Nakamichi Dragon vs. Sonos | Dolby Atmos Duel

The Nakamichi Dragon is built like a tank. The Sonos ARC, Sonos Sub, and Sonos Era 300 look demure by comparison. Which of these premium Dolby Atmos home theater setups comes out on top? We put the two head-to-head to find out.
A portion of this video is sponsored by 3DMakerpro. Learn more about the 3DMakerpro Seal on Indiegogo: www.indiegogo.com/projects/se...
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READ MORE
Sonos Era 300 review: www.digitaltrends.com/home-th...
The Sonos Era 300 will change how you configure home audio: www.digitaltrends.com/home-th...
Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 review: www.digitaltrends.com/home-th...
Nakamichi’s wild Dragon 11.4.6 Dolby Atmos soundbar goes up for preorder: www.digitaltrends.com/home-th...
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🛒 Samsung HW-Q990B Dolby Atmos Soundbar: amzn.to/3Q73vDJ
🛒 Vizio M-Series 5.1 soundbar: amzn.to/3M9VhcU
🛒 Zvox AV157 TV Speaker: amzn.to/46JgTFl
🛒 Sonos Ray: amzn.to/490vNso
🛒 Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6: dragon.nakamichi-usa.com/
VIDEO CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
02:07 Overview
05:11 Setup
08:27 Control & Playback Flexibility
09:45 Recap
10:54 Sponsor: 3DMakerpro
12:15 Sound Quality
13:39 Audio Fidelity
15:25 Music Listening
16:16 Movies & Dolby Atmos
17:43 Final Thoughts & Verdict
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[@Caleb_Denison]

Hey everyone! Thanks for you patience as you waited for this video. Glad to finally have it done, and hope it was worth the wait! Post questions as a reply to this comment, please, and I’ll do what I can to answer as many as I can.

[@teczzippo]

Great content Caleb, the work you guys put out is excellent. I can’t wait to get my Dragon in just a couple of days. Looks as if the wait will be worth it!

[@CloudSurfer13]

Would have appreciated more information on how the Atmos worked with your high ceilings in the new studio, and how the systems sounded in the new room vs the old room (how did each system respond to different room sizes/etc).

[@kimberlymorgan9344]

Caleb, you get so deep in your reviews and make it easy for me to understand as I try to grow my technology understanding. Question: it's a small but big thing 😂; multiple remotes drive me crazy which is why I paired my tv with the Samsung QN-950A soundbar but I can tell Nakamichi Dragon is a real beast! If I was considering the Nakamichi Dragon, would I be able to use one remote to control both the Dragon and my Samsung QN800C QLED TV?

[@mythoti]

Curiosity, would a Samsung tv owner be better off with a high end Samsung sound bar that supports Q-Symphony or would the Dragon bring home enough on its own to be the far superior experience?

[@Sas-wk9lj]

What happened to Sennheiser AMBEO, Sony HT-A9, Klipsch cinema 1200, Samsung Q990B? They're not in the same league?

[@techsamurai11]

Wow, the Dragon sounds like a real Dragon - that engine roar @16:41 was very impressive considering it's a soundbar-based system.

[@Beer_Dad1975]

Yup, unfortunately it also kinda looks like a dragon - i.e. big, kinda ugly and hard to ignore - it's the system I'd have if I was singe - but I'm married - which is why I have the exact Sonos setup from this review - and even then she's not too happy about the Era 300 surrounds even though I've wall mounted them well out of normal line of site...

[@jollama]

@@Beer_Dad1975Sounds like a toxic relationship then if that’s what’s stopping you from getting the Dragon

[@Beer_Dad1975]

@@jollamaNah not at all, she just has a good sense of aesthetics, which I appreciate - we always find a compromise.

[@billmulvihill8452]

@@Beer_Dad1975 You really should consider adding Sonos Fives.

[@M4ttNet]

@@Beer_Dad1975 not "good" just different. I personally think audio equipment that actually looks like what it does looks far better than everything looking like some 20 year old apple product. My wife agrees and many people we know agree, though it's all personal preference. Personally my wife and I love our big floorstanding speakers and big av receiver. Speakers are speakers, why pretend they look like anything else than what they are... but again all personal preference.

[@nobodysunderdog]

Stupendous Atmos system, but the music side is what takes it a whole different level. Folded ribbon tweeters are my go-to in floorstanding receiver based systems. Well done Nakamichi!

[@jimmyBside]

And they look so cool…

[@Capybarainahumansuit]

Only issue to me is can't use your own subs.

