Sony brings Dolby Atmos surround sound to its new soundbar at CES 2017

A Look at Sony's HTS 5000: A Revolutionary Dolby Atmos Sound Bar

As we stepped into the special demonstration room within the Sony booth at CES 2017, I couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement and anticipation. The device that caught my attention was the HTS 5000, Sony's new Dolby Atmos sound bar that promised to revolutionize the home theater experience.

One of the things that impressed me about this sound bar is its fidelity, which goes beyond just surround sound effects. The sound quality itself is truly solid, with a level of clarity and precision that sets it apart from other Dolby Atmos sound bars on the market. And what's impressive is that there are 12 drivers in total, each individually amplified to ensure maximum impact.

But what really stands out about this sound bar is its ability to create a seamless and immersive experience. To achieve this, Sony has designed a system that can accommodate up to a 17-foot ceiling, most other sound bars only manage an eight or nine foot ceiling. However, there's a calibration section within the menu that allows users to extend the ceiling height to around 17 feet, reducing the delay time for the Atmos signal and creating a single, contiguous hemisphere of surround sound.

This is where Dolby Atmos truly shines, providing a multitude of effects above and coming down on you. It's like being inside the movie itself – when it rains, you might actually feel a drop hitting your head or shoulders. This level of immersion is something that home theater enthusiasts have been waiting for, and Sony has delivered.

Another key feature of this sound bar is its subwoofer, which plays a crucial role in anchoring the system and providing impact. What sets this subwoofer apart is its active driver and passive radiator design, both front-firing and bottom-firing. This results in a tight and tuneful bass sound that's perfect for music as well as movies.

But Sony hasn't stopped there – this sound bar is also high-res audio capable, allowing users to stream nearly anything they want, from CDs to DVDs to proprietary DSD format. And with the recent release of the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray player, users can now enjoy a seamless transition between different formats and disc types.

So if you're in the market for a new Dolby Atmos sound bar, I highly recommend checking out the HTS 5000. With its impressive sound quality, immersive experience, and robust features, it's an investment that's sure to pay off.