The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is a very good overall soundbar. It sounds well-balanced right out of the box and features a lot of customization tools to make it sound the way you want. It’s a premium-feeling soundbar setup that has an amazing surround and good Atmos performance. However, some may be disappointed by the lack of Bluetooth compatibility.
Our Verdict
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is great for mixed usage. It offers a neutral, balanced sound profile that's suitable for listening to lots of different audio content, and it has some sound enhancement features so you can customize it to your liking. There's even a room correction feature that optimizes audio reproduction based on the unique acoustic characteristics of your room. However, it lacks a full graphic EQ for sound customization.
- Sleek and very well-built design.
- Room correction feature.
- Very well-balanced sound profile.
- Low latency.
- No full EQ.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is impressive for dialogue-heavy content like TV shows. Its balanced sound profile and its dedicated center channel can reproduce vocals clearly and accurately. You can even use its dialogue enhancement feature to make voices more clear and crisp. Unfortunately, you can't stream podcasts or audiobooks to the bar using Bluetooth, but you can do it via a Wi-Fi connection.
- Dialogue enhancement feature.
- Very well-balanced sound profile.
- Low latency.
- No full EQ.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is great for music. Out-of-the-box, it has a pretty neutral sound profile that's suitable for lots of different music genres. You can also use its bass and treble adjustments to customize its sound to your liking. Also, it has a wide soundstage that really immerses you in your music. However, it lacks a full graphic EQ, so it isn't as customizable as some of the other bars we've tested.
- Very wide soundstage.
- Very well-balanced sound profile.
- Low latency.
- No full EQ.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is very good for movies. It has up-firing speakers that can simulate height when you listen to Atmos content. Thanks to its satellite speakers, it has an impressive surrounds performance, too. On the downside, there's some bass compression when you play it at max volume.
- Supports Atmos content.
- Excellent surround performance.
- Very wide soundstage.
- Very well-balanced sound profile.
- Low latency.
- No full EQ.
Changelog
- Updated May 03, 2024: Updated Stereo Dynamics results with new methodology from TBU 1.3. Added text to Audio Latency: ARC, and Audio Latency: Optical boxes.
- Updated May 02, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench Update 1.3. If applicable, we've retested stereo sound based on the manufacturer's recommendations. Additionally, we've expanded our audio latency tests to the following boxes: Audio Latency: ARC, Audio Latency: HDMI In, and Audio Latency: Optical. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Jun 07, 2023: Converted to Test Bench 1.2. Updated the results for audio format support via ARC/eARC, HDMI In, and Optical. Added Video Passthrough to TV results as well.
- Updated May 24, 2023: Added market comparison to the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc in the Height (Atmos) box.
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Differences Between Sizes And Variants
This soundbar is available both in white and black. While we reviewed the black version, we expect this review to be valid for the white variant as well. This review is also only valid for the full setup, and not for the standalone bar.
Sonos has also released a Costco-exclusive version of this soundbar. It should perform the same, but it doesn't come with a built-in microphone.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Sonos Arc full 5.1.2 setup is a very good overall soundbar. Thanks to its sound enhancement features, it has a very neutral, balanced sound profile and is in the same ballpark as the often-compared Samsung HW-Q90R regarding audio reproduction.
For more options, check out our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best Dolby Atmos soundbars, and the best soundbars for movies.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers. They're both very premium Dolby Atmos setups with built-in voice assistant support. However, the Arc is bigger, and it gets louder with less compression at max volume. Also, it provides a more immersive listening experience, especially with Dolby Atmos content. Subjectively, it reproduces more height in the soundstage, and objects seem to come from more accurate locations in the space around you.
Depending on your needs the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 with Speakers + Bass Module or Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers could be better. Sony supports a much greater selection of audio formats, as well as HDMI 2.1 passthrough, which makes it more flexible for different kinds of media and gaming. On the other hand, the Sonos has a bigger stereo soundstage and comes with Optical support for older devices. If you want to stay on top of the latest audio formats for immersive movie experiences, the Sony is better, but if you're mostly listening to stereo content or have older devices and less space to fit your setup, the Sonos might suit your needs better.