[@3rd_gen_j]

Very timely and informative, as I’m due to receive my Dragon on Friday. I personally prefer the no nonsense styling of the Dragon versus the curvy features of the Sonos. Just more my taste. I appreciate the time and effort it took to compare the two. Thank you as always for your informative content. Well done!

[@billmulvihill8452]

Dragon styling would not pass the wife test in a family room setting.

[@shivamarya5225]

Yeah the sonos is too round oval to go with my squared off furniture

[@passiondale]

If I had a dedicated media room I think I’d definitely want the Dragon on my side but as it is, I’m pretty happy with my Sonos surround setup. Thanks for the great review and comparison. Always entertaining and informative!

[@felixjohnson195]

I ordered my Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6 in august and will be arriving in september,which is nearly around the corner.I can not wait till i hook this system up and watch my madmax with ease!!Thank you for this awesome video,it is much appreciated!!

[@Necrohermit]

No, no you will not get yours in September lmao, I was among the first 500 edition and I won’t be getting mine probably until late September or early October

[@harveysmith330]

Thanks. As usual, this was an extremely informative article. I am in the process of moving to a much smaller house and seriously considering going from a 7.2.4 (seperates) system driven by the Anthem AVM-70, to a high-quality soundbar set-up. I am obviously an enthusiast and would like to replicate my current experience as much as possible. Not withstanding the atmos limitations, this video has provided me with much food for thought.

[@richardchew1538]

Nailed it. This is exactly what I was looking for in a review. Fair, balanced and comprehensive.

[@iBeKev]

Thanks for the fair and cool review! I ordered the dragon and can't wait!! The audiophile in me is excited~

[@MrJwyne]

Congrats! Sounds like an amazing system!

[@alexfernandez7529]

Much appreciate the work you put into all your videos. I have a dedicated 7.2.2 Atmos system paired to a 100” projector. I also have a 55” Vizio 4K with a matching 5.1 surround sound bar system. I’m quite happy with both. But I’m still interested in both of these amazing systems.

[@stang3106]

Kudos, Caleb! Was waiting for this and you didn't disappoint.

[@Rashomon00]

I'm a relative newcomer and I really do appreciate the work that you do. With your help I recently picked up a TCL 6 series and I love it!

[@tahmeedkalam4283]

I think one key thing that could/should have been mentioned, is the fact that you can build your Sonos system and upgrade as you go. No need to get 2 subs right away, or surrounds right away, that's part of what makes it a better choice for many. Build it over 2 birthdays, instead of one, lol. That being said, if I ever have the money to splurge on the Dragon in one shot, I'm doing it.

[@Caleb_Denison]

Good point. Calling this out specifically would have been a good addition.

[@berengerchristy6256]

He did mention specifically that you may add a sub if you’d like, and that also brings the price closer to the dragon. I hope that would make it obvious that you could add more speakers as well

[@3107karan]

In 2020 I bought sonos arc, then year later sub & sonos one sl as surround, this year added dual sub gen 3, and i can confirm the system is insane 🤯

[@tahmeedkalam4283]

@@3107karan exactly the point I was making man. I’ve gone through so many iterations, and now basically have each set of old upgraded surrounds in other rooms as stereo pairs, and/or have sold some, and have no regrets. Certainly, I’m sure the Dragon is better, but it’s nice to now be running a 7.2.4, that imho, still sounds amazing, having only spent on the Era 300’s this year.

[@stevieg6418]

Yeah but if you are looking at a dragon you are not really looking for itty bitty add ons over time. You want a full system there and then.

[@saintkamus14]

Rarely leave comments in your vids, but great work on this one, really. You really put in the work on this one.

[@williamriker4889]

Oh shit!!! I wanted this video. Thank you for the time. I have mine ordered with the 2nd presale that just recently occurred.

[@oblivionfox]

Fidelity is important to me. I’m thinking of switching out my very expensive and very clear mains and sub for the dragon. Thank you for the comparison, the differences you highlighted helped me in my decision of what to try.

[@michael-4k4000]

What you got now? Have Kef Q750s and Q650c, and a Onkyo RZ 50. Am thinking of switching to the Sony HT-A9. I know it’s not as good as my current system, but I play movies/tv 90% plus of the time and I can’t add ceiling speakers for a 5.1.4. I really just want a simple system to watch movies. I’m not totally sure who the Dragon is for, it’s huge and one needs a large screen and proper placement so the screen is not blocked.

[@alexfleener]

Wow great video. Thanks for all the hard work. Both systems sound amazing but I can definitely hear why the Nakamichi is your choice when money is not a concern.

[@Condleo]

Loved it. Great video. I've been waiting for it.

