Sonos Arc Review: Is It Worth It In 2024?

The Complete Sonos Arc Buying Guide

Even after the release of the Sonos Arc Ultra, the Sonos Arc still remains one of Sonos' best-selling and most immersive soundbar options. In this review, we'll explore whether it's still a worthwhile choice for you in 2024.

The Sonos Arc’s 11-speaker array combines to ensure this sound bar delivers a complete home cinema surround sound experience from a standalone soundbar. Dedicated upwards, side and front-firing drivers help to deliver three-dimensional Dolby Atmos surround sound with a wider soundstage than any other Sonos soundbar. 

With voice control integration for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, you can easily control your audio without even leaving the sofa. The Arc can also be integrated seamlessly with other Sonos speakers using Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling you to create an entire multi-room home audio system or home cinema.  

The Arc is quick and easy to install too. Simply connect the power cord into mains and the HDMI cable into your TV. Once connected, download the Sonos S2 app and follow the instructions to finalise the setup.

We've put the Sonos Arc to the test to help you decide if it's worth the money and is the best soundbar for your home.

Chapters

1. Strengths & weaknesses
2. Price
3. Design
4. Audio performance
5. Should you add rears or a subwoofer to the Sonos Arc?
6. Additional features
7. Sonos Arc vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Sonos Ray
8. Should You Upgrade to the Sonos Arc Ultra?
9. Verdict

Haven't got the time to read? Watch our full video: Should you buy the Sonos Arc in 2024?

Sonos Arc Strengths & Weaknesses

Watch: Full Sonos Arc Review & Test

Price

Sonos Arc - RRP: £899 (see latest pricing)

During its initial release the Sonos Arc launched at £799. However, following a price adjustment that affected many Sonos products back in 2021, it underwent a price increase and now retails at £899 (£100 cheaper than its successor, the Sonos Arc Ultra).  

Replacing the Sonos Playbar and Playbase, the Arc originally sat as Sonos’ premium soundbar option within their lineup ahead of the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and the Sonos Ray. However, with the newer Sonos Arc Ultra now leading the lineup, you might find the original Arc available at a discounted price.

Note: All Sonos products bought with Smart Home Sounds come complete with a FREE 6 year extended warranty, FREE delivery and with 0% finance available. 

Shop Sonos Arc

Design

Available in the same colour options as the other Sonos soundbar options on the market. The Sonos Arc is available in both matte black and white, so you can match your soundbar to best suit your room's aesthetic.

The 270º elliptical metal grille is designed to keep the soundbar slim and unobtrusive when it’s under your TV without sacrificing performance and still achieving optimum output from the drivers inside. 

The Arc is one of Sonos’ largest soundbars in their collection, enabling it to deliver a wide soundstage. At 114cm (45 inches) long, the Arc is best suited to TV screens 55 inches and above.

In terms of useability, we’ve got all of the touch controls we’re used to seeing across all Sonos soundbars on their top panels. These feature controls for volume, play/pause, skip/previous and a microphone privacy button for voice control.

On the rear, you will find the connector panel. The Arc has an ethernet port and a join button, with the HDMI connection and AC power input on the side. 

Internally, the Arc has 11 high-performing drivers made up of 8 supercharged elliptical woofers and 3 silk dome tweeters (The most speakers there have ever been in a Sonos product.)

The Arc’s fully sideways and upward-firing drivers combine to project sound at various angles. Sonos calls this a phased array which enables the Arc to create realistic 3D Dolby Atmos audio that helps to provide a truly immersive surround sound experience.

Audio Performance

The Sonos Arc is a Dolby Atmos enabled soundbar which delivers impressive, room-filling sound. Its audio separation and detail are a standout feature, whilst vocal clarity, mid-range and higher frequencies are also very impressive. 

Whether you’re listening to music or engrossed in a film, the Arc soundbars audio performance packs a punch to further immerse you in your content. The 114cm long width also helps deliver a wide and expansive soundstage that helps to fully immerse its users in even the biggest spaces.

