Sony HT-S2000 review: I heard sounds I never have before with this $499 soundbar

As someone who watches a lot of TV and plays many video games, the Sony HT-S2000 has transformed how I consume media and sounds. With a built-in subwoofer that delivers thumping bass and enhances action scenes, this 3.1 channel soundbar creates immersive soundscapes that had me appreciating sounds I’d never heard before.

Priced at just $499 and with Dolby Atmos support, this is your way into the home theatre scene. The HT-S2000 is plug-and-play, and it sports a low-profile design, allowing it to effortlessly blend into your existing setup. With dedicated Night and Voice Modes, you can enhance dialogues or reduce them, and you can even use your phone as a remote control.

Is this one of the best soundbars today? Yes. Should you buy it? Also yes. For the complete breakdown, read my full Sony HT-S2000 review.

Sony HT-S2000 review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A soundbar with a built-in subwoofer
• Who is it for? For movie lovers wanting to upgrade their home theatre system
• How much does it cost? $499 / £399
• What do we like? Impressive (and immersive) sound quality, crisp and clear dialogues and booming bass, the low-profile design and easy plug-and-play functionality
• What don’t we like? There’s no voice assistant support or AirPlay/Wi-Fi streaming

ony HT-S2000 review: Specs

Sony HT-S2000 review: Price & availability

The Sony HT-S2000 is the brand’s entry-level soundbar which is available in black and has a retail price of $499 at Amazon U.S. / £399 at Amazon U.K. We’ve also seen it drop to $298 in the past, and this 3.1-channel beast with Dolby Atmos and DTS-X support is great value for money. It’s got a built-in subwoofer too, for a more well-rounded sound profile.

Sony’s offering is similarly priced to the Bose Smart Soundbar and the Klipsch Flexus Core 200 — both retail for $499. It’s far more affordable than the best of the best Sonos Arc Ultra ($999) and the Sony HT-A7000 ($1,399).

Sony HT-S2000 review: Design

• Low-profile design and wall-mountable
• Ideal for 40-inch TVs or larger
• High-quality build

If you want a soundbar that looks minimalist while offering big sound, then the Sony HT-S2000 could be right up your alley. Sporting an all-black design with mesh wrapped around its entire body, the HT-S2000 maintains a low-profile, blending into most existing setups. The metal mesh grille hides the soundbar’s five speakers: three for the left, right and center channels and two dedicated woofers for the bass.

The top of the HT-S2000 houses the black control panel, and the top surface is made of high-quality plastic with a matte finish which feels good — and premium — to the touch. Everything you need to control the HT-S2000 is located here: power, input, Bluetooth, and volume up and down touch buttons. You also get a small remote control that lets you do the same things while giving you additional control over three bass settings and EQ modes. A front panel display lights up in white to let you know the current settings being changed (or the input). It’s bright and easy to read even from a distance.

The HT-S2000 doesn’t have a massive footprint either, measuring just 31.5 x 5 x 2.6 inches, so it should feel right at home with 40-inch TVs or larger. I used it with a 40-inch and a 55-inch TV and the soundbar didn’t feel out of place, providing an excellent soundscape when connected to either. It weighs just 8.3lbs too, making it easier to lift it up for cleaning or easy transport.

Sony HT-S2000 review: Connectivity & controls

• HDMI out with ARC/eARC
• Bluetooth 5.2 for wireless connectivity
• Straightforward controls

Keeping with the ‘minimalist’ philosophy Sony has opted for the HT-S2000, its physical ports can be counted on one hand. On the back, you’ll find an HDMI port (with eARC/ARC) alongside an optical digital audio located in a recessed panel, a USB-A port to play music on connected drives, and a power port.

It’s important to note, though, that the HT-S2000 doesn’t support music streaming using Wi-Fi or AirPlay, which other pricier soundbars like the Sonos Arc Ultra can do. If you want to play music from your smartphone, you can do that too thanks to a solid Bluetooth 5.2 connection.

Sony recommends installing the BRAVIA Connect app on your Android or iOS device to remotely control the HT-S2000. I downloaded it onto my Google Pixel 7 Pro and found it extremely easy to swap between main, main/sub and sub speakers. Then there’s the togglable Sound Field feature. It allows you to select different modes based on the input source or speaker connections. You don’t have to worry too much about it, though, as the soundbar will automatically select the right mode.

Unlike the Bose Smart Soundbar, The HT-S2000 doesn’t have voice assistant support so you can’t just ask it to increase the volume, for instance. Personally, this isn’t a feature I see myself relying on as I use the remote control, but it’s worth pointing out anyway for those who need voice control.