[@nekerrivera]

Thank You Caleb for this video that I was impatiently waiting for. I was lucky enough to order the Nakamichi dragon and hopefully I’ll receive mine in October. You can’t justify the sound quality of this two system over the tv speakers but I noticed a big difference between them. The dragon sounds more wide and powerful

[@chasc7950]

Thank you for the hours of effort, and the very useful overview. Extra credit for the note about moving the Era 300s. I was thinking I’d be able to use them in different rooms and extract (a lot) more value out of ‘em. But that potential benefit is nulled by having to retune. Sonos, if your listening - please make it easier.

[@venkateshrajagopalan758]

Great review. No ambiguity and gives specific information on the best choice based on personal preferences.

[@PhillipKnox]

Outstanding review - everything we need to know in order to decide which one is right for us.

[@chefjefe68]

Thanks for the great comparison, Caleb. Both are out of my price range, but I still enjoyed hearing your thoughts on both.

[@MisterSixty]

*Thank you for your review!* If I were in the market for a soundbar system, I would lean towards the Dragon simply because I'm a control freak! I've heard older Sonos *AND* Nakamichi speakers and while they both sound great, I'd go with the Dragons for the more traditional setup and control as it would be dedicated to one room only.

[@misterhoeflak]

Great work Caleb & team, lots of useful insights. (And I didn't miss a whizz-bang intro.)

[@dominicanoloko]

Thanks the review.. was looking forward to this one

[@nekerrivera]

Un Dominicano loco just like 😅 estaba esperando este review y estoy loco por recibir la mía que si dios quiere la recibiré en Octubre.

[@JoelsterG4k]

Wow the Dragon sound is sharper with more detail, I had a chance to hear it in person at CES and it was awesome.!!

[@MrBjorn6]

I got the Nakamichi Dragon on September 6th.. But I haven't set it up yet, because it's going to take major renovations off my basement. Meanwhile I just got the Nakamichi shockwafe SSE Earc in May for the master bedroom, it's on the next level with UHD Blueray with Atmos sound or DTS X movies!

[@dlorbieski]

As always informative and well presented,. Thanks for sharing yh our thoughts and observations. 👍👍👍

[@chadrector4168]

Perfect!! Just further solidifies my choice for the dragon!! I've been waiting for this comparison. Thank you!

[@DillonBlair]

Thank you for this video. I’ve been looking forward to this comparison. My Dragon arrives on Tuesday and I’m super excited to get it. My Dragon is going in my bedroom. I also use Sonos and will most likely put this setup in my living room as I just casually watch tv there.

[@fragranceandcooking]

Wonderful review ! I really enjoyed the comparison and it gave me the confidence that the decision I made was right.

[@AdRock]

Glad you did this. I went and ordered a Dragon on your recommendation.

[@TheKitchenTechnician]

I thought I was going to hear the sound of cassette through a Sonos system…and I was looking forward to it! I guess I’m dating myself.

[@billmulvihill8452]

What,🤣

[@Not884]

Great video, thank you. Watched Ahsoka on Disney on my Sonos system and was absolutely impressed

[@QueenG706]

I’ve been waiting on this matchup. Great content definitely looking to purchase the Dragon when it drops at My fav store Best Buy!

[@johndayao857]

Thanks for the side by side since I am one of the subscribers wondering which would be better. My Dragon arrives tomorrow and can’t wait to set up in my dedicated theater/movie room. I have the Sonos system in the living room as well and considering 300s for my rears. I think you were spot on with where each fits. I’m happy with the Sonos Arc and sub combo but that is definitely more lifestyle and a family friendly setup in the living room. The Dragon is for the audiophile in me that just wants to nerd out in my mancave on a 130” screen. Appreciate all the reviews of the Dragon since CES. You’ve made my decision an easy one and hoping the unit delivers as promised tomorrow.

[@fonkenful]

How well do you think existing Sonos ARC system owners would take it if the functionality you describe would require an entire new DSP / amp complement in the devices or more importantly an OS /app upgrade that might orphan any other speakers in a multi-room / whole home Sonos system, as I believe occurred with S1/2?

[@philly.500]

Sorry to inject myself on this comment but I just got the 300's for rears and I believe they take the Sonos to another level, this will sound crazy but to me It's been as dramatic an upgrade as the Arc was to the Playbar. It really changes everything and completes the system. You will not be disappointed and I think it's a must have if you want that real Atmos experience. Sorry I just have been really impressed with them

[@fonkenful]

@@philly.500 No need to apologize- at the end of the day your experience/ appreciation with your system is all that matters. If it happens to also tick the boxes of domestic acceptance and budgetary constraints, even better.

