Sonos Arc Review - Is It REALLY Worth the Hype?

[@TheSAHDLife]

Sonos changed how I feel about soundbars. They are so good. My favorite movies so far on the Arc have been Mad Max, 6 Underground, and John Wick 4. Please share your favs! And I know I missed a few features in the video (Google assistant etc.). This wasn't meant to be a comprehensive deep-dive video. If there are any features you love / hate that I missed please share below. Thanks for watching!

[@cesarquijano6336]

It's going to be my first Sonos speaker... but my friend works for an audio company and has an open box that he said was used for 1 to 2 months and would still come with a warranty for $500, is that worth it for you then?

[@TheSAHDLife]

Oh absolutely. Sick deal! Yes it is worth it but in the absolute worst case scenario I bet you could probably sell it privately and even make a couple bucks in the unlikely event you didn't like it. If you do get it let me know what you think!!!

[@francoismarcil9242]

Wait till you try a ambeo + ...

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@francoismarcil9242 I'm not familiar with that. I'll have to check it out!

[@iluxman]

You allow the viewers to actually hear the sound from the speakers, which sets you apart from many other "reviewers" who just talk throughout the entire video, leaving the audience with no audio experience of the product. I love it. Thanks for share.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Thanks for the positive vibes! You made my day 👊 Love making reviews like this. Glad others like watching them! I sure wish I could get my hands on some of Sonos newer speakers!

[@rpg_8984]

Great review. Valid points. Your right though, once you get sucked into the Sonos world. You can't have just one. I started with the Arc. Saved up for the SL Ones, then saved up for the Sub Gen 3. It was absolutely amazing. Hold up there's more, I just upgraded to the Era 300's for the rear surrounds. Words can not explain the listening experience. It's out of this world.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Thanks for watching. And oooh boy I am jealous, those 300's look awesome! It's hard not to just keep finding reasons to buy more. I bought some used Play:3's for the rears and they're fine. I'm due for a good Atmos movie soon though. Any favs?

[@MeNMyKickz1988]

Do you use 1 Era 300 for rear surrounds or 2?

[@tomgroth2898]

@@TheSAHDLifeI would watch 6 Underground. It has everything you want.

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@tomgroth2898 Good call! I have watched the beginning of it several times but never finished it! Looking forward to it. Though I just got the new Furiosa movie... I hope it's fun like the other Mad Max. That movie was awesome!

[@btpiercy845]

Such a great review thanks for taking time to do it. I was about to buy the ARC but now will go for Play Bar since I am not really a big movie guy but love the music I can stream from my TV thru fiber optic cable and or just by using the Sonos app. I am sure this will be a better solution for me at this point and I can then easily add the sub along with my existing play ones which are great ! You saved me some coin on this deal now I can donate to the local kids hospital ! Best regards

[@TheSAHDLife]

What an awesome comment, thanks for sharing. I use the Playbar everyday (like how you said you'd set it up) and it's still awesome. Do let me know what you think if you get one.

[@sobel4511]

Nice vid! You have a great personality for doing reviews. Not pretentious, not overtly biased. Re: the HDMI port requirement, from what I'm reading, the device should actually come with an optical-to-HDMI adapter so that the optical port can still be used on the TV.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Thanks! Really appreciate the support. I take a lot of pride in being honest and am glad it comes across. I didn't believe you but I went and checked my Arc box (I try and keep all my tech boxes.. my wife LOVES that) and, you're right!! There the adapter was in the box holy crap! Now, that kind of defeats the point of getting the Arc since Atmos won't work with it, but MOST of the content I use doesn't even use Atmos, so, maybe I'll test it out. It'd be really nice to get that HDMI slot back. Glad you made the comment. Thanks! 👊

[@mrgold3591]

Started with the Beam Gen 1 and Symfonisk bookshelf as rears for my LG OLED 55C1 a few years ago. Went down the rabbit hole and I now have 18 Sonos speakers. My last purchase was the Arc, dual Gen 3 subs, & Fives as rear surrounds for my LG OLED 77C1. I purchased after X-mas before the Era 100/300 release dates were announced. I like the ease of use, sound quality, deep/abundant bass, and flexibility of Sonos compared to the Nakamichi 7.2.4 I had before the Arc. The only issue I have with Sonos is the Roam. It can be finicky with issues like not coming out of sleep mode, falling off the Sonos network (have to do a hard reset), no sound when grouped, unable to connect to bluetooth device, or having to pair again a bluetooth connection over time.

[@TheSAHDLife]

The Beam Gen 2 was my first soundbar and it was really impressive for the price. I got the Move, then the Beam... then I was hooked and needed more. That's really interesting about the Roam. I do not have it so can't chime in. How was the Nakamichi? I hear a lot about it but have not actually heard it in person. And you have me beat for speakers lol, for now... I just love that flexibility so much. It really puts them on another level.

[@mrgold3591]

@@TheSAHDLife I just couldn't get the Nakamichi to sound the way I liked. Always had to play with the soundbar remote changing the settings depending on stereo, 5.1, and Atmos content. The Nakamichi rear surrounds were wired to the dual rear subs and that limited the placement. I had the Beam Gen 1 with Symfonisk rears in my office and sound better out the box compared to the Nakamichi. Once I added the Gen 3 Sub to the Beam a year later, game over. The wife and I ended up watching more shows with Beam system instead of the Nakamichi. I eventually started getting a strange sporadic muffling sound with Nakamichi that got progressively worse (the soundbar was replaced once already under warranty). It got so bad, I ended up disconnecting the Nakamichi and used the LG OLED (tiny) TV speakers. No brainer to upgrade to the Arc system after having so much listening pleasure with the Beam system.

[@tonymax68]

I currently have the Beam right now, but I'm definitely upgrading to the Arc. Thanks for the video, and I'll be adding the Sub with it too.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Exciting! Yeah I still use ALL of my Sonos speakers every single day. Love 'em all! If you remember let me know what you think once you get 'em!

[@bathams]

Ive had my playbar for 10 years, unfortunately one of the speakers is faulty , so i have purchase the arc , this review has helped. Thank you

[@TheSAHDLife]

Glad you found the video! Aww that's a bummer about the playbar. Did it just start sounding like crap or what? I have a playbar too and always wonder how long it will last.

[@bathams]

@@TheSAHDLife just randomly it started playing up. I can still listen to certain programmes but when the bass is too high it makes a loud drumming sound , music is a no no . Sonos did off 15% off a new soundbar though

[@Bxr400]

Viewers like honesty, and this is honest and helps buyers understand their choices. I’m between a Sony or Bose soundbar. All of my equipment is Bose and Sony. Good video 🤗🤗

[@TheSAHDLife]

Thanks for watching and the comment! I do my best to be honest and not biased with my reviews. Personally, and I don't have a TON of experience with different speakers, but in the case of Sonos it's the ecosystem that truly sets it apart and why I love it. I mix and match speakers every day throughout our house through the app... I can't do that (as far as I know) with anything else in the same way. Hopefully competitors get there, but Sonos is just so far ahead in that aspect. IF you don't need that functionality though, I wouldn't pay the additional cost for it. Sony and Bose are both fantastic so it sounds like you'll have a nice setup no matter what you decide.

