tldr; Older Sony flagship. 3.1 channels with Vertical Surround. Add SA-Z9R rears for full experience.
$12.95 on AmazonScores based on sentiment analysis of topic-related comments
Best praise vs top criticism for Sony HT-Z9F
“The HT-Z9F is ok but without the SA-Z9R surround speakers it sounds hollow. It's crucial if you want the 3D sound engine to work properly. I still use these in our bedroom. Set the sound to virtual speakers and it will sing like very few sound bars can plus it supports Dolby Atmos, DTS X plus it has double HDMI inputs that support high refresh rate. I think they sound better than the Sonos ARC (Not the ultimate) and many other surround bars around the same price but to each their own. Worth the price you pay? F yes!”
“I had a Sony htz9f, it is a 3.1 Atmos bar and I never noticed the Atmos, there is no difference, then I bought the rear speakers that were sold separately and they made the bar 5.1 Atmos and I never noticed the Atmos either. Now I have a Samsung q990D and it has been with the only bar that I noticed the Atmos. I think that if you don't go for a high-end bar, the Atmos is superfluous because you don't notice a difference.”
44 Reddit opinions analyzed • Last updated 4/5/2026