- Hisense announces a Dolby Atmos wireless speaker system
- 4.1.2 channels with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support
- Similar concept to the Sony Bravia Quad
Hisense has officially revealed the HT Saturn, a new speaker system that adds to its range of sound bars. It is scheduled for release in 2025, but there is currently no specific release date or pricing information for the HT Saturn. Its launch has been confirmed in the US, and while there’s no official confirmation for other regions, Hisense says it hopes to have more news soon.
Initially shown at IFA 2024, the Hisense HT Saturn consists of four satellite speakers and a wireless subwoofer, comprising 4.1.2 channels in total, with two powerful speakers providing Atmos height channels. During its initial announcement in September, Hisense claimed that the Saturn would have 720W of power, but made no reference to this in its specifications during my most recent briefing. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It has HDMI eARC to connect to the TV through a streaming box, which then sends the sound to the speakers. For audio streaming, it supports Bluetooth 5.3, but there is no built-in Wi-Fi.
Hisense, which makes one of the best sound bars available in the form of the great-value Hisense AX5215H, appears to have taken inspiration from Sony’s Bravia Theater Quad system, which also consists of four satellite speakers. However, the Quad is a 4.0.4 channel system, which comes with two additional speakers, but lacks the dedicated subwoofer. When we tested the Sony Theater Quad here at TechRadar, we were impressed.
The Hisense HT Saturn also supports a room calibration feature, which Hisense says will allow users to place the HT Saturn speakers wherever they want and the sound will adjust to suit the space and position, so it will still sound like a sound system. precise envelope.
Hisense also announced its Hi-Concerto feature, which allows you to use the speakers of a compatible Hisense TV not only with the HT Saturn but also with compatible Hisense soundbars (although no specific TV or soundbar models have been confirmed as of yet ). This is very reminiscent of Samsung’s Q-Symphony feature, LG’s WOW Orchestra feature, and Sony’s Center Sync, all of which are included in some of the best TVs available.
A possible Dolby Atmos success
Hisense may not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of home audio, but when I tested Hisense’s 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Hisense AX5125H, I was surprised by how good it was, establishing itself as one of the best Dolby Atmos sound bars for such an affordable price.
The Hisense HT Saturn takes on the Sony Bravia Quad and there are already some key differences. The Saturn offers a subwoofer in the box, while the Bravia Quad does not, and Sony SA-SW5 and SA-SW3 wireless subwoofers are supported as an optional extra. However, on the audio front, the Saturn is limited to Bluetooth, while the Bravia Quad supports Wi-Fi for better quality music streaming.
Where Saturn will surely win the battle is in price. At $2,499 / £1,999 / AU$3,699, the Bravia Quad is an expensive system that’s more expensive than the Samsung HW-Q990D, our pick for the best premium Dolby Atmos soundbar.
If Hisense can offer the Saturn at a significantly cheaper price than the Bravia Quad (which I strongly suspect it will), then Hisense could be a winner. Because on the sound side I have few doubts, thanks to what I have experienced with the Hisense AX5125H.
