This Home Theater System Delivers a “Magical” Cinematic Experience

When my husband and I moved into our current home years ago, one of the many “first” purchases we needed to make for the living room included a TV and a sound system. Since we were on a budget, we bought the cheapest option available at Costco, a simple soundbar that connected via Bluetooth. It’s worked just fine, but recently, it’s started to have some connectivity issues. So, when I got the chance to test out a complete theater system from Sony, I jumped at the opportunity — and now, I never want to go back to my old one.

Sony’s BRAVIA Theater System 6 is an all-in-one sound system that has 10 total speakers, including a subwoofer, rear speakers, and a soundbar, to offer a cinematic surround sound by Dolby Atmos/DTS:X. In addition, in the box, you’ll find left and right rear speakers, a wireless rear amp box, a remote, batteries for the remote, an HDMI cable, and an AC cord.

The soundbar’s center speakers ensure crystal-clear voice reproduction, which means you hear every single word (even a whisper) clearly. It’s best paired with a compatible BRAVIA TV to control the soundbar via TV menu, but you can also download the BRAVIA Connect app to control it via smartphone. 

Previously, I only had a front-facing Bluetooth-enabled soundbar with two speakers, so if you didn’t sit near it, you wouldn’t be able to hear the TV as clearly, which was always a problem if you walked away or sat in the furthest seat on the sectional. Additionally, the coverage was spotty, and the soundbar would cut in and out. So saying the Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6 was an improvement feels like an understatement. It has totally transformed my entire TV-watching experience. 

Setting it up and downloading the app was easy to do — it took me mere minutes to do all by myself! Since using it, I’ve really enjoyed the cinematic experience it delivers on, which provides an extra magical touch this time of year, when I’m playing all my favorite holiday movies and shows, listening to a Christmas playlist, or even putting on a holiday fireplace background video (complete with the crackling fire sounds, of course) on the TV. 

The surround sound is incredible, with the front speakers and the two rear speakers that sit on a narrow table I have behind my sectional. (You can even place the rear speakers on the walls if you’d like, but my way is a more renter-friendly option.) I’m not alone in my thinking. Reviewers on Amazon note how “amazing” this sound system is, and that “watching TV is where this soundbar really shines.” It’s important to know that because the subwoofer needs to connect to the soundbar and TV, you will have to deal with visible cables, which can be easily remedied with a cord cover.

There are three easy ways to shop for the BRAVIA Theater System 6. You can go to the Sony website, with free pickup at Best Buy, the Best Buy website (and you can find out if it’s available in store too), or visit Amazon, which also has an add-on option to deliver to your room of choice for an additional $20 (it doesn’t include unpacking). The best part is all three sites are showing the sound system to be at least $200 off — making this an even better time to buy this sound system, whether you’re looking to upgrade your current one or give the gift of a home theater this Christmas. 

Buy: Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6, $598