The catch
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
The bar offers no HDMI source inputs.
Side by side
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6 vs HT-S2000: S2000 drops the bass box, but screen clearance underneath is no better
Quick verdict
If you have space for the supplied subwoofer and want upward-firing drivers, Bar 6 is the one. The HT-S2000 is for a smaller one-box start with no separate bass cabinet. Both stand 2.52 inches tall, so the HT-S2000’s narrower body does nothing for screen clearance.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
A 32-inch opening can settle which one you buy
Only half an inch is left over when the HT-S2000 meets the stated cabinet-width limit. Bar 6 is too wide.
Where this comes from
The margin is 32 minus 31.5. Even that small allowance leaves cables, ventilation and the shape of the TV feet to check.
The catch
Sony HT-S2000
It lacks HDMI source inputs and Wi-Fi music streaming.
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
- Why pick it
- A subwoofer should come in the box.
- You are looking for physical upward-firing drivers.
- The catch
- The bar offers no HDMI source inputs.
Sony HT-S2000
- Why pick it
- For the moment you can skip a separate bass box.
- You have under 37.4 inches of width for the soundbar.
- The catch
- It lacks HDMI source inputs and Wi-Fi music streaming.
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What this page compares
Separate bass, physical height drivers and cabinet size are what set Sony Bar 6 and HT-S2000 apart. Neither adds an HDMI source input to the TV.
What you are really choosing between is a supplied subwoofer with real height drivers and a narrower single-bar setup.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Nowhere to put a floor-standing subwoofer
The HT-S2000 begins as a single physical audio component.
- Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
- Caution
- Sony HT-S2000
- Better fit
Soundbar space 32 inches wide
The HT-S2000 clears that cabinet-width limit by a narrow margin.
- Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
- Not suitable
- Sony HT-S2000
- Better fit
Physical upward-firing drivers matter to you
The HT-S2000 relies on virtual height processing.
- Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
- Better fit
- Sony HT-S2000
- Caution
Want to plug a console right into the bar
Neither bar offers an HDMI source input.
- Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
- Not suitable
- Sony HT-S2000
- Not suitable
In practice
Differences you will notice
A 32-inch opening can settle which one you buy
Only half an inch is left over when the HT-S2000 meets the stated cabinet-width limit. Bar 6 is too wide.
How we worked this out
The margin is 32 minus 31.5. Even that small allowance leaves cables, ventilation and the shape of the TV feet to check.
About 126 square inches of cabinet footprint come from the subwoofer
The subwoofer for Bar 6 is about 8.27 inches wide and 15.28 inches deep.
How we worked this out
Those two figures multiply to about 126.37 square inches, ahead of cable, ventilation and placement clearance. The HT-S2000 standard package has no separate cabinet to place.
Source switching stays at the television in both
A player or console has no separate HDMI input to use on either bar.
How we worked this out
A shortage of TV source ports is not fixed by picking the newer Bar 6. The TV also has to support the audio formats you want sent back over eARC.
Plug in your numbers
Is there room for the soundbar under your TV?
Measure the clear space under your TV. Count only the devices you will plug into the soundbar. Leave out the ones already connected to the TV. The numbers below are placeholders until you enter yours.
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
Fails these checksWith 0 separate HDMI source inputs, it cannot take the 1 device you want to plug into the bar.
Sony HT-S2000
Fails these checksWith 0 separate HDMI source inputs, it cannot take the 1 device you want to plug into the bar.
Measure the top of an open shelf. This check does not cover enclosed cubbies. Detachable speakers count toward the docked width. Leave extra depth for cables and the TV stand. This checks size and port count only. Dolby Atmos, 4K/120Hz passthrough and the audio formats your TV supports are outside it.
Option A
Sony, HT-B600
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
The Bar 6 comes with a separate subwoofer and upward-firing drivers, and you do not have to commit to a whole speaker ecosystem. It is a simple bar-and-sub choice. Just remember that your TV has to do all the HDMI source switching.
- Best for
- An included subwoofer and physical height drivers, with no rear speakers to place
Facts we checked
- A separate subwoofer comes in the 3.1.2-channel package.
- The bar is 950 × 64 × 110 mm.
- The subwoofer is 210 × 388 × 388 mm.
- The TV connects over HDMI eARC, and there is no separate HDMI source input.
- The two height channels come from upward-firing drivers.
Option B
Sony, HT-S2000
Sony HT-S2000
A 32-inch-wide space is enough for the HT-S2000, and there is no separate bass box to place. Audio can arrive over eARC or optical. The Atmos height effect is virtual, though, and a console cannot plug into the bar.
- Best for
- A small Sony bar with bass built in and optical as a backup connection
Facts we checked
- The bar is 800 × 64 × 124 mm.
- A 3.1-channel bar that has bass drivers built in.
- An optical input, plus HDMI eARC or ARC.
- Decoding of Dolby Atmos and DTS:X is supported, using virtual height processing.
- Support covers Bluetooth music, voice mode and night mode.
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6 | Sony HT-S2000 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Package | Soundbar and separate subwoofer | Soundbar with built-in bass | With the Bar 6 comes a powered floor-standing component. |
| Width | 37.4 inches | 31.5 inches | The HT-S2000 takes about 5.9 inches less. |
| Height | 2.52 inches | 2.52 inches | Both are affected equally by a low screen. |
| Height presentation | Upward-firing drivers | Virtual height processing | Supporting Atmos does not imply the same arrangement of drivers. |
| HDMI source inputs | 0 | 0 | Whichever bar you choose, consoles and players plug into the TV. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
- Its bundled subwoofer needs floor space and its own power.
With Sony HT-S2000
- Processing, not upward-firing drivers, creates the height effects.
Decision guide
How to decide
A 32-inch opening can settle which one you buy
Only half an inch is left over when the HT-S2000 meets the stated cabinet-width limit, and Bar 6 is too wide. The margin is 32 minus 31.5. Even that small allowance means checking cables, ventilation and the shape of the TV feet.
About 126 square inches of cabinet footprint come from the subwoofer
Bar 6’s subwoofer is about 8.27 inches wide and 15.28 inches deep. Those two values multiply to about 126.37 square inches, before cable, ventilation and placement clearance. The HT-S2000’s standard package has no separate cabinet at all.
Source switching stays at the television in both
A player or console cannot plug into either bar, because neither has a separate HDMI input. The newer Bar 6 does nothing about a shortage of TV source ports. Your TV still has to support the audio formats you want back over eARC.
What this page can’t tell you
- This comparison rests on manufacturer specifications and package contents rather than a controlled listening test. How a bar sounds also depends on room shape, placement and source content.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the soundbars we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
How many fit
Only 7 of the 31 models checked meet every need here: “I can’t fit a bass box” and “My bar can’t be wider than 32 inches”.
7 models fit, out of 31 checkedShow the facts and the math
How we countedThe count uses each product's current fit ratings for “I can’t fit a bass box” and “My bar can’t be wider than 32 inches”. A need with no documented match is not counted.
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6 | None of these needs is a documented match |
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| Sony HT-S2000 |
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Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 6
A subwoofer should come in the box.
See price & reviews on AmazonSony HT-S2000
For the moment you can skip a separate bass box.
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
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