Sony HT-S40R
Sony
Most people upgrading their living room audio have the same problem: TV speakers make dialogue sound thin and action scenes sound flat, but a full surround system feels like more hassle and cable-running than it's worth. The Sony HT-S40R is built specifically to solve that second half of the problem. It's a five-speaker, one-subwoofer surround package that promises to wrap sound around the room without turning your skirting boards into a tangle of speaker wire. Whether it actually delivers on that promise — and where the compromises show up — is what the rest of this review digs into.
First Impressions Out Of The Box
Sony has kept the unboxing experience refreshingly straightforward. Inside you'll find the soundbar, the subwoofer, two rear speakers, the wireless amplifier that powers them, a remote with batteries already supplied, an optical cable, a power cord, a wall-mount template, and printed setup instructions. Nothing exotic is needed to get started, and nothing is missing that would send you back to the shop before movie night.
The soundbar itself has a low, unobtrusive profile — around five centimetres tall — which matters more than it sounds. A tall soundbar sitting directly beneath a TV can creep into the bottom of the picture, particularly on stands rather than wall mounts. At roughly ninety centimetres wide, it's sized to sit under mid-size to larger televisions rather than dwarfing a smaller screen, and Sony includes a wall-mount template if you'd rather keep it off the furniture entirely. The build is light at around two kilograms, which is a fair trade-off: a soundbar this size doesn't need heft, and the lighter chassis makes wall mounting simpler.
The subwoofer is the visual opposite — a substantial box weighing close to eight kilograms, tall enough to sit comfortably on the floor beside or behind a TV stand without looking like an afterthought. It has real presence, both physically and, as we'll get to, sonically.
How The Surround System Actually Works
This is the detail most buyers get wrong before they even open the box, so it's worth being precise about it. The system is often described as "wireless surround," and in the sense that matters most — no cable snaking across your living room floor to the back of the room — that's true. But the wireless link is between the soundbar and a small amplifier unit, not between the amplifier and the two rear speakers themselves, which connect to that amplifier with a short cable. In practice, this means you place the amplifier near where your rear speakers will sit, plug the speakers into it, and the amplifier talks wirelessly back to the main soundbar. It's a meaningfully different setup than a system where each individual rear speaker is untethered, and it's worth planning your rear-corner furniture layout around a plug socket for that amplifier rather than assuming total wirelessness.
The subwoofer, similarly, isn't wireless from the soundbar — it connects with an included cable rather than negotiating its own wireless handshake, though in most living rooms this is a non-issue since the sub typically sits close to the TV console anyway.
None of this is a flaw exactly, but it's the kind of nuance that separates a smooth setup from a frustrating one if you go in expecting zero cables anywhere in the system.
Sound Performance: What The Power Numbers Actually Mean
The headline power figure sounds impressive, and translated into practical terms, it's genuinely enough to fill a standard living room without strain. The way that power is distributed matters more than the total, though. The subwoofer carries a substantial share of that output on its own — enough to produce the kind of low-end rumble that action sequences and bass-driven music benefit from, and several owners specifically mention having to dial the bass back at night so it doesn't travel through walls to neighbours or upstairs rooms. That's a good sign for anyone who wants a subwoofer that actually contributes rather than just adding a box to the room.
The remaining power is split across the soundbar's built-in channels and the two rear speakers. This is a genuine 5.1-channel layout — meaning discrete left, right, and centre channels up front, dedicated left and right surrounds at the back, and the subwoofer as the ".1" — rather than a soundbar faking a wide soundstage through processing tricks alone. For dialogue-heavy content, that dedicated centre channel does real work keeping voices anchored and intelligible, which is one of the most common complaints people have about built-in TV speakers.