[@muza1925]

Great video! Keep it up :)

[@TheSAHDLife]

Really appreciate the support. Thanks 👊 Have you gotten started collecting Sonos yet? Be careful, it's addicting!

[@barryprettyman7766]

Yeah man, you are spot on with the TV compatibility review. I would say, if you are not very tech savvy, this is probably not the setup for you. If you are, and have a good TV with eARC capability then this choice is phenomenal. The issue being budget, like you said. I am running the ARC/ (2) Era Surrounds and the Sonos SUB configuration with Trueplay tuning in my home. Let me tell you, it is a unique and awesome experience with Dolby ATMOS enabled. You will feel like you are part of the conversations, and in the scene with the actors. If you're a gamer, the 360 degree tuning is amazing for immersion. Once the devices are mounted and tuned to your living space, it cannot be stated enough how amazing the SONOS system is. Just manage your expectations when only going with the Soundbar as a solo configuration.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Which Era's do you have? That sounds like a sick setup! I'm still really happy with all the Sonos stuff. It just works and the app is fantastic being able to mix and match all the speakers. I use that everyday.

[@lonniebrunet]

Hi. I have a big room and would prefer not to have to buy a sub & other speakers. Saw the Arc at Best Buy and like that you can add on later. Do you think the Arc would be a better choice for a large room that's 15ft wide, high vaulted ceilings ad the further couch is 16ft from TV and behind it open plan to the kitchen. Thanks. We currently only have the TV speakers

[@TheSAHDLife]

Out of the Sonos lineup the Arc would definitely be the one to get for your setup. I had a similar layout in our last house and it was great. To be honest, it really shines in a smaller closed off room but it will bring joy to you once you hear it even in that big space. Eventually you will want surround speakers on the side and a sub (even the mini) to really make the system shine. But if you can get a deal on it I still recommend the Arc. I imagine there will be an update soon... maybe the Arc 2 later this year? So it's hard for me to recommend at full price at the moment. But there is no question if you do get one (on sale or 2nd hand) it will last for years and you will absolutely LOVE it. The app and how it plays with the other Sonos speakers truly makes it stand out among the competition.

[@grantsharp836]

I got my arc for $500 at Costco because it was the last one in stock, which is beyond lucky. Before I bought it I was really struggling to decide between the ARC and a true home theater setup, I would say for anyone who has a medium sized watching space the arc alone might be enough, and when you consider the price to invest in a dedicated surround setup, the ARC makes the most sense IMO.

[@TheSAHDLife]

It's a really good setup right? It fills the room very well and hits some surprisingly deep notes. That being said when you put it in a room that's too big it loses it's effect a bit. But that's where the surrounds kick in. The best part about Sonos though is when you get multiple speakers... I still, even years later love just pairing up with other speakers around the house... it separates Sonos from everything else. Happy for you! Did you just get bitten by the Sonos bug lol?

[@Piranga]

Nice video, Subscribed. Regards from Portugal.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Thanks, I appreciate it! Welcome to the channel. Greetings from Vancouver Island!

[@georgevillalvazo9154]

I bought a home theater system, which consist of a Sony A90J 83 inch big screen and I went ahead and hooked it up to the Sonos arc and a solo GEN three sub along with a pair of Sonos five. Then I went ahead and hooked it all up to a Panasonic flagship you B 9000 4K THX DVD Blu-ray player.! It sounds awesome.!👍

[@TheSAHDLife]

Oh baby that sounds AMAZING! You know, a good Blu-ray player is something I'm missing. I sometimes download huge 4k files and stream them on Plex but, I imagine the Blu-ray quality is the best eh? Do you just buy those BRDVDs online or from Bestbuy? Can you rent them anywhere anymore?

[@AverageDadOfficial]

Great video man

[@TheSAHDLife]

Thanks man, I appreciate it 👊 have you joined the Sonos club yet?!

[@FrisianInNLandFrance]

Thanks so much. I’ll check it out next week. Really curious if it will work at my place.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Nice! Yeah I use mine everyday still. Really happy with it.

[@Togoladen]

The fact that you played Dance Gavin Dance 😍 made me subscribe even faster!

[@TheSAHDLife]

Yes!! Finally, another DGD fan 👊 That's awesome. Glad you found the video!

[@5cent27]

Just added era 300s as surrounds with my arc and dual subs. Watching movies is really good, it’s almost unreal.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Ohh that is so sick. I want them bad! Have you tested music on them at all? And did you replace surrounds or just add them in? I'm so curious to how they compare to others and if the difference is that noticeable.

[@5cent27]

@@TheSAHDLife I replaced a set of ones with the 300s. I haven’t listened to much music with the setup. The whole setup is in our living room and most of the viewing is movies. I don’t know how to say this other than just saying it- the price wasn’t a factor for me, I can see how if it is people would think it’s not worth it ($1000 a pair). Is it as big of a difference vs adding a sub? No, add a sub. Is it as big of a difference vs the ones? Yeah I think so. I will say they leave me wanting just a bit more out of the arc. I’m hoping they come out with an updated arc or something that’s a bit more robust, maybe even an update that dials the arc up just a touch. Sonos just released 15.6 update that’s supposed to boost parts of the 300s when used as surrounds. I updated last night but didn’t get a chance to really give it a listen. Long story longer haha they are expensive and if you’re not an audio nut like me you could definitely get away with ones as surrounds. Adding 2 more height channels is pretty cool. It’s also true when everyone says you can’t tell where the sound is coming from with the 300s as surrounds. You obviously can tell left or right but with all the speakers facing different directions it really makes pinpointing the source of the sound difficult. I love them and I’m glad I got them, I’d buy them again.

[@PoofyisDead]

@@5cent27How would you say is the atmos performance (especially compared to the ones?) also as an upgrade path assuming i bought the arc what do you think should come first, sub or 300s?

[@5cent27]

@@PoofyisDead well when you pair the 300s as surrounds with an arc you’re doubling the height channel (from 2 to 4). It all depends on your configuration, room size, etc on how big of a difference it makes. I’d say sub for your first upgrade for sure.

[@mustafahussain3972]

​@@PoofyisDeadadd a sub first to get that cinema experience

[@namelessfrce5842]

Great video i have the sonos Arc sub gen 3 and 2 sonos ones ( gonna upgrade to the Eras 300)

[@TheSAHDLife]

Ohhh I'm jealous! The 300's are so cool. That's fun to look forward to! Do they ever go on sale?! :)

[@CroPC]

We started with Roam and were surprised at how great it sounds (and still sounds). Then we bought Beam Gen 2, again, wow. Then Sub Mini and I think this is the best combo for a majority. Then we bought our first, and a few months later also second Era 300. We use them as surrounds and sometimes stand alone (they sound incredibly like a stereo pair and when you add them to Sub Mini it's a whole new dimension). This year was a huge summer sale and we bought finally Arc, and next year hopefully Sub Gen 3. One setup will be Arc + Sub Gen 3 + 2x Era 300, and the second Beam Gen 2 + Sub Mini. Roam will be all-around. Occasionally I will pair 2x Era 300 + Sub sometimes when I will just to enjoy in music.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Sounds like a great setup you've got! It's addicting isn't it? 😆 I'm jealous about those ERA 300's, I haven't even heard them outside of BestBuy, I bet they sound great. I really thought the Arc 2 would be out this year. It's still good but feels a little long in the tooth with it's ports etc.

