Philips TAB6309 review: Two minute review
The Philips TAB6309 is a budget 2.1-channel soundbar priced at £299 that supports both Dolby Atmos and DTS: Virtual X. Despite its limited channel count and slim design, it delivers a clean, punchy sound with plenty of detail and excellent positioning.
For the price, the TAB6309’s overall performance is great. Speech is clear and bass is well-controlled. Action on screen and the sound from the TAB6309 is well connected and its soundstage is surprisingly expansive, though it does struggle with height channels and Dolby Atmos effects compared to the likes of the Sony HT-S2000, one of the best soundbars at a budget price range.
If you’re looking for a packed feature set, you’ll need to look at more premium soundbars such as the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Samsung HW-Q800D. The TAB6309 does not support Wi-Fi or offer features other than an EQ and Surround Sound mode via the Philips Home Entertainment app, but it does support Bluetooth for music streaming.
The TAB6309’s slim, short design is perfect for fitting under the best TVs, regardless of the height of their stand. Even the subwoofer is slimmed down for a more inconspicuous placement in your room.
The TAB6309 is very easy to set up, taking a plug-and-play approach. You’re ready to go once connected to the TV via HDMI ARC. The same can’t be said for the Philips Home Entertainment app, as I did find teething problems trying to connect to the TAB6309, as well as disconnecting during my testing. Once settled, however, the app was easy to use.
At £299, the TAB6309 is a well-priced soundbar for its sound quality and feature set and while it won’t compete with the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, it does offer surprisingly strong performance. It faces stiff competition from the Sony HT-S2000 (now sitting at an average, competitive price of £299), but it’s still a very good option for those seeking a budget upgrade for their TV’s built-in sound.
Philips TAB6309 review: Price & release date
- Release date: June 2024
- Price: £299
- Limited to the UK
The Philips TAB6309 is a 2.1-channel soundbar from Philips’ 2024 soundbar range. Its launch price in June 2024 was £299. It is only available in the UK and Europe.
Since release, its price has remained fairly unchanged, but we have seen it fall to as low as £259. Its main rivals are the Sony HT-S2000 (roughly £249), Sonos Ray (£279) and Hisense AX5125H (regularly on sale for £249).
Philips TAB6309 review: Specs
| Dimensions | Main unit: 31.9 x 1.4 x 1.6 inches / 811 x 37 x 42 mm Subwoofer: 6.1 x 15.3 x 6.3 inches / 155 x 391 x 161mm |
| Speaker channels | 2.1 |
| Connections | 1x HDMI eARC, 1x digital optical input, 1x 3.5mm input, 1x USB port, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Dolby Atmos/DTS:X | Yes/Yes (Virtual) |
| Sub included | Yes |
| Rear speakers included | No |
Philips TAB6309 review: Features
- Dolby Atmos and DTS: Virtual X processing
- Bluetooth wireless streaming
- Philips Home Entertainment app
The Philips TAB6309 is a 2.1-channel soundbar with a wireless subwoofer totaling 320W of power. It supports Dolby Atmos and DTS: Virtual X audio formats and Bluetooth for wireless streaming.
There are four sound modes to choose from including Movie, Music, Stadium and Voice, as well as basic bass and treble adjustments, which can be made using the provided remote. More in-depth adjustments, such as EQ, can be made in the Philips Home Entertainment app.
The TAB6309’s connection options are basic. There are HDMI eARC and optical digital ports for connection to the TV, and audio-in (3.5mm) and USB ports for connection to other audio sources.
Philips TAB6309 review: Sound quality
- Punchy, dynamic sound despite slim size
- Accurate, controlled and spacious sound
- Limited Dolby Atmos effects
The Philips TAB6309 demonstrated a rich, clear and punchy sound throughout testing. Its slim design did not hamper its expressive sound profile, which showed great accuracy and plenty of detail for a soundbar at this budget price range.
The TAB6309; ‘s slim design also didn’t stop it from delivering punchy, meaty bass. During a car chase scene in The Batman, the rumble of the Batmobile’s engine was delivered with room-filling power, and in Top Gun: Maverick, jet engines throughout the movie had plenty of heft. The TAB6309 demonstrated good overall bass control, but I did find that lowering the bass in the Philips Home Entertainment app improved the balance even further.
The TAB6309 also demonstrated accurate sound placement. Watching The Batman, swerving traffic felt connected to the action on screen, and the same held for the jets soaring through the air in Top Gun: Maverick. Even in La La Land, subtle movements of the dancers’ feet were placed accurately. I did find that turning on the Surround Sound effect in the Philips Home Entertainment app resulted in a more expansive soundstage, particularly for the grand-scale musical numbers in La La Land. Speech was clear throughout my viewing, for both dialogue and the vocals in musical scenes.
The TAB6309 did struggle with Dolby Atmos height effects which is unsurprising for a 2.1-channel soundbar. Watching Top Gun: Maverick, overhead flying never extended beyond the soundbar itself, and the rain in The Batman never felt like it was placed overhead.
The TAB6309 performed surprisingly well with music given its budget price. Listening to Hey Now by London Grammar, vocals were clear, powerful and spacious. Bruce Springsteen’s Dancing in the Dark sounded as expected, with warm bass and synths and driving drums. The TAB6309 wasn’t as expressive with music as more premium soundbars I’ve tested, with a narrower soundstage at times, but I was generally pleased with its music performance.