The Arc’s upwards-firing drivers also add an extra layer of depth when listening to Dolby Atmos tracks by delivering overhead sounds with breathtaking realism. 

Based on our testing with the Arc, we have noticed a slight dip in performance when listening to bass-heavy tracks like Dance or R&B music. The bass delivery is clean and tight, but we do feel it could be improved with a little more oomph in the low end. However, this can be improved slightly by adjusting the bass on the customisable EQ settings in the Sonos S2 app. 

If you want even more, you can always add a Sonos Sub 4, Sonos Sub (Gen 3) or Sonos Sub Mini to take control of low-end performance. The cost will vary depending on which subwoofer you go for. However, when you consider the extra bass enhancements and additional processing power afforded for the Arc things do get taken to the next level. 

Want to hear the Sonos Arc for yourself? Skip to 11:27 of our Sonos Arc Review & Test.

Dolby Atmos Enabled - What Does This Mean?

Dolby Atmos surround sound is arguably the most impactful piece of technology within home cinema. It has become one of the most highly requested features for soundbar users. 

It steps up from Dolby Digital by adding real height channels which enable sounds to be interpreted as three-dimensional objects with no horizontal or vertical limitations. 

It’s a much more complex method of sound distribution, but by using upward-firing speakers to reflect sound off the ceiling, you can expect much more immersive audio. 

To put this into context, if you were watching a film scene with a helicopter flying overhead, the upward-firing driver activates to convey that this was happening directly above you in real time. 

Note: It’s worth being aware that the Sonos Arc also supports Dolby True HD and MAT. These are the uncompressed versions for the distribution of multi-channel audio.

How Do I Get Dolby Atmos on My Sonos Arc?

So, you’ve got a Sonos Arc and you’re wondering how to get Dolby Atmos from it. First, you must ensure your TV has an eARC or HDMI-ARC connection.

HDMI eARC is an improvement on the standard HDMI-ARC connection and has a much larger bandwidth, which enables Dolby Atmos. So, if your TV has this type of connection, you’ll be able to automatically experience Dolby Atmos content and other codecs like Dolby Digital Plus, MAT and TrueHD too. 

However, if your TV has a HDMI-ARC connection it may be worth checking your television’s specifications list. Only some TV’s with this connection can pass through Dolby Atmos.

Unfortunately, Atmos isn’t accessible through an optical connection due to the limited space for information to pass through but you can access Dolby Digital audio instead. 

Also, If you’re unsure whether or not you’re listening to Dolby Atmos content at any given moment. Simply check the Now Playing screen of the Sonos S2 app to find out.

New to the app? Check out our complete Sonos S2 App User Guide

My TV doesn't support Dolby Atmos - What now? 

So, you’ve checked your TV’s specifications list, it doesn’t support Atmos and you don’t want to upgrade it either. The maximum capabilities you’ll achieve with the Sonos Arc is 5.1 Dolby Digital by adding a subwoofer and rear speakers.

It’s not the end of the world, the Arc soundbar will still immerse you with its height and side channels. When you’re ready for a TV upgrade, you’ll get a boost for your soundbar too!

Read our Sonos Home Cinema Complete Setup Guide now.

Should You Add A Subwoofer & Rears to The Sonos Arc?

If you want a simple one-speaker setup which offers a complete cinema-quality experience, the Sonos Arc alone will tick that box. However, there’s no reason why you have to stop there. The beauty of Sonos is that its users can seamlessly integrate a Sonos subwoofer, a pair of rear surround speakers or both to upgrade to a complete 5.1 surround sound system. 

There are plenty of options out there and there’s no rush. Each element will enhance your listening experience. But we recommend choosing the components that are right for your space, budget and listening preferences.

Watch: Testing EVERY Sonos Arc Surround Sound Setup >>

Adding a Subwoofer

If it’s added bass you’re looking for, consider adding one of Sonos' three current subwoofer options: the compact Sonos Sub Mini, the powerful Sub (Gen 3),  and the newly released Sonos Sub 4.

