Bringing cinema soundscapes to small spaces: Sharp HT-SB700 2.0.2 Compact Dolby Atmos Soundbar review

Space at a premium and budget minimum? This TV soundbar from Sharp measures just over half a metre long, features four speakers (two stereo and two up-firing) and promises to deliver superior audio for a low price.

Dolby Atmos is the name of the game here, using virtual technology to deliver the sort of 3D sound experience more associated with a cinema screen than a TV at home. That's a big ask for even high-end home theatre set-ups given the multiple factors outside of a controlled setting which can contribute to distorted or disturbed sound. The Sharp HT-SB700 goes some way to achieving these ambitious aspirations.

Using the stylish unit I was able to access superb sound when tuned into films and sport (as well as day-to-day telly) and also play music via my phone using the Bluetooth (5.3) functionality. I found it to be a significant upgrade on entry-level soundbars which retail for around £50-£100. Spend a little bit extra for this matte black system and you're getting more power, more speakers and, most importantly, a more atmospheric experience.

Verdict: The Sharp HT-SB700 Compact Dolby Atmos Soundbar is a robust, well-designed unit. For a slightly higher price point than most small space soundbars you are assured quality audio thanks to its four speakers and Dolby Atmos-focus.

What's good?

This soundbar from Sharp is solid and looks expensive. It's almost exactly the same width as my 24-inch television (so would work just as well with something slightly larger) and can be connected using a HDMI cable (included) or optical input jack. A metal grille extends entirely across the front while there are two separate rectangular grilles on the top for the up-firing speakers. It's slightly raised from the surface on which it sits thanks to two rubber feet.

Controls on the unit itself are for power, volume, input and Bluetooth. These accompany the buttons on the remote which also allow you to adjust bass and treble, turn EQ and Dolby Audio/Virtualiser on or off, select an EQ preset (Movie, Voice, Music or Night) and play/pause/skip if the source of playback is Bluetooth.

This is an impressive degree of promised performance and the HT-SB700 delivers. It is easy to switch between different settings and there is a clear difference in sound when you do so. Trying it out using my PS4, I was able to pick out audio in games that had been completely obscured when emitted through the television's speakers (and which had still been hard to discern when linked up to my older, more budget soundbar).

Dialogue on television shows and films also had greater clarity than I was used to, and the Dolby options ensured a rounded and powerful sound which did greater justice to the productions than one would anticipate from such a compact piece of tech. The eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) also meant that I was able to link my TV remote control to the soundbar through which I could then control the volume. Changes to volume, as well as other functions, are indicated through LED lights behind the front grille which are pleasingly inconspicuous (but which can also be dimmed further if desired).

What's okay?

As with any soundbar with advanced functions, its success will be conditional upon the technology with which is being used. Working on the basis that you intend to connect it to a television then you'll need to ensure that it is both HDMI-CEC and eARC/ARC compliant and that you are listening to Dolby Atmos audio (available via some broadcasts, streaming services or external devices, such as a Blu-ray player, connected via the HDMI).

For more routine use the HT-SB700 functions extremely well but you may find that you can experience similar from a soundbar which retails at a lower price. Indeed, it'd be worth considering what sort of soundbar is right for you. I'd say that if you are a film buff, gamer or in to your engrossing drama series then the extra cash you need to part with to get your hands on this Sharp product is warranted. And while it will disguise some of the flaws of a sub-par TV, you should still make sure it's fairly up to scratch to avoid missing out on the benefits that audio experts have crammed into this small package. Check out our recommendations of the best 24-inch models.

As a soundbar with an RRP of £200, Wi-Fi or ethernet connection are not givens, and that is indeed the case here. The USB port on the rear of the unit is purely for firmware upgrades. However, with that being said, your budget doesn't have to increase by much to start encountering this feature. It can be found with the Sonos Ray Compact Smart Soundbar, for instance, which is only £30 more expensive at the time of writing.

Any negatives?

The soundbar has many features. This can be a double-edged sword when it comes to usability. There are lots of different options to work through and you have to rely on an instruction booklet and the LED lights to signify when a change has or hasn't taken effect. This isn't always, if you'll pardon the pun, illuminating.

With a decent, cheap soundbar you should be confident of ease of use due to its very nature (ie. fewer functions to tinker with), while a costly unit will likely integrate with an app to facilitate easier distinction between modes. Being somewhere in between can cause problems.

It's reasonably common to get an internal or external subwoofer with even budget soundbars – take the Majority Teton Plus – but it's something that's lacking here (as indicated by its 2.0.2 classification. Find out more about what that means here). Admittedly, it's not as if there's a very obvious impact on audio quality as a result, but subwoofers do exist for a reason – enhanced bass – and the absence of one in this soundbar is a surprise.

Finally, despite a very favourable view of the Sharp HT-SB700 overall, I do have another slight gripe. There seems to be a significant jump in volume with one click of the control button, at least when paired with my television. I expected this to happen in much more subtle increments, so it wasn't always easy to find the sound sweet spot.

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Who tested the Sharp HT-SB700 soundbar?

David Ker, What's The Best Deputy Editor, tested this compact soundbar over several weeks. He used it to watch TV shows (from news to drama and sporting spectacle to quizzes) and films (via a Blu-ray player), as well as to play games using a games console.

He also connected the soundbar to his phone to listen to music via Bluetooth.

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David Ker is a journalist with a decade's experience in print and digital publishing. He appreciates technology made with its environmental impact in mind and which presents him a further means to pursue his love of music, reading, games, TV and film. Above all, with so many options out there, he's interested in products that display something out of the ordinary and offer value for money. Hard to please, he assures What's The Best readers that he'll be a discerning critic on their behalf.

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