Not content with adding multiple new models to its Bravia TV range today, Sony has also unveiled a series of new additions to its home theater home audio range comprising two new soundbars and a revamp of its rear speaker and subwoofer accessory series.The two new soundbars are targeted at the relatively affordable end of Sonys range, below the Bravia Theater Bar 9 and Bravia Theater Bar 8 premium soundbar models Sony launched in 2024. The Bravia Theater Bar 6 is soundbar-plus-subwoofer proposition (the Bar 9 and Bar 8 models dont ship as standard with a subwoofer), while the Bravia Theatre System 6 is a full surround package including a subwoofer and wireless (kind of!) rear speakers.Sony has launched four new additions to its home theater audio range.Photo: SonyThe new additions to the extra speaker options Sony provides as options for adding to its core soundbars are new Bravia Theater Rear 8 speakers, and a Bravia Theater Sub 7 subwoofer. Ill go into detail on each of these new Sony audio offerings below - and as with my article on Sonys new TVs, since Ive had the chance to experience multiple demos of Sonys new home theater audio products Ill also include brief first impressions of them all alongside their official specification and feature information.The new Sony Theater Bar 6 soundbar features the main bar and an included wireless subwoofer.Photo: SonySony Theater Bar 6The BasicsA two-piece system, comprising the main bar and a subwooferDesigned to replace the Sony HT-G700Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback3.1.2-channel configuration, including dedicated center speaker and two up-firing drivers350W total powerSonys Vertical Surround engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround technologies on hand to deliver a virtual surround effectSony Upmixer system for converting stereo sources into surround soundSony Voice Zoom 3 AI voice isolation technology if partnered with a compatible Bravia TV, so you can raise or reduce the level of dialogue in whatever youre watching without impacting the rest of the soundControllable via the Bravia Connect appThe Theater Bar 6 is a new more affordable addition to the Bravia Theater Bar range launched in 2024 with the impressive Bar 9 and Bar 8 models. We dont have confirmed pricing on the Bar 6 yet, but as well as it notably being called the Bar 6 when the Bar 7 slot is still available, Sony confirms that its designed to replace the aggressively priced G700 soundbar, which cost $600/450 when it launched in 2020.During a demonstration of the Theater Bar 6 pitched against a Samsung Q600C (which features the same channel count and almost the same amount of power), the Bar 6 clearly came out on top. Dialogue, for starters, sounded much clearer during a clip of one of the in-plane training sequences in Top Gun: Maverick. Dialogue also sounded better positioned, appearing to come from the mouths of the people talking on screen rather than from the soundbar sat under the screen.Detail of one end of the new Sony Bar 6 soundbar, complete with one of its up-firings speakers.Photo: John ArcherThe roars of Mavericks plane engines enjoyed much more dynamic range on the Sony Bar 6 too, giving their sound much more impact and a sense of raw grunt that helps put you much more convincingly inside the cockpit with Cruise and co.The Bar 6s improved sound staging, meanwhile, delivered a much more convincing and potent sense of the differences in space as the Maverick sequence cuts between the cockpit and outside shots.The Bar 6s sound didnt feel trapped in or thin at any point, and the provided subwoofer fleshed out the bass end of the audio spectrum without sounding baggy, detached or prone to distortion. If this all holds up in more intensive testing conditions with a wider range of content, Sony could have a real mid-range hit on its hands.The new Sony Theater System 6Photo: SonySony Theater System 6The BasicsFour-piece package, with two rears, subwoofer and main soundbarRear speakers have to physically connect to a wireless receiver box, rather than directly establishing a wireless connection with the main bar or subwooferSubwoofer carries the main audio connections and processing5.1-channel system1000W of claimed powerDolby Atmos and DTS:X supportVertical Surround engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround technologiesVoice Zoom 3 with compatible Bravia TVMulti stereo feature lets you replicate stereo sound from front left/right to centre/rears for a party-friendly multi-directional sound boost.Upmixer feature for remixing stereo to use the systems full speaker array.Controllable via the Bravia Connect appDespite comprising four separate speakers to create a true surround sound plus subwoofer experience, the Theater System 6 is actually positioned some way below the Bar 6. In fact, an overview slide of Sonys home theater audio range at a Sony unveiling event showed it slipping into a slot beneath the two-channel SF150 soundbar, which only costs around $140/130!Clearly, then, the System 6 is designed to cater for the lots of power and impact for not much buck soundbar crowd. But does that mean it doesnt sound very good?Sony's Theater System 6 surround sound audio package.Photo: John ArcherDuring two separate demos of the system Ive experienced so far, it really doesnt sound bad at all. Particularly impressive for whats looking like being essentially a budget surround package is the size of the soundstage it creates. It handles its massive amounts of power well enough to fill even quite a large room with a full surround experience without anything sounding distorted or incoherent. Dialogue is impressively clear, too, overcoming right away one of the most common issues with value-focused soundbars.The Multi Stereo feature is an unexpected success, too, as repeating the stereo mix from the