Where the system shows its budget positioning is at higher volumes and with more complex mixes. Some owners report the sound becoming a touch less clean and detailed as you push the volume up, and more than one review calls out a lack of dedicated tone or bass EQ controls beyond the preset modes — you get four listening modes (Auto, Standard, Cinema, and Music) plus Night and Voice modes for late viewing, but no granular bass/treble sliders to fine-tune the balance yourself. If you're the type of listener who likes to sculpt the sound to your exact taste, that's a real limitation. If you're happy picking a preset and leaving it, it's a non-issue.
Audio processing runs through Dolby Digital, which is the standard surround format used for the overwhelming majority of broadcast TV, streaming content, and Blu-ray releases. It's worth being clear-eyed here: this system does not support Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, the newer object-based formats that add height-channel effects. If you've heard those formats on a pricier soundbar and are expecting the same overhead sense of space, you won't find it here — this is a wide, room-filling surround stage rather than a three-dimensional one.
Connectivity: Covering The Basics Without Overreaching
Getting the HT-S40R talking to your TV is deliberately simple. You have HDMI (supporting ARC, so a single cable can carry both video pass-through and return audio from compatible TVs) and an optical digital connection, with the optical cable included in the box — the HDMI cable is not, so keep that in mind if you don't already have a spare. There's also a 3.5mm analogue input and a USB port for playing audio files directly, which is a nice inclusion for anyone with an older device or a USB drive full of music.
Bluetooth handles wireless streaming from a phone or tablet, and it's a genuinely useful everyday feature — background music, podcasts, or a casual living-room speaker for a phone call don't require touching the remote's input button. If you own a compatible Sony BRAVIA television, there's an added benefit: the soundbar can receive audio from the TV wirelessly using Sony's proprietary TV wireless connection, skipping HDMI or optical entirely. That's a genuinely nice touch for anyone building an all-Sony living room setup, though it's not a factor if your TV is from another brand.
One connectivity gap worth flagging clearly: there's no Wi-Fi support. That means no built-in access to streaming services like Spotify Connect or AirPlay directly on the soundbar, no multi-room speaker grouping, and no firmware updates delivered wirelessly beyond what Bluetooth or a wired connection might support. For a system at this price point aimed squarely at TV audio, that's a reasonable trade-off rather than a glaring omission — but if whole-home wireless audio is on your wish list, this isn't that product.
Living With It Day To Day
Setup is genuinely one of this system's strong points. The connections are colour-coded, the wall-mount template removes the guesswork from drilling, and the whole process — soundbar to TV, subwoofer to soundbar, rear speakers to their amplifier — is designed to be done without an app, an account, or a Wi-Fi network in the loop. That matters more than it might seem: plenty of modern audio gear insists you download a companion app and create an account just to get sound out of the box, and this system doesn't. Owners consistently describe the setup process as quick and painless, and there's no assistant integration or app faff to fight through first.
Who This System Is Actually For
Strong Fit If
- You currently rely on a TV's built-in speakers and want a clear, noticeable upgrade for movies, sport, and everyday viewing without spending on a premium system
- You want genuine rear-channel surround sound but don't want speaker cable running across the room
- You mostly watch broadcast TV, streaming, and standard Blu-ray content rather than Atmos-mastered films
- You want a simple setup process without pairing apps, accounts, or a home network dependency
- You own a compatible Sony BRAVIA TV and want the added convenience of wireless audio handoff
Weaker Fit If
- You've already experienced Dolby Atmos or DTS:X and want that same overhead, three-dimensional effect
- You want fine-grained manual control over bass and treble rather than preset sound modes
- You want a fully wireless system with no cables anywhere, including behind the rear speakers
- Whole-home wireless streaming (Wi-Fi-based multi-room audio, Spotify Connect, AirPlay) is a priority
- You listen at consistently high volumes and want a system that stays composed and detailed at its loudest
How It Stacks Up Against Sony's Own Lineup
Because Sony sells several soundbars in a similar price bracket, it's worth being clear about where the HT-S40R sits relative to its closest siblings, since shoppers often land on the wrong model by comparing price alone.