[@johndayao857]

@@philly.500 yeah that’s my next upgrade. Need to slow down though. Just went through a major renovation so I’ve got to take upgrades in phases. Dragon comes tomorrow so that will be exciting. 300s for sure are on the list, maybe next Black Friday or if they ever show up at Costco.

[@VehicleVibes_]

Did you get your dragon and set it up? How is it?

[@AtlantaJonny]

Thank you. Appreciate this comparison video.

[@CloudSurfer13]

Ordered a dragon in the latest round and was looking forward to this video for more dragon content, though this seemed to lean more heavily into the Sonos system. Sound clips were super short, found myself wanting longer sound demos. Also, no mention of how these systems compare to the Samsung. Good video but felt there was more that could have been included.

[@bakaninehemiah4541]

I wish we were neighbours 😢😭😭

[@victorrosa5323]

You told me EXACTLY what I was "hoping" to learn about my new NAKAMICHI DRAGON!!

[@ClintAvila]

I was able to order the Dragon during the last presale. Can't wait to get it. Your review continues to make me confident that this will be a magnificent addition to my living room. I have a dedicated movie room with a proper setup but do a lot of movie/TV watching in living room. My current sound bar in my living room is decent but basic. I think the Dragon is going to make movie watching spectacular. Dragon for the win 😁.

[@504cool]

I had what I’d call basic sound bars too prior to going to Sonos. With the Era 300’s I can hear EVERYTHING that’s flying or dashing across the screen from speaker to speaker etc. if it’s supposed to happen it’s heard. Being that the Dragon is supposed to be better than the Sonos setup, I’m sure you’re going to love it 👍🏾.

[@nobodysunderdog]

Congratulations! I wish I had the coin for such a magnificent system.

[@thev3432]

Congratulations dude! I can’t wait to get one.

[@ClintAvila]

Fun story.. I was out of the country the day the second presale started. I tested the Wi-Fi in the hotel just to make sure it had good speed and throughput. As the presale countdown went to zero I immediately placed an order and had an email purchase confirmation in 3 minutes flat. It said they will ship in October and November and will ship in order of when order was placed. I'm hoping because I was quick to draw that I will get mine in October. Very excited! 😀

[@504cool]

@@ClintAvila this is for The Dragon right?

[@JulianSirkin]

Great video! I think one thing that always gets missed with sonos soundbar systems is talking about how it plays within a bigger system. Having a speaker in your kitchen or bathroom, and keeping all the same audio throughout. Or waking up to an alarm of music playing, walk into another room, have thst same audio playing. I have an arc surround system in my bedroom, and the whole house audio is huge for me.

[@fonkenful]

That lifestyle/ whole home scalable architecture was certainly the primary factor in my son’s decision to dive into the Sonos ecosystem over 5 years ago, and to once again paraphrase Andrew Robinson; the only person to whom you need to justify your system design is, you.

[@TheRedGlint4427]

I've been looking forward to this one!

[@stiles5042910]

Great review! Thanks time upgrade from the Nakamihi Shockwave 9.2 (no eARC) to the Dragon!!!!

[@simonwatson3952]

Thanks for this fantastic comparison. I’ve been wanting an arc system for a while The dragon isn’t available here in the UK and is so far out of my price league, that I’m going to go ahead and order my Sonos. I’m sold and interested in how close they were in some areas. Keep up the great work. Simon.

[@kenpauley9044]

Thanks for this. I was one of those folks who actually was torn between the two systems because I do have a bit of Sonos around the house. Was looking forward to the review even though I have purchased the Dragon in the second round. I saw a previous comment about ceiling height and appreciated the response. I do have a high ceiling and it’s vaulted. Also I noted that in your studio you have an opening to another room to the right and I have a similar opening. This isn’t something that would impact Sonos over Dragon so I wasn’t worried about it. But I am curious as to how much it really impacts it. Not everyone will have a perfect space. Could be an interesting topic for a future video to understand the difference in the Atmos “stage” in a room like yours vs a more controlled boxed room that can get all the virtual speaker placements that they are trying to create in these systems.

