Home Theatre & Soundbars

Home Theatre & Soundbars

Living room setup showcasing the BRAVIA Theatre Quad system along with a large flat-screen TV displaying a vibrant crowd scene. Living room setup showcasing the BRAVIA Theatre Quad system along with a large flat-screen TV displaying a vibrant crowd scene.

Developer Interview for BRAVIA Theatre Quad

A new style that blends into your room and your everyday life

With the spread of big-screen televisions and video streaming services, the way of watching films at home is undergoing significant change. What kind of home cinema do people want in this day and age? Sony offers its response to this question with the BRAVIA Theatre Quad home cinema system that creates a fully fledged spatial sound with just four speakers. The system produces a sound powerful enough to send ripples across your skin, but it was also created with the aim of achieving harmony with the space around it. We spoke to the engineers who developed the system to learn more about the technology concentrated within.

Our dedicated team of experts (from left to right):

Front row: Sound engineer Nagahama, product designer Deguchi, project leader Nakamura, electrical engineer Matsumoto
Back row: Package designer Abe, product planner Hashimoto, software engineer Ohshima, mechanical engineer Tanaka
Our dedicated team of experts

Have you ever seen a home cinema like this? From the sound to the installation, everything is new.

BRAVIA TV with wall-mounted BRAVIA Theatre Quad speakers in a minimalist living room.

A new style that fits into the living room

As television formats evolve to focus on "nothing but the image", home cinemas are also becoming simpler and more understated. The design of the BRAVIA Theatre Quad takes things one step further, aiming to be a pleasant presence within the living room, in harmony with the space around it.

Developer comments

Deguchi, designer: If we were going to try to make the home cinema complement the big screen in the living room, then wouldn't it be ideal to make it flat and wall-mounted? It was with such thinking in mind that we decided to make panel-shaped speakers for the BRAVIA Theatre Quad. From a technical standpoint, it is quite difficult to make flat speakers, but with this product, the development team was united from the beginning of the development process, working with a strong sense of purpose.
Deguchi, designer
Four BRAVIA Theatre Quad speakers alongside a control box. Four BRAVIA Theatre Quad speakers alongside a control box.
Living room with BRAVIA Theatre Quad speakers, showing sound distribution with blue waves.

Integrating the home cinema to the living room.

The BRAVIA Theatre Quad system creates a spatial sound in the area enclosed by its four speakers. By analysing the acoustic characteristics of the room such as the position of each speaker, the shape of the room, the material of the walls, curtains and furniture this system creates and automatically optimises the sound field. As a result, it delivers optimal performance, regardless of the room's shape and layout or how the speakers have been positioned.

Developer comments

Nagahama, sound engineer: The front speakers should be placed as symmetrically as possible for maximum performance. The rear speakers, however, can be placed asymmetrically, to a certain extent, and still produce a satisfactory effect through sound field correction. You can enjoy a firmly spatial sound, even if there are differences in height or orientation.
Nagahama, sound engineer
Tanaka, mechanical engineer: We emphasised the width of directionality when developing this system, and I think that is what makes it possible to achieve an adequate effect even if the speakers are positioned asymmetrically. The wide directionality maximises the effects of sound field correction.
Tanaka, mechanical engineer

The experience begins the moment you open the box

The BRAVIA Theatre Quad features a redesign not only of the product itself but also the packaging and purchasing experience as well. To start, information on what to do next is clearly displayed at precisely the position where your eyes come to rest. Even first-time buyers of home cinema devices can maintain the excitement they get feel right after their purchase, effortlessly moving through the installations and setup process without any worries.
Packaging of the BRAVIA Theatre Quad with a setup guide shown in the box.

Developer comments

Ohshima, software engineer: The new BRAVIA Connect app will guide users through the setup of our products. If you open the app and then turn on the BRAVIA Theatre Quad, the app will automatically detect the speaker system. The app provides videos and CG detailing the steps for wiring and setup, helping the user to make the best use of their sound system within their actual environment.
Oshima, software engineer

A realistic spatial sound that your body can feel and that cannot be reproduced virtually.