The Bose Smart Soundbar 900 with Speakers + Bass Module is better than the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. The Bose has a better soundstage performance, and it supports more wireless playback options such as Bluetooth. Its default sound profile is also more balanced than the Sonos. That said, you can use the Sonos' bass and treble adjustments to create a more neutral sound profile if you prefer.
The full 5.1.2 setup of the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is much better than the Sonos Arc soundbar by itself. Adding the two rear satellites provides a much better surround sound experience, which is very immersive with surround content. It also makes the soundstage wider, although it does lose a bit of focus. The added subwoofer also creates more bass. On the other hand, the standalone soundbar might be a better option for people with limited space.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers and the JBL Bar 1000 are both very premium soundbars with different strengths. The Sonos is a bit more expensive, but it's much better built and has built-in voice assistant support. Plus, it offers a wider and more immersive soundstage performance. Even though it comes with two fewer surround channels than the JBL, it still offers great performance with surround content. However, it doesn't support Bluetooth like the JBL and lacks Full HDMI In ports, too. Depending on your listening habits, you may find that the JBL is the better value overall.
The Samsung HW-Q990C and the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers are two of the top soundbars on the market, and their premium performance shines with everything from music to movies to TV shows. Both have premium builds with built-in voice assistant support and immersive Dolby Atmos sound. The Sonos has a better stereo soundstage, though the Samsung's sound is a bit more controlled and even out-of-the-box. The Samsung supports more wireless playback options, and it has two HDMI In ports for video passthrough, unlike the Sonos. Plus, it supports more audio formats and is more customizable, thanks to its EQ.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is slightly better than the Sennheiser AMBEO Soundbar MAX. The Sonos is better built, with better surround and soundstage performances. Unlike the Sennheiser, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support. However, the Sennheiser gets louder. It comes with a graphic EQ and presets as well as a Full HDMI In port. Some users may also prefer its standalone design.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the standalone Bose Smart Soundbar 900. The Sonos full setup has a dedicated sub that helps it reproduce a more extended low-bass. It also comes with satellites and more sound enhancement features. Its surround performance is better, too. That said, the Bose has more wireless playback options. You can also upgrade it with a sub and satellites for better performance.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). The Arc full setup is a 5.1.2 setup with a sub and satellites. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass and gets louder, albeit with slightly more compression at max volume. It also has better surround and Atmos performances. The Beam is still a solid choice for users who prefer a small standalone bar.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers or the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module. The Sonos is better for movies, as it has a better surround performance and supports Atmos content. However, the Bose is better suited for music, as it has a better soundstage performance and a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. Also, unlike the Sonos, the Bose supports Bluetooth.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers and the Samsung HW-Q990B are both premium soundbars with impressive performances, so you can't go wrong with either choice. The Sonos is a 5.1.2 setup with a wider soundstage with stereo content. While the Sonos doesn't bring as much bass right out of the box, you can easily use its bass and treble adjustments to get a similar response to the Samsung. That said, it doesn't have as many channels as the 11.1.4 Samsung. Given the additional up-firing drivers on the Samsung's satellites, you notice more sound effects in the space around you.
The Samsung HW-Q950A is a better soundbar than the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. The Samsung has a more balanced, neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It also comes with a graphic EQ, EQ presets, a Full HDMI In port, and support for more wireless playback options. However, the Sonos is better built and has a better soundstage performance.
The Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc is better than the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. Both setups take the Sonos Arc paired with a Sonos Sub but use different satellite speakers. The Ultimate Immersive Set uses the Sonos Era 300 speakers, with up-firing drivers built in for a more immersive sound, especially with surround sound and height content. You get a more clear and real feel with sound effects as a result.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the LG S95QR. While they're both very premium setups, the Sonos offers a wider, more immersive soundstage, and its surround and Atmos performances are better overall. That said, it doesn't come with as many sound enhancement features as the LG. However, its default sound is quite neutral, so you don't really need them.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module. Both setups have premium builds and versatile performances, but the Sonos has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It also gets louder with less compression at max volume. However, only the Sony has a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is a better soundbar than the Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra 9.2Ch. The Sonos is better-built, and it has a more neutral, balanced sound profile. Also, it has a better soundstage performance and more sound enhancement features. However, the Nakamichi is Bluetooth-compatible, unlike the Sonos, and it offers more connectivity options, so it also supports 4k passthrough.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers and the Vizio M Series Elevate M512E-K6 are both 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos setups, but the Sonos is better overall. The Sonos is a better-built setup with more wireless playback options, and its sound quality is better. It offers a wider soundstage as well as a more immersive performance with Atmos content. The Vizio is still a good alternative if you're looking for something cheaper, and it even has an HDMI In port for video passthrough, unlike the Sonos.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers and the Samsung HW-Q800B are both very premium 5.1 setups. The Sonos is better overall, as it comes with rear speakers that result in a better performance with surround sound. Its soundstage is better, too. The Samsung reproduces more bass out-of-the-box, but you can always use the Sonos' bass adjustment feature to get a similar performance.
The Samsung HW-Q930B and the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers are both premium offerings that can please lots of different types of listeners. You can't go wrong with either. The Sonos has a better, more immersive soundstage to make it seem like the action is happening all around you. Meanwhile, the Samsung soundbar offers more customization tools, and it reproduces more low-bass out-of-the-box. You can use the Sonos' bass adjustment tool to get a similar sound, so really, which is best depends on your listening habits.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers or the Vizio M Series M512a-H6. The Sonos is better built, and it has better surround and Atmos performances. Unlike the Vizio soundbar, it has built-in voice assistant capabilities and a room correction feature. However, the Vizio has a more neutral sound profile out of the box, which some users may prefer. Unlike the Sonos, it also has a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is a better soundbar than the Sonos Beam. The Arc full setup is better built and has a dedicated sub and surround speakers. It reproduces a more extended low-bass and offers a better surround performance. Unlike the Beam, it also supports Dolby Atmos content. However, the Beam's small, compact setup may be preferable for some users.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Sony HT-ST5000. The Sonos comes with discrete satellites, and it offers better surround, Atmos, and soundstage performances. Unlike the Sony, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support. That said, the Sony has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It also has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Sony HT-A9. The Sonos is a 5.1.2 setup that's better built and comes with a dedicated sub. It can reproduce a more extended low-bass, so you feel more thump and rumble in your audio. Also, it has better center and surround performances. That said, the Sony has better soundstage and Atmos performances. You can also add on a separate subwoofer if you want.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the standalone Sony HT-A7000. The Sonos is a 5.1.2 setup with a sub and satellites. It reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It also gets louder, albeit with a bit more compression at max volume. However, only the Sony has a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough. Also, you can upgrade it with a sub and satellites sold separately.
The LG SN11RG and the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers are two great full surround setups. The LG features full HDMI ports and allows for Bluetooth streaming while the Sonos feels more premium and has a more neutral sound. Both support Atmos content and offer acceptable performances with their height channels, but the LG has two extra up-firing speakers on the rear satellites. However, the Sonos has a bit better stereo dynamics.
The Samsung HW-Q90R is better than the full Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers setup. The Samsung has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, which some users may prefer. It also reproduces a more extended low-bass, and it comes with a graphic EQ to customize it. It performs better at max volume, too. However, the Sonos is better built with a better stereo soundstage. Unlike the Samsung, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant capabilities.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is a slightly better soundbar than the JBL Bar 9.1. The Sonos is better built, its height performance is better, and it has more sound enhancement features. However, the JBL has a better center channel performance. It also has more physical inputs as well as wireless playback options.
