TLDR Review: Sonos Arc
Verdict
The Sonos Arc is a top-tier soundbar that truly shines when paired with newer TVs supporting eARC, wireless surround speakers, and a subwoofer, delivering an immersive Dolby Atmos home theater experience with easy setup and excellent smart features. However, if you have an older TV without eARC or want Bluetooth streaming, this may not be the perfect fit. Also, Android users miss out on Trueplay tuning, which is a notable downside. If you’re looking for outstanding smart sound with sleek design and superb app integration—and don’t mind the premium price and some setup quirks—the Arc is a fantastic choice. For those wanting broader audio format support or simpler connectivity options, exploring alternative soundbars could be worthwhile.
- Top pro:
- Delivers clear, crisp, and well-balanced sound with impressive bass even without a subwoofer, making dialogue especially clear.
- Top con:
- Requires a newer TV with eARC support to fully enjoy Dolby Atmos; otherwise, Atmos experience is limited.
Pros
- •Delivers clear, crisp, and well-balanced sound with impressive bass even without a subwoofer, making dialogue especially clear.
- •Supports immersive Dolby Atmos audio when paired with wireless rear surrounds and a Sub for an enhanced home theater experience.
- •Seamless integration with Sonos One speakers enables a complete surround sound setup.
- •Easy and straightforward setup using the Sonos app, with intuitive controls and seamless TV remote volume control via HDMI ARC/eARC.
- •Includes HDMI-to-optical adapter for TVs without HDMI ARC, adding flexibility for older TV models.
- •Features built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control, along with Sonos Voice Control and multiple streaming service integrations.
- •Trueplay tuning (iPhone only) adapts sound to your room environment, optimizing audio quality.
- •Sleek, minimalistic design with a low profile and wide sound field that fits well in modern home theaters.
- •Supports AirPlay 2 and works well with iPhone and MacBook Pro for seamless music streaming.
- •Wireless surround speakers and subwoofer can be added for a fully immersive 5.1 sound system.
Cons
- •Requires a newer TV with eARC support to fully enjoy Dolby Atmos; otherwise, Atmos experience is limited.
- •No DTS:X audio support, reducing compatibility with some audio formats.
- •Lacks Bluetooth connectivity, so direct phone-to-soundbar Bluetooth streaming isn’t possible.
- •Only one HDMI input, which might be insufficient for users with multiple HDMI devices.
- •Calibration requires an iPhone for Trueplay tuning, leaving Android users without this feature.
- •Setup via optical adapter can involve short cables and tricky cable management.
- •Some users report soundbar does not deliver truly immersive audio by itself, falling short compared to dedicated AV receiver setups.
- •Latency around 70ms over wireless can be noticeable for serious gamers, though ethernet connection option helps reduce this.
- •No physical remote control; users must rely on the app, voice assistants, or TV remotes, which some find inconvenient.
- •Built-in microphones for voice assistants may raise privacy concerns for some users.
- •Voice assistant conflicts can occur if both TV and soundbar use the same assistant in the same room.
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