Top critical review
1.0 out of 5 starsHook up to my TV and sources was easy, but the sub-woofer disconnected daily for the first ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 19, 2017
Updated 4/18/18... Changed from 2-Stars to 1-Star
After sending the sound bar to United Radio twice for repair, it came back the second time with the Audio Return Channel (ARC) no longer working, a problem I never had previously. After days of troubleshooting and trying all the tips online to fix this, I had sound for about 8 hours and then gone again. Now I've spent another 45 minutes on the phone with Sony and was told I'd receive a return call within 24 hours. This speaker is just not worth the hassles to keep it operating.
Updated 3/4/18... Changed from 4-Stars to 2-Stars.
I've had problems with this since day 1. It took me quite a while to ensure that it was the soundbar causing my problems since I bought a new Sony TV soon after buying this. My problems were all related to switching inputs and HDCP problems. I have three devices that support 4K video, two of them also support HDR. I also have lots of HDMI 2.0 rated cables and have tried all different ones. After multiple phone calls to Sony, whose support, I think, really tried their best, they blamed my problems on my Tivo Bolt, saying that I needed a Non-CEC adapter for it so it wouldn't interfere with proper HDMI switching. Leaving the Tivo unplugged for a week, and just using my Roku and Android TV box, the video would still flicker on and off 5 or 6 times before locking in - IF it ever locked in and displayed. When I removed the soundbar from my system and plugged in my three devices directly into my SONY XBR-75X900E, and used it to switch, all of the flickering and video display delays were gone. When I switched an input, the new device displayed quickly. Following Sony's instructions, the soundbar was sent to United Radio for repair. They swapped the main board and returned it in less than 2 weeks (including shipping time). After plugging it back in and using it to switch my devices again, it wasn't as quick as going to the TV directly, but the switching worked with just a little initial flickering. A week later, I had to unplug the soundbar to reset it. A week later, I had to unplug it 3 or 4 times. Now, I intermittently have no sound from my Roku Premier + box (it of course works perfectly when plugged into the TV). Unplugging and rebooting the Roku does not fix the problem; unplugging the soundbar does. I can't use a soundbar that has to be unplugged every few days. I've contacted Amazon, they've contacted the seller of my soundbar, and now I'm waiting to hear from them to see what they'll do. If they can't help, I guess I'll be spending a lot of time on the phone contacting Sony.
Original Review:
Hook up to my TV and sources was easy, but the sub-woofer disconnected daily for the first few days until I changed the RF Channel setting from AUTO to 1. Once this change was made, the system has been stable. Getting used to a soundbar after coming from a true 7.1 system is difficult, but the HT-ST5000 is very pleasing and natural sounding and plays at sufficient volume. The surround sound simulation is OK, but won't truly fool you into thinking there are speakers surrounding you. I have not tested with Dolby Atmos or a 4K TV, but chose this model to have these features for the future. If you don't have any place for surround speakers, or are trying to reduce wiring, this soundbar is a great choice. The price is a little high, but considering it replaces your pre-amp and amplifier (or receiver) in addition to your speakers, it's not a bad deal.