Living room with BRAVIA Theatre Quad speakers and TV, featuring fireworks to highlight immersive 360 Spatial Sound Mapping.

The feeling of immersion is different, because it's "real". Everyone can enjoy it, because it's "real".

It supports 360 Spatial Sound Mapping (360 SSM), which reproduces the actual sound space in a way that fundamentally differs from traditional virtual surround sound, which only merely simulates human auditory perception to create a spatial effect. With 360 SSM your ears and body experience the same air vibrations as in true surround sound, allowing for an even deeper immersion in the world of film.

Developer comments

Nagahama, sound engineer: The 360 SSM represents technology that actually recreates sound fields, making it possible for anyone to enjoy a proper surround sound feel, and the area where the effect can be achieved is made considerably larger. If anyone has ever felt dissatisfied with virtual surround sound or wants to enjoy a spatial sound experience with the whole family, we encourage them to try out the spatial sound experience provided by the 360 SSM.
Living room with BRAVIA Theatre Quad speakers demonstrating 360 Spatial Sound Mapping technology, creating an immersive sound field.

In combination with 360 SSM, the BRAVIA Theatre Quad makes it possible to fully experience an impressive spatial sound experience.

By drawing out the full potential of the 360 SSM technology, the BRAVIA Theatre Quad uses just four speakers to produce an ideal spatial sonic space that sounds as if far more speakers have been positioned around the room.

Developer comments

"The BRAVIA Theatre Quad is the ideal choice to provide a top-class 360 SSM experience. The way this system uses four speakers to enclose a space matches the concept of 360 SSM, and the fact that all four speakers are identical makes it possible to produce a uniform sound, which in turn makes for significantly better sound connections."
BRAVIA Theatre Quad speakers arranged on a table.

Better sound, better for the environment

Content redesigned for the sake of the new form.

The form isn't the only thing that's changed. To achieve an even more realistic spatial sound experience, we also redesigned the internal structure of the speakers from the ground up. How should we position the speakers to fully draw out the potential of the 360 SSM and make the sound feel even more space? What can we do to make the dialogue clearer and more audible? Everyone involved in the development process engaged in discussion around these questions, stepping beyond the confines of their individual disciplines to push past their limitations.
A BRAVIA Theatre Quad speaker disassembled, showing internal components.

Developer comments

Tanaka, mechanical engineer: In terms of the mechanical design, we paid particular attention to speaker unit position. If the sound source is positioned too far in the back, then the external wall directly next to the speaker opening will block the emitted sound. We therefore positioned the speakers as far forwards as possible to ensure that the sound can reach the widest possible area without hitting any obstructions.
Internal view of BRAVIA Theatre Quad speaker showing the arrangement of components.

Combine BRAVIA to produce a far better sound.

The performance of the BRAVIA Theatre Quad is excellent, no matter which television one pairs it with, but connecting and linking it to compatible BRAVIA models yields an even richer listening experience. All film lovers with BRAVIA televisions should try out the BRAVIA Theatre Quad.

Developer comments

Ohshima, software engineer: Sound Filed Optimisation function also enables higher performance with Acoustic Centre Sync0, which uses the BRAVIA's built-in speaker as the centre speaker. It compensates for the differences in acoustic characteristics between the BRAVIA Theatre Quad's four speakers and the TV's built-in speakers, producing a more consistent sound for the viewer to enjoy.1
Visualisation of sound waves using the Acoustic Centre Sync feature.

Combine it with the latest from the BRAVIA series for an even clearer sound.

The Voice Zoom 3 feature, launching on new BRAVIA televisions, can be applied to the sound output from the BRAVIA Theatre Quad, significantly enhancing the clarity of film dialogue.
A BRAVIA TV with four BRAVIA Theatre Quad speakers.
Close-up of a BRAVIA Theatre Quad speaker and the control box, with black recycled plastic granules.

Using our wits to take our environmentalism one notch higher.