The Samsung HW-Q950T is a better soundbar than the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. The Samsung is a 9.1.4 setup that offers a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box and gets louder with less compression. It also comes with a graphic EQ and two Full HDMI In ports. However, the 5.1.2 Sonos is better built, with a better soundstage performance and a room correction feature.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is a better soundbar than the LG SP9YA. The Sonos comes with discrete surround speakers that offer a better surrounds performance. It's also better-built, with better soundstage and Atmos performances. It gets louder, too, though it has more compression at max volume. However, the LG has a more neutral sound out-of-the-box, and it comes with EQ presets, a Full HDMI In port, and more wireless playback options.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers or the Samsung HW-Q800A. The Samsung is a 3.1.2 setup with a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box that supports more wireless playback options. It also comes with a graphic EQ and presets to help you customize its sound, as well as a Full HDMI In port. That said, the Sonos is better-built, with better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. It also comes with a room correction feature, unlike the Samsung.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is a slightly better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q850T. The Sonos is better-built, and it has a better soundstage performance. It performs better on its surrounds and height channels, and it also comes with a room correction feature. However, the Samsung is more customizable thanks to its graphic EQ and presets. It also supports Bluetooth, and it has a Full HDMI In port.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is a better overall soundbar setup than the Samsung HW-Q900T. The Sonos is better-built, and it comes with satellite speakers, unlike the Samsung. It has a wider soundstage and more sound customization features, including a room correction feature. Also, it has a better-balanced sound when playing Atmos and surround content. However, the Samsung has a Full HDMI In port that supports 4k passthrough. Also, the Samsung has fewer compression artifacts at max volume.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Bang & Olufsen Beosound Stage. The Sonos is a better-built 5.1.2 setup with a sub and discrete satellites. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. Unlike the Bang & Olufsen, there's also built-in voice assistant support. However, some users may prefer the Bang & Olufsen's standalone design. It also comes with a graphic EQ, which the Sonos lacks.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers and the LG SN10YG are both 5.1.2 setups with different strengths. The Sonos is better-built, and it comes with two satellites to help give your audio a more immersive feel. It can get loud enough for a house party or crowded room, and its surround performance is significantly better. However, the LG has a few EQ presets if you like to tweak its sound profile, and it offers more connectivity options, both physical and wireless.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers or the Vizio Elevate. The Sonos is better built, has a more balanced sound profile, and has a room correction feature. However, the Vizio comes with a few EQ presets to toggle between, and its built-in Wi-Fi and Chromecast capabilities will endear it to users who like to stream content wirelessly. The Vizio also has a Full HDMI In port, so it supports 4k passthrough, which is great if you plan on using your soundbar as a hub between a PC/console and TV.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Klipsch Cinema 600. The Sonos is a 5.1.2 setup that's better-built and comes with discrete satellites. It has better soundstage, center, and surround performances, and it also supports Dolby Atmos content. It comes with more sound enhancement features, too, like room correction and bass and treble adjustments. Also, it has built-in voice assistant support.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer either the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers or the Klipsch Cinema 1200. The Sonos is a better-built setup with built-in voice assistant support. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. Unlike the Klipsch, it supports DTS content, and it has room correction. That said, the Klipsch can reproduce more bass out of the box, and its thumpy sound profile may be more ideal for fans of bass-heavy music and action movies. Unlike the Sonos, it has a graphic EQ and presets for sound customization, and its Full HDMI In port supports high-quality passthrough.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Vizio M Series M51a-H6 for most uses. The Sonos is better built, with better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. Unlike the Vizio, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support. Some listeners may prefer the Vizio's more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box. The Vizio also has a Full HDMI In port that supports high-quality passthrough, unlike the Sonos.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Sony HT-Z9F. The Sonos is a 5.1.2 setup that's better-built and comes with discrete satellite speakers. It has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. Unlike the Sony, it has room correction and built-in voice assistant support. However, the Sony has more wireless playback options. Unlike the Sonos, it also comes with a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough and EQ presets.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers and the Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module are both very premium setups. The Sonos is a 5.1.2 setup with better center and surround performances, and it can also get louder with less compression at max volume. There's even an optical port available, which the Sony lacks. That said, the 4.1.4 Sony has a very unique design and better soundstage and Atmos performances. There's even a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough, unlike the Sonos.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is a better 5.1.2 soundbar than the Monoprice SB-600. With calibration, the Sonos has a better-balanced sound profile and produces a more extended low-bass. It also gets louder than the Monoprice and provides a more immersive surround sound experience. However, the Monoprice has a more focused soundstage, so sound objects seem to come from a more accurate, pinpoint location.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Samsung HW-Q700A. The Sonos is a better built 5.1.2 setup with discrete satellites. It has better soundstage and surround performances, too. That said, the 3.1.2 Samsung comes with a graphic EQ, and it also has a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough, unlike the Samsung.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is a better soundbar than the Samsung HW-Q850A. The Sonos has a better soundstage performance, and it's better-built. It comes with a room correction feature and gets louder, albeit with more compression at max volume. However, the Samsung offers a graphic EQ with presets for sound customization and a Full HDMI In port.
