Sharp unveils two very affordable Dolby Atmos soundbars

(Image credit: Sharp)

Dolby Atmos surround sound has become more accessible in recent years thanks to its implementation in soundbars, and while Atmos soundbars are no longer exclusive to high price tags, Sharp's two latest entries into the market could be among the cheapest out there.

Sharp's 5.1.2-channel, 570-watt HT-SBW800 (£449) complements a centre speaker and pair of side-firing drivers with two upward-firers that are designed to deliver the height effect of Atmos by bouncing sound off the ceiling towards the listener.

The 440-watt HT-SBW460 (£299), meanwhile, sports a 3.1-channel speaker arrangement but, as you may expect for the price, doesn't feature upward-firing drivers. Instead, it aims to create a sense of virtual height through processing trickery – which should make a difference over non-Atmos soundbars but in our experience won't stand up to those with actual upward-firers.

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Both soundbars come with a wireless subwoofer to bring more brunt to the system, and the headline Dolby Atmos feature is backed by vast connectivity. There's three 4K-supporting HDMI ports (two inputs, one output) in addition to optical, coaxial, USB and aux inputs and Bluetooth.

The HT-SBW800 and HT-SBW460 are available now from Amazon.

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Becky is the managing editor of What Hi-Fi? and, since her recent move to Melbourne, also the editor of the brand's sister magazines Down Under – Australian Hi-Fi and Audio Esoterica. During her 11+ years in the hi-fi industry, she has reviewed all manner of audio gear, from budget amplifiers to high-end speakers, and particularly specialises in headphones and head-fi devices. In her spare time, Becky can often be found running, watching Liverpool FC and horror movies, and hunting for gluten-free cake.