For those interested, The Sub 4 offers the same impressive bass performance as the Sub (Gen 3) but with a sleek, updated matte finish and some future-proofed internal hardware. For more information, read our Sonos Arc Ultra & Sub 4 Announcement blog on our website.

Not only bringing bass, depth and realism to your audio experience. Sonos subwoofers are built to take the load of the lowest frequencies from your soundbar and other speakers. Therefore, affording your Arc more processing power to deal with dialogue and mid-range more effectively. 

Based on our testing, we recommend pairing the Arc with the Sonos Sub (Gen 3) or Sub 4 due to their fuller and more expansive bass output. The Sub 4 and Sub (Gen 3) deliver truly room-filling bass that matches the Arc performance-wise, making for a pretty killer combination.

On the other hand, the Sub Mini is a competitive option that delivers impactful performance without breaking the bank. It’s an ideal pick if you’ve got a smaller space or are wary of neighbours closeby. 

Want to find out which subwoofer is right for you? Read our Sonos Sub Mini vs Sonos Sub (Gen 3) comparison.

Adding A Pair of Rears

Dedicated surround channels are a great way to heighten your senses and add an extra layer of immersion. Sonos offer a vast selection of choices here but the most popular option is a pair of Sonos Era 100's. These are the most cost-effective method of adding size-defying sound and enhanced immersion to your home cinema setup. 

If you'd prefer ultimate immersion, you could step up and opt for the Sonos Era 300's.  Designed with six optimally positioned drivers, these speakers project sound all around, from wall to wall and floor to ceiling, offering support for both Dolby Atmos and Spatial audio.  

Other Rear Speaker Options: 

• Sonos Five’s  
• Ceiling Speakers 
• In-Wall Speakers
• IKEA Symfonisk Range

Note : To use in-wall or Ceiling speakers you will need a Sonos Amp to connect these wirelessly for a completely clutter free setup.

If you want a more in-depth analysis of your surround speaker options read our article. Which Sonos Speaker Should You Choose For Surround Sound Rears? 

Sonos Arc Additional Features

The Arc is quick and easy to install, requiring a simple connect the power cord into mains and the HDMI cable into your TV. Once connected, download the Sonos S2 app and follow the instructions to finalise the setup. You can further enhance performance on your Sonos Arc with the below features:

1. Voice Control Integration 

The Sonos Arc has in-built voice control with both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. So, you can sit back, relax and control the soundbar with your voice. Whether you’re turning the TV on and off or shuffling through your favourite playlists, you can do it all without lifting a finger. 

Doesn’t appeal to you? You can also mute the microphone or skip the voice-control setup completely if you don't want to use this feature. 

2. Limitless Streaming 

In addition to being the perfect support act for your TV, you’ll also be able to stream endless amounts of music, radio, podcasts, audiobooks and more straight to your Sonos speaker. 

Stream directly from either the Sonos app or Spotify connect to play your favourite tracks. If you’re an Apple user, you can make the most of the Apple Airplay 2 to cast audio from your iPhone, iMac or iPad to the Arc too.

3. Trueplay Tuning Calibration

This is the quickest and most affordable way to give your Sonos soundbar an instant boost. Available only for Apple iOS users on the S2 app. Your soundbar will use test tones to measure how sounds reflect around your room and fine-tune the audio output accordingly. This will ensure your soundbar is tuned to your unique space and provide optimum performance. 

(Android users if you’ve got any friends with an iOS device, invite them over and borrow theirs!) 

4. Pair Your TV Remote

Automatically pair your existing TV remote for volume control and remove the hassle of having too many remote controllers in your space. 

5. Speech Enhancement & Night Mode

Vocals can often get lost when listening to your favourite films or shows through your TV’s internal speakers or cheaper soundbar alternatives.Therefore, as with all Sonos soundbars, you can use their Speech Enhancement feature to make vocals easier to hear and add an extra layer of clarity to dialogue. It’s a useful solution if you often use subtitles or are hard of hearing. 

