Sonos Arc review
Our Verdict
The Sonos Arc ($799) is premium in every sense — with its precise tuning software and Dolby Atmos back up, it'southward the best soundbar for Sonos fans that tin can afford it.
For
- Attractive, curved design
- Clear vocals and focused sound
- Potent, Sonos-quality bass
- Alexa and Google Banana congenital-in
- Meshes with existing Sonos systems
Confronting
- Expensive
- Very large
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Sonos Arc ($799) is premium in every sense — with its precise tuning software and Dolby Atmos back up, it's the best soundbar for Sonos fans that tin can afford it.
Pros
- +
Attractive, curved design
- +
Articulate vocals and focused sound
- +
Strong, Sonos-quality bass
- +
Alexa and Google Assistant built-in
- +
Meshes with existing Sonos systems
Cons
- -
Expensive
- -
Very large
Sonos Arc: Specs
Toll: $799
Ports: Ethernet, HDMI ARC/eARC
Speakers: 11 drivers, iii tweeters, 8 custom woofers
Smart assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant
Wireless: 2.4/5 GHz, Bluetooth
Size: 45 x iv.5 x 3.four inches
Weight: 13.78 pounds
The Sonos Arc very much looks like Sonos is making a statement. This is a huge soundbar both literally and figuratively: as the name suggests, the Arc's 270-caste, C-shaped grille promises the make'due south signature audio quality for Dolby Atmos formats and premium home entertainment experiences. It'southward good enough to earn the Arc a leading identify on our best soundbars listing, but that kind of quality comes at a premium price: $899, to be exact.
The Sonos Arc replaces the 2017 Sonos Playbase and the 2013 Sonos Playbar) as the visitor's massive soundbar flagship, while the $449 Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the amend choice for smaller entertainment spaces. Although the price (which recently jumped up $100) could intimidate shoppers on a budget, it delivers everything Sonos customers have come to expect from the sound savant in the company's most attractive packet yet.
It besides marked the debut of the all-new Sonos S2 app, which is bachelor to download now.
Sonos Arc review: Cost and availability
The Sonos Arc costs $899 and is available as of this writing. Information technology originally cost $799, but Sonos recently raised the prices of many of its speakers.
The Sonos Playbase and Sonos Playbar are officially discontinued. Sonos offers a trade-up programme for replacing older devices, simply it has not announced if or when either older soundbars will be eligible.
Sonos Arc review: Blueprint
The Sonos Arc wants to be noticed. It measures a mighty 45 x 4.5 x iii.4 inches, but weighs a manageable 13.78 pounds. So every bit large as information technology looks, information technology'southward light enough for i person to transport and fix up.
But yous might find it overwhelms any Tv screen smaller than 65-inches — nosotros tested with the 2020 Sony A8H OLED and the Arc all the same teetered on clownishly big by comparison. In terms of placement, your best bet will exist to place the soundbar on an entertainment eye or mount it beneath your mounted Boob tube. The Sonos Arc won't fit beneath most sets standing on feet.
The curved, perforated grille and elliptical grade of the Arc falls into the company's newer look, moving away from a rounded rectangular blueprint.
The soundbar comes in matte black and white finishes, both of which have a subtle Sonos logo in the center, as well every bit a small LED that indicates the microphone status. Based on the ambience low-cal of the room, the LED adjusts to limit lark.
Capacitive volume and pause/play controls are on the top side Arc, while on the back there'south a concave port assortment with options for ethernet and HDMI ARC/eARC connections.
Sonos Arc review: New Sonos app, fix and tuning
To ready upwards the Sonos Arc, y'all'll need the new Sonos S2 app. S2 is a redesigned version of the existing Sonos app with support for 2020 Sonos hardware, like the Arc. Users with older systems can stick to the Sonos app they use now or transfer their accounts to the new app for a refreshed interface.
The Sonos Arc benefits from 2 software-based tuning features: Phasing rays and time alignment TruePlay. The phasing rays piece of work similar noise-cancelling headphones, but at room scale to focus audio. TruePlay is available for Sonos speakers, every bit described in our 'What is Sonos?' guide, only now information technology factors in reflection of the ceiling. The Arc tunes to a room by making sure sound waves reach all walls at the same time, even in spaces with higher ceilings or where the amusement system is off-center. We think audiophiles will appreciate this degree of scale more than the average user.
You will need to employ the S2 to comport manual tuning tests via the Arc'southward four far-field microphones. Though this only took us a few minutes, we wish information technology supported the Car TruePlay characteristic nosotros raved virtually in our Sonos Move review.
Once you've tuned the Arc, y'all tin connect to your TV and remote for streamlined control. For Dolby Atmos and other high-fidelity listening, you'll want to pair the soundbar to an ARC or eARC-enabled set or streaming device.
Sonos Arc review: Performance
Whether you utilise the Arc to power your calm movie theatre or DJ your adjacent get-together, you'll benefit from eleven loftier-performance drivers (including 2 that are upward firing) and iii tweeters (two side-firing and 1 front-facing for dialog.) The Arc also offers 8 custom elliptical woofers, with 4 forward-firing, 2 reflecting upwards on the ceilings and i shooting sideways out of each terminate.
The Playbase just had six midrange drivers, three tweeters and one woofer. Needless to say, the Arc is a beast past comparison and has the audio to bear witness it.
Listening to a Planet Earth on Blu-Ray with Dolby Atmos was an enthralling experience. As I sat in an echoey basement, it felt equally though I actually stood in the forest, surrounded past rustling forestry and scurrying critters while soft winds soared past our ears. The whistle of a bird or drip of dew drew my attending back towards the soundbar, showing its skill for intentional, room-filling audio. The Arc as well includes a speech enhancement characteristic that strengthens the clarity of dialogue, which in the case of Planet World's narrator, created an ethereal upshot.
Sonos is known for exquisitely counterbalanced bass, and I'm happy to report the Arc is no exception. At every volume level — and let the states tell you, the Arc gets loud — Kayne Westward and Jay-Z's "No Church in the Wild" infectiously thumped just like information technology should, causing my living room to vibrate and complementing the song'due south cinematic style.
The Sonos Arc works similar any of the best smart speakers when the Television set is off. Whether yous command it via the S2 App or AirPlay 2, you're able to stream audio from all your preferred services.
Sonos Arc review: Smart domicile features
The Arc's built-in microphones tin exist used to summon Alexa and Google Assistant. Like any of the all-time Alexa speakers or best Google Home speakers, the soundbar is able to offer a atmospheric condition written report and control smart home devices, such as lights and locks. However, calling and Drop In is not supported.
Withal, the Arc certainly makes its instance to become one of the best smart home devices for abode amusement. It even competes in-brand with our top smart speaker pick, the Sonos One. Similar to the 1, when the Arc is in range, you can apply your phonation to turn on your TV, accommodate the volume and launch your favorite tunes — perfect for when you don't feel like shuffling through blankets or couch cushions for your remote.
Sonos Arc review: Verdict
If you're a Sonos fan with some money to spend, you won't discover a more than satisfying soundbar than the Arc. Its Dolby Atmos support and speech enhancement feature bring the flick theater experience to your living room, plus it looks sleeker than a lot of its competitors.
That is, if you have the amusement setup to back up its massive torso. The Arc is designed for larger spaces and larger Television screens. You should consider the Bose Soundbar 500 if you lot want a premium smart soundbar for a small or mid-size room. It costs less at $499, also. But for serious Sonos fans with whole-habitation systems, the Arc volition prove itself worthwhile.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/sonos-arc
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