Sony Bravia Theatre U: A personal cinema experience around your neck
Sony Bravia Theatre U neckband speaker. Pictures: Sony.
Wearable speakers have always been a niche product, but Sony’s Bravia Theatre U makes a compelling case for why they deserve a place in your setup. Designed for those who live in small apartments, share their space with others, or just prefer an immersive audio experience without disturbing anyone, this neckband speaker promises cinematic sound without the bulk of a soundbar or the isolation of headphones.
After spending some serious time with the Theatre U, I’ve found a lot to love about it — but it’s not without its quirks.
One of the best things about Theatre U is how easy it is to set up. You can connect it to your TV, media streamer, smartphone, or console via Bluetooth. It’s as simple as going to the Bluetooth settings, adding a new device, and holding the power button for five seconds.
I love that you don’t need to upgrade your TV or invest in a full home theatre system. Just make sure that if you’re connecting to a TV, it has Bluetooth.
The Theatre U will greatly improve sound quality compared to the built-in speakers, which is an attractive option for those with older TVs or budget-friendly models; just make sure it has Bluetooth.
Sony has packed some serious tech into this neckband. The sound is spacious, giving a near-surround experience despite being a small wearable device. Thanks to Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound and Dolby Atmos compatibility, audio doesn’t just hit you from the left and right — it feels like it’s coming from all around you. I couldn’t try the Threatre U with one of Sony’s latest Bravia TVs, so Dolby Atmos wasn’t available.
At moderate volume, dialogue is clear, and movie environmental sounds feel immersive. The bass, however, is where the mixed opinions come in. It’s decent but not deep or punchy enough to satisfy bass heads. Sony tries to compensate with a bass boost setting in the Sound Connect app, but it’s still limited by the open-ear design.
For watching movies or playing games, the audio experience is fantastic, especially if you don’t want to disturb others. However, if you’re after a deep, rumbling home theatre experience, a subwoofer is still the best option. The other quirk I found is that the sound is coming from around you and not as much in front of you where the TV is. This takes a little getting used to.
At just 268g, the Theatre U is incredibly light. I wore it for three hours straight and barely noticed it was there. It rests comfortably on your collarbone, making it a much more relaxing experience than over-ear headphones, which can feel tight and warm after a while.
One thing to remember is that since the speaker placement is important for optimal sound, it can shift slightly if you move around too much. This isn’t a dealbreaker, but it’s something to be mindful of.
Sony promises up to 12 hours of playback, which is more than enough for a long movie or a boxset binge session. Plus, the quick charge feature gives you an extra hour of use after just 10 minutes of charging — perfect for when you forget to charge before a movie night.
The Theatre U features multipoint connectivity. I had the Theatre U paired with my TV and phone, making it easy to switch between devices without re-pairing. This is an excellent option for those who want to jump from watching Netflix to taking a phone call or listening to music while doing chores – the neckband has a built-in microphone.
Although I couldn’t test it, you can use two Theatre U’s simultaneously, but this will require a compatible Bravia TV.
The Sony Bravia Theatre U is a fantastic piece of tech for those who want an immersive audio experience without disturbing others. It delivers impressive surround sound, is easy to set up, and is comfortable enough for extended wear.
However, the bass response might not satisfy everyone, and the price is a little steep unless you’re using it daily. If you live in a shared space and want a personal theatre experience without the bulk of a soundbar or the isolation of headphones, the Theatre U is a solid choice.
www.richersounds.ie €298
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