Depending on your listening habits, you may prefer the Klipsch Cinema 800 or the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. The Sonos is a versatile 5.1.2 setup with discrete satellites. It's better built, and it has better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances. There are even more sound enhancement features, including room correction. That said, the 3.1 Klipsch has more bass out-of-the-box. The Klipsch is ideal for users who prefer to plug-and-play, but you can always use the Sonos' bass and treble adjustments to create a more neutral sound profile if you prefer.
The LG SP11RA is a marginally better soundbar for mixed usage than the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. The LG has a more neutral sound profile out-of-the-box, and it comes with EQ presets and a Full HDMI In port. It also supports more wirelessly playback options. That said, the Sonos is better-built, with better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances.
The Samsung HW-Q900A is a better soundbar for most uses than the Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers. The Samsung gets louder with less compression at max volume, and it supports more wireless playback options. It also comes with a graphic EQ for sound customization and a Full HDMI In port, unlike the Sonos. That said, the Sonos is better-built, with better soundstage, surround, and Atmos performances.
Test Results
The Sonos Arc looks sleek. It’s entirely made of plastic but is a lot longer than the Sonos Beam. It feels high-end and sturdy. You can purchase it in 'Black' or 'White' color variants.
The Sonos Arc's subwoofer has a unique design with a glossy finish and two subs facing each other in the center hole.
The Sonos Arc satellites are two Sonos One SL speakers. They have a metal grille protecting the speakers and feature touch-sensitive controls on their top side. They seem very well-built and are quite heavy, which gives them a premium feel.
The Sonos Arc is a rather large bar and doesn’t fit between the legs of most 55-inch TVs. On the upside, it’s not too tall and won’t block the bottom of your screen. If you want a smaller setup from Sonos, you can check out the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers.
The subwoofer isn’t much larger than a typical desktop, so you shouldn’t have any issues placing it anywhere in your room since it connects wirelessly to the bar.
The Sonos One SL speakers aren’t too big. They can only be placed in a vertical position and need to be plugged into a power outlet but don’t require any wired connection to the rest of the setup.
The build quality of the full Sonos Arc setup is excellent. While the bar is entirely made of solid plastic, the subwoofer and satellites add even more to its premium feel, thanks to their metal construction. It feels as sturdy as the Bose Smart Soundbar 700.
- 4x power cables (6.2 ft / 1.9m)
- HDMI cable (4.9 ft / 1.5m)
- HDMI to Optical adapter
- Cleaning cloth
- Manuals
The Sonos Arc full setup has a great stereo frequency response. This soundbar has fairly balanced sound, especially in the mid-range, where most voices and lead instruments reproduce. Overall, it's suitable for listening to most music genres, and you don't have any trouble following the action on screen with your favorite TV shows. When we retested the bar with firmware version 14.18, we noticed an improvement in its low-frequency extension. As a result, there's a little more rumble in the mix, especially when bass-heavy genres like EDM and hip-hop, and a touch of extra brightness in the treble.
With calibration and its room correction feature turned on, the Sonos Arc full setup has a great stereo frequency response. Setting the treble to '-1' reduces the extra brightness in the mix, so you enjoy a really balanced sound with stereo content. There's still plenty of rumble in the bass, too.
This soundbar setup's stereo soundstage is great. It sounds wider than the standalone Sonos Arc by itself, although the focus isn’t as good. Nevertheless, it’s still fairly good and objects come from an accurate location rather than a diffused location. For a 5.1 setup with an even better soundstage performance, check out the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 with Speakers + Bass Module.
