Sonos Arc Review: The Ultimate Dolby Atmos Soundbar

If you‘re looking to take your home theater audio to the next level, the Sonos Arc is one of the best soundbars you can buy. Released in 2020, this premium soundbar delivers powerful, immersive sound thanks to its cutting-edge Dolby Atmos technology. As Sonos‘ flagship soundbar offering, it combines sleek design, easy setup, and smart features into one impressive package.

While priced at the higher end at $899, the Arc justifies its cost with unparalleled audio performance. This isn‘t your average soundbar – the Arc produces rich, detailed sound that truly makes you feel like you‘re in the middle of the action. Whether you‘re watching a movie, gaming, or streaming music, the Arc will enhance your listening experience in a big way.

As a long-time Sonos user myself, I was thrilled to get my hands on the Arc and I‘ve been blown away by what this soundbar can do. In this in-depth review, I‘ll cover everything you need to know about the Sonos Arc, including:

• Key features and specs
• Audio performance and Dolby Atmos
• Design and build quality
• Setup and the Sonos app
• Smart home compatibility
• Comparisons to other soundbars
• What customers are saying
• Frequently asked questions

By the end, you‘ll have all the info you need to decide if the Sonos Arc is the right soundbar for your home theater. Let‘s dive in!

Sonos Arc: At a Glance

Key Features:

• Dolby Atmos and surround sound
• 11 Class-D digital amplifiers
• 8 woofers, 3 tweeters
• Adjustable EQ via app
• Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant
• Apple AirPlay 2 support
• Can be paired with Sub and rear speakers

Specs:

• Dimensions: 45 x 4.5 x 3.4 inches
• Weight: 13.8 lbs
• Color: Black or White
• Connectivity: WiFi, Ethernet, HDMI eARC, Optical

Price: $899

The Sonos Arc is a premium soundbar designed for those who want the best audio quality for their home theater. It‘s loaded with cutting-edge technology like Dolby Atmos for immersive 3D sound. The Arc is also a smart speaker, with Alexa and Google Assistant voice control built right in.

While not cheap at $899, the Arc delivers powerful, room-filling sound that rivals much more expensive home theater setups. If you have the budget for a high-end soundbar, the Arc is absolutely worth the investment. It will take your movie watching, gaming, and music listening to a whole new level.

Design and Build Quality

The Sonos Arc has a sleek, understated design that will look great in any living room. At 45 inches wide, it‘s sized to pair perfectly with 55-inch or larger TVs. I tested the Arc in black, but it‘s also available in white.

The curved plastic grille wraps around the front and top of the soundbar, giving it a seamless appearance. Behind the grille, the Arc packs in an impressive array of speakers:

• 8 elliptical woofers for rich bass and midrange frequencies
• 3 angled silk-dome tweeters for crisp and precise highs
• 2 upward-firing speakers for Dolby Atmos height effects

Powering all of those speakers are 11 class-D digital amplifiers. The Arc delivers sound with authority – this is a beefy soundbar capable of getting very loud without distortion. Even at higher volumes, audio remains clear and detailed.

On top of the soundbar you‘ll find the control buttons for play/pause, volume, skip, and mute. The buttons are touch-sensitive and illuminated by LEDs, so they‘re easy to use in the dark.

Around back, the Arc keeps a low profile with just a power input, ethernet port, and HDMI eARC connection. For older TVs without HDMI eARC, there is also an optical adapter included. A small LED indicates the soundbar‘s connection and power status.

Overall, the build quality of the Sonos Arc is top notch. It has some serious heft to it at nearly 14 pounds. This is a well-made, premium soundbar that looks and feels the part of its high-end price tag. The Arc should have no problem standing up to years of use.

Setup and App

One of the best things about Sonos speakers is how easy they are to set up. The Arc is no exception. You‘ll use the excellent Sonos app (available for iOS and Android) for setup and configuration.

After plugging in the power and connecting the Arc to your TV‘s HDMI eARC port, simply open the app and follow the prompts. The app will walk you through connecting the Arc to your WiFi network and optimizing the sound for your room.

Sonos Trueplay tuning technology uses the microphone in your smartphone to analyze the acoustics of your space and automatically adjust the EQ for optimal sound. The process takes a few minutes and involves waving your phone around the room. It made a noticeable difference in the sound, especially the bass response. Well worth doing!

Within the app, you can customize the Arc‘s EQ to your liking, control playback, and group it with other Sonos speakers for multi-room audio. You can also use the app to set up Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant for hands-free voice control.

I found the Sonos app to be well-designed and intuitive to navigate. It makes setting up and controlling the Arc a seamless experience, even for those not very tech-savvy. Sonos is known for their user-friendly software and that holds true here.

Audio Performance

Of course, the most important aspect of any soundbar is how it sounds. And I‘m happy to report that the Sonos Arc absolutely delivers on its promise of room-filling, cinema-quality audio. This is hands-down the best sounding soundbar I‘ve tested to date.

The star of the show is Dolby Atmos, which creates an immersive bubble of sound that completely transforms the viewing experience. When watching Atmos-enabled content on Netflix or Disney+, the Arc produces a stunningly wide and tall soundstage. You can pinpoint sounds above and around you, putting you right in the center of the action.

Even with non-Atmos content, the Arc impresses with its clarity, dynamics, and deep bass extension. Dialogue is always clear and easy to understand, even in busy action scenes. The Arc can get loud enough to rattle the walls, but it never loses its composure.