Enjoy a late-night series binge? Night mode will dampen the loudest parts of your audio and enhance the quieter tones to produce a more stable output and make dialogue even clearer. It’s the perfect solution if you’ve got neighbours nearby or just put the kids to bed!

Want to know how to get the most out of your soundbar? Watch our Top 10 Sonos Soundbar Tips below!

Does The Sonos Arc Work With Sonos Ace?

Following their release in 2024, Sonos Ace headphones offer a seamless integration with the Sonos Arc soundbar via a feature called 'TV Audio Swap". This feature allows you to send the audio from your Sonos soundbar straight to your Sonos Ace headphones with a single tap of a button.

You can even connect two pairs of Ace headphones to the Arc, though only one can listen to TV audio at a time. Switching between headphones is simple and can be done directly on the headphones or through the Sonos app.

More: Sonos Ace Review: Worth The Wait?

VIEW SONOS ACE

Sonos Soundbar Comparison - Sonos Arc vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Sonos Ray

Sonos Arc vs. Sonos Ray: 

Sonos’ entry-level and smallest soundbar option is ideal for secondary spaces within the home like a bedroom, gym or office. Understandably, it doesn’t get near the Arc performance-wise due to its form factor, but it’s a brilliant option if you want a Sonos soundbar without the higher price tag. 

The Sonos Ray’s front-facing drivers mean you can recess it into a media cabinet or shelf without compromising its performance. Ensuring users can upgrade their TV’s audio output without necessarily needing to have it on display.  

It’s worth noting that the Sonos Ray doesn’t have voice control or support for Dolby Atmos. It can cope with 5.1 surround sound formats like Dolby Digital but it must downmix it into stereo to play it. 

Ultimately, they’re very different soundbars that aren’t necessarily comparable. If you want a straight answer though, the Ray is a great cheaper alternative but you get what you pay for when it comes to the Sonos Arc.

VIEW SONOS RAY

Watch our comprehensive Sonos Ray Review

Sonos Arc vs. Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Torn between going all out for the Sonos Arc, or saving some money and going for the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? 

As one of the market-leading compact soundbars on the market right now. It’s easy to see why the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a popular soundbar option. It can deliver exceptionally detailed and room-filling audio that goes far beyond its form factor and is very hard to beat at its price point.  

Built with three front-firing and two side-firing drivers, the Beam is capable of delivering three-dimensional Dolby Atmos surround sound too. However, due to its noticeable lack of upwards-firing drivers, the Beam relies on innovative psychoacoustic technology to simulate overhead sounds virtually which, when compared with the Sonos Arc, is a noticeable downgrade.  

Other than that, both soundbars do share a lot of similarities like Apple Airplay 2 and voice control capabilities so you won’t be missing out in this department. 

As a general rule of thumb, we recommend the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) for smaller to medium sized spaces. Whilst the Arc delivers a more immersive and expansive soundstage that is better suited to large or open plan living areas. So, if you’re limited on space you simply may not need it. 

If you’re looking for a space and money saving soundbar option the Beam is worth considering. However, if you want the best of the best, the Arc is the way to go. If you're still unsure we do delve much deeper on this comparison on our Sonos Arc vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2) comparison video. 

VIEW SONOS BEAM (GEN 2)

Sonos Arc vs. Sonos Arc Ultra: Should You Upgrade?

After the addition of the Sonos Ray in June 2022 and the updated Sonos Beam (Gen 2) in October 2021, the launch of a new Sonos Arc was only a matter of time.

However, with the new flagship Sonos Arc Ultra here and the more affordable Sonos Arc both on the market, it begs the question: Which one should you choose? We dive fully into that exact question in our Sonos Arc Ultra Review but for those looking for the quick answer, let’s break down the key differences and help you decide if the Ultra is worth the extra cost.

Firstly, if you're deciding between the two, you need to understand that Arc Ultra isn't just a standard generational upgrade of the Sonos Arc. It's a completely overhauled piece of tech that, despite resembling its predecessor on the outside, is a substantial upgrade across the board.