| Model | Channel Layout | Surround Speakers | Height/Atmos Support | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sony HT-S40R | 5.1 | Wireless-linked rear speakers with dedicated subwoofer | No | Buyers wanting genuine rear-channel surround without running cable across the room |
| Sony HT-S20R | 5.1 | Wireless-linked rear speakers, lower total power output | No | Budget-focused buyers who want the same surround layout with less headroom |
| Sony HT-S2000 | 3.1 | None (virtual height/width processing) | Yes (Dolby Atmos & DTS:X) | Buyers who prioritise immersive height effects over rear-channel separation, and don't mind giving up physical surround speakers |
The pattern is clear: the HT-S40R and HT-S20R are built around genuine rear-channel placement rather than virtual surround tricks, while the HT-S2000 flips that trade-off — it drops physical rear speakers and a dedicated subwoofer in exchange for object-based height processing. Neither approach is objectively better; they solve different problems. If you specifically want speakers behind your seating position, the HT-S40R and HT-S20R are the relevant comparison, and the HT-S40R's extra power over the HT-S20R buys you more headroom before the sound starts to strain in a larger room.
Against non-Sony budget 5.1 competitors from brands like Samsung, JBL, and various value-focused challenger brands, the HT-S40R holds its own on setup simplicity and the strength of its subwoofer, though buyers frequently note that some rivals in the same price range include more accessible bass and treble adjustment, so it's worth comparing that specific feature if fine-tuned control matters to you.
The Honest Trade-Offs
The clearest strength here is how little friction stands between opening the box and having a genuinely improved surround sound experience running in your living room. The colour-coded setup, the lack of any required app or account, and the fact that the rear speakers connect to the front system without a cable crossing your floor all add up to a system that respects your time. The subwoofer, too, punches above its price point — multiple owners specifically call out bass that's strong enough to need dialing back at night, which is a good problem to have compared with a subwoofer that undersells its wattage.
The honest weaknesses sit in refinement rather than raw capability. The absence of manual bass and treble adjustment means you're working within Sony's four preset modes rather than sculpting your own balance, and while those presets cover the basics well, enthusiasts who like to tune their system precisely will feel the limitation. Sound quality at higher volumes can lose a bit of its clarity, which is a fairly normal characteristic of budget-tier amplification rather than a defect unique to this unit, but it's worth knowing before you buy if you tend to listen loud. And the lack of Dolby Atmos support is a real distinction if you've grown used to that immersive height layer elsewhere — this system delivers wide, room-filling surround sound rather than a three-dimensional bubble of audio.
The Verdict
The Sony HT-S40R earns its place as a genuinely useful upgrade for anyone stepping up from TV speakers or a basic soundbar and wanting real rear-channel surround sound without running cable across the living room. Setup is refreshingly simple, the subwoofer delivers real weight, and the core 5.1 layout does what it's meant to do: make dialogue clearer and movies feel more enveloping. Buyers chasing Dolby Atmos height effects or precise manual EQ control should look elsewhere, and anyone planning to listen at consistently high volumes should temper their expectations at the top end. But as a straightforward, no-fuss surround system for everyday TV, film, and casual music listening, it's a sound and sensible choice — and the kind of upgrade most people will notice from the very first film they watch on it.
What People Say
77 commentsDecent connectivity.
This surround system is pretty good.
Very easy to set up. The surround speakers connect automatically via Bluetooth.
The menue and settings are found across the top of the large Sub speaker and changed using the small remote control handset. The menus and changing things to your prefered settings can be confusing and frustrating initially, but once you get the hang of it it's easy enough.
My only complaint is the excessive bass output. This seems to be a modern trend sadly. I love a bit of bass as much as the next guy but the sound can be utterly drowned in bass sadly, even with the Sub speaker turned right down.
I'd say it's a bit overpriced for what it does, but you pay for the Sony brand I guess.
