Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate: the most effective one-box Dolby Atmos soundbar for the value, with one grating flaw
Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate: Two minute evaluate
The Sonos Arc Extremely is the brand new flagship in Sonos’ soundbar line-up, and it takes every part that was good in regards to the unique Arc and cranks it as much as the following stage. Higher Dolby Atmos results, higher bass, higher speech readability, higher connectivity.
The Sonos Arc Extremely is a large step up for music high quality over the unique Sonos Arc, and whereas it’s much less of a bounce up from the unique with films, it’s nonetheless a transparent and apparent enchancment, and ranks among the many greatest soundbars.
Is it price upgrading from the unique Sonos Arc? I believe that’ll rely upon how a lot of a cinephile you might be; I actually appreciated the improved sound steadiness and the clearer speech, and the apparent enchancment to Dolby Atmos results positioning, and located it arduous to return – however the unique Sonos Arc is not any slouch, and extra informal viewers might discover the distinction to really feel much less important.
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The Sonos Arc Extremely retains the unique’s greatest flaw, which isn’t having any HDMI passthrough port in an period when HDMI ports have gotten a little bit of a premium, and successfully all its key rivals supply this. The dearth of DTS can be a disgrace, however gained’t be a giant downside for most individuals. I nonetheless completely suggest the Sonos Arc Extremely, but it surely simply is probably not the most effective match on your setup due to its HDMI limitation.
For these questioning about Sonos’ app, I had no issues setting it up, taking part in with totally different configurations, and altering settings.
I’m reviewing the Sonos Arc Extremely as a single soundbar right here, although I’ve examined it with the Sub 4 and rear audio system, and I’ll discuss that have too.
I believe the Sonos Arc Extremely offers you the most effective cinematic expertise you may get from a single-unit soundbar for underneath $1000 / £1000. Nonetheless, within the UK, you may get the Samsung HW-Q990D for across the similar worth throughout gross sales occasions, and in case you’re glad having a four-box encompass system, you’ll get a much more immersive expertise. And Sony’s Bravia Theater Bar 9 is a key competitor around the globe – it is a single-box soundbar just like the Arc Extremely, but it surely gives the lacking HDMI port, and with 4K 120Hz assist, no much less. It formally prices much more than the Sonos Arc Extremely, however gross sales season reductions deliver it all the way down to across the similar worth. It’s even greater than the Arc Extremely, although.
Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate: Value & launch date
- Launched on October 29, 2024
- Priced at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799
The Sonos Arc Extremely is priced fairly nicely at $999 / £999 / AU$1,799, contemplating that different flagship one-box soundbars might be far larger, such because the $2,399 / £1,990 / AU$3,999 Devialet Dione, or the $1,399 / £1,399 / AU$1,795 of the Sony Bravia Theater Bar 9.
Clearly, it is not low cost, and you could find the Samsung HW-Q800D for considerably much less, however that is not a one-box soundbar, and constructing high-quality sound right into a single unit that is not large (which the Devialet Dione particularly is) is tough. For a premium soundbar, the Arc Extremely is aggressive.
Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate: Specs
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 2.95 x 46.38 x 4.35 inches (75 x 1178 x 110.6mm) |
| Speaker channels | 9.1.4 |
| Connections: | 1x HDMI with eARC, Ethernet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth |
| Dolby Atmos/DTS:X | Sure/No |
| Sub included | No |
| Rear audio system included | No |
| Options | Sonos multi-room, TruePlay tuning, AirPlay 2 |
Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate: Options
- 9.1.4 speaker channels, with Sound Movement bass driver
- All Sonos’ regular particular abilities, plus Bluetooth
- Dolby Atmos assist, however no DTS
Very like the unique Sonos Arc, it is a Dolby Atmos soundbar with HDMI eARC connectivity, Sonos multi-room wi-fi assist, and elective voice management from Alexa or Sonos’ personal extra restricted voice assistant.