Sound quality and concern for the environment can be difficult to reconcile, but we achieved both through proactive measures taken from the initial stages of development. We replaced nearly all plastics with recycled materials and introduced new innovations, such as creating stand parts that also function as wall mounting brackets. Additionally, we made every effort to use recyclable cushioning materials in our packaging.

Developer comments

Nakamura, project leader: We developed many ideas to reduce the environmental impact to a minimum, from getting rid of the plastic bags for manuals and the shrink wrap on batteries, to making a little storage space in the cushioning materials so that the parts don't get scattered all over the place during transportation.
Nakamura, project leader

The sound quality and design of the long-awaited second generation BRAVIA Theatre Quad have been completely renovated, from the ground up

— To begin, what kind of product is the BRAVIA Theatre Quad?

Hashimoto: In these days of video streaming services, we see the growing popularity of Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and other new formats that can reproduce cinema-like spatial sound in people's homes. Furthermore, as TV screens have become larger while the TV sets have become slimmer, there is less real estate in front of the screen. Sony has therefore taken on the challenge of developing a new product that makes it easy for anyone to create a full-scale cinematic environment in their own home. In 2021, we released the HT-A9 Home Theatre System, which makes it easy for anyone to set up and enjoy a complete, spatial sound system with just four wireless speakers and a compact main unit. It has been extremely well received, especially by film lovers.

Using Sony's original 360 Spatial Sound Mapping (360 SSM) technology, the HT-A9 was able to reproduce a spatial sound. Many users appreciated the sense of envelopment and seamless sound compared to other virtual surround sound technologies available on the market at the time. As the successor model to the HT-A9, the new BRAVIA Theatre Quad offers a further refined listening experience.

Group of Sony developers seated around a table, discussing.

— What, specifically, has been refined?

Hashimoto: The design and sound quality. These two points in particular have been greatly improved. We've designed the system to make it easier to match the interior of people's homes, completely redesigning the shapes so that they blend into people's living spaces. In terms of sound quality, we've similarly redesigned the hardware from the bottom up, as well as adding the new automatic sound field correction function with sensor technology.
Product designer discussing with a group.

A form with a pleasant presence while achieving harmony with the space around it

— People familiar with its predecessor the HT-A9 might be surprised at how drastically the appearance has changed. What was the intention behind the change?

Hashimoto: We also considered how the HT-A9 would integrate into interior spaces, but with the BRAVIA Theatre Quad we leaned heavily into this idea and drastically changed the shape.

Deguchi: Sony's Creative Centre, which took the lead on the design, has continually thought about and proposed ideas on how a home cinema environment should be, given the changes in television environments—such as the increasing size of TV screens. If we were going to try to make the home cinema match with the big screen in the living room, then wouldn't it be ideal to make it flat and wall-mounted? It was with such questions in mind that we decided to make panel-shaped speakers for the BRAVIA Theatre Quad. From a technical standpoint, it is quite difficult to make flat speakers, but with this product, the development team was united from the beginning of the development process, working towards the design prototype with a strong sense of purpose.

— The speakers really have become quite flat, haven't they?

Deguchi: Television sets in recent years have increasingly shaved down their outer edges, reducing them to a minimum so that when seen from directly in front, the image becomes almost the only thing one can see. It would probably be better if the speakers could be made invisible as well, but the fact is that they require a shape, so we have instead placed value on creating a pleasant presence.

Against this backdrop, we have established a design philosophy to apply to all our televisions and home cinema equipment that we call "Harmonic Presence", according to which products and spaces should have a pleasant presence and harmonise with each other to a high degree.

In line with this philosophy, we have given the BRAVIA Theatre Quad a simple, flat design that gives the impression that all surfaces are connected to each other, as a shape that symbolises the feeling of sound diffusing comfortably in a space, like light and scent. In addition, due to the product's characteristics, it will be placed in various locations and thus be viewed from various angles, so we aimed for a design that doesn't look out of place when viewed from any direction.

— So that's what you mean by "harmonising with the surrounding space". Did you decide on the colouring and surface texture based on this philosophy as well?