Overall I like it though. For films it works brilliantly and gives you an impressive imersive cinema experience. For TV I turn the back speakers off. For music it can be frustrating depending on your chosen genre. Brilliant for modern electronic music. Not so great for rock. Classical music is lost and the clarity in mid/upper frequencies is awful.
A mixed review then, but plenty to like.
Great soundbar with surround sound
Easy to setup, connects wirelessly to the rear amp without issue -note the rear speakers are wired to the little amp. Bought it just for general tv use and is very good at boosting the standard sound output. It is also good for any broadcasts in 5.1 surround, separating the different channels appropriately -there is a menu setting for full surround.
Sub power can be changed independently from the overall levels in the settings. Rear speakers also have independent settings. Didn't find the very small display on the sub a real problem as the settings menus are not that extensive so you quickly become familiar with them. The eARC connection works as expected with LG remote.
Overall a great value little surround sound system without the need for an AV Receiver and associated wiring. I did weigh it up against more expensive Dolby Atmos soundbars but decided there wasn't enough general content to make it worthwhile.
okay for a basic surround system.
Bought this a few weeks ago, took it back, felt it wasn’t sufficient, it’s okay if you just want the average basic surround system, you kind of Get what you pay for Etc, rear speakers are not Bluetooth either, subwoofer and sound bar connected very well to my TV, easily with the HDMI to Arc setting, and also worked on Bluetooth (Subwoofer and sound bar only not rear speakers) The speakers are connected still with wires through a link system, which means you do not have to have trailing water from your TV to the rear speakers, But you still have to have Wise from the link to the rear speakers, as previous okay if you want to basics sorround system
Don't buy this
I wasn't expecting a lot from this but I was expecting it to at least be decent but I was wrong. If you're watching normal TV then the sound of dialogue from the sound bar is muddy and horrible and no setting fixes it, I switch back to my TV speakers for stuff with mostly dialogue. For movies it's just okay if you can have it loud with the sub turned up. Sony made a mistake by not putting some sort of equaliser on it. The screen on the sub is tiny so if you're sitting far away then it's a struggle to see. The speakers on the sound bar are too close together. I wish I'd spent a bit more money on something better.
All in one solution but poor sound
Quick and easy to set up, especially with ARC feature and wireless surround speakers.
But that’s where the good bit ends. The 5 individual speakers are so tiny they can only output the really thin high frequency audio. The Sub then try’s to compensate so the sound is really thick like it’s all inside a box.
I proved this by replacing speakers, the sound came to life and the sub could be left to handle the low end punchy audio.
As an all in one and the sub being central control unit is very useful and helps remove big amps or blueray amps.
Would I buy again no… but it’s adaptable if you have spare speakers
Sounds great and very easy to set up
Got this to use with a Sony Bravia TV and really love it. Simple to set up and sounds great. Love having it paired via bluetooth to TV so one less cable to try to hide and rear speakers connect easily to a base unit ive hidden away so no cable from rear speakers to front speakers or sub which is the main reason i went for this system. 600w is more than enough volume for me and the sub does a great job of adding plenty of depth to music as well as to voices and explosions in films or tv shows. Very satisfied with my purchase.
Super easy setup. Wireless back speakers great!
Excellent piece of kit for the price. The setup was super easy and the wireless speakers are great. Much better than jus having a solo soundbar that we had previous! Sound quality is great for the price and really adds an extra depth to the movie experience. Would buy again! Great sound at a budget price. My only niggle is that I can turn off the system with my TV but when I turn the TV on the system has to be turned on separately. My TV isn't compatible, not a huge issue but shame.
Immersive surround sound. Simple to set up.
I purchased this a few months ago to go with my PS5.
It has great sound quality and plenty of bass.
The only 2 reasons I didn't give it 5 stars is that it only comes supplied with an optical cable yet has full HDMI connectivity which gives superior sound and more features.