The most important new function is the Sound Movement driver, which delivers large bass efficiency from a small speaker, and a typically improved speaker setup that now guarantees 9.1.4 channels of sound, in comparison with 5.0.2 from the unique Sonos Arc.
There’s additionally Bluetooth connectivity within the Arc Extremely, which is a primary for a Sonos soundbar, however is now normal on the most effective Sonos audio system finally, together with the current Sonos Period 100 and Sonos Period 300.
Naturally, the Sonos Arc Extremely works with Sonos’ Sub choices (together with the brand new Sub 4 in addition to older fashions) and you’ll join it to rear audio system for an actual encompass sound setup. The Arc Extremely is the primary Sonos soundbar that doesn’t work with the Sonos Play:1 or Play:5 audio system – but it surely nonetheless works with Sonos One, Sonos 5, the Period fashions, or with two wired audio system related to a Sonos Amp.
Sonos’ TruePlay room-tuning tech is right here, and it’s lastly obtainable on Android in a brand new ‘fast’ model, which can be obtainable on iOS. This new model will in all probability be preferable for lots of people as a result of it’s a lot simpler. It makes use of the Arc Extremely’s personal mic array to check your room utilizing a sequence of pet-alarming tones, to regulate the system’s sound for higher precision and Dolby Atmos encompass results. On iOS, it nonetheless requested me to carry my cellphone the place I sit for a set of measurements there first, which is what the total TruePlay system does – however then I didn’t should stroll across the room waving my cellphone up and down.
The most important flaw within the Sonos Arc is the dearth of any HDMI passthrough ports. Most premium soundbars have multiple HDMI port – one to hook up with your TV, after which at the least one different that passes video by to your TV, so that you just don’t lose the usage of one among your HDMI ports for connecting consoles or different video containers. That is doubly annoying within the majority of TV fashions obtainable as we speak, which solely have two HDMI 2.1 ports for 4K 120Hz assist at most, and the HDMI eARC is often a kind of ports, so that you’re shedding probably the most necessary ports. (Many LG and Samsung TVs have 4 HDMI 2.1 ports, so that is much less of an issue, and in 2025 much more TVs may have 4 HDMI 2.1 ports because of a brand new chip from MediaTek – however that doesn’t assist TVs as we speak.)
Even ignoring the kind of ports, 4 video units isn’t an unusual quantity for folks to need to connect with a TV right here in 2024, and but if in case you have the Sonos Arc Extremely, you may solely join three.
It’s so irritating, on condition that it was a criticism I had in regards to the unique Sonos Arc when that launched in 2020. I’ve spoken to Sonos in regards to the matter, and the corporate’s stance has been that HDMI passthrough provides complexity and it needs its soundbars to be so simple as doable. However that solely holds true if somebody doesn’t then should take care of the headache of what answer is that if they need to join extra units than they’ve ports free, as soon as the Arc Extremely is related. I believe Sonos has merely off-loaded the complexity to customers. With an HDMI passthrough port, I’d have been significantly taking a look at giving the Arc Extremely a five-star ranking general.
The opposite notable situation is an absence of DTS decoding. This isn’t a giant downside in case your TV or playback gadget will decode DTS-HD to LPCM, as many will. I had a good time taking part in DTS-HD Blu-rays whereas testing the Sonos Arc, and getting the large, highly effective, high-quality sound I used to be anticipating. The dearth of DTS:X is the extra annoying half for purists, particularly with it now used on Disney Plus for some films, but it surely actually isn’t a dealbreaker for the overwhelming majority of individuals.
The Sonos Arc Extremely works with the audio-swap function of the Sonos Ace headphones, so you may watch something that performs in your TV with nice spatial audio on the headphones to keep away from disturbing others in the home – our Sonos Ace evaluate has extra on how nicely that works, but it surely’s not affected by the Sonos Arc Extremely’s efficiency, so I gained’t go into it right here.
Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate: Efficiency
- Wonderful dynamic vary
- Very robust Dolby Atmos impact
- Very clear speech and element
For my part, the Sonos Arc Extremely is the best-sounding single-box soundbar you may get for underneath $1,000 / £1,000. It delivers fulsome steadiness and thrilling sound with clear speech, and excellent top and width. The Devialet Dione possibly does this all higher as a single-unit soundbar, however at round twice the value and twice the scale, it’s a more durable promote in a number of methods.
Dolby Atmos encompass results don’t seem to be they’re coming from behind you, inevitably, however they do really feel like they attain you when there are motion results particularly. Top channels have movement and precision, regardless of being half digital – Sonos claims 4 channels of overhead sound, however there are solely two drivers, with the width drivers combining with the peak drivers for a way of 4 channels, and it really works nicely.
Sound is layered very impressively in Dolby Atmos, with a way of 3D positioning throughout the entire house in entrance of you.
Every thing is an enchancment over the unique Sonos Arc. It’s not fairly evening and day, but it surely’s a transparent step up anyway. That particularly goes for speech readability and Dolby Atmos results in films, with every part feeling simply extra expansive and extra within the room than from the older soundbar.
I attempted Sonos’ new and upgraded speech enhancement instruments for the Arc Extremely, and so they’re very efficient, however they have an effect on the sound steadiness (as do all such instruments), and I discovered that I actually didn’t want them anyway on the Arc Extremely. It’s a bit unoriginal to say that the speech in Christopher Nolan films is tough to listen to, however I examined the previous and new Arc with them, and there was a giant bounce in legibility on the Arc Extremely that meant they actually weren’t arduous to comply with any extra (typically).
Surprisingly, the brand new bass driver didn’t create that large an impact in comparison with the unique Sonos Arc in films that already ramp up the bass, but it surely does assist to make the sound really feel fuller on the whole. It makes the bass that the Arc Extremely can generate higher related by to the mid-range, so the general steadiness in low-end-heavy scenes is stronger – and simply glorious general. There’s dispersal of the bass in order that it doesn’t really feel too directional, and the impression is de facto pleasing for such a comparatively compact soundbar.
The Sound Movement bass speaker did actually bounce out throughout music although. This really was an evening and day distinction from the unique Arc, with an enormous enchancment throughout the entire frequency vary. For music, the unique Arc sounded unclear and subdued in comparison with the Arc Extremely on the similar quantity. Having mentioned that, I’d nonetheless put the Arc Extremely primarily on par for music high quality with the Sonos Period 300, which is half the value. It’s simpler to fill out that sound if you might be thick and tall, in contrast to a soundbar.
Working TruePlay tuning helps the Dolby Atmos and finer particulars to return by extra clearly, so I completely suggest it. There wasn’t a transparent distinction between the fast model and the total model in my setup, in order I discussed above, the fast model must be all that most individuals have to trouble with.
To repeat myself from the beginning of this part, I believe the Arc Extremely delivers the best-value cinematic expertise from a single-box soundbar. It’s the most effective mixture of a demure design, efficient sound replica and 3D results, and an affordable worth given what it could actually do. Dearer soundbars might do higher, however the audio package deal right here is superb.
I’m reviewing it as a single unit for all of the scores right here, however I additionally examined it with a Sub 4 and Period 300 audio system in Sonos’ full-power final system. I additionally examined it with a Sub 4 solely, after which slotted it and the Sub 4 into my current setup utilizing my Sonos One rear audio system.
Make no mistake – regardless of the Sound Movement tech being very spectacular for bass, the Sub 4 provides an entire new dimension of bass you may really feel, in frequencies the soundbar alone merely can’t contact. You’ll actually get extra out of your films with a giant sub, although clearly for a premium of $799 / £799.