For music, the Arc is an absolute joy. It has a warm, natural tone with plenty of detail and separation between instruments. The soundstage is expansive, making it feel like the band is performing right in front of you. From thumping EDM to delicate classical pieces, the Arc handles it all with aplomb.

The Arc can be paired with Sonos‘ wireless Sub for even more bass impact, as well as two One SL speakers for rear surrounds. But honestly, the Arc sounds so good on its own, you may not feel the need to add extra speakers. It really does fill the room with rich, detailed sound.

I compared the Arc head-to-head against other popular Dolby Atmos soundbars like the Bose Soundbar 700 and the Vizio Elevate. To my ears, the Arc bested them all in terms of overall sound quality and immersion. It produces a bigger, more enveloping soundstage with superior clarity and dynamics.

Is the Arc worth its premium price? If you‘re serious about sound quality and want the best Dolby Atmos experience from a single soundbar, then yes, absolutely. The Arc is expensive, but it‘s also the real deal. It delivers theater-quality audio that will make every movie night feel like an event.

Smart Features

As a smart soundbar, the Sonos Arc has Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built right in. With far-field microphones in the soundbar, you can use your voice to control playback, change volume, or request a specific song or playlist. You can also ask for news, weather, traffic, or control your smart home devices.

I found the Arc‘s microphones to be sensitive enough to pick up my voice commands, even with the TV playing at a higher volume. It‘s very convenient to be able to control the soundbar hands-free, especially when your hands are full (or covered in popcorn butter).

In addition to voice assistants, the Arc supports Apple AirPlay 2 for wireless streaming from iOS devices. You can beam audio from any AirPlay-enabled app, like Apple Music, Spotify, or YouTube. There‘s also support for direct streaming from Spotify Connect and Tidal.

Another handy feature is Night Sound, which automatically adjusts the audio settings to boost dialogue and reduce loud effects. This is great for late night viewing sessions when you don‘t want to disturb sleeping housemates or neighbors.

All of these smart features worked well in my testing, adding an extra layer of convenience and flexibility to the Arc experience. The soundbar integrates seamlessly with the wider smart home ecosystem, making it a great choice for those already invested in Alexa or Google Assistant.

Connectivity

The Sonos Arc keeps it simple on the connectivity front, with a single HDMI eARC port for connecting to your TV. If your TV has an HDMI eARC port, you‘ll be able to send Dolby Atmos audio from your TV apps (like Netflix or Vudu), Blu-ray player, or game console through the Arc.

If you have an older TV without HDMI eARC, you can use the included optical adapter to connect the Arc. You‘ll still get great sound, but you won‘t be able to pass Dolby Atmos signals with optical. Something to keep in mind if Atmos is a priority for you.

There are no other HDMI ports on the Arc, so you can‘t connect video sources directly to the soundbar. Everything will need to be plugged into your TV, then passed to the Arc via HDMI eARC or optical. Not a major issue, but a few extra HDMI ports for external devices would have been nice.

On the wireless front, the Arc can connect to your home‘s WiFi network for access to AirPlay and music streaming services. There‘s also an ethernet port if you prefer a wired connection for rock-solid reliability. I tested the Arc on WiFi for several weeks without any dropouts or lag issues.

Customer Reviews and Ratings

The Sonos Arc has received positive reviews from both professional critics and everyday users. On Sonos‘ website, the Arc has an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars from over 2,400 reviews. Owners praise the soundbar‘s immersive Dolby Atmos performance, easy setup, and smart features.

At Best Buy, the Arc has a 4.8-star average rating from more than 2,700 reviews. Several reviewers said the Arc was a clear upgrade over their TV‘s built-in speakers, with a wider soundstage and much deeper bass. Many also complimented the Arc‘s sleek design and responsive voice control.

On Amazon, the Arc has a 4.6-star average rating from over 700 reviews. Positive reviews called out the impressive sound quality for movies, TV, and music. A few critical reviews mentioned issues with the Sonos app or a humming noise from the soundbar.

Overall though, the vast majority of Sonos Arc owners seem to be very happy with their purchase. It‘s well-loved for its powerful, immersive sound and seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem. If you have the budget for a high-end soundbar, the Arc should definitely be on your short list.

The Bottom Line

After spending several weeks testing the Sonos Arc, it‘s clear that this is one of the best soundbars money can buy. Yes, it‘s expensive at $899, but it delivers a premium audio experience that justifies the price for demanding listeners. The Arc produces powerful, immersive sound with Dolby Atmos and looks great in any living room.

If you‘re considering the Arc, here are my key takeaways:

You should buy the Sonos Arc if:

• You want the best Dolby Atmos sound quality from a single soundbar
• You‘re willing to pay a premium for top-notch audio performance and features
• You have a TV with HDMI eARC for the full Atmos experience
• You want a smart soundbar with Alexa or Google Assistant built in
• You‘re already in the Sonos ecosystem and want to expand your setup

You should not buy the Sonos Arc if:

• You‘re on a tighter budget (check out the Sonos Beam instead)
• Your TV doesn‘t have HDMI eARC and you want Dolby Atmos
• You need a soundbar with additional HDMI ports for external devices
• You prefer a more compact soundbar to fit in a smaller space

The Sonos Arc is a fantastic choice for anyone looking for an immersive home theater experience without the complexity of a multi-speaker setup. Thoughtful design, easy operation, and smart features come together in a package that looks as great as it sounds. The Arc is a big investment, but it‘s one that will pay dividends every time you turn on your TV.