[@CroPC]

Yes, it's addicting. I was also considering Arc 2 (maybe it will come next year), but I think that the price will be also higher, so it will be out of budget. Era 300 is, in my opinion, the best single speaker you can buy from Sonos.

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@CroPC I have heard good things about the 300's and would LOVE one. It's tough to convince my wife to let me buy MORE speakers though 🤣 She does like having Sonos though.

[@GleBluu]

Just purchased an ARC SL for $509 after the 20% sitewide discount certified refurbished. Upgrading from a Beam gen 1 which will go into master bedroom now. A note I don't know if you noticed, many have said they feel like the Beam has better dialogue clarity than the Arc but I'll have to test this.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Yeah that's interesting about the dialogue. We have the Beam in the bedroom always in dialogue mode and the Arc in the living room without... that's where we crank it up! Nice deal though. The SL is a great idea. Don't really need the voice assistant in there. You got other speakers too to pair with it or is it your first piece?

[@GleBluu]

@@TheSAHDLife Have a sub mini and two play 3s for surrounds so very excited to pair those with the arc. This is also a small living room with the Beam able to fill the space, just $509 for an Arc is too good not to get

[@MrSelvin78]

Yes...Arc sound horrible with vocals even after 5 years..hardware failure due to design.... crap

[@LoriDunlap-p1c]

Loved your review and learned so much. Question I hope you’ll be able to answer. I want to put my sub gen 3 behind my tv. There’s to much room back there. How much clearance back there does it need for good sound? I can lay down but prefer to stand up. LOVE this sound system.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Oh nice! Honestly I'm sure it's fine wherever you put it. It does not need much clearance at all since it hardly moves. I know... I went down that rabbit hole when I first got it about perfect placement too. Now I have it behind my couch against the back wall and it's fine. I would probably keep it standing myself though but you could try both and see if you notice anything different.

[@elemento1991]

Great video and perfect timing for me. I just finished building a new bedroom in our house and installed my LG C2 OLED. I’m looking for something to amplify the viewing experience a bit. Would like to start with the arc and add the mini or gen 3 eventually. Leaning heavily towards giving this a shot for its reputability and user friendliness. Im very busy and set it and forget it is a huge benefit for me.

[@TheSAHDLife]

I think you'll love it! What a compliment it will be with that sick TV. That will be quite the setup. You might get addicted and start buying them all up... just warning you. The mini is probably more than enough for the bedroom. I'd probably suggest that and use that money you'd save on some surrounds. Let us know if you do get it what you think!

[@Fozzee.1970]

I'd get a Beam and Surrounds rather than an ARC.

[@jayvito86]

recently purchase the arc paired with era 300 X2 and sub gen 3 x2. and my god the sound is amazing.

[@TheSAHDLife]

What a setup! Nice. I really want to try the 300's but they are still a little pricey for me. Still happy with all my Sonos though!

[@4thumb4]

Great video, just subscribed. I also have a Sonos addiction 🙄 mostly used (playbase, 2 play 1s, I play 3, 5 play 5s (2 gen 1s). Then traded up some so I could get a new arc, sub, sub mini, era 100 and 300. I currently live in a 2 bedroom condo. One is my man cave. Love watching 4k movies with atmos on the arc, mini sub, and play 1s. Favorites are All the marvel studios films

[@TheSAHDLife]

Welcome to the channel my friend! And haha I think you have me beat!! For now ;) I appreciate you sharing your fav movies on there too. I always love knowing what people are watching on their Sonos speakers. Let me ask, do you have a favorite speaker? And do you think the mini sub would be enough for most, or is the extra money for the big boy worth it? I always wanted a Play 5 but feel like maybe Era 500's will be out one day soon?

[@MamooYT]

A friend is upgrading to the new arc ultra that's coming out, offered me his current arc soundbar + x2 One SL's for £350/$450~. Is this worth it in your opinion?

[@TheSAHDLife]

Yeah that seems like a good deal... I'd take it! Maybe keep on the lookout for a sub mini or a good used deal on a sub and you'll have a sixk set up! The only downside of the current arc is that it doesn't have pass through so it can take up a whole HDMI slot which can be annoying depending on how many HDMI slots your TV has. Other than that though it's still a great sound bar!!

[@KrypteiaXi]

Is your friend stupid? You are gutting him.

[@skydancerforever]

You should have tried the Polk MagniFi Max AX SR. Cost between $629.00 and $899.00 new depending on sale. Comes with rear speakers for a true surround sound, 10" ported subwoofer, does all Dolby digital and DTS codec's and performs better then most soundbars costing twice as much. I have had the Sonos arc and the Sennheiser Ambeo plus and subwoffer in the past. Now have the Polk MagniFi Max.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Sick! Man I'd love to test that out! Honestly it's not the sound that I love Sonos for... the sounds is fine. It's the ecosystem. Every day I'm shuffling around and using different speakers paired in groups and it's just so easy. I love that. Maybe other speakers or companies will eventually be on that level but I haven't discovered them yet.

[@skydancerforever]

@@TheSAHDLife Yes if you like the sonos ecosystem then its a good choice.

[@jeffryarnoldus1318]

I aso had that set sound quality for me was not that special,and there is from time to time a strange cracking sound coming from the speakers. For now am looking for a new set

[@tomgroth2898]

I currently have a Samsung hw q900a with the surrounds. It sounds pretty good but I want more bass. It’s in the basement that is long and open. I also bought 2 era 300’s and a sub gen 3 for music. Would it be worth it to add the Arc with those and replace the q900? I would move that to my living room that has an old Panasonic surround system.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Well it's a tough call. I haven't heard the Samsung q900a's personally. Those 300's are sweet I bet but I'm not sure it will be a HUGE game-changer to switch the setup around. The beauty of the Sonos stuff is the ability to isolate/pair together certain groups of speakers when you want to. For example, I have a speaker in the bathroom which I pair with the TV, so if you run to the bathroom during a game or movie, you don't miss anything! Same with music for having people over, you go to the bathroom and still get to enjoy the tunes. I think the Arc 2 might be launched later this year or early next year so, it's tough to recommend older products. The Arc is still fantastic, so if you can get it for a good used price or sick sale and can afford it, yeah you will be happy with it. But if your current setup is decent maybe just stick with that for now and save your money for the new one?

[@tomgroth2898]

@@TheSAHDLifeThanks. I was lucky and got the 300’s for 359 each and the sub for 620. I heard something new was coming. I’ll probably wait unless the arc goes back on sale.

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@tomgroth2898 Nice deals! Are the 300's sweet?!

[@tomgroth2898]

I do like the 300’s. I am using one as a computer speaker. I bought a white era 100 for my wife’s office. Once you start, it’s hard to stop. I’ll end up getting the arc and put the era 300’s and sub into the surround set up and get another 100 for my desk.

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@tomgroth2898 That's funny you're doing that. I'm using the Beam Gen 2 as my computer speaker hehe.

[@ajbarrett3661]

Are you using the IKEA Symphonisk as surround speakers with your ARC? I've got one of those that's been sitting in a closet and didn't know it'd be usable to pair

[@TheSAHDLife]

Heck yeah! I ended up finding some old Sonos 3's that I use now instead, but those Ikea ones work great for surround! Try it out!

