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Sony has upped its presence in the growing soundbar market by unveiling a brace of models – one, the HT-ST3, claiming to be the slimmest Bluetooth-enabled soundbar on the planet, the other, the HT-ST7, a high-end affair that aims to deliver a flagship performance.

The HT-ST3 will retail for £600 when it hits UK shops in October. A slender 'bar just 4cm high, it comes with a wired twin-driver subwoofer that houses connections – three HDMI inputs and an ARC HDMI output, plus a pair of optical audio inputs. Audio streaming is enabled via Bluetooth (including AptX and AAC) and NFC support. The main soundbar unit employs 11 drivers, with the subwoofer handling frequencies below 180Hz.

The HT-ST7 is Sony's new range-topping soundbar model, and will arrive on shop shelves with a £1,100 ticket. A different proposition to the HT-ST3, it features a much larger cabinet flaunting an array of Sony's Magnetic Fluid speakers and a front-panel display. Connections are built-in to the 'bar itself, and the subwoofer hooks up wirelessly. Again, Bluetooth and NFC are onboard.

Both the HT-ST3 and HT-ST7 are compatible with Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD soundtracks, offer 3D/4K passthrough and pack various sound modes, ranging from the silly (Football mode!) to the sensible (Voice mode, which boosts dialogue).

Sony has endowed its new soundbars with 'Sense of Quartz' styling, which should mean they provide a cosmetic match to a 2013 Sony Bravia TV. Think black and angled and you get the idea.

Look out for reviews of both soon in HCC.