Sony HT-ST5000 vs Polk Audio Command Bar review

Votes 2 2
Rating 4.5 4.5

Sony HT-ST5000 vs Polk Audio Command Bar comparison chart

Overall
Sony HT-ST5000
8.6
Polk Audio Command Bar
6.6
10
10

Sony HT-ST5000 vs Polk Audio Command Bar review

Sony HT-ST5000
vs
Polk Audio Command Bar

The present review is aimed to compare two soundbars - Sony HT-ST5000 vs Polk Audio Command Bar that are meant to satisfy the needs of cinema and music lovers. Based on our rating, HT-ST5000 has a total rating of 8.6 out of 10 versus 6.6 for Command Bar. The competitors' control buttons are different: power, volume down, volume up, input Bluetooth, music service and volume down, volume up, microphone, action, respectively.

Audio features

Both soundbars have active amplification type. A significant difference between the units in the number of channels, the Sony HT-ST5000 has 7.1.2 versus 2.1 for the Polk Audio Command Bar. The output power is different and equal to 800 (overall) W for the HT-ST5000 versus 160 (overall) W for the Command Bar. Competitors do not have a built-in subwoofer. Rivals have wireless connection to separate subwoofer. The Sony HT-ST5000 got our rating of 9 out of 10, and the Polk Audio Command Bar 6 for its audio features and specs.

Streaming services

Soundbars do not have AirPlay support. Spotify is available on each of the soundbars.

Connectivity

Only the Sony HT-ST5000 can connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The Sony HT-ST5000 has 3/1 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 1/1 of the Polk Audio Command Bar. The HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature supports both devices. Both soundbars have a USB connector. For connectivity, the HT-ST5000 received a rating of 9/10 versus 7/10, respectively.

Features

App control is available for the HT-ST5000. A built-in microphone is present in each model. Multi-room is available to every soundbar.

Multichannel surround

Only the HT-ST5000 has a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format support. A surround technology DTS:X is supported only by the HT-ST5000. For multichannel surround Sony HT-ST5000 got a rating of 8, and Polk Audio Command Bar 5 out of 10.

Advantages Sony HT-ST5000 over Polk Audio Command Bar

  • WI-FI enabled
  • App control
  • Compatible with Dolby Atmos
  • Compatible with DTS:X
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Common

Product

Sony HT-ST5000
Polk Audio Command Bar

Model

HT-ST5000
Command Bar

Brand

Sony
Polk Audio

Reviews

184
1506

General

Placement type

table-top, wall-mountable
table-top, wall-mountable

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

power, volume down, volume up, input Bluetooth, music service
volume down, volume up, microphone, action

Audio features

Built-in channels

7.1.2
2.1

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

800 (overall)
160 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
0

Separate speaker connections

wireless
has not

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, Tuneln, Deezer, TIDAL, Napster, SiriusXM, Qobuz, Chromecast, iHeart
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

3/1
1/1

HDMI ARC

HDMI eARC

HDMI CEC

Optical digital input/output

1/0
1/0

USB

1 (USB 2.0)
1 (USB 2.0)

Coaxial digital input/output

0/0
0/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

1/0
0/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
DTS Digital Surround

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

117.8 x 7.8 x 14.4/46.4 x 3.1 x 5.7
110 x 5 x 10.1/43.3 x 2.1 x 4.1

Weight, kg/pounds

8.1/18
1.8/4.9

Other

Release year

2017
2018
Sony HT-ST5000
Polk Audio Command Bar
Sony HT-ST5000
Polk Audio Command Bar

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 8.6
  • 6.6
  • 8.6Sony HT-ST5000
  • 6.6Polk Audio Command Bar

Sony HT-ST5000 competitors

Polk Audio Command Bar competitors