Sony has never been one to shy away from pushing the boundaries of home theater innovation, and with the Bravia Theater Quad, the company is making its latest bold statement in the world of immersive audio. The Theater Quad is a four-speaker ensemble that takes the plug-and-play simplicity of a soundbar and blends it with the spatial prowess of a traditional home theater setup, making for a system that is both physically and audibly different from anything else you can buy today.

It’s also more expensive than most flagship offerings on the market today. But for its gargantuan $2,500 retail price, the Quad creates a soundstage that, thanks to its Dolby Atmos capabilities, spatial sound technologies, and overall detail, is one of the best we’ve heard to date. It’s not perfect, especially when it comes to bass. But it’s an experience that you truly have to hear to believe.

First, let’s address the elephant in the room. The Bravia Theater Quad is physically different from any competing soundbar system on the market today. Instead of an ensemble built around a long, hefty soundbar with most of the system’s drivers tucked inside, the Quad features four distinct speakers – two accompanying your TV up front, and two filling out the rear of your listening space. Each of the four speakers are wall mountable, but will otherwise work best sitting on speaker stands, so be sure to factor that into how these fit into your room.