[@Zetler]

A TV with only 2 HDMI ports? It must be garbage. Time for a new TV

[@TheSAHDLife]

I know right? 2 HDMI ports and it was a 2022 model. Oof. It was cheap though. Although I bought my buddies 2016 LG Oled B6 from him and that thing is STILL just awesome. Good remote... built in bluetooth... so many sick features. Wish I had that in a big version!

[@ThRealJC2]

I just got the Sony HTA500 but I am not fully convinced, should I give a try to the Sonos ARC?

[@TheSAHDLife]

I would say yeah! The Arc sounds great and just has an ecosystem worth investing in. How well it plays with the other speakers just puts it in it's own league. I use different configurations of speakers every single day and have 0 regrets choosing Sonos. Let me know if you get it what you think!

[@PoofyisDead]

Have you had any problems buying sonos soundbars used? I’ve been seeing the arc on facebook marketplace and kijiji for 850ish CAD and been questioning weather to go new? Edit after finishing the video: Movie performance and Atmos is exactly what i’m after, I can’t exactly install ceiling speakers currently and i wanna be able to take my speakers with me when i move eventually, so what i’m looking for is the absolute best atmos performance available via soundbar+rears for my home theatre. The main reason i’m leaning towards sonos rn is because i can swap out individual parts (unlike samsung for example) and even upgrade certain components over time!

[@TheSAHDLife]

No problems at all! This stuff is high quality and that's the beauty of it. It's built well. You can't really break it. Plus I think the kind of people who do buy this stuff take care of it. I would say go check it! Totally worth it to save a few hundred.

[@PoofyisDead]

@@TheSAHDLifeSounds good, some more research and lll keep that one saved. Added an update but tldr: How does sonos compare to other brands for a proper home theatre setup (for atmos)? is the value in its upgradable ecosystem truly better than the likes of samsung and such? Thank you!

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@PoofyisDead for me the value is in pairing with other speakers throughout the house and how the app works. It sounds great but if you are looking for best value I think something like the Samsung q990c might be better for you. And then if money is no object, check out the Namamichi Dragon 😄

[@pat5170]

I am looking at buying the Arc but you have to wonder if an Arc Gen 2 is just around the corner as it has been out for a few years?

[@TheSAHDLife]

This is a good point and a hard decision. I would say if you can get it for a good sale through Black Friday or get one used, it would still be worth it. It's not going to magically become terrible or anything if a new one comes out... it's a great speaker. I bought the Move less than a year ago and of course the new one came out, but to be honest, I am still 100% happy with the old one. It does everything I want it to do. If a new Arc comes out I think sure maybe the sound might be a little better, but it will be more about the plugs etc that will make it more convenient. Plus you could always put it in the bedroom then get the new one later 🤣

[@mrgold3591]

The good thing about Sonos (and IKEA Sonos speakers) is it is modular and you can mix/match pieces together depending on needs and budget. No word from Sonos when they will release a Gen 2 Arc, Era 500, or update the Sonos app to add more speakers into a home theater group to compete with systems like the Nakamichi Dragon 11.4.6. You can purchase the Arc Gen 1 now, add 1-2 subs whenever, add rears from Sonos/IKEA whenever, upgrade to the Arc Gen 2, and move the Arc Gen 1 to another room or sell the Arc Gen 1 for top $$. The reason I cut my loss with my old Nakamichi 7.2.4 system a year ago and jump into the Sonos ecosystem.

[@julya400]

Hello ! I just got the Arc Sound bar Sl at Costco…. No Alexa or Google but I don’t mind… I haven’t use the S2 app to set-up the ARC sound bar …and the sound is great… How the set up with the S2 app would be better ? Thank you :)

[@TheSAHDLife]

You know, it's nice being able to tweak it a bit. I like having a little more treble and bass but honestly, if it sounds good to you then leave it! But if/when you get more speakers you will need the app to pair them together and adjust the sound levels. You should get it eventually though, it's nice to have for sure.

[@mrgold3591]

Any plans to get the sub or surrounds? The Arc really comes alive with additional speakers. Even using Symfonisk bookshelf speakers is a noticeable upgrade and improvement to the sound quality. I would set up the S2 app and do a I.O.S. smartphone Trueplay tune to get the maximum sound quality for your listening environment and primary listening sitting position.

[@FrisianInNLandFrance]

Thanks for the review! I've got an older Samsung TV without Atmos. In the present setting I'm using it with a Playbar and a Sub and also use the Shield. I like to replace the Playbar with an Arc and, as I learned from you, also a new Sub. My question is this: can I experience Atmos with this setup. Or is my older TV the dealbreaker?

[@TheSAHDLife]

Hmmm... yeah if it doesn't have ARC on it that might be a deal breaker if you want that sweet Atmos sound. I'm trying to think of any way to get it to work but... I mean the sound would still be better with an Arc however unless you get a screamin' deal, I'd probably suggest you upgrade your TV first. Maybe you can find a good deal on Marketplace?

[@FrisianInNLandFrance]

It does have e-arc but I think it must have Atmos to work.

[@TheSAHDLife]

@FrisianInNLandFrance the shield should be able to push the Atmos to your speakers. Is there an hdmi pass through setting on your TV? I think that way the audio comes from the shield and then goes directly to the ark through the TV where it should get atmos. The phone app will tell you if it's working right? Now I'm curious!!

[@FrisianInNLandFrance]

I will test it end of next week since then I’ll be in France where I want to have this setup. I’ve contacted Sonos in the meanwhile and they thought the TV wouldn’t let it pass. Now I’m very curious. Where does the app make it visible whether Atmos is activated? I’ll let you know when I’ve tested it!

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@FrisianInNLandFrance When the app is open and you are controlling the volume of that room on your phone... right above the slider it'll say what format the audio is in e.g stereo, 5.1, atmos etc.

[@MJA74a]

to me I feel like I need to have the ARC volume at 55 for the Sub gen 3 to really kick in.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Ya that's interesting. I remember when I first paired the sub I was like, uhh, it's not very loud. But then I cranked it up to 9 and it started hitting the deep notes. Then I loved it. What do you have it set at and have you used the TruePlay to tune it? I did that but it set the bass really low. I had to change it hehe.

[@MJA74a]

@@TheSAHDLife I did use Trueplay I think Trueplay left the base at 0 and I moved it to like 3. I need to mess with it little more. But yeah at volume 55 that thing becomes a beast! Under that meh.

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@MJA74a Ya word. Tinker with it a bit! I keep mine at 9 and sometimes drop it to 7 when I crank it up. I guess I like mine a little bass heavy ;)

[@chirsjavier11]

You can go to the Subs settings and turn up the volume of the sub. I did that and it makes a huge difference. 😊

[@samiratilainen5970]

Did you change the setting to Standard when listening to music?

[@TheSAHDLife]

I usually boost the treble and bass a little depending on the size of the room and weather or not I have a sub. Do you change the settings?

[@czar4you]

I still think Bose 900 is a better buy if you dont care about rear speakers. IMO it has ALL in one solution, especially clarity.

