"The definitive home theater" - Enjoy ultimate surround sound at home with the Sony BRAVIA Theatre Quad HT-A9M2 home theater system [COOL GADGETS Vol. 67] - Wheelfeed - Supercar News, Luxury Car Reviews & Updates

The impact of 360 Spatial Sound Mapping

It uses a unique surround sound technology called "360 Spatial Sound Mapping," which synthesizes the sound wavefronts from four speakers and generates multiple virtual sound sources outside the real speakers. — It uses a unique surround sound technology called “360 Spatial Sound Mapping,” which synthesizes the sound wavefronts from four speakers and generates multiple virtual sound sources outside the real speakers.

In the past few years, it has become surprisingly easy to build a home theater. While TVs are becoming thinner and larger, and stylish, they tend to lack sound quality. The larger the screen, the more balanced it becomes, as it needs to have a professional, wide sound field.

On the other hand, the more stylish and slim the design, the more difficult it is to achieve high sound quality. For this reason, the “sound bar” genre, which used to be little more than a way to slightly enhance TV speakers, has seen the emergence of high-end models with full sets costing up to 500,000 yen, and sound systems that are both easy to use and have a convincing design are now being proposed.

Among them, the Sony HT-A9M2 is a product that will surprise you. By placing four stylish, wireless, thin speakers in the four corners of a room without any strict positioning restrictions, you can create a vast Dolby ATMOS sound space in your own room. This experience is made possible by a technology called “360 Spatial Sound Mapping.”

This technology uses a technique called “wave field synthesis” to make it seem as if more speakers are actually present than are actually connected. This is known as virtual surround technology, but most virtual surround technologies have technical limitations. However, this unit creates virtual speakers using four speakers, making it seem as if the speakers are really there, virtually recreating a Dolby ATMOS 7.1.4 configuration (seven surround channels, one subwoofer, and four ceiling speakers). Similar technology is actually incorporated into various Sony products, but the sound field created by the TH-A9M2 is exceptional among them.

The secret to the powerful sound is the unique 3-way structure

The speaker employs a 3-way structure with an enabled speaker at the top and a tweeter, midrange, and woofer at the front, delivering a slim yet powerful sound. — [1]

The control box connects to the TV via HDMI and to the four speakers wirelessly. The back of the box is equipped with HDMI output/input terminals, a LAN terminal, and a DC input terminal. — [1]

This technology was previously used in installations such as projection mapping at special events. However, technological advances have made it possible to incorporate it into small products. It also provides a stable wireless connection and automatic setup. It can easily and effectively create a rich sound field. When watching an action movie, you’ll be thrilled by the sound field that changes along with the visual effects, and even in quiet dramas, it creates a convincing atmosphere in scenes that create tension.

What’s even more surprising than enjoying Dolby ATMOS audio with video works and concert footage is how much “spatial audio” music is available. In fact, the number of spatial audio songs available on services like Apple Music (music created with Dolby ATMOS and other 3D editing) is approaching 25,000, and the number is growing. This system can reproduce this new form of music with excellent sound quality and balance.

Easy operation with the dedicated app

Using the smartphone app "Sony i BRAVIA Connect," you can easily adjust sound settings, change bass levels, and measure your listening position. — Using the smartphone app “Sony i BRAVIA Connect,” you can easily adjust sound settings, change bass levels, and measure your listening position.

You might think it’s only 25,000 songs, but the number is constantly being added, and it also has an upmix function that lets you enjoy listening to stereo audio sources in a Dolby ATMOS configuration. With the HT-A9M2, you can now create a satisfying audio environment in your home without any hesitation. If you think of this as your goal, it’s actually a small investment, isn’t it?

REPORT/Masakazu HONDA

PHOTO/Kunihisa KOBAYASHI

MAGAZINE/ GENROQ April 2025 issue

PRICE

Open price

evaluation

This model is the second generation. The first generation model was a regular speaker design, but the new model is thinner and blends in with the interior, and the sound quality has been refined, making it a more complete product.

Cost performance: 5

Sound quality: 4

3D sound: 5

Ease of use: 4

Freedom of installation: 5

[Inquiries]

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