Sony HT-S2000 review: Setting up

• Plug and play
• User-friendly app

Setting up the Sony HT-S2000 is a walk in the park. The soundbar can be mounted on a wall but I placed it on my TV stand — as I suspect many others will do. Once you’ve found the right place for it, all you need to do is plug it into the power socket and connect it to your TV with the HDMI cable — just make sure your TV has an eARC/ARC port. You can also use the optical digital input but it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos or HDMI-CEC control (to adjust the soundbar’s volume via the TV’s remote control). It’s about as plug-and-play as it gets.

If you have Wi-Fi speakers, like the Sony SA-RS3S Total 100Ws ($348), you can link them up with the HT-S2000 via the app. You can also use the app for A/V sync adjustment, automatic volume adjustment, and DTS Virtual:X to enhance stereo or mono soundtracks.

That’s the setup I used when using my TV, but I also connected my phone via Bluetooth. All you need to do is tap the Bluetooth icon on the soundbar (or the remote control) and pair with it via your phone’s settings — again, easy.

Sony HT-S2000 review: Performance

• Clear, crisp dialogues
• Immersive virtual ‘wraparound’ sound
• Excellent for both movies and music

Like I noted earlier, the Sony HT-S2000 is fitted with five speakers and it’s got a built-in subwoofer. You don’t have to buy it separately or make extra space for one to get a well-rounded sound profile. And boy does the HT-S2000 create immersive, well-balanced soundscapes. Whether I was watching an action movie with intense fighting scenes or one with emotionally charged dialogues, the HT-S2000 transmitted every individual sound clearly, thereby completely transforming the way I consume media.

Dolby Atmos is the big selling point here, so to kick things off, I watched the opening scene of Top Gun: Maverick, Tom’s Guides testing reference. Mind you, this is a movie I’ve seen thrice at the theatre so I remember exactly what it’s meant to sound like — and the HT-S2000 came very close to replicating it. The sound of the fighter jets’ engines powering up while ground staff talk over radios was well-balanced and clear, with neither overpowering the other. And as the first jet gained speed and Kenny Loggins’ Danger Zone played as it took off, my living room filled with the jet’s roar.

The HT-S2000’s S-Force Pro Front Surround created a virtual ‘wraparound’ so it sounded like different sounds were coming from different parts of the room, which made the listening experience extremely immersive. This was also my partner’s first time watching the movie and I saw her jaw drop as the song’s chorus hit, and she remarked that it was like being at the movies.

I also have to point out that even when not watching Dolby Atmos content, the HT-S2000 still does a stellar job of reproducing a wide soundstage. Interstellar was a great example: the scene where Matthew McConaughey’s character is listening to messages from his family. I had the movie downloaded onto my external hard drive so I watched it through the soundbar — no Dolby Atmos. It sounded far better than through my TV’s speakers or any headphones. Hans Zimmer’s Cornfield Chase playing in the background is enough to make a grown woman cry, of course, but the HT-S2000 gave it a bassline so deep (when set on Max) that I could feel it in my chest. Every line of dialogue spoken by Cooper’s children is crystal clear and detailed, with not one word sounding muffled. I could also clearly hear Cooper’s muffled cries and whimpers.

The HT-S2000 has two dedicated audio modes: Night and Voice. Toggling Night Mode reduces louder sound effects, such as explosions, while keeping dialogue at an audible level. On the other hand, Voice Mode enhances dialogue clarity. Both of these work well.

If you fancy listening to some tunes when you’re hosting a party, the HT-S2000 is a solid musical option. I listened to my trusty playlist on Spotify Premium to test the HT-S2000's music capabilities. This is a powerful soundbar that checks a lot of boxes for both movies and music — especially if you like bass. Lows, mids and highs are balanced well, as I found while listening to Twenty One Pilots’ At the Risk of Feeling Dumb, where Tyler Joseph’s high notes never sound piercing and his lows sound crisp, even when he changes frequencies. In bass-heavy tracks like Pink Floyd’s Money, you can make out every single bass note while appreciating their weight.

Overall, the HT-S2000 sounds incredible. If you’re on a budget and can’t drop nearly $1,000 on the likes of the Sonos Arc Ultra, Sony’s offering is an accessible way of upgrading your home theatre system.

Sony HT-S2000 review: Verdict

If you’re taking your first steps into the world of home theatre systems or are looking to upgrade, the Sony HT-S2000 might be the answer to your prayers. This 3.1 channel soundbar, with its five speakers and built-in subwoofer, creates immersive soundscapes with a virtual ‘wraparound’ sound. Background music in tense scenes engulfs your living room and high notes never sound piercing.

Priced at $499 — and sometimes heavily discounted during sales — the HT-S2000, with Dolby Atmos support, is one of the best soundbars we’ve tested. There are other ways to boost your TV sound, like with the best cheap soundbars, but the HT-S2000 is well-worth the money if you want a low-profile soundbar that delivers big, rich sound.