Within the full elite encompass mode, with Period 300 models behind as nicely, you may actually really feel the general energy of the system. Even with one sub (you may join a second to extra totally unfold the bass round) you may really feel the facility of the low frequencies in all places, with glorious fullness by to the mid-range, and a transparent separation of upper frequencies from that blend. It’s a very well-connected entire system, and testing towards the Samsung HW-Q990C, I say you get a extra satisfying general sound profile from the Sonos setup. Nonetheless, not by that a lot, contemplating you’ll pay much more for the Sonos system – it type of proves why Samsung’s top-end soundbars are five-star merchandise among the many greatest Dolby Atmos soundbars. Nonetheless, for these with the ear, I believe the Sonos system’s sound is superior.
Even with my Sonos Ones as rear audio system, I felt like I used to be getting a distinct sound profile from the rears (put up TruePlay) than with my Sonos Arc and Sub Mini that I often have. They felt punchier and with a little bit extra bass added to them, maybe to match the broader sound profile the bar is able to in comparison with the unique Arc. I really feel that swapping the Arc for the Arc Extremely in my setup can be an improve, albeit one which I’d take pleasure in as somebody who’s obsessive over sound and setups – maybe somebody extra informal about residence theater wouldn’t discover it to be pretty much as good worth.
Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate: Design
- Very nicely made and delicate
- Some key buttons hidden on the again
- Shorter however wider than unique Arc
The Sonos Arc Extremely is eighteen% smaller by quantity than the unique Sonos Arc, in line with Sonos, and this manifests in it being much less tall (which may be very welcome) and fewer deep (additionally welcome for these with chunky TV stands, although it’s nonetheless considerably deep as a result of it has a chunky bar throughout the again). Nonetheless, it’s really wider than the Sonos Arc. It’s nonetheless good for TVs of 55 inches and up, although, and the shorter top could make an actual distinction with some TVs.
It is available in black and white, and the general look may be very easy and stylish. A tough, curved grille covers your entire factor, and it’s good at simply disappearing into the room, which is what most individuals will need. The brand new design appears to choose up fingerprints worse than the previous one, so be warned in case you’re fastidious and have handsy youngsters.
The button for activating Bluetooth pairing mode is on the again, which is inconvenient for a soundbar, particularly if it’s wall-mounted. You possibly can pair from the Sonos app as a substitute, however it could be higher nonetheless if the Bluetooth button was on high, for optimum flexibility – particularly for the reason that button structure right here was redesigned anyway, together with shifting quantity over to the proper, for no matter purpose. Within the center, you continue to have buttons to play/pause, and skip tracks.
The swap to kill the voice management mics can be on the again, and is turned on by default, so the privateness acutely aware ought to bear in mind to hit this earlier than getting it located. Additionally on the again is an Ethernet port, after which the facility and HDMI ports are on the perimeters of the bit port cutaway on the rear – identical to the unique Arc.
The Arc Extremely is wall-mountable and works on the identical mounts as the unique Arc, which is good for upgraders – although a few of the mount could also be seen, because of the change in measurement.
Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate: Setup & usability
- Use Sonos app to get began
- TruePlay is now simpler, and really helpful
- As soon as related to the TV, little or no effort wanted
When you have learn or watched something about current Sonos releases, you’ll have seen robust opinions in regards to the new Sonos app. We will’t put up a video masking Sonos with no cascade of feedback saying nobody ought to ever purchase Sonos once more due to the state of the software program. At launch, earlier in 2024, the app was lacking a number of options, and lots of people had issues accessing or making modifications to their programs.
On the time of penning this evaluate, Sonos says that it has added 90% of the lacking options again in, and continues to be dedicated to updates each two weeks to handle bugs and efficiency whereas including the rest of the options.
I had no issues in any respect organising the Arc Extremely at residence by the app, making the settings changes I wanted, after which including/breaking a number of totally different encompass setups whereas I examined totally different configurations of Sonos setups.
