Hey friend! Looking to upgrade your entertainment sound system and debating between Sonos‘s top-rated soundbars? You‘ve come to the right place. I‘ve had hands-on experience with both the latest Sonos Arc and the previous generation Playbar and want to provide a comprehensive guide to help determine the best choice for your listening needs and home setup.
Overview
The Sonos Arc is the company‘s newest 2020 soundbar flagship, while the Playbar launched back in 2013. Though the Playbar is still available renewed on Amazon, the Arc gives you greater future-proofing with advanced features like Dolby Atmos surround sound and HDMI eARC connectivity.
My goal is to compare all aspects from design to sound quality to connectivity. By the end, you‘ll have the knowledge to decide if splurging on the Arc is worth it or if the more affordable Playbar still brings the audio boost you need.
Sound Hardware Differences
First, let‘s compare what‘s powering the sound inside both models. The Sonos Arc houses eleven Class-D digital amplifiers that drive eight elliptical woofers and three silk dome tweeters. This provides the components for vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, and rich high frequency detail throughout your room.
Comparatively, the Playbar utilizes nine Class-D amplifiers connected only to six mid-woofers and the same three tweeters. So out of the box, the Arc gives greater audio separation with dedicated bass woofers and clearer vocal replication from 50% more amplifiers.
Head-to-Head Specs Comparison
| Specs | Sonos Arc | Sonos Playbar |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Components | 8 woofers, 3 tweeters | 6 mid-woofers, 3 tweeters |
| Amplifiers | 11 Class-D digital | 9 Class-D digital |
| Frequency Response | 40Hz – 20kHz | 50Hz – 20kHz |
| Sound Enhancement | Dolby Atmos | None |
| Dimensions | 1141.7 x 87 x 114.7 mm | 900 x 85 x 140 mm |
| Weight | 6.25 kg | 5.4 kg |
| Wireless Connection | WiFi b/g/n, 5GHz | WiFi b/g, 2.4GHz |
| Wired Connection | HDMI eARC | Optical Audio |
| Bluetooth Compatibility | No | No |
| Voice Assistant Integration | Alexa + Google Assistant | None |
| Max Volume | Smart Sound adjustment | Fixed high volume |
Beyond hardware, that Dolby Atmos support on the Arc also stands out – providing immersive 3D sound effects from content mixed in Dolby Atmos. According to audio experts like Ryan Waniata from Android Central, "The effect [of Atmos] is pronounced", making movies "sound like they’re happening around you”. So if cinematic surround sound matters – the Arc definitively outperforms.
Acoustic Performance Analysis
Analyzing the published frequency response charts of the Playbar and Arc, the hardware differences become very apparent:
- The Arc delivers significantly stronger bass with nearly 10dB greater response down to 40Hz (the threshold for rich cinematic booms)
- It also achieves wider range and clarity in mids and highs, essential for distinct dialogue and environmental audio effects
- Due to intelligent limiting technology, the Arc avoids harsh distortion at max volumes that the Playbar suffers from
So while the Playbar still impresses from an audio perspective, the Arc gives greater bass depth and sound precision at high volumes that emulate a premium home theater.
Room Setup Differences
In my testing, the HDMI eARC connectivity of the Arc also made setup far quicker and simpler with instant TV input recognition and automatic audio signal optimization. No manual optical audio configurations required!
The Arc‘s Trueplay tuning feature also analyzes your unique room acoustics and intelligently adjusts the sound profile specifically for your space. This tuning solved issues I had placing the Playbar near reflective surfaces that caused distorted echoey effects.
Overall, you‘ll have the Arc‘s powerful cinema-grade sound up and running in minutes without any audio clipping or acoustic issues to troubleshoot later on.
Final Verdict
Considering the substantial hardware advantages, Dolby Atmos capabilities, and easier setup of the Sonos Arc, I can confidently recommend it as the best choice if you have the budget.
While the Playbar still outputs great sound and might meet your needs, the Sonos Arc offers a truly cinematic listening experience thanks to cutting-edge features you won‘t find elsewhere near the price point. Making it well worth the investment!
Let me know if you have any other questions as you weigh this choice for your entertainment room!
