Sony HT-CT660 46" Sound Bar with Wireless Subwoofer Preview

How far can you possibly squeeze $400 in the world of audio? Sony hopes to show this sum can deliver quite a lot with their HT-CT660 sound bar plus wireless subwoofer system. With a slim profile to complement a larger flat screen TV and a useful set of connectivity options including 3 HDMI inputs (which pass 3D and 4K content) and NFC (near field communication), the Sony HT-CT660 looks to be an interesting option for those who want an easy to set up system with minimal clutter. Read on to find out how it stands up to a little scrutiny.

What, No Kitchen Sink?

One thing I can appreciate about the HT-CT660 soundbar is that it appears to be  a relatively simple, largely gimmick free piece of equipment. There are no tubes hoping to lure you in with their warm glow and a misguided association with high end audio. There are no streaming services (ala Netflix or Hulu) to be had here, presumably because if you actually want those services, they're available on all but the cheapest Blu-ray players anyway. The one trick the HT-CT660 soundbar does have up its sleeve is NFC; physically tap a compatible device such as a smartphone or tablet on the sound bar and you establish a Bluetooth connection which allows you to stream music wirelessly.

So what does $400 buy you in terms of audio performance? Sony specifies the bar itself to sport a 20mm tweeter and 50mm by 90mm (2" by 3.5") mid/woofer unit on each side of the enclosure. The wireless subwoofer (read bass module) makes do with a 160mm (6.3") woofer in a bass reflex enclosure. Sony also boasts a total system power of 330W (100W per side of the bar plus 130W to the subwoofer), though this is fairly meaningless without knowing the sensitivity of the sound bar and subwoofer, not to mention how the power was rated.

The Sony HT-CT660 Soundbar with sub

What do the numbers tell us? The driver array of the sound bar itself is about what you'd expect given the form factor. Still, we wouldn't mind seeing a bit more displacement (i.e. more or bigger drivers) to allow a lower crossover to the included bass module, and give a bit more flexibility in its placement. As it is, based on the specs of some of Sony's other sound bar models, we'd guess the included subwoofer crosses in around 200Hz, over an octave higher than the THX standard of 80Hz, and liable to cause issues of localization. As mentioned previously, the subwoofer itself is probably better characterized as a bass module. With a single 6.3" driver on board, it's unlikely to offer much of anything below 40Hz.

Summary

Considering the price point and form factor, I do have to admit that Sony's HT-CT660 soundbar doesn't look too shabby. It's obviously not a replacement for a high end home theater system, but it should offer a useful step up in sound quality over the speakers included in today's ultra-thin flat screen TVs. The HT-CT660 is a fairly basic product, though it has the feature set necessary to survive in a modern home. For those looking to boost the audio quality of their snazzy wall mounted flat screen TV stylishly and affordably with a minimum of fuss and muss, Sony's HT-CT660 soundbar-subwoofer system is certainly worth a look/listen.

Unless otherwise indicated, this is a preview article for the featured product. A formal review may or may not follow in the future.