I did have hassle setting the encompass system up in our workplace testing rooms, the place the connection between the parts would drop usually – however that is fairly frequent on our workplace Wi-Fi exterior of Sonos. I’ve had an issue getting Samsung’s soundbars to hook up with register on the SmartThings app, and it may be troublesome with sensible residence tech, so I don’t blame Sonos for this – but it surely’s solely honest to notice it if I’m going to dig into the expertise. At residence, on my regular mesh router setup, I had no issues in any respect.
The usability of Sonos’ soundbars continues to be a barely combined bag – I believe in case you designed an app for controlling a soundbar as its first precedence, quite than taking part in music as its first precedence, you in all probability wouldn’t bury settings just like the Speech Enhancement that far down within the settings.
I’d like to see Sonos change the way it approaches its Now Taking part in display screen if you’re related to HDMI, so it places extra emphasis on making settings obtainable to you rather than an absence of art work.
However setting it up was clean, and most of the people gained’t want to return into the app, particularly in case you gained’t join different units. As I discussed, I discovered the speech clear sufficient with out utilizing the enhancement, and I didn’t suppose the EQ wanted adjustment. TruePlay might be advised as a part of the setup too, and it labored with my distant (over HDMI-CEC, however infrared can be enabled by default) out of the field with no tinkering required.
- Setup & usability rating: 4 / 5
Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate: Worth
- Premium, however aggressive worth
- Pretty much as good sound as you may get for the value
- Encompass-ready merchandise obtainable across the similar worth
The Sonos Arc Extremely isn’t low cost, however if you’d like highly effective, expansive, clear Dolby Atmos sound from a single inoffensively-designed soundbar, you may’t do higher for the value – so long as you’re not tight on HDMI ports.
You will get a full encompass setup for the same worth to this, however the core Sonos Arc Extremely is designed for individuals who don’t need to take care of having 4 containers together with a hefty subwoofer. And I believe it’s the most effective, most cinematic single field you may add to your TV for the value, making it very robust worth.
However as I say, in case you’re already filling your HDMI ports, that worth is harmed, as a result of the Arc Extremely might create a brand new downside for you. For the value, it ought to actually give you the answer.
Ought to I purchase the Sonos Arc Extremely?
| Part | Notes | Rating |
| Options | Nice for connectivity and helpful choices, besides no HDMI passthrough or DTS. | 4 / 5 |
| Efficiency | Wealthy, full sound with glorious speech readability and excellent Dolby Atmos results. | 5 / 5 |
| Design | Handsome, however some buttons on the again can be higher on high. | 4 / 5 |
| Setup & usability | Arrange by the Sonos app, then it is plug and play – however some choices are too hidden within the app. | 4 / 5 |
| Worth | Greatest-in-class worth for sound, however held again by the dearth of HDMI passthrough. | 4 / 5 |
Purchase it if…
Do not buy it if…
Sonos Arc Extremely evaluate: Additionally take into account
How I examined the Sonos Arc Extremely
- Examined over per week
- Examined at residence, in my regular setup
- Examined with Sonos encompass configurations
For the essential portion of this evaluate, I used the Sonos Arc Extremely at residence, in the identical setup the place I often use the unique Sonos Arc, so I had level of direct comparability. I straight in contrast the sound of the 2 bars to gauge the distinction, however largely I simply used the Sonos Arc Extremely for my regular viewing, which included 4K Blu-rays and streaming. I listened in each lossless high quality and compressed, in addition to in Dolby Atmos, common 5.1 encompass sound, and in stereo.
As talked about above, I examined the Sonos Arc Extremely by itself primarily, but additionally tried it with the Sub 4, after which with the Sub 4 and totally different Sonos rear speaker choices.
I additionally examined a Sonos encompass setup for a short while in comparison with the Samsung HW-Q990C in TechRadar’s TV testing rooms. On our company Wi-Fi programs, I had connections issues that meant I could not do longer-term comparisons; at residence, I take advantage of a Google Nest House mesh Wi-Fi system and had no issues with the Sonos app or community connectivity.