The Sonos Arc has great stereo dynamics. The bar gets loud, so it easily fills large, more open living spaces with sound. That said, after updating the bar to firmware version 14.18, a little more compression entered the mix when turned up to max volume, particularly in the bass range. It's fairly minor, all things considered, though.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers has an impressive center channel performance. Thanks to its dedicated center channel, it can reproduce clear and accurate dialogue. While the frequency response lacks a bit of bass, this shouldn't be too noticeable in real-life as there isn't a lot of bass present with content played over the center speaker.
This 5.1.2 full setup has a satisfactory surround performance. With dedicated satellite speakers, sounds seem to be coming around you rather than from just in front. The sounds on surround tracks are only played by the satellites, and nothing comes from the bar itself, giving you a very good surround experience.
The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers supports Dolby Atmos content. It uses up-firing speakers on the bar to bounce sound off the ceiling and back to you to simulate height. However, this doesn't sound as immersive as dedicated down-firing home theater speakers. Its satellite speakers don't have up-firing speakers, either.
The bar offers a wide and immersive-sounding soundstage with Atmos content. Sometimes, the soundstage seems a bit fake and exaggerated from pushing the sound to the sides of the room, but overall, the experience is quite enjoyable. Compared to the standalone Sonos Arc, the full setup has better focus, especially for sound objects that come from overhead. If you want an even better overhead sound, check out the Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc, which adds up-firing drivers onto the satellites for a more clear and real feel.
The Sonos Arc full setup has plenty of sound enhancement features. It has a 'Trueplay' room correction feature that adjusts the setup’s audio reproduction based on the room it’s set in, but it’s only available on iOS. Unfortunately, unlike the Samsung HW-Q990B and the LG S90QY, it doesn’t have a proper EQ for you to customize the sound, but you can still play around with the bass and treble adjustment settings. You can find every customization option in the compatible Sonos app, but you won’t be able to use the room correction feature on Android.
The Sonos Arc doesn’t have a lot of ports. It only features a single HDMI ARC port, so you won’t be able to use this soundbar as a hub for your different devices. It also features an Ethernet port to connect it to your home network, and it comes with an HDMI to Optical adapter. Unlike the Sony HT-A7000 with Speakers + Bass Module or the Samsung HW-Q990C, it doesn't have a Full HDMI In port, so you can't do video passthrough.
This full soundbar setup features an HDMI port that allows for most audio formats. Its HDMI ARC port also supports eARC, so you’ll be able to enjoy lossless surround formats as well.
If you're looking for a soundbar with a Full HDMI In port, check out the Samsung HW-Q850T.
When using the HDMI to Optical adapter, the soundbar can play both Dolby Digital and DTS content.
Audio latency falls within good limits if you're using an ARC connection. Your audio and visuals will be synced up. That said, some apps and TVs compensate for latency differently. While there's a TV Dialogue Sync feature available in the Sonos app to give you more control, there are only four settings to pick from, ranging between 75 ms to 2000 ms of delay possible.
This bar includes an HDMI to Optical adapter. Using this connection, you'll also experience low enough latency that your audio stays in sync with your visuals. Some apps and TVs can compensate for latency differently, so your real-world experience may vary. Some users have reported latency issues when connecting the Sonos Arc to LG TVs, but we didn't notice any issues with sound cutting in and out or audio delays. Let us know in the forums if you have a similar experience.
This soundbar doesn't have a Full HDMI In port, so it can't support 4k passthrough.
Like all Sonos soundbars, this one has fairly limited wireless capabilities. You can't cast via Bluetooth, and only Wi-Fi is supported. On the upside, there are a few apps like Spotify that have built-in support so that you can cast easily to the bar. For iOS users, the bar also supports Apple AirPlay 2. It also features both Google Assistant and Alexa built-in.
The interface is quite minimal. There’s one light that blinks or changes color depending on the command you input. There’s also another one that lights up whenever the soundbar’s microphone is activated.
The control scheme is straightforward. You can play/pause, raise or lower the volume, and mute the microphone with the touch-sensitive buttons.
This soundbar doesn't come with a remote, as it's meant to be controlled using the Sonos S2 app.
This soundbar offers built-in support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. If you don't want the voice assistant to listen to you, you can mute the microphone using the mic mute button on the bar.