As a home technology expert with over a decade of experience reviewing audio gear, I‘ve tested my share of soundbars over the years. Few have impressed me as much as the Sonos Arc – a premium Dolby Atmos-enabled speaker packing serious smarts.
But before plunking down $900 for the Arc, it‘s important to fully understand what sets this soundbar apart and where it falls short. I‘ve assembled this comprehensive guide examining the Sonos Arc inside and out. Read on for the full scoop before buying.
Cutting-Edge Design
Measuring just 3.4 x 45 x 4.5 inches (HxWxD), the Sonos Arc‘s elongated form factor deftly pairs with 55 to 65-inch TVs. The minimalist black or white finish fits beautifully into modern décor. Touch controls give quick access to essential functions like volume while the included 6-foot power cord prevents ugly wire stretches across rooms.
The plastic grille wrapping around the sides allows sound projection towards walls for immersive bounce-back effects. While the lack of wall mount compatibility proves disappointing, tabletop placement is recommended anyway to safeguard against accidents.
Custom-Tuned Audio Bliss
As Sonos‘ first Dolby Atmos-enabled soundbar, the Arc represents a defining milestone for the company. While object-oriented 3D audio processing isn‘t new, Sonos‘ execution here hits the mark.
The forward-facing speaker configuration breaks down as follows:
- 3 Angled Silk Dome Tweeters (right, left, and center)
- 4 Elliptical Mid-Woofer Pairs (left/right sides)
- 2 Up-Firing Dolby Atmos Enabled Speakers (angled at approx. 120 degrees)
With a frequency response of 40Hz to 20kHZ ± 3dB, the Arc delivers both subwoofer-like lows and crystalline highs. Each of the eleven Class-D digital amplifiers powering the drivers output 125W for room-filling sound.
Of course, raw output means little without proper acoustic tuning. This is where the Arc truly spreads its wings thanks to sophisticated automatic calibration.
Trueplay Tuning Tailors Audio to Your Exact Room
Through a proprietary technique called Trueplay, Sonos leverages your iPhone‘s microphone to analyze a room‘s distinct acoustic characteristics.
Rather than relying on manual and often inaccurate EQ tweaks, Trueplay measures how soundwaves interact with your speakers‘ placement, layout furnishings, building materials and dimensions. It then finely tunes the sound profile tailored specifically for your space.
The result? Optimized audio with accurate tonal balance that sounds fantastic regardless of obstructions. Even positioning the Arc away from walls only moderately impacts quality thanks to the angled driver design.
Trueplay tuning represents the kind of technological innovation that Sonos hangs its hat on. While rudimentary EQ settings exist as well for the fussiest listeners, most will find the Arc‘s out-of-box performance spectacular following audio calibration.
Full-Bodied Surround Soundstage
With expertly tuned drivers and serious power on tap, the Arc summons a wide and deep soundstage beyond its slim profile. The upward-firing Atmos speakers deftly bounce audio off ceilings to envelop you in three-dimensional effects. Panoramic movie scores fill the room as dialogue emanates clearly from the dedicated center tweeter.
The mid-woofers handle bass duties admirably for a single-cabinet design. While those accustomed to standalone subwoofers may notice slightly restrained low-end punch, the Arc still delivers a full-bodied, room-shaking experience. Add the Sonos Sub ($699) for thunderous lows that rattle your insides.
For true surround immersion however, satellite speakers like the Sonos One SL ($179 each) must be added. Competing Atmos soundbars from the likes of Vizio and LG ship with wireless surrounds included, giving them an edge for cost-conscious buyers. Still in terms of pure performance, few earn better marks than the Arc.
Connectivity and Compatibility
With support for both HDMI eARC and optical input, the Sonos Arc works with most modern television models. WiFi streaming over 802.11 b/g allows cable-free placement while Bluetooth also provides wireless connectivity.
Ethernet ports let you hardwire the soundbar directly to home networks for the most reliable signal strength. Note however that the single HDMI port lacks passthrough for plugging in external media players simultaneously.
Instead, peripherals like Blu-ray players, streaming boxes and gaming systems should pipe audio directly through the TV‘s HDMI inputs. The TV then routes sound to the Sonos Arc via eARC for processing, amplification and playback. As long as your television includes this relatively new connectivity standard, the experience proves seamless.
That said, owners of legacy screens lacking HDMI inputs face challenges. Although Sonos bundles an optical adapter for compatibility, bandwidth limitations and physical ports often make for clumsy placement. Check your television‘s specifications carefully before purchase and understand these constraints.
Alexa + Google Assistant Deliver Smart Voice Controls
With a four far-field microphone array, the Sonos Arc offers always-listening support for major smart assistants. Bark commands prefaced with "Alexa" or "Hey Google" and enjoy wireless music streaming, weather reports and home automation control.
You can also summon Apple‘s Siri using supported iPhones or iPads as makeshift mics for basic iPhone interactions like song playback and calendar reminders. Hands-free voice controls add convenience whether adjusting volumes, queuing playlists or searching vast media libraries.
Programming of voice integrations requires leveraging various application programming interfaces (APIs) and supporting apps like those from Amazon and Google. Thankfully the process unfolds seamlessly here with no coding knowledge necessary on the user‘s end.
Key Considerations Before Buying
The Sonos Arc undoubtedly stands strong against the competition on nearly all fronts – particularly with audio fidelity and smart features. Still a few limitations demand consideration:
Hefty $899.99 Price – Costing roughly twice competing entries from LG, Sony and others with Atmos, the Arc fetches a steep premium. While its bigger sound may justify the difference for some, casual listeners may struggle appreciating nuanced performance gains over more affordable options.
No HDMI Passthrough – With only a single HDMI port for connection, plugging in streaming boxes or game consoles directly proves impossible. Lack of input switching forces relying on your television as the central audio switchboard instead.
Surrounds Not Included – Unlike less expensive Atmos bundles from Vizio and LG shipping with satellite speakers, buying the ideal Sonos surround sound setup demands shelling out another $358+ minimum on top.
App Support Limited to S2 – As Sonos‘ newest product family member, the Arc exclusively supports the updated Sonos S2 app. Owners still running older S1 hardware face fragmentation headaches.
Conclusion: An Impressive AV Centerpiece Under the Right Circumstances
If seeking to elevate your home theater‘s sights and sounds to luxury levels, few soundbars make a bolder audiovisual statement than the Sonos Arc. This future-forward streaming speaker leverages premium components, sophisticated software and sleek aesthetics for an experience with few parallels at this price point.
Between the expansive 3D soundstage, booming bass, multi-assistant support and svelte contours, the Arc fires on all cylinders as Sonos‘ new gold standard. Simply position it front and center under your television for immersive Dolby Atmos that rains audio all around.
Just be sure your budget allows for extra surrounds as your setup permits. Component compatibility headaches also necessitate owning a reasonably modern 4K television complete with HDMI eARC connectivity.
Those able to accommodate the Arc‘s hefty sticker shock and strict setup needs gain a best-in-class BANG for their buck. Discerning home theater enthusiasts searching for the ultimate ambient listening cocoon need look no further than Sonos‘ latest must-hear marvel.
