Sony has announced a wave of new Bravia products ahead of TCL buying a stake in its home theatre business. This might be the last of the home cinema products we see coming direct from Sony.
And while we’re expecting more announcements regarding new models in the coming months, for now Sony has seen fit to update its TV range, while introducing new soundbars, subwoofers and rear speakers.
Let’s start with the new TVs.
The Bravia TV Sequels
When it comes to films, Hollywood hopes its sequels can be better than the original, and that’s the same tact Sony is taking with its latest TVs.
The new models are towards the less expensive end of the Bravia series, with the Bravia 2 II and Bravia 3 II replacing previous models.
We’ve been told that the Bravia 3 II (pictured below) has not yet been confirmed for the UK because catch-up certification is still pending.
The Bravia 2 II is set to act as the entry-level model in the series, featuring Google TV for smarts and entertainment, support for both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X immersive sound. In the briefing we attended, there wasn’t a mention of whether this model supported Dolby Vision HDR, but we do know that the Bravia 2 II will be available in sizes from 43-inches to 75.
Pricing is still to be confirmed, but the Bravia 2 II (which we’re nicknaming the Desmond Tutu) will be available to pre-order from May 14th, 2026.
The Cubist (Sound) Movement
Sony is also giving its subwoofers an upgrade with the introduction of the Theatre Sub 9 and Theatre Sub 8.
The Theatre Sub 9 replaces the SW5 model as Sony’s flagship subwoofer in its home theatre line-up, and can be partnered with the Bravia Theatre Bar 9, Bar 8, Bar 7, and Bravia Theatre Quad systems.
The Theatre Sub 9 is shaped like a cube (not a perfect cube mind you), and supports two-way placement as it can be placed horizontal to the wall or perpendicular to it. Intruiguingly with this deisgn, there’s a port/slit opening, and it must be open on at least one side for the sound to vent properly.
Total power output is 600W, with the two drivers mounted in opposition to each other for phase-cancel vibration, producing a smoother, cleaner, deeper bass performance; with aluminium diaphragms helping reduce distortion at higher sound pressure levels.
The Theatre Sub 8 replaces the SW3, and is compatible with the same soundbars and surround systems as the flagship Sub 9. It’s about half the depth or width of the Sub 9 with a total power output of 300W but does retain the aluminum diaphragm to keep distortion low.
New for Sony subwoofers is the ability to partner two Sub 9 and Sub 8s in a dual-sub pairing with the Bar 8 and the Bar 9 models, though this will be enabled through a firmware update with not exact date given aside from “very soon”.
We should make it clear that this only works with two Sub 9 models and two Sub 8s. You can’t mix and match a Sub 9 with a Sub 8.
No pricing is confirmed as yet, but pre-orders for both subwoofers start today (March 25th, 2026).
A surround sound boost
Two new soundbars fill the range with the Theatre Bar 7 and Theatre Bar 5, the former replaces the HT-A3000 model from several years ago, sitting as Sony’s version of the Sonos Beam Gen 2 as a compact, single-bar effort, through unlike the Beam, the Theatre Bar 7 features upfiring speakers for immersive audio.
Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping sits on top of immersive audio formats such as Dolby Atmos to help improve the positioning of sounds in a room, with the Theatre Bar 7 able to create five phantom speakers to create a bigger sense of space.
There’s a HDMI eARC out to the TV, plus IMAX Enhanced support for those with home cinema ambitions for the best picture and sound. The Voice Zoom 3 feature (also available on the Theatre Bar 5) uses AI algorithms to enhance dialogue that’s hard to hear, but this feature is only supported with Sony Bravia TVs.
You can choose to pair the Theatre Bar 7 with the Sub 7, but for those who want a bigger bass performance than a single bar can manage, Sony is also offering the option of buying the Theatre Bar with the Sub 7 in a bundle it’s calling the Bravia Theatre Bar 7 Plus S.
The Theatre Bar 5 is the new entry-level model in the series, a soundbar Sony views as the first-step upgrade for users who are moving the built-in TV speakers to an external sound system.
It comes with a subwoofer in a 3.1 channel system with a right, left, and a centre channel that’s dedicated to dialogue, plus HDMI ARC for connection to a TV.
It doesn’t feature upfiring speakers, instead relying on Sony’s Vertical Surround Engine to take Dolby Atmos and DTS:X tracks and create a bigger soundscape. Sony’s S-Force Pro Front Surround works to widen and deepn the soundstage, while Sony has a upmixer that can take two-channel stereo content to boost it to 3D.
Last but not least is the Theatre Rear 9, which as you might guess, acts as wireless surround speakers to help fill in the space behind the listener. They replace the RS5 model and are designed to work with the Bravia Theatre Bar 9, 8, 7 and Theatre Quad systems.
Availability for the Theatre Rear 9 starts 25th March, while the Theatre Bar 7 and Theatre Bar 5 are the 25th March, and 27th April respectively.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