Deguchi: Yes, of course. We went with a high-quality fabric that should match any interior and carefully selected a light grey colour. The texture has complex nuances that should look good in both light and dark rooms.
BRAVIA Theatre Quad speakers: one on a stand, one wall-mounted, both in light grey fabric.

— The design of the stand is also eye-catching, isn't it? It makes the speakers look like they're floating.

Deguchi: In addition to preventing the slimmed-down speakers from toppling over, we needed a bass-reflex duct underneath to boost the bass, and that is how we ended up with these stands that make the speakers look like they're floating. Incidentally, these stands can double as wall-mounting brackets as well.

— What do you mean by that?

Deguchi: Until now, with your standard home cinema system, if you wanted to mount your speakers on the wall, you had to purchase wall-mounting brackets separately, and after removing the stands, you still had to keep them in case you wanted to use them again in the future. Some people might have found it bothersome to store them somewhere, so they would have thrown them away, which has always bothered us from an environmental perspective.

And so, we have developed the stands of the BRAVIA Theatre Quad so that you can remove them and use a part of them as a wall-mounting bracket. We made use of the shape of the stand to make a bracket with a solid frame, which eliminates the impact of the wall or wallpaper texture on the quality of the sound. In addition, the brackets attach to two points at the bottom of the speakers, just like when we use them as stands. This means that regardless of whether you stand the speakers up or mount them on walls, they will always produce the best possible sound.

Person demonstrating the BRAVIA Theatre Quad stand that doubles as a wall-mounting bracket.

Environmentally conscious from the product to its packaging

— What you've done with the stand parts is innovative and quite ingenious. Is there anything else you've done for environmental consciousness?

Tanaka: Yes, lots. For starters, we changed the material we used for the exterior. Speakers are usually made with virgin resin (i.e., new resin), due to the superior audio characteristics it offers, but with the BRAVIA Theatre Quad we used recycled materials specially made for audio products. We developed this new material out of discarded water bottles and optical discs and got it as close as possible to the virgin resins used before. By incorporating the new material into the earliest stages of development, we were able to adopt it for almost all of the resin components. The fabric material wrapped around the speakers is also made of recycled cloth.
Recycling process for BRAVIA Theatre Quad speaker materials from discs and bottles to resin pellets.

Nakamura: Finally, with this product not only did we address the speakers themselves. We also made an effort to reduce the plastic used in the packaging materials. One of the big changes was to swap out the polystyrene used to cushion and stabilise the product inside its box and replace it with a pulp mould made of recycled paper. We also took out the bands that hold the bundles of cables, replacing them with paper-based materials instead, reducing the amount of plastic used in small ways as well as big.

We generated a variety of ideas to reduce the environmental impact to a minimum, getting rid of the plastic bags for manuals and the shrink wrap on batteries, as well as making a little storage space in the cushioning materials so that the parts don't get scattered all over the place during transportation.

TBC

Designing the unboxing experience as well

— You paid particular attention to detail about the design of the product packaging as well. What kinds of innovations have you introduced there?

Abe: In addition to the environmental measures that Nakamura described, we've made a number of improvements from a user experience perspective. This type of product is usually packaged vertically within the box, but with the BRAVIA Theatre Quad we wanted to give the user a sense of excitement when they open the box and make the initial setup as smooth as possible. The speakers are the key visual of this product, so we used a layout that makes all four of the speakers visible at a glance.
Product engineers demonstrating the environmentally friendly BRAVIA Theatre Quad packaging.

— I can understand how it adds to the excitement to see the full product right before you as soon as you open the box.

Abe: We've placed a graphic at the centre of the packaging that summarises what the user needs to do next to get set up. The BRAVIA Theatre Quad is quite a unique product, so we thought long and hard on how to get the user to follow the steps as we'd envisioned them and start using the system without having to do any backtracking. For example, if you look at the way we laid out the speakers, we've orientated them so that the user can position them correctly without getting confused. Accessories such as the stand parts have also been placed directly beneath each corresponding speaker so that the user can put them together without making mistakes.
Close-up of the BRAVIA Theatre Quad packaging, showing easy setup instructions.

