Sony HT-S400 One-Piece Surround Sound Experience: Feel the bass burst right away!Value for money petty bourgeoisie home theater program | T Kebang

Sony recently launched a new HT-S400 Soundbar single-piece surround home theater, which has attracted the attention of many petty bourgeoisie at a price of less than 10,000 yuan. Although Sony has released the HT-A7000 mid-to-high-end Soundbar model earlier this year, but In terms of product positioning, the lineage of the HT-S400 is more reminiscent of the HT-S350 Soundbar, which was released nearly 3 years ago. It is also a model with a high CP value. The HT-S400 also combines many advantages of the previous generation. , continued unreservedly, although the total output power of HT-S400 has only been increased from the previous 320W to 330W, but the overall sound quality has also been improved due to the significant upgrade in the driver unit. Feeling.

▲Sony launched the new HT-S400 Soundbar one-piece surround home theater, with a 2.1-channel configuration to create a realistic surround effect, the price is less than 10,000 yuan, becoming the best alternative to replace the thin speaker built in the TV body .

In fact, since the outbreak of the epidemic, it has become the consensus of most people to minimize going out activities. Even if you want to watch a movie, you have to think more about it. Being in this situation for a long time has also indirectly promoted the online video stream. With the booming development of streaming services, we have a more diverse and rich selection of high-quality film and television than a few years ago, but at the same time, LCD TVs are generally poor in sound due to the trend of thinning, especially in low-frequency performance. Even more so, the viewing experience is greatly reduced. Many TV manufacturers have noticed this, so in recent years, it is often seen that Soundbar products are launched along with new TV products. The purpose is to make up for the lack of TV’s original sound quality. Leading position, so its Soundbar theater products are even more unique than other brands.

▲The epidemic situation in Taiwan has been rapidly heating up recently. Staying at home to enjoy audio-visual programs is one of the safety and epidemic prevention measures. Through theater-level surround sound, the movie-watching experience can be further enhanced.

In standard 2.1 channel configuration

From the overall appearance, the Sony HT-S400 one-piece surround home theater consists of a soundbar and a subwoofer. The soundbar body is equipped with a set of left and right driver units, and the subwoofer forms a typical 2.1 channel. Sound configuration, in terms of the size of the Soundbar, the HT-S400 and HT-S350 can be said to be exactly the same, both 900mm x 64mmx 88mm, and the weight is 2.4 kg; and the subwoofer unit is the same 160mm specification, but the HT- The cabinet size of the S400 is slightly larger than the previous generation HT-S350, which can provide more resonance space. Surprisingly, although the subwoofer of the HT-S400 is larger, it is actually lighter than the previous generation. The back panel is made of recycled plastic exclusively developed by Sony, which not only maintains the bass performance, but also takes into account the corporate philosophy of attaching importance to the environment.

▲Technological design has always been Sony’s strength. The soundbar of the HT-S400 uses a large area of ​​metal grille to cover the front, which looks very large. The height is so precise that it can fit under the TV screen without being overwhelming.

▲Although the shell of the fuselage is made of plastic, it adopts a relatively rough matte texture, and the touch is quite special. It is different from the texture of the previous generation of leather, and each has its own characteristics.

▲In addition to the remote control, there are also touch buttons on the top of the Soundbar for operation, including switching sources, volume adjustment and other functions. There is actually a slight depression at the button, allowing the user to confirm the position of the press.

▲Since many large-size LCD TVs are wall-mounted, the HT-S400 also provides wall-mounted holes, which can add more flexibility in installation.

▲Compared with the low-key and stable soundbar, the active subwoofer of the HT-S400 is extremely eye-catching. Among the products of the same distance, the size of the box should be considered one of the best, and the weight is 7.3 kg, which is almost equivalent to an M- The size of the ATX computer case also ensures a larger resonance space, which can create a deeper and deeper bass performance.

▲The subwoofer uses a large-sized 160mm monomer, which has the effect of improving the volume and level of low frequency.

▲The bass reflex hole is designed to face the front. For users with cramped home space, even if the position is relatively close to the wall, it is no problem, but it is still necessary to pay attention to avoid the vents on the back from being blocked.

