Sony HT-Z9F vs Yamaha SR-B20A review

Votes 1 1
Rating 5 5

Sony HT-Z9F vs Yamaha SR-B20A comparison chart

Sony HT-Z9F vs Yamaha SR-B20A review

Sony HT-Z9F
vs
Yamaha SR-B20A

If you have already decided that you want to buy a new soundbar, but still don’t know what exactly you want, the Sony HT-Z9F vs Yamaha SR-B20A comparison is here to offer you two decent solutions. The Sony HT-Z9F was rated 7.2, while the Yamaha SR-B20A has a rating 3.8. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, input, Bluetooth, music service, volume down, volume up for the HT-Z9F and power, source, demo, volume down, volume up for the SR-B20A.

Audio features

Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. A noticeable difference is the number of channels that HT-Z9F has 3.1 and SR-B20A has 2.1. These rivals can be compared in terms of power, 400 (overall) versus 100 (overall) according to devices. A built-in subwoofer is available only in the Yamaha SR-B20A. Rate 7 out of 10 received the Sony HT-Z9F for audio features and specs, but the Yamaha SR-B20A received 5 out of 10.

Streaming services

Soundbars do not have AirPlay support. The HT-Z9F can play audio from Spotify.

Connectivity

Wireless Internet connection is realized only in the HT-Z9F. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 2/0 HDMI inputs/outputs in the Sony HT-Z9F versus 0/1 HDMIs in the Yamaha SR-B20A. As in the HT-Z9F, so in the SR-B20A there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). Connecting devices via USB is possible in both models. We rated the connectivity of the HT-Z9F at 8 out of 10, while the SR-B20A was rated 4/10. None of these soundbars can be controlled using the app. Soundbars in this review are not equipped with a microphone. The Sony HT-Z9F may become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos audio decoder is onboard the HT-Z9F. The HT-Z9F can work with surround sound due to DTS:X support. The HT-Z9F was rated 8/10, while the SR-B20A received a mark of 6/10 for multichannel surround.

Advantages Sony HT-Z9F over Yamaha SR-B20A

  • Separate subwoofer in package
  • Spotify support
  • WI-FI enabled
  • Multi-room support
  • Compatible with Dolby Atmos
  • Compatible with DTS:X

Advantages Yamaha SR-B20A over Sony HT-Z9F

  • Built-in subwoofer
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Common

Product

Sony HT-Z9F
Yamaha SR-B20A

Model

HT-Z9F
SR-B20A

Brand

Sony
Yamaha

Reviews

349
34

General

Placement type

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

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

power, input, Bluetooth, music service, volume down, volume up
power, source, demo, volume down, volume up

Audio features

Built-in channels

3.1
2.1

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

400 (overall)
100 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
0

Separate speaker connections

has not
has not

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Chromecast
has not

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

2/0
0/1

HDMI ARC

HDMI eARC

HDMI CEC

Optical digital input/output

1/0
2/0

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

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

100 x 6.4 x 10/39.4 x 2.5 x 3.4
91x5.3x13.1/35.7x2.2x5.2

Weight, kg/pounds

3.1/6.6
3.2/7.1

Other

Release year

2018
2021
Sony HT-Z9F
Yamaha SR-B20A
Sony HT-Z9F
Yamaha SR-B20A

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 7.2
  • 3.8
  • 7.2Sony HT-Z9F
  • 3.8Yamaha SR-B20A

Sony HT-Z9F competitors

Yamaha SR-B20A competitors