[@BigDawgSev]

Nakamichi all the way I have Nakamichi shockwave and the sound quality is amazing

[@LeezahB]

Excellent comparison between the Dragon and the Sonos systems! You did a wonderful job! Yes, I can see how moving all these boxes would be a lot of work! (The other day I decided that my Buchardts weren’t widely spaced enough. I had to move my piano to feed the speaker wire around to the other wall, plus I then had to prepare longer speaker wire. I was exhausted!! Just crimping speaker wire alone is exhausting! But it was worth it. Way more spacious sounding now, and it was great before.) I don’t know that I would ever use a sound-bar system for listening to music only, but it’s so nice to know you can. Interesting hearing the sound from your studio. It’s way better than previous attempts but still isn’t amazing. You do now get a better sense of depth and that’s cool! This was a very thorough and thoughtful review. I love how you delineated at the end the proposed uses for each of these admirable systems. Great job!! Okay, now to the bad news… I have been avoiding it long enough. I am so sad! 💔🥲I am ashamed to say that I was not able to identify the album on display today. I know my shame and humiliation will be of short duration, but I feel a sense of failure all the same. 😍😂

[@Caleb_Denison]

The background is a bit more blurry this time. That makes it harder to identify. It’s The Brecker Borthers’ Straphangin’ record

[@LeezahB]

@@Caleb_Denison thank you!!!!!🥰 I only listened to then first song so far and love it!!

[@JustinSwapp]

Thx for the review. The atmos comments were interesting, giving the edge slightly to Sonos, but also stating that the dragon still sounded good/convincing without the ceiling dynamics. Can't wait to hear the dragon.

[@geoffhemingway3926]

I remember the Nakamichi Dragon cassette deck and what a beast it was! There is a simple take away from this:- Sonos is a lifestyle brand, Nakamichi is a high-end audio brand and are therefore fundamentally different, as you said at the top of the video. I would go the relaxed, effortless Nakamichi way all day long. I fear, after listening to the Sonos for an hour or two, I would want to switch it off and who wants to do that after spending upwards of £2000?!

[@rhn55779]

Great video, really appreciate this one. I'm not necessarily in need of a new surround system as my old reliable Bose surround system in my primary watching room is still excellent, but I keep thinking I'll love the new soundbar based system if I make a move or add a higher-end system in my secondary viewing room. The allure of the Dragon makes me want to pull the trigger despite the fact that I haven't been watching much in that room and should really update the TV first (still rocking the 60" plasma in there). Great stuff and definitely gets my juices flowing and thinking about an upgrade for sure! :)

[@sirndimz3418]

Caleb you killin it lately, excellent work

[@Caleb_Denison]

Wow! Thanks!

[@capwkidd]

Another excellent review Caleb! Dragon in the home theater, Sonos in the living room, makes sense!

[@TheHookUp]

Great video. Any chance you can flex your influence on Sonos to get them to support DTS 7.1 and DTS+? Kills me to see those getting down converted to 5.1 on my Sonos ARC + Era 300 system.

[@PSYCHOV3N0M]

Can you please do a video on the best outdoor projectors for night time back yard movie watching in different price categories starting at around $500?? I'm looking for something that can do 200 inch screen sizes.

[@Caleb_Denison]

I think I’ll start by asking why they don’t already. See where that leads. Good suggestion!

[@bryen6899]

Excellent review and breakdown of each product. It comes to no surprise that Nakamichi takes the crown.

[@supajo]

Tranks for the Review👍

[@TheCdM1981]

I have a full Sonos sound system and pretty much it costs almost exactly what the Dragon does on a “normal” day but has been on sale many times allowing me to save hundreds. I purchased an Arc, era300’s, and 2 sub gen3’’s. The reason why is solely because when the new Arc comes out I’ll be replacing the old arc moving that to the bedroom and I’m pretty sure at that point the Sonos will be the absolute best. Sonos was also the choice because it allowed separate purchases and upgrades like I will be doing and have done, moving up from 1 sub to 2. Being locked into a specific system and having to buy a full system or a system that’s overwhelming for a room and having rebuy a whole new system to upgrade a specific part is not what I want or what others want. Nakamichi needs to allow separate part purchases to compete with Sonos.

[@jayb9543]

Caleb thank you for finally doing this head to head comparison (no shade lol). I've been waiting on this since you brought it up and by far I think this is one of your best comparison vids. And for me hands down that Nakamichi dragon is good for movies and music. The sound in your comparison from the Nakamichi sounds very rich and better clarity and the bass just brought life into everything!! Thanks again, great video.

[@julioirizarry4262]

What a great and spot on review! I feel that, even with the two subs what the Sonos badly needs is a new 'era' type main soundbar in order to be able to compete. Currently I am running the Sonos all set up with the 2 subs and era 300's, as I'm tempted to switch, rather will wait for Sonos to get a new modern soundbar.

[@remco3819]

I agree , Sonos has held on to their Sub wayyy too long.

[@VictorAvilax]

Yeah, I feel the ARC is the weak point

[@hackztor]

Beauty of the sonos is you can just upgrade the soundbar if Sonos does come out with new one. Cant do that with Nakamichi.