— It looks like these instructions guide the user to a QR code that they can scan with a smartphone to download and install an app.

Ohshima: Yes. After taking everything out of the packaging, the user will need to know how to position the speakers around the room. We decided to guide the user along this process by using the BRAVIA Connect app for televisions and home cinema systems. If you open the app and then turn on the BRAVIA Theatre Quad, the app will automatically detect the speaker system. It will deploy videos and CG to show you the next steps of handling the wiring and settings, helping the user to make the best use of their sound system within their actual environment. All elements of the development team were involved with the creation of the app experience. The mechanical engineers and designers contributed on the speaker installation guidance, the sound engineers handled the speaker settings, and so on.
Control box of the BRAVIA Theatre Quad and smartphone showing the BRAVIA Connect app interface.

Abe: Going forwards, we intend to standardise the presentation for BRAVIA and other home cinema devices. Doing so would provide a smooth and seamless installation experience for customers who—to give an example—buy a TV and home cinema system together.

Ohshima: Once the initial settings have been applied, BRAVIA Connect also doubles as a substitute remote control, allowing you to operate basic controls and change detailed settings. It will also inform you about new functions and ways of using the system, so users will be able to learn more about the product through the app and discover new ways to enjoy it. And of course, if something goes wrong, they can also find troubleshooting information in the app.

Making it easy to enjoy an authentic spatial sonic space: 
360 SSM

— We've now covered the design elements, so I'd like to continue and talk about the sound quality. Could you start by telling me about the 360 SSM technology that supports the spatial sound experience of the BRAVIA Theatre Quad system?

Nakamura: 360 SSM is a unique piece of technology from Sony that combines distance measurement technology that detects the relative coordinates of the speakers and the distance between the speakers and the ceiling with a physical sound field reproduction technology called "monopole synthesis". It synthesises sound waves from multiple real speakers arranged around the viewer and reproduces realistic sound waves from so-called phantom speakers (i.e., virtual sound sources) at ideal positions for each content format.

— Is that possible?

Ohshima: Think about when a noise is emitted somewhere. You hear it when the vibrations in the air reach your ears, right? So that would mean that if you were to change the starting point of those sound waves, as long you could perfectly recreate the vibrations that reach your ears, then, theoretically speaking, you would perceive the sound as having come from that original location. We can apply this idea to sounds from films. The basic concept of 360 SSM is to work backwards and recreate the vibrations in the air when the sound is being played back in an ideal environment.

— How is it any different from the virtual surround sound and other spatial sound technologies that have been installed in soundbars and other devices in the past?

Nagahama: So-called virtual surround sound uses something called "psychoacoustic" technology, creating the illusion of a spatial sound to the listener. As a result, the effect varies from person to person, and there are limitations to the areas where the effect can be achieved. By contrast, 360 SSM technology actually generates a sound field, so anybody can get a solid feel for the sound, and the area where the effect can be achieved is considerably larger. People who never had a satisfying experience from virtual surround sound or those who want to enjoy a spatial sonic experience with the whole family should definitely experience the spatial sound of 360 SSM.

— That sounds great! Which films can play back spatial sound? Is it only those that support a spatial sound format like Dolby Atmos?

Nagahama: You will get the best results with content that supports spatial sound. With films, that would be content that supports Dolby Atmos or DTS:X, and with music, it would be content produced with 360 Reality Audio (360RA) etc. We would of course want viewers and listeners to listen to audio supporting those formats, but even content made with regular stereo audio, such as terrestrial digital broadcast television and YouTube videos, can be made to sound spatial when put through a 360 SSM system.

— In other words, you can enjoy spatial sound with almost all content! Speaking of which, what kind of content do you think is the best for experiencing how good spatial sound can be?

Nagahama: I think it would be good to test it out with something like a big budget action film, where you get intense sounds coming from above, behind, and all other directions. That would make it clear how much fun it is to watch a film with spatial sound.

