We’ve avoided mentioning the headline ability of this system so far. Sony calls the HT-A9 a “360 Spatial Sound Mapping Dolby Atmos®/DTS:X® Home Theatre System". We’ve no problem with that in theory, but they explain it in some curious ways. For example: “The system uses two microphones on each wireless speaker to measure the relative positions of the speakers and reproduce sound wave fronts from up to 12 'phantom speakers’ (simulated sound sources) that are assumed to exist somewhere outside of the physical speakers.”
So OK, with this system there are four dear phantom ceiling speakers, produced
