Sony India has announced that it’s expanding its audio range with the launch of the Sony HT-Z9F Soundbar. The soundbar comes with Dolby Atmos support for “enhanced, connected and compelling cinematic experience” and will be available for a price of Rs 59,990 in India.
The HT-Z9F Soundbar comes with Dolby Atmos/DTS:X support, thus offering a new level of cinematic-audio environment to any home entertainment set up. Sony has combined the soundbar with its Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround technology for recreating the feeling of being surrounded by speakers.
There’s a Vertical S button on the soundbar’s remote which allows the HT-Z9F to up-mix 2ch stereo content to up to 7.1.2ch. The HT-Z9F Soundbar can be paired with the Sony SA-Z9R rear surround speakers to extend the surround sound experience.
The Sony soundbar supports 4K HDR and Dolby Vision pass through so that the original picture quality is passed through the Soundbar directly to the TV without any loss of quality. The device also supports high-resolution audio formats through the provided digital sound enhancement engine feature.
Sony’s HT-Z9F offers voice assistant functionality through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. While the sandbar is enabled with 20,000 Alexa skills including the ability to book cabs, movie tickets, order food or listening to music, Google Assistant will allow users to control the volume, skip tracks or stop the music by just a voice.
Connectivity options in the HT-Z9F include 2 HDMI input, 1 HDMI output, Bluetooth 4.2, WiFi, 4K HDR 18 Gbps passthrough and HDCP 2.2, Dolby Vision Compatible. Measuring 100 cm × 6.4 cm × 9.9 cm (3,1 kg) for the bar speaker and 19 cm x 38.2 cm x 38.6 cm (8.1 kg) for the subwoofer, the HT-Z9F is designed to match Sony’s Bravia TVs.
Speaking about the launch, Sony India MD, Sunil Nayyar said “The new HT-Z9F, will be a game changer for the home-cinema segment. Our exciting collaboration with Dolby for HT-Z9F will enable users to enjoy cinematic-audio powered by Dolby Atmos, right in the comfort of their homes, thus, giving them more reasons to love Sony”.
Dolby Laboratories, Emerging Markets Senior Regional Marketing Director, Ashim Mathur also commented saying “Dolby Atmos transports you from an ordinary moment into an extraordinary experience with moving audio. With the new Sony HT-Z9F, it will now be easier to enjoy the Dolby Atmos experience at home. Dolby and Sony are collaborating locally in India to bring spectacular experiences to the home”.
The Sony HT-Z9F soundbar will be available for a price of Rs 59,990 with pre-bookings to start from July 1 to July 8. The SA-Z9R rear surround speakers will be price at Rs 9,990, which will be available for free during the pre-booking period. Both products will be available through Sony brand shops, major electronic stores and e-commerce stores.