Ohshima: Another standard approach would be to watch a live performance of music or theatre. That would also be well-suited to playing spatial sound. A sumo wrestling broadcast is surprisingly good for this sort of thing (laughs). If you watch it with spatial sound, you can get a realistic sense of the atmosphere around the ring as the sounds envelop you. With shouts from the crowd flying left and right, it will feel like you're physically there in the stadium. Of course, the same goes for broadcasts of other sporting events like baseball or football. Spatial sound is perfect for that sort of thing.

With just four speakers, BRAVIA Theatre Quad reproduces the ideal spatial sound space

— 360 SSM can now be used with many Sony products. To what extent can the BRAVIA Theatre Quad system produce the same experience?

Nagahama: Among home cinema systems that support 360 SSM, the BRAVIA Theatre Quad is the ideal choice to provide a top-class experience. The way it uses four speakers to enclose a space matches the concept of the 360 SSM, and the fact that all four speakers are identical makes it possible to produce a uniform sound, which in turn makes for significantly better sound connections. Of course, the speaker construction also incorporates a number of modifications so as to maximise the effect of 360 SSM.
Package designer explaining a speaker component design.

— Could you give us some more specifics about that?

Nagahama: First, in order to maximise the effect of 360 SSM, it's important to have a wide range of directionality. When we redesigned the speakers, we also developed new speaker units such as the built-in midrange and woofer, each designed with the intention of expanding the directionality. We also worked with the mechanical engineering team to ensure the optimum body shape and structure to accommodate the speakers.
Close-up of speaker components of the BRAVIA Theatre Quad.
Tanaka: In terms of the mechanical design, we paid particular attention to speaker unit position. If the sound source is positioned too far in the back of the device, then the external wall directly next to the speaker opening will block the emitted sound. We therefore positioned the speakers as far forwards as possible to ensure that the sound can reach the widest possible area without hitting any obstructions. We also ensured that these speaker units line up flat against each other and that the construction does not allow for internal height differentials.
Engineer demonstrating BRAVIA Theatre Quad speaker design and positioning.
Tanaka: One more thing: We have also undertaken our own initiatives with regard to enabled speakers, which replicate sound from above by reflecting sound against the ceiling. This speaker unit was especially affected by the thinner design. A certain size is required to produce adequate sound characteristics, but if we tried to fulfil the desired conditions, then the depth of the unit alone would barely fit within the body, leaving no space to make the frame to hold the speaker unit in the body. In addition, this speaker needs to be positioned diagonally towards the front, but that would also complicate the internal structure and make it harder to make a slim body. We discussed the matter with the sound engineering team and newly developed a special frame construction that would fix the speaker unit in the body without reducing the size of the speaker unit.
Engineer discussing BRAVIA Theatre Quad's speaker design.

— Can you share some details on the basics of the sound quality as well. The new BRAVIA Theatre Quad adopted a three-way speaker unit configuration consisting of woofer, midrange and tweeter (as well as enabled speakers and a bass reflex to boost the low end). Could you tell us what your aims were?

Nagahama: The lower the frequency of the sound, the larger the amplitude of the unit, so if you use the same unit to play back both the low range sounds like bass drums and basses and mid-to-high range sounds like human voices, then the human voices end up superimposed on the larger amplitude of the bass sounds, causing distortion. By going with a three-way configuration, we could play the low range and the mid-to-high range on separate units, reducing distortion and making the human voices cut through more clearly. I think this has made it much easier to hear the dialogue in films.

Hashimoto: It's also possible to add an optional subwoofer to increase the power of the low end. I highly recommend people give it a try.

— Did any other aspect of the speakers change?

Matsumoto: The speakers changed from a two-way to a three-way configuration, which naturally increased the built-in amps as well. Nevertheless, we managed to limit the circuit board area and succeeded in making a layout that further improved the sound through a process of trial and error.
Engineers presenting updated speaker components.
We also developed a new radio module in collaboration with the RF engineering team, with two aerials on each speaker, to further improve transmission stability. In addition, we added an aerial in the main unit to constantly monitor the signal status. When the channel you are using becomes congested, you can instantly switch to an available channel. These improvements ensure that the video can be enjoyed without interruptions, and also contribute to further improvements in the sound quality through real-time corrections of very slight deviations in the audio signals of the four speakers.
Engineer pointing to the internal components of a speaker system.