[@TheSAHDLife]

That's interesting. I still feel like the Sonos ecosystem is what really separates it from everything else. Although to be fair, I haven't used Bose products in a few years so perhaps theirs is getting better. I'm happy with my Arc it is good enough. We have it in a large room and it doesn't blow me away in this new space but I'm never left really wanting more. I do like having the surrounds though so it plays nice with the others.

[@aaronmorris9352]

I'm not sure about $1000.. but picked up the Arc SL at Costco on clearance for $499.97 this week, and for that price.. it's hard to beat. I had a Beam Gen 2, but the Arc has just a much much wider soundstage.. sounds great.

[@TheSAHDLife]

That's a nice deal... and to get it at Costco too 👌 Nice find. I know. It's a great speaker to have. I think the SL is the ticket... I couldn't care less about voice activation personally but I suppose for some it's handy. It'd rather save money.

[@clarkgourguejr]

I’ve been searching my local Costco for any leftover Arc SL deals but they are no longer searchable online. So ended up getting a like-new open box full Arc from BB for $720 this past tax-free weekend. I’m getting ready to set it up! The play bar for $250 is awesome though!

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@clarkgourguejr Oh nice! I am team like-new over here... this stuff is built to last! Let us know what you think once you've set it up and blasted some stuff!

[@john4108]

I'm sorry to say but you did not buy the arc for 500 dollars at costco. The difference between the SL is no mic and that's $50 less then the arc with mic and that cost $1100 before tax what you got is the beam

[@rpiazza]

I have been thinking of the Arc, but after reading this review and other comments just not sure. We are up in age and need a sound bar for crystal clear dialogue. Don't watch a lot of movies, but a lot of tv and subscription tv. Currently have a Zvox SB 500. At times it sounds tinny/trebally. Would any of the Sonic products work, or any other suggestions for a dialogue superior soundbar. I do have earc on my tv.

[@TheSAHDLife]

I will make this easy for you. The dialogue is OUTSTANDING with Sonos products. They have 2 settings, 1 for night mode (which lowers the bass) and 1 for boosted dialogue (which enhances those frequencies) and they work incredibly well when used together. In our master bedroom I leave them on all the time and it's just great. I used to wire speakers right near our heads so we could hear it, but with these speakers I don't even need to. Also if you do buy it new you could return it if you don't like it. I have a feeling they will have a new version in maybe another year or so but the beauty with Sonos products is the current one won't become obsolete... I imagine the newer ones would just have a few more settings (bluetooth, hdmi passthrough... nothing that would be crazy compared to now). I bought the 10 year old Sonos Playbar and it is still fantastic. Hope that helps! Oh, and I can't comment on your existing soundbar but I've listened to enough to know that most can't compete with the ease of use of the Sonos ecosystem and build quality.

[@mrgold3591]

Sonos and IKEA Symfonisk speakers are excellent additions to the Arc or Beam. I have an Era 100 in the kitchen and use it for music or TV. I don't have to crank the TV volume up +30 feet away when in the kitchen listening to the news while making dinner in a noisy room (stove vent fan on, dishwasher going, microwave on, etc...). I have a Beam with Symfonisk bookshelf speakers on either side of our master bedroom night stands and they are perfect for dialogue along with the voice enhancement feature in the app. I also have the Roam portable speaker we can add with the Sonos app and I can put that speaker near my ear for late night TV watching without waking up the entire house with the Arc/dual sub/Five system.

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@mrgold3591 This is what separates Sonos from everything else... the ability to have support speakers wherever you want. I mean you have to pay to play but it's so worth it. Like you said, I have the Move in the kitchen which compliments what's on the TV so you don't miss the action when running for snacks or washing dishes etc.

[@freako720]

How did you like music on the Arc w/ the sub?

[@TheSAHDLife]

I like it. It's good. It has the spatial effect like I mention in the video which isn't as impressive in a side-by-side comparison with a powerful speaker BUT, you kind of get used to it and start to prefer it. For example I tested out the Sonos Five vs the 300 speaker and at first, the Five was the obvious winner... BUT, once I started moving around and wasn't standing directly in front of the Five, the 300s stole the show. The same is for the Arc (in my opinion). If you're listening to music sitting in front of it, it's good, but when you go about the room it just sounds good everywhere which is cool. Most people who aren't super hardcore would be very impressed with it.

[@4underpar]

How do you add wireless headphones (has 3.5mm or optical- out ) to the system when the wife says she can not sleep? Sony Bravia TV - eARC HDMI to TV from Arc soundbar, 4K HDMI from Nvidia Shield Pro to TV?

[@TheSAHDLife]

I have your answer but it might not be what you think. You need to use Bluetooth through the Nvidia Shield. Your TV might have Bluetooth as well but do it through the shield it's super easy and works great. I love that feature so much!! Wifey sleeps while I enjoy what I want to watch nice and loud!

[@Rockmonix]

I really want to get an Arc, Sonos sent me a 30% discount code but no Bluetooth support really feels like a miss. I like to stream my Vinyls to my current Bluetooth system

[@TheSAHDLife]

I know, I got the coupon too. It's a good one. I have a sinking suspicion that Sonos will be releasing an updated version soon so they're blasting out all the old inventory before then. The Arc 2 should be out this year and I bet it'll have it. Might be worth holding tight for now.

[@MyBryant123]

Jbl 1300x or samsung q990c. Do you have reviews ?

[@TheSAHDLife]

I wish I could help you with this one but I cannot. I honestly haven't even heard of the JBL one... I have seen a lot of people talking about the Samsung one though so, maybe that's a sign?

[@HenTeun]

I have the beam gen 1, 2 play one’s and the sub. I wonder if it is still a good investment to buy the beam gen 2? The arc is a bit above budget

[@TheSAHDLife]

Your setup seems great! While using it are you wishing for more? I would say if you are happy just stick with it for now. The Arc is great but unless you are really after an immersive Atmos experience I don't necessarily think it's worth the upgrade.

[@mrgold3591]

I have a Beam Gen 2, Gen 3 Sub, and One SLs rears with an LG OLED 55C1 in a smaller room 14X20 feet). I have the Arc, dual subs, and Fives in the larger great room 3X the size with a LG OLED 77C1 (20X45 feet). Both systems fit the space perfectly. I think the Beam system would be under powered in the larger room and the Arc system would be too much for the smaller space. I did upgrade the Beam gen 2 from a Beam gen 1 in the smaller room last X-mas. I really didn't hear a significant difference with the Dolby 5.1 Bean Gen 1 and the Atmos Beam Gen 2 with Netflix Atmos content? It is even less of a differences with Dolby 5.1 content between them with my Dolby 5.1 only cable service or non-Atmos streaming content. I would go for the Beam Gen 2 if you are starting from scratch; but, the Beam Gen 1 can be the 99% solution until Atmos is the norm like Dolby 5.1 is now (having the sub+surrounds help A LOT).

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@mrgold3591 Yeah good post! Agreed the size of the room is the most important thing. The Beam still rips!

[@Fozzee.1970]

@@TheSAHDLife You get an immersive Atmos experience with the Beam Gen 2 plus Play 1s.

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@Fozzee.1970 Where do you find your Atmos content... jus ton Netflix or streaming services or do you download them yourself?

