Tempted by a budget Dolby Atmos soundbar? Our favourite five-star Sony is still at its lowest price ever

Sony HT-S2000 soundbar on a rack in front of a TV
(Image credit: What Hi-Fi?)

Tired of disappointing sound quality from your TV's built-in speakers? If you're planning to add a soundbar to boost your TV's audio prowess but don't want to break the bank, we have found a great deal on one of our favourite models from the past 12 months.

The Sony HT-S2000 represents an excellent affordable alternative to some of the pricier models on the market. To make things even better, it's still available to buy at its record-low price of £289 at Amazon. The bar dropped this low during Black Friday last year so it's good to see it hasn't returned to the original asking price of £349.

Sony HT-S2000 soundbar was £350 now £289 at Amazon (save £61)

Sony HT-S2000 soundbar was £350 now £289 at Amazon (save £61)
The Sony HT-S2000 is a fine Dolby Atmos soundbar at full price but this £61 discount makes it all the more tempting for anyone looking to upgrade their TV sound without spending a fortune. The HT-S2000 is compact, has Bluetooth and most importantly fires out a clear, crisp and dynamic sound.

In our HT-S2000 review, we said "if you want clearer, more dynamic and direct sound from your TV at a price that won’t put you off, then the Sony really is an easy sell."

It's a neat little bar (more suited to smaller rooms) that focuses on sound quality rather than packing in every feature under the sun. The most important factor, though, is that this Sony soundbar will pretty much certainly be a big upgrade on your TV’s built-in speakers.

The soundbar features a 3.1-channel arrangement with a built-in subwoofer which offers 250W of power. Inside the bar, there are three X Balance speaker units, with the centre channel driver designed specially to enhance the clarity of dialogue. The Sony keeps it simple with sockets for HDMI eARC, optical audio and USB connections built-in. Bluetooth 5.2 support is also included for wireless streaming from a smartphone or tablet.

Its budget price tag means you don't have the luxury of upward-firing drive units in the HT-S2000 – the height channels for spatial audio formats such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are achieved virtually. This is achieved using Sony’s Vertical Sound Engine psychoacoustic sound processing system – and the results are very good given it has fewer drivers to work with. The panning and movement of effects is nicely handled and, though it can't quite match the Sonos Beam Gen 2, the extra money you save on the Sony should be welcomed.

If you want clearer and more dynamic sound from your TV at a very reasonable price, this Sony soundbar is a great recommendation. And, for just £289 at Amazon, this deal should be taken very seriously.

MORE:

Read our full Sony HT-S2000 review

Check out the best Dolby Atmos soundbars you can buy right now

How to choose and set up a soundbar

Andy Madden

Andy is Deputy Editor of What Hi-Fi? and a consumer electronics journalist with nearly 20 years of experience writing news, reviews and features. Over the years he's also contributed to a number of other outlets, including The Sunday Times, the BBC, Stuff, and BA High Life Magazine. Premium wireless earbuds are his passion but he's also keen on car tech and in-car audio systems and can often be found cruising the countryside testing the latest set-ups. In his spare time Andy is a keen golfer and gamer.

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  • kurkosdr
    "What Hi-Fi" unironically recommending an Atmos soundbar with virtualized height channels... what the hell? Are we seriously considering virtualized height now instead of treating it like the useless gimmick it is?

    Virtualized height can't be achieved without trashing the non-height audio. And what does the "Hi-Fi" part of "What Hi-Fi" mean? Hint: It means "high fidelity".
    Reply