Upgrade of hardware specifications

In addition, the most important hardware update of the HT-S400 is the built-in driver unit used in the Soundbar part, which has been upgraded from the traditional circular unit form of the previous generation to the new X-Balanced Speaker Unit, which features a rectangular diaphragm. The design, in addition to increasing the area, can also reduce the excursion of the driver unit and maintain the sound pressure, which improves the clarity of the human voice. Since the diaphragm is changed from a circular shape to a rectangular shape, Sony also uses the suspension edge of the single unit. With a special design, independent grooves are added to improve the symmetry of the vertical amplitude, and then the pressure inside and outside the diaphragm is controlled through precise cutting patterns, so as to ensure that the sound quality will not be distorted due to the change of the diaphragm shape. . There is also a small upgraded detail, which is the status display window located in the center of the Soundbar, which is changed from LED lights to OLED screen display, allowing users to view the current status more intuitively.

▲The driver units are located on the left and right sides of the Soundbar, and the new X-Balanced Speaker Unit is used. Since the speaker grille is not removable, you can go to the official website for a more detailed and clear illustration.

▲The OLED screen display window in the center of the Soundbar will display the current connection status in text, including volume up and down, power on and standby, and the corresponding text will also be displayed, making it more intuitive to use.

Three connection methods, can be used as a Bluetooth speaker

In terms of transmission interface, the strategy adopted by the HT-S400 is also to avoid complicated wiring as much as possible, so no additional audio interface is added, and the simple interface of HDMI output and optical input is still maintained, and supports Dolby Digital, Dolby Dual mono, LCPM 2-channel and other audio formats, and the built-in Bluetooth function allows the HT-S400 to be used as a general Bluetooth speaker to wirelessly play music in mobile devices.

Due to the HDMI ARC audio return and HDMI CEC device linkage function, they have become the basic specifications of LCD TVs in recent years. Although it will occupy a set of TV HDMI ports, considering the convenience, it is recommended to connect directly through HDMI. The TV is all you need, except that you don’t need to do any more settings, and you can also turn on and off the power of the HT-S400 automatically with the TV on and off, but the HT-S400’s accessories in the box are attached with an optical fiber audio cable, but it is not provided. The HDMI transmission cable must be prepared by the user. If you are a Sony TV user, the HT-S400 also provides an additional third connection method, that is, pairing a specified model of Sony BRAVIA TV via wireless Bluetooth to simplify the connection form.

▲The cable transmission interface provides one set of HDMI output and one set of optical fiber input. It adopts the design of bevel connection, so the cable will not be stuck when hanging on the wall. The HMDI transmits the sound of the TV back to the HT-S400 for playback through the audio return function. .

▲Although a set of USB Type-A ports can be seen on the back of the Soundbar, it is only used for firmware update or maintenance, and cannot be used to read audio files in the storage device. Above the USB interface is an infrared repeater, which is used to transmit the remote signal of the TV remote control to the TV through the HT-S400 when the remote control receiver on the TV end is blocked. Turn it back on when needed.

▲When the HT-S400 is wirelessly connected to a Sony BRAVIA TV, the word TV-BT will be displayed on the OLED window.

▲The soundbar of HT-S400 and the subwoofer are connected wirelessly and need to be connected to the power supply respectively, which allows the placement of the subwoofer more freely, and when adjusting the phase of the subwoofer, there is no need to worry about wiring. line problem.

▲The HT-S400 has been paired at the factory, and the connection status is displayed with a green light when the power is turned on. On the back of the subwoofer, in addition to the power switch, there is still a LINK button reserved for wireless pairing with the Soundbar, for future use. Just in time.

Support Dolby audio format and virtual surround sound

The HT-S400 follows the S-Master full digital amplification technology developed from Sony Walkman. The purpose is to reduce the distortion caused by the conversion of digital signals, and at the same time, it can reduce power consumption. It has the advantages of power saving and energy saving. It is reduced to two main modes: night and voice. Although there are fewer modes than the previous generation, it is more practical for people like the author who have difficulty in choosing. Simply switch according to the use situation. Since it supports Dolby Digital audio format, it also supports DRC (Dynamic Range Compression) and switching of multiplex broadcast signals when the source is Dolby Digital signal. Well, it is easy to disturb family and neighbors. By compressing the gap between the maximum volume and the minimum volume, the user can also hear the sound details at lower volume; while the latter can be used for the main channel and sub sound when watching some bilingual programs. channel switching. In addition, for movies, chasing dramas and other audio-visual entertainment content, Sony’s self-developed S-Force PRO virtual surround sound technology can be turned on through the sound field mode, and the 2.1-channel surround effect can be achieved close to the theater.

▲The size of the remote control is significantly reduced, the key layout is more reasonable and intuitive, and it provides fast switching keys for voice, night and other modes. In terms of bass, it provides plus or minus 10 stages for adjustment.

