Between the Five and HT-A9, the Five comes out ahead in several specs, while the HT-A9 wins on dolby atmos and output. Overall, the Five scores 35 and the HT-A9 scores 95 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The HT-A9 is the clear pick on raw spec strength, leading by 60.0 points on the Mars Score. The margin is wide enough that the underdog only makes sense if its individual strengths line up with what you specifically need.
The Five doesn't pull ahead on any single popular-comparison spec — its strengths sit in the spec table groups rather than the headline advantages.
Pick the HT-A9 if you care most about dolby atmos and output. Its strongest claims are dolby atmos, output.
Both ship with comparable matter / thread, so those specs don't separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the HT-A9 is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Why Sonos - Five wins
- No decisive advantages.
Why Sony - HT-A9 wins
- ▲Has Dolby Atmos.
- ▲Output: 504 W vs 0 W.
Spec comparison
Audio
| Spec | Sonos - Five | Sony - HT-A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Output | 0 W | 504 Wlead |
| Stereo pairing | true | true |
| Dolby Atmosⓘ | false | truelead |
Assistant & Smart Home
| Spec | Sonos - Five | Sony - HT-A9 |
|---|---|---|
| Voice assistant | Alexa | Google Assistant |
| Matter / Thread | false | false |
| Zigbee hub | false | false |
Frequently asked
Spec-level deep dives
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