If you are looking for a new soundbar the brand Sharp might not be in your top 5 but it should now be considered with the release of the Sharp HT-SB700 2.0.2 soundbar which currently retails for £149.99. This soundbar can be connected to your TV, used as part of your gaming setup or even linked to your mobile phone when you just want to listen to some music. The key features of this soundbar are: 

  • Bluetooth 5.3 
  • HDMI soundbar with 2.0.2 stereo
  • 5 Built-In EQ Presets with Opportunity to create custom EQ Preset
  • Only 52 cm wide! 
  • Dolby Atmos

First Impressions 

The key standout when it comes to this soundbar is the size measuring just 52×7.2x11cm (WxHxD). In practical terms, it’s just under the length of two large Toblerone boxes making this very suitable for those with only a small area in your living room to for the soundbar to be on display.  

Sharp HT-SB700 2.0.2 soundbar review

Taking a more detailed look the soundbar aesthetic is very standout you can see they have spent some time creating a well-built matte black frame with a mesh grille covering the front of the soundbar. 

Sharp HT-SB700 2.0.2 soundbar review

Most of the soundbar housing is formed from injection moulded plastic but it does not feel cheap and with the petite size this soundbar will blend in on shelving next to or beneath your TV unit. This soundbar will be most suitable for owners of 40- 50-inch TVs anything smaller or larger will fill out of proportion.  

 

Continuing with the design there is a nicely integrated line of tactile rubber buttons for power, volume, input and Bluetooth pairing. You will also notice five white LEDs behind the front grille that light up to indicate volume level, source selection and EQ settings. Please note that you can also dim these lights, which is often overlooked in more budget-friendly soundbars. 

Sharp has also given you that vertical height as it offers a more immersive Dolby Atmos experience paired with 3D surround sound. What does the 2.0.2 setup mean well there are two front-firing full-range drivers to handle the stereo stage, and there are two additional upwards-firing full-range speakers that deliver the height that you need when listening to a Dolby Atmos soundtrack when watching a film.

This sharp speaker also delivers 140W of power which will be loud enough in most rooms. The Sharp HT-SB700 also decodes Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD. This soundbar also comes with 5 EQ presets: 

  • Movie
  • Music
  • Voice
  • Night
  • No EQ 

Last but not least this soundbar also comes with a black remote control that is neatly laid out with all the key functions built-in including the listening presets and inputs it also includes bass and treble controls, which are useful for customising your listening experience. 

Sharp HT-SB700 2.0.2 soundbar review

Connectivity 

The rear of this soundbar houses a typical suite of connections tucked into a well-proportioned recess, In that recess you will find the HDMI eARC hookup which should be most people’s choice for audio connection to your TV. It’s also helpful that Sharp also provide you with a HDMI cable. 

There is also one each of the optical TOSLINK and 3.5mm analogue inputs. This soundbar also uses Bluetooth 5.3 with SBC & AAC codecs for streaming. What I did find surprising is there is no Wi-Fi or Ethernet connection. 

In testing I decided to use the Bluetooth connection and found connecting was lightning fast and kept a stable connection. I also connected this Sharp soundbar in front of my Sony 65-inch and also used the HDMI ARC connection. 

Performance

I found that this Sharp HT-SB700 2.0.2 soundbar enhanced my listening experience compared to the audio from my Sony TV speakers. We streamed some music first using the Spotify app and when listening to something like “Alice Metron No Roots”. I was impressed with just how clear the vocals sounded in addition to that the acoustic guitar offered a fair amount of detail. 

When you switch to more rock-based tracks, you will have to increase the bass to improve the overall soundstage. If you want to take the listening experience up a notch switch on the 3D button as this allows you to take all four drivers. I prefer this mode when listening to music as it provides extra width and space. 

Using the soundbar for watching TV/Film, we tested this for the Euro 2024 Final England vs Spain (unfortunately it did not come home!). I used the voice preset and we found the commentary was coherent and offered a marked uptick over my display’s audio. 

We also watched Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan (Dolby Atmos). I was very impressed with this attribute because even with the car chases and gunfire and thumping music scores the dialogue has to battle for supremacy and throughout the many high-octane scenes the Dolby Atmos selection on this soundbar works surprisingly well throwing themselves upwards and outwards from its compact footprint.   

Sharp Soundbar

Verdict

The Sharp HT-SB700 2.0.2 compact Dolby Atmos soundbar is perfect for anyone living in a small living room as it represents an impressive boost to your TV’s audio. This soundbar also delivers the goods when watching a film with its impressively directional soundscape. Use the soundbar to stream music you are provided with a good level of detail and expressiveness for pleasant listening sessions. 

If you are looking for a budget-friendly soundbar that does fill a small room then the Sharp HT-SB700 offers a compelling solution. 

 

Product Rating    

Design: 4.0 out of 5.0 stars

Features: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Audio Quality: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

Value for Money: 5.0 out of 5.0 stars5.0

 

Overall ranking: 4.8 out of 5.0 stars – 4.75 stars

The Sharp HT-SB700 2.0.2 compact soundbar is available for £149 from Amazon.

 

Thanks for reading this review, please continue to support us and check out our other reviews and follow us on Social media: Facebook, Instagram, and Linkedin don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter below.