- Sound quality score: 4 / 5
Philips TAB6309 review: Design
- Slim, compact design
- Premium feel for the price
- Ideal for smaller rooms
Arguably, the most notable thing about the TAB6309 is its design. The soundbar measures 31.9 x 1.4 x 1.6 inches (811 x 37 x 42mm). It’s wider than some other compact soundbar options such as the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), but its incredibly short height means it will sit under most TVs without blocking the screen – a problem with some chunkier soundbars.
The TAB6309’s subwoofer is also a more compact design, measuring 6.1 x 15.3 x 6.3 inches (155 x 391 x 161mm). It’s inconspicuous while still delivering great performance, making it perfectly suited for those wanting a more discrete setup in a smaller space.
The supplied remote is basic, with volume, bass and treble controls and an EQ button. It does feel on the budget side, but it fits with the TAB6309’s price range.
Philips TAB6309 review: Setup & Usability
- Simple setup via HDMI ARC
- App offers expanded control options
- Some app issues
The TAB6309 has a very simple initial setup process. After connecting the soundbar to the Panasonic MZ1500 TV I used for testing via HDMI ARC, I selected the HDMI ARC input on the TAB6309 and it was ready to go. Pressing a Bluetooth button on the subwoofer then connected it to the soundbar with ease.
The Philips Home Entertainment app is generally easy to navigate and expands the control options of the TAB6309 beyond the supplied remote. I did have initial issues with the app struggling to connect to the soundbar, but closing and reopening it solved the problem. The soundbar would also initially disappear on the app, but after a reconnection, this didn’t happen again.
The TAB6309 features a plain, front display consisting of LED lights to indicate input, volume and other settings. While serviceable, it does not provide the same ease of use as the Sony HT-S2000, a similarly priced soundbar with an alphanumeric display.
- Usability and setup score: 4 / 5
Philips TAB6309 review: Value
- Affordable price
- Fairly priced for the performance
- Closely priced rivals with more features
Priced at £299, the TAB6309 is an affordable soundbar that delivers great overall performance. Its slim design gives it a more premium look and also makes it perfect for smaller rooms. It faces competition from the Sony HT-S2000, a 3.1-channel model that provides better virtual surround processing (and has dropped to £279 from its initial £449), and the Hisense AX5125H, a full 5.1.2-channel soundbar system (priced at £299), but the TAB6309 still competes well in its budget price range.
For those looking for more features, such as Wi-Fi support for music streaming, you will have to look to more premium soundbar options such as the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
Should I buy the Philips TAB6309 soundbar?
| Section | Notes | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Features | Good array of features, but no Wi-Fi support | 4/5 |
| Audio performance | Punchy, dynamic and clear sound but struggles with Dolby Atmos effects. | 4/5 |
| Design | Slim design makes it versatile for different environments | 4.5/5 |
| Setup & usability | Easy initial setup, but some app issues during testing | 4/5 |
| Value | Good performance for the price, but some budget rivals offer more | 4/5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider
| Header Cell – Column 0 | Philips TAB6309 | Sony HT-S2000 | Hisense AX5125H |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £299 | £299 | £299 |
| Dimensions | Main unit: 31.9 x 1.4 x 1.6 inches/ 811 x 37 x 42 mm Subwoofer: 6.1 x 15.3 x 6.3 inches / 155 x 391 x 161mm | Main unit:31.5 x 2.5 x 4.7 inches / 800 x 64 x 120mm | Main soundbar: 36.2 x 18.8 x 3.5 inches / 920 x 478 x 90mm; subwoofer: 8.5 x 12.3 x 11.9-inches / 210.5 x 310 x 300mm; satellites: 3.6 x 5.7 x 4.3-inches / 90.1 x 140.5 x 110mm |
| Speaker channels | 2.1 | 3.1 | 5.1.2 |
| Connections | 1x HDMI eARC, 1x digital optical input, 1x 3.5mm input, 1x USB port, Bluetooth 5.3 | 1x HDMI with eARC, Digital optical input, USB-A port x 1, Bluetooth 5.2 | 1x HDMI Out (eARC), 1x HDMI in, optical, USB, 3.5mm AUX, Bluetooth 5.3 |
| Dolby Atmos/DTS:X | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes | Yes/Yes |
| Sub included | Yes | No | Yes |
| Rear speakers included | No | No | Yes |
How I tested the Philips TAB6309 soundbar
- Tested with a variety of sources including 4K Blu-ray, broadcast TV and Bluetooth music streaming
- Tested with the Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV
- Tested using reference movies and music
I tested the Philips TAB6309 in our TV testing room, a medium-sized space, connected to the Panasonic MZ1500 OLED TV via HDMI eARC. I used a variety of sources, including 4K Blu-ray played through the Panasonic DP-UB820 4K Blu-ray player, streaming via Disney Plus, and DVD and broadcast TV.
When using reference movie scenes, I listen for dialogue clarity, bass impact, surround sound immersion, and directional accuracy. To test music streaming, I listen for vocal clarity, bass, balance, and timbre.
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