Summary
Sony isnt afraid to get weird and its newBravia Theater Uis a perfect example.
The Bluetooth speaker is essentially a soundbar with Dolby Atmos support that you wear around your neck.
The idea doesnt need to be rational, but at $300 it needs to work well.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
So I got to work determining if this is the new personal audio gadget people need.
Experience true surround sound audio with Sonys 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer technology.
Enjoy crystal clear sound with the newly developed upward-facing X-Balanced Speaker Unit.
Experience true surround sound audio with Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Personalizer technology. Enjoy crystal clear sound with the newly developed upward-facing X-Balanced Speaker Unit.
Price and Availability
The Sony Bravia Theater U retails for $299.99 and is available now.
It only comes in one black color.
Its not very complicated and mostly just plays audio.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
Thats smart because being an entertainment companion is the easiest way to justify its price.
And while it might not cost as much as some of Sonys other headphones, $300 isnt cheap.
That lets you keep an ear on whats happening around the house.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
The speaker is mostly comfortable with a rubber, bendable piece that connects both sides together.
The one wild card is if the Theater U ends up laying funny on your collarbone.
That could lead to minor discomfort over time.
Tyler Hayes / How-To Geek
While I wouldnt call the bass level surprising or overly deep, the full spectrum of sound remains present.
Listening to music on it was vibrant and lively.
The two drivers provide a much bigger sound than you might expect from its physical size.
Be aware, however, the Theater U does not provide a completely private listening experience.
In a bedroom at night, I think another person trying to sleep might get annoyed.
All these different caveats are why this speaker is a bit hard to blankly recommend.
The more Ive used the Bravia Theater U, the more confounding I found it.
Even though it functioned well, I didn’t find it super convenient to use for all those things.
At least it wasn’t any more convenient than popping in an earbud for casual watching.
Im bullish on the Theater Us function, but highly skeptical of its place in the home theater space.
As a movie-watching product, I have a hard time seeing this as a mainstream product.
In the context of games, I can imagine people flocking to this wearable soundbar.
The caveat is that its just for single-player use.
It would just be an expensive product for that task.
I had no problem connecting it to my Mac or taking calls from my iPhone on it.
The people on the other end sounded good to me and they didnt notice any peculiarities.
Battery life can be up to 12 hours which I found solid, but not unbelievable.
With frequent use, I needed to charge the unit every couple of days or so.
Should You Buy the Sony Bravia Theater U?
I commend Sony for regularly putting out unique products.
TheBravia Theater Ufits squarely in that categoryit’s strange.