▲The fuselage is marked with HDMI and Dolby Audio.

audition experience

Next into the actual listening session, the author chooses to use the three most common usage scenarios, such as movies, games, and listening to music, for the actual measurement. It can be said to be the core of the product. Therefore, in the test of movies and games, the audition is performed with the S-Force PRO sound field turned on, and the audition of music is mainly based on the most original 2.1 channel.

▲In the movie “Godzilla vs. King Kong”, the three-way monster battle at the end of the film can be said to be full of heavy bass bombing, but it can express different sound textures, Godzilla’s atomic breath and classic howling , King Kong’s chest beating and roaring in anger, as well as the mechanical Godzilla’s mecha collision sound and missile attack, can be clearly presented separately.

▲“Dune” won 6 awards including the Best Sound Effect Award at this year’s Academy Awards ceremony. Many giant ships in the film, in addition to showing their grandeur through the way of picture comparison, through the HT-S400 The low-frequency effect can better understand its weight, but what impressed me most was the “magic sound” effect displayed by the characters in the film. The special tones with a sense of intimidation created by the combination of high and low frequencies really have a kind of intimidating effect. The feeling of the listener gripping tightly.

▲“Unscripted Players” takes the game as the background. The virtual world has become the real world in the eyes of NPCs. Therefore, in the film, there is often a process of continuous alternation or fusion of real objects and virtual objects, including real gunfights and video games. Therefore, the sound also needs to be properly presented according to the picture. The HT-S400 has a good performance in terms of sound resolution by accurately driving the high, medium and low three frequencies.

▲The first-person shooter game “Decisive Moment: Pioneer” is based on the four main battlefields of World War II. In the first level, players need to capture a train to Hamburg, Germany in heavy rain. The sound of the whole scene is quite rich Yes, there are not only the sound of wind and rain, the roar of the train running on the railway, but also the sound of the engine chasing the enemy’s car. The virtual surround sound of the S-Force PRO sounds really enjoyable.

▲In “Romantic Tour of Sports Car 7″, the author wants to further test the surround ability of the S-Force PRO, so I deliberately slow down the speed during driving to let the rear car overtake, although it is obvious that the rear car will move from the left or The right side is overtaking, but during the entire overtaking process, the sound position of the opponent’s car changes from the rear to the front, which is not particularly obvious. This should be the limitation of the 2.1 speaker itself, but because “Romantic Brigade 7” uses the The way of real car recording, so it can still be distinguished that the sound of the engine is different.

▲“A Plague Tale: Innocence” is set in the 13th century Europe where the plague was prevalent, so the scene of “rat” infestation can be described as commonplace. After I started this game, I found that it was really self-abuse, users who own HT-S400 may wish to try it. Enter this game and enjoy the feeling of being surrounded by mice and itching all over.

▲“MLB The Show 22” is an American professional baseball game produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment‘s San Diego studio. In addition to the excellent graphics, there is also an almost 100% restored broadcast system and TV mirror movement, as if you are really watching a game. The same, but unfortunately this game does not support Chinese, you can turn on the vocal mode of the HT-S400, improve the clarity to practice English listening, or turn on the virtual surround to feel the cheers of the audience at the scene.

As for listening to music, I will choose to turn off S-Force PRO. In addition to the surround mode, the details of the human voice are not as rich as the native 2.1 channel, and the surround mode will also emphasize the position of the listener. Situationally, I don’t often sit in front of the Soundbar and listen to music, but play music while doing my own thing. Whether you need to turn on the vocal mode depends on your personal listening habits, but the author hopes to have an additional music mode or custom mode, so that you don’t have to manually adjust the bass level every time you listen to music, after all Listening to music and watching movies and playing games have different needs for heavy bass.

Purchasing advice

Overall, the Sony HT-S400 generally meets several types of needs. First of all, users who are not satisfied with the sound of the TV at home and do not want to spend money to replace the high-end TV. After connecting the Sony HT-S400, its excellent bass performance, Whether it is for audio-visual and entertainment purposes, it will be very interesting; secondly, there is little space available in the home, and there is no way to plan a physical multi-channel system. The HT-S400 has the advantage of being small in size, and it is easy to connect to support Most TV brand specifications, if you are already a Sony TV user, you can also subtract an audio transmission line and connect wirelessly, which is quite flexible in deployment. Finally, because the HT-S400 is quite sincere in price, even if you already have good surround sound equipment in your living room, you can still use the HT-S400 to easily turn your bedroom into a second home theater space without spending too much cost , which can be said to be an excellent choice for the CP value.