Description
Sony HT-S40R: a 5.1 system with real rear speakers at soundbar pricing
The Sony HT-S40R is a 5.1 channel home theater system built around a soundbar, a wireless subwoofer and a pair of rear speakers. Sony quotes 600 watts of total power output and describes customized sound modes for different types of content. The listing gives a black finish, Bluetooth streaming, a USB port and a remote powered by two AAA batteries, with a country of origin of Vietnam and a first availability date of July 2021. It has accumulated more than 8,000 ratings, averaging 3.9 stars.
The reason to look at this system rather than a bar on its own is the rear channels. Height processing and virtual surround can widen a front stage convincingly, but nothing places a sound behind a listener except a speaker behind the listener. A package that includes rear speakers in the box delivers that at a price where most competitors are still selling a bar alone, and it is a fundamentally different listening experience from a 3.1 or 2.1 system.
How the rear speakers connect
The word wireless in systems of this type needs care, and it is worth stating plainly. In the common arrangement, the subwoofer connects wirelessly to the bar, and a small amplifier box also connects wirelessly, with the two rear speakers then wired to that box using speaker cable. The result is no cable running the length of the room from the bar, but there is still cable at the back of the room, and there is still a mains outlet needed there.
The listing does not describe this arrangement, which is a gap worth noting. Its included components field lists only a subwoofer, a remote and a soundbar, and does not mention the rear speakers at all despite the product being sold as a 5.1 system with integrated rear speakers in the description. Anyone planning an installation should confirm exactly what connects to what, and where power is needed, before buying.
Buyers comparing this against the add on route should look at what separate rear speakers cost for a bar that does not include them, such as the Sony SA-RS3S pair designed for the higher end bars including the Sony BAR 9. The all in one package is usually the far cheaper route to five channels.
Reading the 600 watt figure
A 600 watt total power figure across five channels and a subwoofer is a marketing number rather than a useful specification. Manufacturers calculate these figures differently, often summing peak ratings across every channel, and there is no way to compare one brand claim against another without knowing the measurement conditions. The listing gives no per channel rating, no impedance and no measurement standard, so treat 600 watts as an indication that the system is intended to fill a room rather than as an engineering specification.
The sound modes named in the description are preset equalization and processing profiles for movies, music and other content types. They are useful for matching the system to what is playing, and on a package at this level they matter more than they would on a system with detailed manual adjustment.
Highlights
- Full 5.1 channel configuration with actual rear speakers rather than virtual surround.
- Wireless subwoofer, removing the longest cable run in the room.
- Preset sound modes for movies, music and other content.
- Bluetooth streaming from phones, tablets and laptops.
- USB port on the bar for local playback.
- Remote control supplied with batteries included.
- Large feedback base of more than 8,000 ratings.
Things To Consider
The 3.9 star average is the lowest of any product covered on this page and it deserves attention rather than dismissal. On a package with more than 8,000 ratings, that figure represents a genuine spread of experience rather than a small sample. Systems that require rear speaker placement, power at the back of the room and cable routing generate more installation frustration than a single bar does, and that shows up in feedback for every product in this category. Buyers should read recent reviews directly before ordering.
The specification data contains obvious errors. Speaker Size reads 900 kilometers, which is meaningless. Item Weight reads 1 pound for a five speaker system with a subwoofer. The item model number field reads Inalambrico, which is Spanish for wireless and is not a model number at all. Product dimensions are given as a single set of figures for what is a multi piece system, so it is unclear which component they describe. None of these should be relied on for planning.
Rear speakers also carry practical requirements that a bar does not. They need somewhere to sit or a way to mount, they need cable managed to that position, and they need power nearby for the wireless amplifier box. In a rented apartment or a room where the seating floats away from walls, that can be difficult.
Finally, five channels at this price means each channel is modest. The rear speakers are small, the bar handles three channels in one enclosure, and the system as a whole prioritizes channel count over individual speaker quality. That is the right tradeoff for surround effect and the wrong one for critical music listening. Packages such as the ULTIMEA Poseidon D60 make a similar bargain, while a two piece system with a larger subwoofer like the Klipsch Core 200 with SUB 100 spends the money the other way.
Who it suits
The HT-S40R suits a viewer who wants genuine surround sound on a budget, in a room where rear speakers can be placed and powered. For film and television watching, the difference between real rear channels and processed virtual surround is larger than most other upgrades at this price, and this package is one of the least expensive ways to get it.
It is the wrong purchase for a room where rear placement is impossible, for a buyer who wants one component and no installation, and for music listening where a smaller number of better speakers would serve better. Those buyers should compare single bar options in the sound bars category, or look through the surround sound systems category for packages that distribute the budget differently.