[@julioirizarry4262]

@@hackztor could not agreed more.

[@thebradshaws8021]

Great video. Looking back, I think you're kind of right in the sense that these two systems were built for 2 different types of listeners. They just happen to be comparable as a side effect of that. I have interest in the Dragon as someone who wants to see, hear, and feel the movies I am watching. Trying to move away from the floor standing speakers, receiver, wires, wires, and more wires.

[@TheWill76]

Arc,era 3's and the sub mini is more than enough for my box/media room. I'm 111% more than happy with the sonos set-up

[@scottandersen2666]

Now i am not in the market for a sound system... I do love watching these videos

[@LeezahB]

Yes!! It’s important to be able to listen to two channel!

[@malcdickinson06]

Great comparison video as always, think I’m gonna go with the Sonos, just seems easier to live with in a living room environment! Thanks Caleb! 👍🏼

[@user-je8zy6yq7f]

Great review. Now its time for Dragon vs Ambeo Max ! Totally different methods of getting the sound around the room But both big powerful solutions. The Max was also a top choice recently. With the addition of a subwoofer closing in on the price. Do you have the ability to make the comparison or is the Max unavailable ?

[@craigosterberg5045]

Thanks for review. Good choice.

[@eespinosa64]

Great review. I currently have a Sonos Arc/Sub/Play:1 setup. However, I have an order in for the Dragon. I enjoy experiencing movies through the Sonos, but I never liked how it sounds with music. It's why I kept my Klipsch floor speakers. I'm hoping the Dragon will help me eliminate the Klipsch setup.

[@blackbushido]

Thank you for this video!! I’m going for the Dragon!!! Thanks again!!

[@michaeldearman1178]

Thank you! Very informative information and spot on. I have my Sonos surround sound right where it belongs...in my living room. With it's clean modern look and excellent sound it fits right in and my friends and family are WOW'd by it's humongous sound that the smooth, sleek Arc, 300's and Sub puts out.

[@kiddynaflow]

Great assessment especially the wrap up qualifying each system for the living room vs. media room. That Dragon bumps😅

[@columcreaven8860]

Great review, on the money as always.

[@MrMegatron85]

Just listening through my phone speaker, I can definitely tell the dragon is on another level.

[@nekerrivera]

Agree with you on that.

[@analogguy5548]

I actually have three systems; a) a classic two channel stereo, vinyl & CD, b) Sonos, Arc + Gen 3 Sub + two One SL’s, c) Alexa speakers with subwoofer through out the house. The stereo for music, the Sonos for TV, movies, sports, the Alexa for background music. Got to say I love the Sonos system - People who visit are blown away by the Sonos when watching TV programming.

[@504cool]

After adding the Era 300’s as surrounds I am 110% satisfied with my investment in a Sonos system. Depending on what you’re coming from I think both systems can really stand on their own. Ironically where I was coming from was a Sonos system (ArcxSubxS1s). The Era 300’s are a real game changer for that system. And it’s NOT just on Atmos Content. Even 5.1 content dazzles with the Era 300. Prior to the Era 300’s I “might” hear something placed on the side off the room and couldn’t really hear the heights at all (on the Arc). Now if it’s flying over you, no matter what it is, you hear it in the heights. For me, the Day to Day Game changer of the Era 300’s have been the side firing surrounds (Atmos, 5.1, Stereo). They’re going to be what delievers the most impactful experience of the speakers for normal and Atmos content. All that said, if you have a Sonos system, buy the Era 300’s, you’ll be perfectly satisfied. If you have NEITHER system… Chunk over the change $$$ or consider compareables. If you decide Sonos, you could consider budget sets like the Beam and Sun Mini with the Era 300’s. or also consider refurbed or used gear from Amazon, EBay, Facebook marketplace etc to reduce the cost of entry.

[@betelgeuse68]

I have a Sonos ARC system in... my bedroom with a sub and 2 rear channels, the issue with the ARC is music. I suspect the Dragon beats it on that front. Music is the only Achilles Heel with the ARC. Now don't get me wrong, music is not terrible, some things sound "great" but there's something lacking there since I have contrast. In my living room I have a more conventional 5.1.2 system with an AV receiver and music is far better there. For movies, yes, I can imagine those rear ERA 300s really spice things up. Regardless, both Dragon and Sonos are great systems. And I love Sonos (my house shows it) -- I have a pair of Sonos 5s with their own sub in another level of the house and THAT Sonos setup is *AMAZING* for music, much more so than the Sonos ARC where I sleep.

