So you‘re thinking about upgrading your TV‘s mediocre built-in speakers with a shiny new soundbar. And your research keeps leading you back to the Sonos Arc – lauded as one of the best and most advanced soundbars on the market today. I don‘t blame you, the specs certainly seem impressive on paper.
But before clicking that "Buy Now" button, let me walk you through everything you should know about the Sonos Arc. As someone who has listened to and tested countless soundbars over the years, I want to make sure you are making the right choice for your needs and budget.
While there is a lot to love about the Arc, it also comes with a few potentially serious limitations buyers should consider. My goal here is to arm you with a complete unbiased analysis of all factors so you can determine if the Sonos Arc is truly worth it.
Overview: Sonos‘ First Mainstream Dolby Atmos Soundbar
First, a high-level overview. The Sonos Arc represents a new milestone for the wireless home audio trailblazer – it‘s their very first soundbar to support 3D Dolby Atmos sound. Released in June 2020 with a premium $899 price point, the Arc looks to deliver a cinema-quality listening experience from just a single enclosure.
Make no mistake, this is the new flagship Sonos soundbar intended for buyers willing to pay top dollar. The Arc succeeds the popular Sonos Playbar from 2013 as well as the smaller and more budget-conscious Sonos Beam from 2018.
| Sonos Playbar (2013) | Sonos Beam (2018 | Sonos Arc (2020) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 35.43" x 3.35" x 5.51" | 25.63" x 2.70" x 3.94" | 45.00” x 3.43” x 4.49” |
| Speakers | 9 Class-D amplifiers, 6 midrange drivers, 3 tweeters | 4 full-range woofers, 1 tweeter | 11 Class-D digital amplifiers, 8 elliptical woofers, 3 angled silk dome tweeters |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Digital 5.1 | Dolby Digital 5.1 | Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD |
| Voice Control | None | Alexa + Siri via Airplay 2 | Alexa, Google Assistant, Siri |
| Price | $699 | $399 | $899 |
You can see above how the Arc builds upon great sound quality fundamentals with its beefy array of speaker drivers plus support for modern 3D audio formats. And that‘s not even touching on the various aesthetic and smart features upgrades.
But are all these bells and whistles worth an $899 investment? Let‘s dig deeper…
Audio Performance: A Truly Immersive 3D Sound Experience
As an audiophile, I always place sound quality as the priority 1 consideration when evaluating home theater gear like soundbars. And I‘m happy to report that the Sonos Arc delivers impressively full, detailed audio reproduction across a wide variety of content.
Films encoded with Dolby Atmos are where the Arc really gets to spread its wings and demonstrate the benefit of 3D audio. The difference vs standard surround sound is immediately obvious. Sound effects pan and travel smoothly around the entire room – even overhead. Action scenes pack an incredibly visceral punch.
But this stellar performance isn‘t limited to just movie soundtracks. All audio from TV dramas to podcasts to music exhibits exceptional clarity and separation. Subtleties like background effects and string plucks remain distinct without getting lost in muddiness. Vocals always sound crisp – never shrill.
Considering this stage-filling sound emanates from a single compact soundbar rather than a multi-piece surround setup, the end result is even more impressive. The angled side-firing driver configuration helps create a very spacious front soundstage. And the Atmos-enabled upward drivers allow for shocked reactions to dramatic jump scares (looking at you, Stranger Things).
Bass lovers may wish for a bit more low end oomph without pairing an additional subwoofer. But on the whole, the integrated bass response remains tight and controlled. Ultimately, no other single soundbar achieves such cinematic audio immersion right out of the box.
Connectivity: Mostly Wireless Wonders But HDMI Limitations
Like all Sonos gear, the Arc keeps physical cabling blissfully minimal. Setup takes just minutes with a single HDMI cable linking to your TV and power cord – that‘s it. The Arc even includes an optical audio adapter if your TV lacks HDMI ARC compatibility.
Once plugged in, you can instantly start wirelessly streaming all your music services using intuitive controls inside the Sonos app. Or utilize built-in microphones for Alexa/Google voice commands to select songs and adjust volume.
One important connectivity limitation to note is that the Arc only provides a single HDMI input port. That means no support for passthrough to additional home theater source devices like Blu-ray players or game consoles. You‘ll need to plug those directly into open HDMI ports on your TV instead.
Also be aware that the Arc only works with the latest Sonos S2 platform. So if you own older Sonos speakers limited to S1 compatibility, combining them is problematic. Not dealbreaking caveats by any means but worth understanding before you buy.
Smart Features: Automatic Audio Calibration and Voice Assistants
Beyond its purist audio cred, the Sonos Arc also stands apart from other soundbars thanks to some supremely intelligent features.
The built-in far-field mics let you completely control your entertainment experience via hands-free voice commands. Change volume, skip tracks, launch playlists, check weather, control smart lights – all from whichever voice assistant ecosystem you prefer. Choose from Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple AirPlay 2.
Another ingenious inclusion is Trueplay automatic room tuning. This uses your phone‘s microphone to analyze room acoustics and fine tune the Arc‘s sound profile specifically for your space. It eliminates the need for messy manual EQ adjustments to compensate for funky room dynamics.
These thoughtful touches showcase how Sonos emphasizes seamless integration and steadfast performance in real-world home settings – not just hi-fi audio lab testing benchmarks.
Verdict: An Audiophile Masterpiece But At a Price
So at the end of this comprehensive review, would I recommend forking over $899 for the Sonos Arc soundbar? The simple answer is yes…if you have the budget for a best-in-class immersive listening experience.
The Arc delivers phenomenally expansive, crystal clear sound that instantly elevates any TV experience. Movies and music alike sound incredible. The smart features enhance real-world functionality. And setup couldn‘t be much easier thanks to Sonos‘ wireless backbone.
You will pay a premium price tag for such performance though. And be aware of the single HDMI port limitation as well as crossover compatibility issues with older Sonos systems. But if your goal is to achieve audio nirvana from a streamlined single enclosure, the Sonos Arc is second to none.
So there you have it – the unvarnished truth on whether to invest in a Sonos Arc for your home theater. I hope this comprehensive review gave you the complete picture to feel confident making the smartest purchasing choice for your needs and budget! Let me know if any other questions come up.
