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Sonyknows a thing or two about audio, theres no question about it.
But, after nearly a month using its Bravia Theater Quad audio system Im left to ponder this namesake.
My issues here arent so much its audio quality.
The Theater Quad system proves fairly adequate, especially if you live in a tighter, narrower environment.
But there is no escaping the fact that it lacks (quite literally) a center channel.
Meet your center audio.
While it might sound fancy, it doesnt quite hit as well as you would want.
Dialogue does feel strained at times when there’s a lot going on on-screen.
Plus, it can often even feel too left or right heavy depending on the content.
Just look at major contenders in the form of the newSonos Arc Ultraor theBose Smart Ultra.
And its not like Sony doesnt offer a center audio channel on the Theater Quad.
The S-Center out option essentially turns your Sony TV speakers into the center channel, which is pretty cool.
But if its available on Sony TVs, why not put it on your soundbars too?
And it’s a buggy mess!
Plus, the system requires a special kind of living room design.
It’s a tough question.
While I do think the audio is serviceable, there’s a lot to contend with here.
The absence of a real center channel, though, is one major omission.
Because they often require a set throw distance from the wall and the Theater Quad gives you that flexibility.
You don’t have to worry about a bulky soundbar getting in the way of the projector.
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