller than most soundbars we test. However, it is essential to remember the price of this system. For the same price you can get a decent stereo setup at most HiFi stores. If you are primarily looking for stereo sound for both TV and music, you might end up paying too much for the experience. This becomes particularly evident when evaluating the deep tones, which are notably lacking in Quad. Without the addition of a subwoofer, you simply will not get enough out of the system. So, while Quad is already on the higher end of the price spectrum, you will need to allocate funds to add something like the SA-SW5 subwoofer alongside it.

Compared to HT-A9, the addition of an extra driver for sound reproduction directly out of the speaker – moving from a two-way to a three-way solution – benefits the dynamics of the speaker, making it feel more cohesive than before. Particularly in music reproduction, there is better overall sound quality and the vocals are balanced without becoming shrill, although this was not an issue with the HT-A9 either. Is this enough to justify HT-A9 owners switching? No, the difference is not significant enough to provide a markedly different experience in the living room.

Spatial audio through AirPlay 2 was not possible during testing, but since Apple has announced that they will enable spatial audio, including Dolby Atmos on third-party devices via AirPlay, it may be possible in the future. Apple Music already allows streaming Dolby Atmos music – now we just need it to happen on devices other than Apple gear. The ability to play music recorded in Dolby Atmos offers an immersive experience, and while Quad may not necessarily compete with other dedicated music systems, the addition of Atmos to the soundtrack could indeed make this system worth it for you.

 Also read: Guide to Dolby Atmos at home

As a companion for music, Quad is undoubtedly one of the best "all-in-one" TV audio systems we have tested up to its price point.



Listening test: Movies, TV & games
In our test of HT-A9, the speakers were paired with the less powerful Sony A95K QD-OLED TV, where we could not quite match the performance of the speakers through the TV's built-in audio. In this test, we had access to the Sony Bravia 9 (XR90) in 75 inches and the sound is quite different here. In this combo, it makes sense to activate the center audio through the TV to gain that extra front channel.

If we linger on the sound performance front-and-center, this is the system's biggest drawback. The calibration of the sound to the seating position is good, but the sweet spot is very narrow. If you move just one seat to either side, it becomes very clear that the dialogue is stronger from the speaker you are closer to. With the TV as the center channel, this is less obvious, but the issue never completely disappears. In full-fledged surround systems with a dedicated center, right and left channel, dialogue naturally comes from the center channel under the TV, but in Quad some center audio is still mixed in with the side channels, which is somewhat unfortunate.


 The connection box the Quad under the 75" Sony XR90. Photo: Flatpanels

From here, I disconnect the TV entirely to evaluate only the four Quads. When listening to dialogue, it always comes across as clear and distinct. There is no muffled sound or shrillness to be heard, and speech in both movies and news broadcasts is top-notch. When you crank up the frequency range and let glass shatter and bullets whiz by, there can be a hint of harshness at higher volumes, but otherwise the sound has good definition – from the front, sides and even above. Sound bouncing from the ceiling is always a bit problematic and never quite matches the experience you get in a cinema, where the speakers are permanently mounted, but Quad does a good job of filling the room with sound. This is particularly true compared to the aforementioned Sonos Arc soundbar, which also sits under the TV.

 Sony's SA-SW5 subwoofer. Photo: Flatpanels
Again, it should be noted that the soundtracks from the many films I go through do not do justice without the addition of a subwoofer. The sound is simply too flat without something to handle the low frequencies, and although I am not someone who cranks the bass up to max, there is just not enough low-end performance from Quad alone.

If you are an avid console gamer, it is highlighting that the HDMI port on the back of Quad supports both VRR and 4K120, so even if you sacrifice an eARC port on the TV, you can still connect a console like the PS5 or Xbox Series X and access the same HDMI 2.1 features as your TV. With the addition of Dolby Atmos to more games, this is more relevant than ever. The interaction was only tested with a PS5, but it was problem-free to get Dolby Atmos support in the games. It is worth noting that adding an extra HDMI cable in the chain typically results in an even longer signal pause (black screen) while switching between SDR and HDR. Therefore, using the HDMI port on the back of Quad is better reserved for a console, which will typically run HDR most of the time (if you're playing newer games), whereas a media box might frequently switch between SDR and HDR. Speaking of HDMI passthrough, Quad does not support passthrough of HDMI 2.1 QMS.

I have been asked by several people about the preference between a Quad system and a comparable setup with a soundbar in the middle, and I waver between the two. For music, there is no doubt that Quad outperforms similar setups based on a soundbar when it comes to stereo perspective, but as soon as the TV is turned on and dialogue flows, one might occasionally become (a bit too) aware that speech comes as a mix from the left and right. The further away you are from your TV, the less noticeable this issue becomes and in the test room the distance between the TV and the sofa is quite short – your situation may vary. One of the arguments against Quad at home, however, is the aesthetics of the subwoofer you need to add to the system, as it does not match the look of Quad and is difficult to hide. This may not be a problem in your living room.

The price range that Quad occupies and the positioning of the speakers could tempt some users to consider a more dedicated living room setup, where you would still need to find space for a surround receiver and various speakers. However, where Quad excels is in the ease with which the system adapts to your living room, the wireless connection between all devices, and the all-in-one Dolby Atmos capability of each of the four speakers.


Conclusion
Ad:
Sony's Bravia Theatre Quad builds upon the versatile and well-thought-out system we previously tested with HT-A9, and with a more minimalist design the speakers likely fit better into most living rooms.

The Sony Theatre Quad is still not a top performing audio system for neither movies nor music but it finds a good middle ground and it is easy to get started with, partly because the speaker units connect wirelessly. You get a lot of sound in the living room, as long as you remember to supplement it with a Sony subwoofer.

The Sony Theatre Quad is particularly suited for those who want good music performance without sacrificing the Dolby Atmos experience for movies – and have set aside a reasonable budget to achieve it. The product remains relatively unique in the market. However, while last year we found the price and the lack of a center speaker acceptable given the performance, this year's price increase has tipped the scale, and we have decided not to give the Quad our award.


Price and retailers:
US retailer
UK retailer
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Good stereo/music performance
Wireless speakers
Dolby Atmos support via eARC, plus DTS:X
Subwoofer can connect wirelessly
Lacks bass without subwoofer
No center channel
Only 1 HDMI input
 Nearest competitors