Key Improvements:

• Enhanced Acoustic Architecture: A new 14-driver array, including a dedicated SoundMotion woofer, provides deeper bass and improved overall sound quality.
• Immersive 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos Surround Sound: Experience a wider soundstage and more surround channels for a truly cinematic audio experience.
• Crystal-Clear Dialogue: Advanced Speech Enhancement technology and improved centre channel performance ensure clear and intelligible vocals.
• Bluetooth 5.3 Connectivity: Stream audio directly from your mobile device for added convenience.
• Updated Trueplay Tuning: Optimise your sound experience for your specific room acoustics.

Look, we get it. The Sonos Arc Ultra is a fantastic Dolby Atmos soundbar with a suite of upgrades and enhanced performance that make it hard to ignore.

That said, it's important to remember that the Sonos Arc is still an impressive performer in its own right and it was never desperately in need of an upgrade. So, although it may have lost its flagship status, it still remains a very competitive option in its price range with plenty to offer.

If you're coming in cold or looking to upgrade your current Sonos Soundbar's performance with enhanced channels, deeper bass and clearer vocals, then the Arc Ultra will be a great choice. We wouldn't say its a night-and-day difference, but there is a noticeable step up, which, if we had to estimate, would be around 30-40% better overall.

For those of you who have recently purchased the original Sonos Arc, there's no immediate need to upgrade. But for those with the budget or considering selling your current Arc or shifting it to a different space, the Arc Ultra will be a worthwhile upgrade that will improve your overall audio experience.

VIEW SONOS ARC ULTRA

Too much choice? Watch our Sonos Soundbar Buying Guide Now! 

Sonos Arc vs. Sonos Playbar

One of the most frequently asked questions regarding the Sonos Arc is how does it stack up against its predecessor the Sonos Playbar? Naturally, you get a lot of more innovative technology from the Arc and although the Playbar does still deliver impressive performance from its 9-driver array, you won’t be able to experience Dolby Atmos or voice control abilities and it struggles to compete with the modern approach to audio from the Arc.

The Playbar is a much larger, rectangular soundbar that doesn’t have the same aesthetic flair as the Sonos Arc either. It’s not necessarily a bad piece of tech, it just lacks the modern edge that you see from a lot of soundbars on the market at the moment. 

Our Verdict

It’s hard to argue with the Sonos Arc when it comes down to pure performance. No, its not the latest soundbar in the Sonos range but It’s still an exceptional Dolby Atmos soundbar that's ideal for every application and looks great too. Whether you’re listening to your favourite tracks, watching the latest blockbuster or binge watching a new series, the Arc will undoubtedly take your experience to the next level. 

Arguably the best soundbar at its relative price point when it was launched, the Sonos Arc is not going to leave you wanting more when it comes to bang for your buck. Straight out of the box, the Arc offers exceptionally dynamic, accurate and clear audio that is head and shoulders above its fellow Sonos soundbar counterparts. 

When it comes to bass, this is an area we would like to have seen an improvement and Sonos have addressed this with the newer Sonos Arc Ultra. However, when you consider the overall connectivity of the Sonos ecosystem, there’s always the option to add a subwoofer in the future if you’re desperate for more impactful bass.

Ultimately, the Sonos Arc is still a great option for a lot of people and if you really want to go for something better performance-wise, you’re going to have to be spend considerably more.

Other Useful Content

Video: Sonos Soundbar Buying Guide 2024: Spend Wisely!

Video: Sonos Arc vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Closer Than We Thought?

Video: Sonos Arc vs Beam (Gen 2) & Sub Mini: Which To Buy

Video: Top 10 Sonos Soundbar Tips (Ray, Beam & Arc)

Blog: Sonos Home Cinema: The Complete Setup Guide

We hope you find this helpful, but of course, we realise that purchasing a new soundbar is a big decision, so we are more than happy to assist with any queries you may have.

Please reach out on:

	info@smarthomesounds.co.uk
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