More advanced automatic sound field correction function further improves both installation freedom and sound quality

— The sonic experience of the BRAVIA Theatre Quad is supported by an automatic sound field correction function. I've been told that it represents a big step forwards compared to the function available in the preceding HT-A9 model, but how has it evolved?

Ohshima: The previous generation HT-A9 model also had a function that measured the relative positions of the four speakers and created an optimum sound field based on this information. This allowed users to enjoy a solid spatial sound even in cases where speakers could not be placed in the ideal positions. With the new BRAVIA Theatre Quad model, we have two new measuring functions.

The first is a function that measures the environment where the speakers have been positioned and corrects the audio. This allows the system to detect and correct changes resulting from the room's environment, such as furniture, curtains and wall materials, all of which have different acoustic characteristics. For example, if a room is made of concrete and the sound reverberates back and forth, it can correct for this by reducing the reverberation.
Visual representation of room acoustics measured by speaker system.

Nagahama: To achieve this correction, we carried out tests in various environments and spent a considerable amount of time optimising the algorithm to ensure good results in any environment. Not only does this correction account for the room environment, but it also considers the installation conditions of the speakers. For example, if there is a wall near the speakers, sounds reflecting off the wall can adversely affect the sound quality, such as by causing voices to be muffled. The sound correction function fixes such issues. This is especially significant when using wall-mounted speakers. At the beginning of the interview, Deguchi said that users should mount the speakers on walls, and I agree. We have developed this product so that users can enjoy the sound quality even when the speakers are mounted on walls. This sound correction function makes it possible to provide the best sound with an attractive design.

Ohshima: The second function I wanted to mention corrects the sound according to the listener's position. By having the user hold up their smartphone at the location where they usually watch video content, the function can optimise the sound for that specific location.
User interface of BRAVIA smartphone app showing soundbar setup, including sound field calibration with a smartphone's microphone.

Adding these two corrective functions has, we believe, further enhanced both the freedom of installation and the quality of sound.

— That is interesting. Incidentally, how freely can you position the speakers if you use these corrective functions?

Nagahama: The front speakers should be placed as symmetrically as possible for maximum performance. The rear speakers, however, can be placed asymmetrically, to a certain extent, and still produce a satisfactory effect through sound field correction. You can enjoy a firmly spatial sound, even if there are differences in height or orientation.

Tanaka: We emphasised the width of directionality when developing this system, and I think that is what makes it possible to achieve an adequate effect even if the speakers are positioned asymmetrically. The wide directionality maximises the effects of sound field correction.

Ohshima: The Sound Filed Optimisation function also enables higher performance with Acoustic Centre Sync0, which uses the BRAVIA's centre speaker. It compensates for the differences in acoustic characteristics between the BRAVIA Theatre Quad's four speakers, producing a more consistent sound for the viewer to enjoy.1
Illustration of sound field correction with BRAVIA Acoustic Centre Sync.
TBC

Hashimoto: At long last, we can deliver the BRAVIA Theatre Quad, the much-anticipated successor to the wildly popular HT-A9, featuring improvements in sound quality, design and all other points. As I'm sure you gathered from our conversation, the BRAVIA Theatre Quad is the culmination of the unwavering efforts and strong convictions of the entire development team. We hope you have the chance to visit a Sony Store where you can test it out. We are sure you will be pleasantly surprised at the impressive sound produced by such a slim product.

Nakamura: As I mentioned at the beginning, this model has received the name BRAVIA Theatre Quad. That alone might tell you that we have placed great emphasis on developing a system that could be paired with BRAVIA. We hope that you will use this product together with BRAVIA at home and immerse yourself in a realistic sonic space like in the cinema, where picture and sound are one and the same.