Sony BRAVIA Theater System 6: problems, parts and running costs

Checked: 2026-10-29

Summary

The HT-S60 is a 5.1 bar-plus-sub-plus-rears kit whose common pain points are wiring (the sub houses all TV connections and the rears cable to a separately powered amp), manual USB firmware updates that reviewers failed, and virtual-only Atmos height. Running cost is electricity only, about $29.93 per year in the 4 h/day at 90 W plus 20 h/day at 2.5 W standby scenario at $0.20 per kWh, plus an occasional remote at about $15.95. It is a good buy at $400 to $450 open-box complete, attractive at $451 to $550 new, and good at $551 to $625 new including the $599.99 promotion; above $700 compare the Samsung HW-QS750F or Sony HT-B600.

Common problems and fixes

Rear amplifier output can drop to very low volume — Sony’s regional April 3, 2026 firmware changelog describes a rare wireless rear-amp volume drop; one owner in May 2026 still had a much quieter left rear after updating, and swapping L/R speaker cables at the amp moved the fault with the amp’s left output. Workaround: install the latest firmware, re-link and reset the rear amp (hold LINK over 10 seconds). Warranty may cover a defective amp, but no RMA turnaround data was published. [13][14][16]
Firmware updates are manual USB and often fail — WIRED attempted a USB update three times without completing it and AVForums could not finish one; Sony requires a FAT32 USB 2.0 stick between 256 MB and 32 GB, the update file in the designated folder, the rear amp connected, and no power interruption. Workaround: follow the official procedure exactly or have Sony service apply it. Warranty status for update failures was not stated. [4][6][11]
Intermittent reversion to TV speakers — one B&H buyer on Dec 17, 2025 reported the system reverting to TV speakers for about 20 seconds before resuming. Workaround: check the HDMI eARC/ARC port and TV eARC/CEC settings, reseat the cable, update TV firmware, or switch to optical to isolate a handshake problem. Whether warranty covers it is unknown from the single report. [10][11]
RF interference and rear cutouts — Sony’s troubleshooting covers subwoofer and rear cutouts from nearby high-EMI devices, Wi-Fi equipment and barriers. Workaround: remove interfering devices, increase distance from Wi-Fi, reduce barriers, then re-link and reset by holding the subwoofer power button over 10 seconds or the rear amp LINK button over 10 seconds (erases settings). Warranty coverage for interference-related faults was not specified. [3][15][16]
No-power condition — Sony’s Aug 25, 2026 firmware targets an issue that could prevent powering on; if the unit will not turn on, flashing may not be possible. Workaround: apply firmware if operable, otherwise contact Sony support. Covered under the one-year limited warranty for manufacturing defects. [11][16]
Subwoofer fuzz at extreme bass — What Hi-Fi? heard a brief fuzz or rattle on one exceptionally deep movie moment during a two-day trial, but not on other tracks. Workaround: lower the bass level in the app; no other fix was documented. Warranty coverage was not stated for this anecdotal artifact. [7]
Virtual height only, no up-firing drivers — despite Dolby Atmos and DTS:X decoding, overhead cues are DSP simulation with no physical up-firing speakers. Workaround: accept the virtual processing or choose a true 5.1.2 system. Not a warranty matter. [2][4][6]

Parts and consumables

Original remote RMT-AH513U (Sony part 9-301-010-83) — Parts Town listed a genuine unit at $15.95, but its fitment table showed zero verified models; confirm HT-S60 fitment in writing before ordering. Replace only if lost or failing; no scheduled interval. [3][21]
Compatible remote (Remote Control World) — about $15.90 compatible, about $39.30 genuine, with US international express shipping about $34.80. Replace only if needed. [22]
Consumables — none scheduled: no filters, no batteries in the mains-powered system, no toner or chemicals; soft dry cloth and clear airflow suffice. [2][3]

Yearly running cost

Electricity only. Sony rates 60 W subwoofer electronics plus 30 W rear amp, 90 W combined. Scenario: 4 h/day at 90 W plus 20 h/day at 2.5 W network standby gives 149.65 kWh per year, about $29.93 per year at an assumed $0.20 per kWh. A lower standby scenario of 0.8 W combined gives 7.0 kWh, about $1.40 per year. Those are defined scenarios, not metered use. The only likely parts spend is a replacement remote at about $15.95 before shipping and fitment checks. No subscriptions or proprietary consumables. [2][21]

When it is a good buy

Sony showed $599.99 promotional against $799.99 reference on Oct 29, 2026, while a separate Sony catalog snapshot showed $799.99 active; confirm the final figure at checkout. Best Buy listed exact HTS60 SKU 6623550 at $599.99 promotional against $799.99 comparable value, with open-box condition-dependent prices from $395.99 Fair to $490.99 Excellent. B&H showed $798.00 on an opened live page and $598.00 in another indexed snapshot; Crutchfield showed $798 new and $678.30 open-box. Editorial thresholds: $400 to $450 fully tested open-box with all cables, amp, remote and return terms is excellent value; $451 to $550 new is attractive; $551 to $625 new, including the current $599.99 promotion, is good and defensible for physical rears and powerful bass; above $700, compare the Samsung HW-QS750F at about $679.99 sale against $899.99 comparison (product page $699.99), which adds physical up-firing channels, or the Sony Theater Bar 6 HT-B600 at $499.99 sale against $699.99 list, which has actual up-firing drivers but no supplied rear speakers. Price bands are judgments from observed alternatives, not transaction medians. [1][5][8][10][17][18][19][20]