I struggled a bit to think of the correct title description for this Sony speaker product, who lists on their website as “Portable Theatre System with 360 Spatial Sound Mapping”. I applaud Sony for its innovation which certainly brings variety to the otherwise dull consumer audio landscape – products like the LinkBuds and the Glass Speaker come to mind. For battery-operated speakers, rarely would you come across one that consists of three units that can be docked and charged to become a single operable unit.
Retailed at S$769, the HT-AX7 only connects over Bluetooth 5.2 in SBC and AAC codecs, heavily limiting the input options. You will have to go for the next-tier models like the HT-A9 which runs on wall power. The retail box is made up of recycled paper cardboard material sealed over a thick obi in the middle.
The main unit is 1.4kg while the individual speaker is 295 grams each. They sit on top of the main unit cushioned by a thin silicone coating. The speaker plays a tone when they are correctly docked and starts charging, and there is also an LED lighting up next to each of the speaker. The rear design allows easy grip with one hand to move the speaker.
The smartphone app, Sony Home Entertainment Connect, has limited functions, like adjusting rear level, bass level, volume, and selecting the audio mode. It also displays the battery level of each speaker unit. The night mode reduces the bass while the voice mode boosts the upper midrange (vocals). The Sound Field mode can be toggled only when both rear speakers are undocked.
One of the constraints I have when testing the HT-AX7 is to position the two rear speakers optimally. There are no options to adjust the rear L-R balance, which means I have to position them at equal distance to achieve the correct audio balance. But it turns out that my worries are unfounded. The system does not require such meticulous setup, because the additional speakers only help to create an acoustical room effect. The sound output is literally at the back of your head: unlike a true multi-channel system, I cannot discern any real directional audio coming from the back even when watching movies.
What the rear speakers do with “Sound Field” effect enabled is to play out the mid-to-high frequencies and the reverbs. You will still hear 90% of the audio from the main front unit, while the rear speakers give an impression of sound reflected back to you from behind like an enclosed room. Through the app, you can increase the rear speaker volume and make them sound more obvious.
The sound quality does not impress. In the normal mode, the treble is tame and does not cut through the mix, the bass does not sound tight and defined. When switching to Sound Field mode, the treble is elevated and projected from all three speakers towards the listener. At higher volumes, the audio remains laid back and lacks definition, behaving more like a single-unit 360 speaker rather than a 2-speaker. The HT-AX7 sounds fine to listen to music casually, not for details or accuracy. When the two rear speakers are undocked and the Sound Field disabled, both speakers produce mono audio but not loud enough as a standalone, merely to improve the audibility of the main unit.
What I’d wish Sony could do is to support multi-config in Sound Filter mode. For instance, when the two speakers are placed next to the main unit for wider stereo sound, or when placed at the sides of the listener instead of the rear.
Verdict
Retailing at S$769, the HT-AX7 is a deliberate multi-speaker system to enjoy immersive audio. I feel that the SRS-RA3000 offers a more convincing 360 audio because that one is really using the Sony 360RA audio technology, has more input options, and is cheaper. Sony can expand on the AX7 idea to support true multi-channel audio and add more speakers. I will be looking forward to a true multi-channel portable setup and not a virtual surround from a single soundbar.