The second is that it would've been nice if the front left and right speakers were detachable from the sound bar so that they could be placed further apart to give a wider sound stage.
its a verry good entry level to surrounds sound
i brought this product two months ago now and it has been an overwhelming improvement to my home cinema experience i do belive this is a great entry pice of kit that makes such a difference with Dolby atoms sound you should make sure however that your tv is compatible with Dolby sound systems I learnt this the hard way but even if its not the change is surprisingly different listening to it now compared to when i turn it off the gap is significant
Easy set up
We bought this to replace our old 2.1 soundbar. You may need a longer HDMI cable depending on the subwoofer position and where your TV inputs are, especially if walk mounted TV. We bought a 3 meter one. You then need to position your Bluetooth box in the rear of your sitting position, plug it in and all connected automatically. Sound great, especially when watching 5.1 playback. Music also sounds great, specially the bass.
Love this, great sounding and easy to use
Love, love, love this system. It sounds fantastic, punchy bass, nice all round sound when watching live TV or 5.1 movies. Spent about 15 mins playing with sub and rear speaker volume levels to our liking and couldn't be more pleased. This replaced our old system which was a full surround sound setup from a different big brand; honestly, I prefer this Sony system and considering buying another for use in another room.
Tidy, great priced system with fantastic bass!
I bought this to go with my new Sony Bravia TV and they sync perfectly. Great bass.. voice, movie, concert settings that actually function properly with a really crisp sound. I'm very pleased with it and my only advice is to make sure you have a good clear path between the rear/surround speaker receiver box and the subwoofer box for them to connect properly. Five stars!
Excellent sound quality.
Had this about a month and it's great. When setting up make sure you turn the multi speaker option off or it'll just play through all the speakers, not true 5.1. Also note that Bluetooth doesn't support 5.1 so you'll need to connect it via the ARC HDMI or optical to get 5.1.
Once all that was figured out it's been an excellent experience in our movie room.
Fab features - Nectar points-enabled bargain!
I’ve been searching for a Dolby Surround-enabled Soundbar to match my Sony TV. I’m delighted to have found this. A well featured, neat, quality solution, which comes with Sub-Woofer and rear speakers. The benefit of buying from Argos was that I could use Nectar points to purchase this top-rated kit. No-brainer, really!
Good Sony standard
I bought this after returning a Samsung 2.1 system that didn’t sync with my Samsung tv for some reason. It is quite an upgrade over that and I’m super happy with it. The glossy plastic looks a bit cheaper than the cheaper Samsung unit I had , but overall the sound is exceptional, especially with the woofer cranked up.
Great surround sound
I bought this to replace my fairly old LG soundbar which was still pretty good. At first I didn’t notice much improvements but once the rear speakers etc were set up properly it was amazing! The amount of times I’m fooled into thinking there’s a weird noise around me and it’s just the surround sound. Fully recommend.
Worth the money
I replaced an LG sj9 with this Sony. Seems more realistic sound is entering the market. My dolby atmos sledge hammer sound bar only sounded good in full atmos mode, lesser signals not so great. This sony 5.1 is a third of the price so I'm actually down grading from the lg. Bur it's better and more home feandly.
TV speakers and sub woofer.
We are so pleased with the sound system both for the clearness of the sound but the value for money.
The sound quality is outstanding and so clear, my wife is hard of hearing but she can hear every word even without wearing her hearing aid.
Also the system is very easy to set up and use.
Not a wireless sub !!
Bought this as it states a wireless subwoofer which I need because of its location . On opeining it became obvious it is not wireless it has a large ribbon cable that connects to the soundbar so needs to be within 1.5 m of each other !
Total waste of time if your TV is wall mounted
Excellent for a sound bar
Overall quite happy with this purchase, very powerful and nice sound. Several excellent features including “voice” which boosts the spoken dialogue which I find very helpful. Not as good as a complete wired surround sound system but much easier to set up and a fraction of the price.