[@thieveslikeus1985]

Great video. I can't believe how good the Playbar was... And the iPhone Advanced Trueplay thing is due to the standardise microphones used by Apple. Also, before I completed my upgrade journey to a full 7.1.4 Sonos system, I did think about the Sony HTA9 + SW5 sub. But it was a big outlay in one hit. And the Sony setup has never been on special. At least with Sonos I could do it in stages (when the specials are on) plus I get multi-room audio. But it means I do want more... Next, some 300s for my bedroom. Or maybe a 7.2.4 system?

[@TheSAHDLife]

Thanks! And man the Playbar still rocks right? Surprised me too . Really happy I found a good deal on that. I hear really great things about the Samsung q999c set up I'm just a sucker for the multi-room audio. I love it so much! 300s would be gnarly in the bedroom though... I didn't even think about that now I want it. Haha

[@TheSAHDLife]

Aw and thanks for the Superthanks! You made my day! 👊

[@thieveslikeus1985]

@@TheSAHDLife I had a 300 in my bedroom before the second one arrived to form a surround pair. Played “Bohemian Rhapsody” in Dolby Atmos (Apple Music) and it felt like Queen was in my bedroom 😮.

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@thieveslikeus1985 Haha. That's awesome! I'm jealous. I've only spent like 5-10 minutes with those speakers at Best Buy which I don't think is a very great experience. I'd love to get one (or two!) in the near future. Not the cheapest!

[@TheSAHDLife]

Have you listened to those Sony speakers in person? I had never heard of those before but after looking them up they look pretty cool.

[@gorongo4202]

Lot of people pissed about Sonos app, which I agree the CEO should be fired for. So there are lots of used Sonos components on Craigslist on the cheap. Sound is still unbelievably good. Now I need to decide on used Arc or new Arc Ultra.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Yeah the app isn't great. Aw well. Used Sonos speakers are the best :) Love not having to pay full price. And that's a tough call on the Arc vs Ultra... it really depends on the deal you can get for a used Arc. The benefit of the Ultra is it is the new hotness which is always nice to have, especially if you can get it close to release date. Either way the old Arc is still fantastic so it wouldn't be the worst if you got that.

[@tkamel18]

Would this soundbar be good for a medium sized living room with 18” ceilings in an open concept home?

[@TheSAHDLife]

Yes it would be good... But to be honest I feel like Sonos might be refreshing a few more of their speakers this year so it's hard for me to recommend it at full price. If you get a decent sale or one used then absolutely. But in that space you would also want to make sure you get the sub and some Era 300s for surround. The Era 300s would really pop in that space. It's not cheap investing in but the sound and the ease of use is just great!

[@tkamel18]

@@TheSAHDLife I’m thinking of buying the Sonos arc and the gen 3 sub today…will buy the rear wireless speakers later but not initially. The Sonos arc soundbar is on sale at Best Buy for $719 currently and they also have an open box for $569 but I’m not an open box type of guy 😂. $719 (down from $900$ seems like a good deal plus it’s at 0 apr interest for 12 months.

[@tkamel18]

I currently have the JBL bar 500 but can still return it. It’s not bad but not incredible either. If the Sonos arc plus sub isn’t substantially better than I’ll return the Sonos and keep the bar 500. Time to test both and make a decision later today!

[@TheSAHDLife]

@tkamel18 nice! Though to be honest the stuff is built so well that open box one is worth considering... It should still come with a warranty right? That's extra money you could use towards the surrounds I'm just saying 😂

[@TheSAHDLife]

Yeah sweet!! Keep me posted. I love talking about this stuff.

[@RoryDMacKay]

Great video! What would you recommend for someone's first surround sound / soundbar setup...on a budget of course. 🙂

[@TheSAHDLife]

Thanks! What kind of space would you put it in? And do you plan on buying new or used?

[@RoryDMacKay]

​@@TheSAHDLifeTo go with a 75" television, in a living room. Preferably new. 🙂

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@RoryDMacKay Ok, since I am a pretty frugal person I would definitely buy used if you are on a budget. Also, what kind of room are you putting it in? An open-concept room or a dedicated room? Not sure if you made it to the end of the vid but I share my recommended budget setup here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6GthYyhpblob5Y Otherwise I would wait for a sale and buy whichever speakers fit your budget. If you share your budget I can help further but, they are all really good.

[@petewendygirtley6055]

Great review, going to get the Arc very very soon, many thanks from me, but not my wife😂 Can you tell me what suicide squad film with the helicopter you was watching.😊

[@TheSAHDLife]

Thanks for the comment! I'm still really happy with the Arc. The film was The Suicide Squad NOT just Suicide Squad... that's a different movie, and it was on Canadian Netflix though I just checked and it's not on there anymore fyi.

[@audie-cashstack-uk4881]

Beam gen 2 with sub and reras is also amazing all in 1500 with 6 yr warrenty

[@TheSAHDLife]

That's a nice setup! I think the size of the room really matters too. The Arc in a tiny room would be overkill...

[@michael-4k4000]

Am able to purchase a Samsung Q990c for $800, should I pull the trigger?

[@TheSAHDLife]

Sound quality wise, that is a sick setup!!! But for me personally, I would rather have the Sonos setup because of the ecosystem. I play music all the time throughout the house and being able to include my living room speakers in there is worth more than slightly better audio quality. The Sonos still sound fantastic and the app and phone controls make it just amazing. Tough call if you are going Just for sound quality or want overall usability.

[@michael-4k4000]

@@TheSAHDLife I got it, but was able to get it from Samsung for $706 with the tax included. at that price, I cant justify Sonos or the Sony HT-A9. It sounds amazing, lacks a bit in the midst, but id assume all sound bars lack in the mid as they use the sub to enhance the kids. thanks for your help. I like when you pointed to where you thought where the sound is coming from, it's very helpful for us viewers. I went to bestbuy yesterday just to listen to the Sonos ARC, and there was so much else goin on in the store I could barely hear it unless I turned it up to an intolerable level and it was just the bar, not sure if the sub was connected and the salesman was zero help. I don't even know if he know what a sound bar is for, at least thats the vibe I got. So what else is one to do but to but a product and return if not liked.

[@michael-4k4000]

I hear you, I think Sonos is very cool company, I’d go as far to say the most well integrated and cool his company out out there. I can’t speak to the actual sound as I only listen to the Arc at Bestbuy demos. They are what Bose was 25 years ago or so. I’m NOT a Samsung fan, but for the education price of around $700 (without tax) for the entire system, it’s hard to justify spending around $1,400 more just to get Sonos. I would take advantage of the Sonos’s ability to change your speakers from one room to another. If these systems were same price or close enough, I’d take the Sonos without question. Thanks for the reply. FYI, the 990C is very good, it’s my first and only sound bar, so I have nothing to really compare it to. But it’s hard to imagine the Sonos sounding that much better as they both are approximately the same size. By the way, excellent review hope you do the new Sony quads. Would love to hear your thoughts on that product.

