Sony is taking a different approach to home audio this year, ditching the traditional all-at-once purchase model in favour of systems you can build gradually. The company has announced its 2025 BRAVIA Theatre home audio lineup, looking to affordably bring immersive cinema-style sound to your home setup. The collection gives buyers options to start with a basic soundbar and add pieces as their budget allows.
The BRAVIA Theatre Bar 6 is a 3.1.2-channel soundbar system that comes bundled with a wireless subwoofer. Priced at £499 / $650 / AU$899, this compact option delivers spatial audio without requiring multiple components. Since the soundbar itself only has five built-in speakers, Sony uses its Vertical Surround Engine to simulate three-dimensional audio without the need for dedicated ceiling speakers.
For those wanting a more traditional multi-speaker setup, the BRAVIA Theatre System 6 features a 5.1-channel speaker layout and 1000W of room-filling power, positioned as an all-in-one surround system aimed at users looking for a more traditional multi-speaker setup without the need to assemble components separately. The system includes a bar speaker (with left, right, centre, and tweeters), rear speakers (with tweeters), and a dedicated subwoofer.
The modular design is where Sony's strategy becomes interesting. The BRAVIA Theatre Sub 7 is a compact wireless subwoofer with 100W output and a two-way placement design that allows for flexible positioning, featuring Sony's Separated Notch Edge cabinet design, which is engineered to help control resonance and reduce distortion. This means you can swap in better bass later, or add rear speakers to a Bar 6 if you upgrade down the line.
Installation is straightforward for both systems. Once you connect your TV to the soundbar and power everything up, you open the Bravia Connect app and are walked through a simple set-up process, which essentially boils down to telling the app how far your sofa is from the soundbar and subwoofer, and the distance between the bar and the ceiling.
The real appeal is integration with Sony televisions. All of the products in the range are designed to integrate seamlessly with Sony's 2025 BRAVIA TVs, with soundbar settings appearing directly in the Quick Settings interface on each of the new sets. If you own a compatible Sony TV, you can control your audio system directly from your television remote without hunting for a separate remote.
Reviewers have noted both strengths and limitations. While this is a highly unusual and somewhat old-school Dolby Atmos system by 2026 standards, the sound is excellent for the money, though there are some flaws to the Bravia System 6 that buyers should be aware of, in most cases likely known compromises that Sony had to make in order to prioritise other qualities while hitting the wallet-friendly price tag.
The Bar 6 has drawn particular attention for its balance of price and performance. For all of that, the BRAVIA Theater Bar 6 earns an AVSForum Top Choice for 2025. However, limitations exist. This particular BRAVIA soundbar can't be expanded with wireless surround speakers, so if you need that flexibility, the Theater Bar 8 and 9 are better choices.
For Australian shoppers considering an upgrade, the approach works well if you want to spread costs across several purchases rather than commit to an expensive system all at once. Start with the Bar 6 if you prefer simplicity, or go with the System 6 if you need the full surround experience from day one. Either way, Sony's modular lineup lets you take your time deciding what else your living room needs.