[@keith692]

You can take it up one notch. I got the arc + 2 subs + 2 era 300 as rear surrounds. But i also bought another pair of era 300s, paired them as a stereo, and grouped them with the Arc system. This way, i have 4 era 300's, two up front on each side of the arc, and 2 rear + the arc + 2 subs. Let me tell you... you are surrounded surrounded....

[@504cool]

@@keith692 Great setup. I was going to wait to see if Sonos fully enabled that set up before I bought an extra pair. Can you adjust the volume of your stereo pair with your television remote?

[@chabber7073]

Does the audio latency on the grouped stereo pair not bother you? I'd think it'd be very noticeable, but maybe I'm wrong.@@keith692

[@keith692]

@@504cool with your television remote you can only control the volume of the arc system. Although on your phone the whole grouped volume increases or decreases, but the stereopair is not affected. You will have to adjust the volume of the stereopair on your phone. But once your systems are grouped, that's so easy to do through the phone.

[@kevinblackburn3198]

Excellent review

[@jeffreydurham2566]

Don't apologize for the entrance, I'm sure with all that moving you were just dragon.😊

[@davids1816]

when I watch a video like this, I try to give the adds at least a listen to see if it's something that I might be interested in. On this video the volume DOUBLES for the adds, even the in-video add that you narrated yourself. Please, please don't do this. I usually have headphones on because I use my computer in the living room and I don't like having my eardrums assaulted by an audio-enthusuast channel. It also made me rush to skip through the adds so I don't know what they are for. Otherwise, this is a great video and you deserve your million+ subscribers. Thanks :)

[@deangrippi3395]

Thank you for doing this video

[@tuareg67]

As a home theater lover and enthusiast... I bought my SONOS equipment consisting of: SONOS ARC, 4 SONOS ERA 300 and 2 SONOS SUB Gen3. The 2 front Sonos Era300 in stereo to enrich the sound of dialogues and front effects of the ARC. For me... it has no rival currently, in this HOME CINEMA SOUNDBAR combination. But, I am sure that DRAGON has managed to position itself, from now on, in a very good place for future sales (and reviews) with this equipment for those looking to install the best possible equipment in their home. I encourage everyone to listen to, for example, the new and current movie AVATAR 2, on a device identical to my SONOS... assured that as it is... it could change your mind, making the great DRAGON tremble hahaha Thanks, Caleb for your fantastic videos and I hope you manage to reach many more subscribers in your fantastic new set.

[@tylerpyongyi5075]

How do you use 4 era 300? You can only use 2 currently as rear surround speaker.

[@tuareg67]

​@@tylerpyongyi5075 Hí, "Sonos Pairing Grouping Explained" is one video youtuber explication (@neverenoughtech) by you resolved problem. good luk! 🤗🤑

[@mustafahussain3972]

I have same setup as you but have 2 fives for front right and left it sounds fantastic

[@tuareg67]

​@@mustafahussain3972 When the Era300 came out, I sold my 2 Sonos Five (they were very good, but they don't work for my Home CInema).

[@MrBoyYankee]

Caleb I've been waiting for this.

[@aaronrobbins1458]

Thank you so very much for this. It absolutely scratches an itch. I guess my next question, if the dragon is the best "one box" solution, how does it compare to a component system, and how much would a person need to spend on a component system in order to get equal sound quality, specifically in regards to movies?

[@boldsyea5790]

I’ve been waiting patiently for this review. I really want to know if the Dragon can replace a ARV.

[@sunnyd6291]

Great review especially taking about the different rooms you would put these systems in alot of people find it difficult to decide you want the look in your room but not overkill, sonos for me

[@ganstaevo]

@caleb you did great this was informative for me I’m going sonos for my living room thnx

[@MusicAnirban]

Individual instruments audio demo can reveal a lot about their sound timbre like Saxophone , violin, piano, guitar and get an idea of the differences. Also you may use a stereo mic to capture the audio instead of mono. Even an iPhone does a decent job if you don't have any other stereo mic setup.

[@markwalsh2709]

Great and fair video. I'm a retired audiophile - okay, I just don't have the money anymore. I've had B&W, Mark Levinson, McIntosh, but now I'm more of a walk around the house and do things or sit and watch movies/sports. So Sonos it is........ for now. I have around 15 Sonos products, including the Ikea Symfonisk speakers in my bathrooms and laundry room. I have Sonos amps connected to Klipsch speakers in the garage and a Sonos port connected to my Samsung Frame and a pair of Klipsch fives. with that being said, I miss the high fidelity of the stuff I used to have. I love what I've heard about the Dragon, and I'm a long time Nakamichi fan. I've had several Nakamichi pieces, including the RX505. Never had a dragon though. If my room that I have my front projector in, didn't have super high ceilings, I'd probably buy the Dragon, but I would still want to connect it to my Sonos. As much as I could probably stretch my budget for the Dragon, it is just hard to fit it in with all my constraints, and it probably wouldn't be a wise investment. I'll let you know in a few months.