[@michael-4k4000]

W​anted to let you know i picked up an Arc Ultra, your right it's better no doubt. Then picked up the Sub 4 and pair of Era 300s, it's an incredible system, and I've had a dedicated theater. However, from a sheer price standpoint, the Q990C for $660 from samsung Direct makes it impossible to choose the sonos. Even if u can get the Q990c for $1k, which anyone can, it's $1200 less then the full Sonos system. I do see why people love Sonos, and I've only had the setup for 2 days. It's totally premium. It feels like Apple made the box, the app, and the system. That is the biggest complaint I can give it! I get it now about Sonos. However, I'd still recommend most people to get the Q990c.

[@georgevillalvazo9154]

My home theater system consists of a 83 inch Sony a 90 J Sonos are and a Jen, three subwoofer and a pair of Sonos five!👍

[@TheSAHDLife]

Ohh baby. Sounds like a sick movie night!!

[@analogguy5548]

Confusing - They all sound the same on my iPad 🤔 - FYI, I have the Arc, two Sonos SL Ones, plus the Sonos Gen 3 Subwoofer FANTASTIC 🤠

[@TheSAHDLife]

I bet between the mic I was using, the KZbin compression, and the small speakers of the iPad, a lot of sound was left out during the comparisons. They sound very different in person... but, they're all pretty good in their own way. And it sounds like you have a great setup! Mine is similar and while I would love to upgrade to the 300's, I don't feel like they would be a big enough upgrade to my Play:3's back there for the price. The old ones still sound and work great!

[@analogguy5548]

@@TheSAHDLife I’m with you on the Era 300’s. $900 + $74.25 sales tax, ouch! You can go crazy chasing the latest and greatest. Relax & enjoy your system. 🤠

[@Sveinbeard]

Great review. I am looking for a new soundbar. I live in a condo. and have a 75" TV that already has Atmos. My current bar doesn't support eArc, so am looking for an upgrade. All reviews I read or watch point me back to the Sonos Arc. Overkill for what I really need as I don't need all the bells and whistles.. I won't be buying additional speakers as I want just a decent soundbar. i currently have a Majority (british make) Sierra atmos soundbar, and I want to continue with Atmos. The Sierra cost £194...a cheap but ok model. Should I get the Sonos Arc with all of its beautiful speakers, or get a far cheaper three or 4 speaker soundbar that emulates Atmos? I can't have the sound as high as I would like (although really loud enough) so it is quality over quantity here. The cost is no problem.......I think I have just answerd my own question. Lastly, can I stream all the music I store on my phone to the Arc?....without uploading it to a third party streaming service or using a NAS?...Not having Bluetooth could be a deal breaker.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Since it's so easy to unbox and set up IF you aren't happy with it it's very easy to put back in the box and return. Now, for music it might get a little trickier, and this might be the deal breaker for you.... Are you able to get that music on your computer or do you happen to have a NAS (network attached storage) drive? I have a NAS drive set up on my network, and it's really cool, it allows me to basically have my own "Netflix" with movies, shows, and music that I download. THAT I can stream to the Sonos. But for files directly off your phone, I think they removed that option. So, if you copy the music to your computer and your computer is turned on, you could use Plex to stream it, and Plex is great. But if not, then you might have to look elsewhere. You might want to check out the Bose Smart Soundbar 600. That looks pretty sweet and might tick all the boxes for you.

[@Sveinbeard]

@@TheSAHDLife Thanks for the reply. I do have a NAS, but I want to use my phone. 😀 Its funny you should mention the Bose 600. I did more research yesterday evening, and I have ended up buying one of those. Thanks again for the reply.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Haha no way! That's awesome. How does it sound?!!

[@Sveinbeard]

@@TheSAHDLife Waiting for it to arrive, but I think it will be just the job. I may at some point get two surround speakers.

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@Sveinbeard Well if you remember you gotta let me know how it sounds! Enjoy 👊👊

[@FrisianInNLandFrance]

Well here are the results: despite having an arc connection I get no Atmos via my Shield Nvidia. So it has no use for me. When I'm going to change my tv I'll try it again. But by that time Sonos might have a new Arc.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Aww well, at least now you know and won't be left wondering. It's a real bummer the Arc can't do HDMI passthrough but what can you do. Maybe for the next one. They've gotta release a new one soon.

[@MeenPo786]

I am leaning towards Nakamichi Dragon!

[@TheSAHDLife]

Oooh sick! I have not heard it personally but it sounds fantastic. Does it integrate with other speakers at all? I actually don't know. I know there are better systems than the Sonos but I just love having speakers throughout the house. That's just my jam.

[@laynesmith9077]

I feel that with how far sound bars have come like the "dragon" that sonos is going to have to come out with something that will be very adjustable and robust especially with the new era 300s as surrounds. Heck, maybe they will let you group 4 era 300s!!!

[@TheSAHDLife]

I agree. I have a feeling they are working on some replacements which will probably come out in the near future. They won't be cheap though!!!

[@remco3819]

​@@TheSAHDLifeDo you think they will release a new soundbar soon ? I also hope they do kind of make a set up like the Sony HT'A9 with the 300's.

[@TheSAHDLife]

It's a good question. It might not be this year but I bet the have one coming down the pipes. With how good the old Sonos speakers are though, I don't think anyone will regret their Arc that they bought this year.

[@robertweekes5783]

I heard the 300 rears just came out this year - and maybe they were designed originally as a standalone set? Because the front facing speakers cut out in cinema (rear) mode

[@jingiskahn3466]

I hope that Sonos let us arrange a set of four Era 300. This speaker blow the arc away. I had a a Logitech 5.1 setup before. My conclusion is that the arc can’t compete against this in terms of Chanel separation. The Sound of the Arc is wide and big but not clear. I know, the concept of a soundbar is an afterthought to the missing of good in build TV speakers. But a good pair of stereo speakers at the same price point destroys the arc completely. The main selling point on the arc is the convenience. I really like the sound quality of the Sonos products but I think Sonos should go the Sony route. I believe that Sonos is capable to bring us a quad array of their single speakers. I hope the upcoming Sonos TV box will support this. But I only wait until the end of then year. If they didn’t deliver I will switch to a multichannel receiver setup.

[@TheSAHDLife]

That's a speaker I don't have and would really love to own :) Every time I'm at BestBuy and crank it up it just sounds so good. I love how it fills up the space. And yeah I hear you. The Arc is convenient like you said but it's not perfect. The Sonos soundbars HAVE changed how I feel about soundbars but, it's 2024 now so it'll be interesting to see what they put out later this year. It seems like they're putting in a lot of effort on Headphones... :(

[@John-dk3wj]

Sonos arc or Sonos beam Gen 2 for a one bedroom apartment in the living room?

[@TheSAHDLife]

Honestly the Beam is fantastic for small to midsize rooms. The bass and fullness from it always impresses me. If it's a wood building condo I don't think you'll even need the mini sub. Maybe try and pick up some cheap surrounds for it with either the IKEA symphonisk or even some used sl ones and you are set! The Arc is nice if you can get it on a great price but is a overkill.

[@John-dk3wj]

@@TheSAHDLife so get the beam gen 2 or arc ultra ?

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@John-dk3wj If you can afford it get the Arc Ultra. That's going to last for a long time and now it's the new hotness so it will be the one to get for awhile. If you want to save money but still be happy I'd look for a used Beam Gen 2. You could probably get it for 1/3 or 1/4th the cost and it would still be very good. The Arc will be super exciting and very future proof if you ever move into a bigger space. I like the advanced speech enhancement too, I use that a lot and the fact they made it better is awesome. Let me know what you end up doing and what you think!