front speakers in the rear speakers really does greatly increase the extent to which music fills your room. Surprisingly, the rear speakers achieved a good tonal match for the main bar even in this repeat the front channel sound mode, despite their relatively compact design.I did note a slight funnelling effect when watching film clips, where the rear soundstage feels wider than the front soundstage. Also, although clean and clear, vocals occasionally felt a bit small versus the rest of an action scene mix. But if thats all I uncover during more formal, wide-ranging tests of my own, it wouldnt stop the system from still feeling like a massive home theater bargain.Sony's new Theater Rear 8 speakers.Photo: SonyBravia Theater Rear 8The BasicsOptional rear speaker designed to be added to compatible Bravia soundbarsReplaces the RS3SsWireless connectivityCompatible with Sonys 360 Spatial Sound Mapping Technology, which uses clever room assessment technology to create virtual speakers alongside the rear ones to deliver a fuller surround sound experience100W of power output4-channel amp (2 + 2 channel)Feature both a woofer and a tweeterShips in pairsThe Theater Rear 8s are designed to be direct (and physically larger) replacements for Sonys RS3S optional upgrade rear speakers. The RS3Ses were the more affordable of Sonys two optional rear speakers, sitting below the more powerful RS5s. The RS5s are to continue in Sonys range.Sony went to the trouble of putting on demonstrations at its launch events of the Theater Rear 8s versus the RS3Ses they replace, switching between the two speakers in the middle of various movie scenes. As with all Sonys demonstrations, this one again paid off handsomely in the Rear 8s favour.The crowd sounds around the track and pit while watching the Gran Turismo film sounded much crisper and cleaner on the Rear 8s, for instance. In fact, the Rear 8s make the RS3Ses sound a little muddy by comparison.Detail of the top of a new Sony Theater Rear 8 optional rear speaker.Photo: John ArcherSeemingly superior sensitivity helps the Rear 8s sound more detailed and achieve a more convincing relative level of impact between different details than the RS3Ses do. Plus the Rear 8s produce markedly more dynamic range than the RS3Ses, delivering both a richer, deeper sense of bass and a cleaner, less harsh feel to very shrill effects. All of which makes them sound better matched tonally with the sound from whatever Sony soundbar theyre partnered with.Finally, the Rear 8s project their sound more effectively than the RS3Ses do, helping the rear soundstage to sound larger and more immersive. Not least because you feel less aware of the Rear 8s physical position and existence, making it easier to get lost in the sound theyre making.The new Sony Bravia Sub 7.Photo: SonyBravia Theater Sub 7The BasicsOptional subwoofer for adding to Sony soundbars that dont ship with oneReplaces the previous SW3 optional subwoofer100W power handling130mm driverSeparated notch edgeDesign supports two-way placementWireless connection with compatible Sony soundbarsThe Theater Sub 7 is designed to replace the more entry level model of Sonys previous two-strong subwoofer upgrade options, the SW3. The bigger and more powerful SW5 subwoofer continues in the range.The Sub 7 appears to have been designed so that Sony can offer a more "lifestyle" subwoofer option thats easier to hide away/accommodate in a living room. Its significantly slimmer, for one thing, and its new driver design means it can be positioned either sideways next to, say, a wall near your screen, or facing forwards towards the screen from a position down the side of a chair or sofa.Again, Sony wasnt afraid to demo the Sub 7 in action, running alongside a Theater Bar 8 soundbar to show what a difference it makes to the Bar 8s sound. Not surprisingly, it was instantly obvious that it greatly extended the low frequency response that the Bar 8 can achieve by itself, delivering deeper sounds at a pressure level that didnt sound incongruous with the sounds coming from the Bar 8.The Sony Theater Sub 7 features a strikingly slim design. Photo: John ArcherThe Sub 7s enhancements of the Bar 8 sound are at their most obvious with general deep rumbles of the sort produced by giant space ships, fleets of tanks, approaching sandworms and so on; its not quite as impactful with sharp impact bass sounds. Though it still certainly improves with these moments on what the Bar 8 can manage by itself.I was also impressed by how well the Sub 7s low frequencies "tie up" with the lowest frequencies being produced by the Bar 8 soundbar, leaving no glaring and distracting gap in a film mixs low frequency range.It was striking, too, how adding the Sub 7 actually improved the performance of the Bar 8, as removing the bass burden from the soundbar freed it up to deliver a cleaner, more dynamic response with a film mixs mid frequency range sounds.The Sony Bar 8 picture with a new Sub 7 and two Rear 8s.Photo: SonyI did find myself wishing during a demo of a sandworm sequence from Dune 2 that maybe the Sub 7s low frequencies could plunge a bit deeper still. That would likely be impossible, though, from such a slender subwoofer design and its clear that this design was a big part of Sonys motivation for replacing the SW3. The SW5 is still there albeit at a higher price to deliver another level of bass for people who care more about that than aesthetic concerns.As with the new additions to Sonys Bravia TV range, all four additions to Sonys Home Theater Audio range are set to launch this spring, with pricing yet to be confirmed.Related ReadingSony Unveils New Bravia TVsIncluding A Premium QD OLED RangeSony Unveils Eye-Popping Next-Gen TV Technology And Again, It Isnt OLEDSony Unveils Two New High Performance Gaming Monitors Including A Flagship OLED With 480Hz Support