Are you looking for a soundbar to enhance your home cinematic experience? Ah, the markets are packed with many models, each promising you an enhanced viewing session. But for today, we’re taking a look at two of Sony’s numerous soundbars for comparison. On one corner, we’ve got the HT-G700, going up against HT-Z9F. Let’s look at the major differences between the two and figure out which one’s better!
About the Sony HT-G700 Soundbar
The Sony HT-G700 is a decent 3.1 channel soundbar that can support all common audio formats and offers Dolby Atmos sound technology. It is an above-average soundbar for mixed-use and can deliver a good audio experience with its seven EQ presets. It can go fairly loud as well, but there’s a lot of compression at the highest volumes. The overall sound experience is really good for dialogue, and it also has dialogue-enhancing features, so the sound is clear from background music. It is Bluetooth compatible as well.
As profound as the audio is for movies and dialogue, the HT-G700 isn’t all that good when it comes to music. It doesn’t have low-bass or a room-correction feature. However, the EQ presets are available to allow you to adjust the sound to suit your needs. It can go pretty loud too, but unfortunately, there’s a lot of thumping at max volume.
About the Sony HT-Z9F Soundbar
The Sony HT-Z9F is also a pretty good 3.1ch soundbar. It’s got two Full HDMI inputs allowing it to support all audio formats, and it supports Dolby Atmos. It’s got Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Chromecast for that wireless transmission. It also has a dedicated center speaker for dialogue and a sub speaker for heavy-bass music. Thanks to its dedicated center channel, you should be able to get very clear and accurate dialogue sounds from this device.
This soundbar supports Dolby Atmos, but it does not come with satellite speakers or up firing. It uses Sony’s S Force and Vertical S Technology to produce that experience which is a major downside. It’s also really average for low-bass bass music and is lacking in the adjustment settings.
The Price
Alright, let’s start this comparison with our first category. Everyone wants the amazing product for their money, right? I think the pricing for both of these soundbars is well-balanced, and you’re going to get good value if you purchase either of these products.
Sony HT-G700:
Ok, so the price on amazon for this soundbar is going to range between $499-$599, which in my opinion, is a really good price for a mid-range device. You can enjoy a decent audio experience for just that amount of cash. I think the HT-G700 sits at a reasonably priced range and offers good value for that money.
Sony HT-Z9F:
You’ll see the price range for the soundbar alone on amazon is $899-$999. With the added wireless rear speakers, though, that value’s going to increase by $150-$200. So in total, the whole thing’s going to cost you well above a grand. Honestly, these rear speakers are a must-have, and if you’re willing to spend that much already, why not a little more? Although, I do think that this soundbar is quite overpriced compared to the HT-G700.
Conclusion:
The HT-G700 is the better choice here, in my opinion. The sounds produced have similar qualities. Too similar that the price shouldn’t have such a big difference. The HT-G700 sounds perfect if you’re looking for an affordable soundbar, and it comes with several useful features for that price.
The Design
This next category is a bit hard to talk about since, on the first look, you wouldn’t find any big difference in the design. Both of these soundbars are, like other Sony products, very similar in design. Let’s take a closer look.
Sony HT-G700:
The Sony HT-G700 is a sleek and smooth-looking soundbar. The body’s made from high-quality plastic and has a glossy metallic grill for the safety of speakers. That gives it an overall prime look and feel to the bar. I also like the look of the subwoofer. It’s got a neat-looking metal grill, and the body is made up of plastic with glossy black touch to add to the premium look. Overall, I think the pair is very satisfying to look at and aesthetically pleasing. The soundbar is quite wide but not tall, so it won’t be blocking the bottom of your screen unless your TV sits directly on your table without a stand. I recommend watching this video for an idea of what it looks like out of the box:
Sony HT-Z9F:
Sony HT-Z9F, like its rival, is also a sleeky smooth soundbar. It’s made from good quality plastic, and it’s got a metal grill held in place through magnets. The subwoofer is quite different from the HT-G700’s one, though. It’s made of wood, with the port at the front being made of plastic. Sadly, the front of the sub doesn’t have that metal grill and is instead replaced with fabric that will gather dust. There’s also the risk of tearing the fabric instead of the metal grid. Regardless, this sucker’s still got a good design. Watch this unboxing video for a bit more information:
Conclusion:
I love the design of both of these soundbars, but if I had to choose, I’d pick HT-G700. The HT-Z9F may have a fancy metal grill that’s easily removable using magnets. Aside from that, the mesh fabric covering the front of the sub is also a major downside. The glossy paint may leave fingerprints after repeated use as well.
The Sound
Alright, moving on to the final and most important category. The whole point of a soundbar is to get the better sound out of your TV shows and music etc., right? Either of these soundbars can provide you with a great cinematic sound experience. But it is important to note the pros and cons of both. So, let’s find out which soundbar outputs the best sound.
Sony HT-G700:
Alright, I’m excited to finally talk about the sound capabilities of HT-G700. Let’s start with the performance in normal usage. It’s got a bloomy sound profile and is good for watching movies. You’ll easily make out dialogue and music with this device. It also has 7 EQ presets, which you can use for really nice sound adjustments. It supports Atmos and can play all common formats. It can also get pretty loud and has high volume levels. But the stereo dynamics; the quality of the sound at high volumes. They get really bad at max volumes, the sound is compressed, and there’s a lot of thumping.
Sony HT-Z9F:
The HT-Z9F has mixed capabilities in usage for different purposes. It’s got many audio formats and supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Chromecast. Its dedicated subwoofer offers a decent bass response. Though, it doesn’t come with satellite speakers, the Atmos and surround sound isn’t that good. The object sound appears to be coming at you from the front. It can handle dialogues in movies well, and the bass response isn’t too shabby. It’s got no treble adjustment options either, and only a few EQ presets.
Conclusion:
Very hard to decide here. Both these soundbars are so similar, and both produce a very nice audio experience that is both immersive and engaging. I do have to say, though, the HT-G700 takes the cake here. Its seven EQ presets and other mentioned qualities make it the category winner.
Final Verdict
Ultimately, the HT-G700 and HT-Z9F are very good soundbars that deliver a good sound experience and support Atmos. I’ve said it numerous times, but HT-Z9F is a good soundbar but, as good as it is, the HT-G700 is the winner of this fight. The price, design, and sound all are superior, in my opinion, and that is why I crown it as the better soundbar.