[@mattbyrd330]

Thanks for the side by side review!! I'm fortunate to have gotten an allocation of the Dragon before the $$ increase :-)! Unfortunately, not expected to ship until November....what can ya do? An early Xmas present for the house! Thanks again!

[@ScottyR951]

Thanks again for the videos. I was looking forward to this one and you didn’t let me down now talking my wife into it. Do you have a video of that?

[@09applejacks]

I wanted it, thanks!

[@KC-7400]

Cool nice video, thanks for it👍👌

[@malachi2254]

I have a question about the era 300 as rears. You have them tilted in towards the seating position. Every time I see Sonos people talking about using them as rears they say to place them forward facing the tv and not to tilt inwards. I guess was wondering if you tried both ways and found this to be better?

[@BaezLife]

I prefer mine tilted slightly inward

[@Scalptrash]

I’m more impressed that the Sonos system is 9/10’s the performance for its size and price. I expected the Dragon to be significantly better.

[@CompSource]

The Sonos holds its own in a smaller room but if you have a room like mine 20x15 w/20' ceilings, it is truly NO comparison, especially at higher volumes.

[@nickg3235]

Thanks for the excellent comparison! Would still love to see how they compare to the Samsung 950

[@betelgeuse68]

Thank you for the videos Caleb. I never use WiFi on any stationary device unless I have no choice. Virtually everything in my house that is not a mobile device is on Ethernet. This includes a Sonos ARC, two Sonos 5s and two Sonos subs (I have two Sonos setups in the house on different floors), all very stationary objects, all on Ethernet. With the advent of Ethernet powerline adapters, Ethernet over Coax and using much more robust ASUS routers as "media bridges" or "repeaters" (their array of antennas will be far more robust than the single small WiFi antenna in any given speaker) to aggregate network traffic in a given area of the house, there's little reason to use individual WiFi connectivity ona device that never moves. In my home theater area, all network traffic across all devices is aggregated by an ASUS router in media bridge mode (this mean it doesn't advertise SIDs) which has a line of sight to an ASUS router that routes traffic to my ISP - I've seen speeds in excess of 600 megabits/sec across this link. Being a nitpicker, I can't imagine most people placing a Sonos Sub and two Era 300s where you're calibrating at 6 minutes 30 seconds. Closer to the wall, where Ethernet, given my suggestions, can easily be setup. Now I'm not saying you should have done that since I know you're in a very dynamic environment, I'm merely mentioning this for anyone who might read what I've written, i.e., they're going to set (place the speaker) and forget (that it's on Ethernet).

[@stopthefomo]

That price is too much, sorry Nakamichi. $1300 for Q990B is close enough for a third the price otherwise I’d spring $5K for 5.4.4 system from RSL (Denon AVR)

[@Audfile]

Agreed, but if you were a single mom dead set on a super nice sound bar...

[@tjordan8146]

Thank you Caleb! Really appreciate this review. I've already ordered the Dragon and expect to get my hands on it in a month or two. In a recent video about Samsung 990c, Andrew Robinson said he spoke to you and said some important features were missing including "no Bluetooth, Airplay, Chromecast (or smart features). No custom EQ or auto room correction etc. There's a lot missing." With all that said, in your opinion which streamer would be suited for the Dragon to compensate for this? Regarding room equalization it seemed that by using the measuring speaker distance, the Spatial Audio disc from Techno Dad and a decibel meter took care of most of that. Or am I missing something here? Cheers!

[@joshparkerson8390]

Great Review!

[@lemoiro]

Damn...I even noticed a clear difference with the audio clip, music and film, in favour of the dragon, through my apple macbook (M1) speakers!

[@Timmicillo]

Great review! What scenes did you use to demo the atmos section around the 16:00 mark?

[@Subjective_JoshNelson]

Excellent! Reasoned narratives for a layperson to draw buying distinctions; thank you! I'm going to stay with my Sonos (Arc, One SL pair, Sub3) and only add to it. I returned my Era 300s as my experience with Atmos up firing drivers (Reflective Atmos, not True Atmos), regardless of the system, is that it is largely hype. Perhaps my ear wax factor is more serious than I know, but I didn't hear $1,200 (with stands) worth of improvements in my theater set up with the 300s. 😇

[@dougdeppa8239]

Great video!