[@John-dk3wj]

@@TheSAHDLife are you getting the arc ultra ?

[@TheSAHDLife]

@John-dk3wj As much as I would love to I don't really need it. We just recently bought the Ray so I have all of their sound bars lol. The ray is definitely the worst one of the bunch... The beam, playbar and arc are all fantastic. I imagine the ultra is only improved as well so I wish I had it. Sadly Sonos doesn't send me this stuff 😆

[@diggergeensen860]

Nice job. I own both and find that the playbar outperforms the arc in a few important categories. Dialogue clarity, base output, low bitrate steaming of music services - such as Spotify. Still waiting to test the beam gen 2. The Arc is vastly overpriced, and overhyped in my opinion. It’s got a tinny, treble heavy - almost cheap sounding profile to it. I believe that lack of low end punch comes from the constraints of its oval shaped design. While it gets loud, and wide playing Atmos movies, it simply doesn’t feel like a quality sounding unit, like the playbar does while playing music. It shouldn’t be getting beat in any category by a decade old bar that retailed at half the price! Note: era 300 speakers aren’t compatible with Playbar as rear surrounds.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Yeah I hear you. I use both everyday too and I find that in the right sized room The arc sounds really nice. If the room gets too big though it loses a lot of the qualities that make it sound decent. I think it's still punches pretty low sometimes but again the room size really matters. Yeah the play bar is just such sick value even still. I'm a big fan of it as well but it does lock a few newer features which is a bit of a bummer. I definitely agree though that it's way overpriced which is why it's too hard to recommend especially now knowing that the arc 2 or something new should be coming out soon. I still enjoy having it in the fleet. But yeah I got the beam Gen 2 for such a good price and sometimes that just sounds really nice as well in the right size room. It's fun here and I like having it! I would love to try out some era 300s though!

[@diggergeensen860]

@@TheSAHDLife yeah I wish they’d just release a playbar 2 that’s long as the arc and has all the modern decoding capabilities. Sonos seems to be hung up on cylinder shaped designs now though, so that’s most likely out of the question 😕

[@guyo83]

Were each of these calibrated with tru play? The placement and your seating position while were reviewing were not good and this severely impacts the listening experience and quality of the speakers (I own the Arc and have set it up in multiple rooms with and without tru play, which makes the world of difference). The source also makes a huge difference, 4k blu ray vs streaming is night and day, not sure if you are just streaming content for this comparison and if you connected via e-ARC which is also needed to get full audio bandwidth and fidelity from blu rays which are lossless in regards to audio.

[@TheSAHDLife]

No, they were not calibrated. I had the Arc setup through e-arc and was streaming a 50 gig 4k Atmos file through Plex (Mad Max). The rest was just streamed off KZbin/Netflix. While it might not truly showcase the speakers in their best form, I think the sound quality I experienced represented how MOST people will hear it. I think a lot of people just buy it, set it up and leave it at that... sadly. Which still sounds a lot better than their TV speakers etc. But... I definitely could have done a more comprehensive test... but I feel there are a lot of other channels who are better with the details. Mine is more surface level for people who don't spend the time but want the jyst. Were you surprised with the results from the video? Do you think the Arc would sound much better than the rest even in music kind of thing?

[@gerardoserrano7733]

My friend you need to test the JBL 9.1 🙏🙏 and compare it with Sonos

[@TheSAHDLife]

Ohh baby that would be so fun. I'd love to! If I get the chance, I will.

[@MajorMotions]

I have the arc, 2 subs, and 2 300s ,and it just doesn’t do the job for me. Regular TV sounds thin, the Xbox sounds thin. The subs don’t do anything if it isn’t in Atmos. The only place it shines is in the Atmos. Idk. It’s just not better than my Nakamichi.

[@TheSAHDLife]

That's really interesting... did you tune it with Trueplay? I did that with my wifes iPhone and I thought it lacked bass from how I like to listen. I had to change the eq & bass. Also what size of room do you have it in? Just curious. I've always been really curious about Nakamichi. It shreds eh?? They ain't cheap either though right? I guess the fact I have other speakers throughout the house led me down the Sonos rabbit hole. I just have them all playing together so often it's just amazing. Everyone who visits comments how great the music sounds everywhere. But yeah, I was kind of disappointed with the Arc after comparing it to the others with music/older tv shows but while watching newer movies (which we don't THAT often) it's great.

[@MajorMotions]

@@TheSAHDLife Yeah I did the TruPlay many times but it seems like it doesn’t matter how many times I do it the system just doesn’t sound better than my Nakamichi. I have a regular sized living room in a regular city sized home with 8ft ceilings. I’ve been dealing with home theaters for years, and I never heard of anything coming close to my Nakamichi. The Samsung q990 was horrible it just lacks the wattage and the bass, the Atmos was great for what it was. The sonos is better as far as the highs, and the clarity of the specific sounds, and the wide soundstage, but it just lacks the mids. It lacks that overall beefy theater thickness. Don’t get me wrong the Sonos is very crispy and clean but it doesn’t give that movie theater like pumping sound, and that’s where the Nakamichi shines. As far as watching regular TV and playing the Xbox the Sonos is just horrible I’m sorry I just can’t defend it there. Oh, and the app thing…..It just doesn’t give me control over each individual speaker and that’s frustrating. The multiple room speaker thing might be the only thing that it does great.

[@TemujinScott80]

Did you perform the updates?

[@TheSAHDLife]

Haven't even been prompted for a new one. Is it good or is it messing things up?

[@d1nicoya]

Totally agree. I was on the same boat, decided to give Samsung q990c a try and wow sounds 100% better. Sonos is good for all around set up but I like the sound from the q990c better

[@utubeballbag]

Bro youre sitting far too close to review the sound

[@TheSAHDLife]

Haha for sure... my thoughts on these speakers don't just come from my listening experience in this video. I still feel the same months later.

[@utubeballbag]

@@TheSAHDLife understood 👍👏

[@Larimuss]

Lol I'm sure he's used it more than just one for this video.

[@lol_dope]

I have a ben gen 2 and the sub mini it is really great for movies. I love it and i plan to upgrade more Wien i get money😂

[@TheSAHDLife]

Yeah the Beam and mini sub are a totally underrated setup... especially in a small-medium size room which honestly, is where I prefer to watch content. What would you buy next?!

[@lol_dope]

@@TheSAHDLife i Mighty start with getting 2 era 100. And slowly in the future i would begin to make Way for the Ultimate arc system.

[@TheSAHDLife]

I know right? That would be so epic@@lol_dope

[@tommyboi9]

I just can’t get past that it doesn’t support DTS or has HDMI pass through

[@TheSAHDLife]

I know... it is brutal that it doesn't. My TV only has 2 hdmi ports and I have a Xbox AND Nvidia Shield. I had to buy a hdmi splitter just so they could both use the Arc sound. It works at least but it's a slight pain.

[@DavidMander-rs4uk]

Is the Sonos Arc really that expensive? Yes!

[@TheSAHDLife]

I know right... it's a 'buy once cry once' type of item. It really is nice to have once you've forgotten how much it cost 🤣

[@ganstaevo]

Arc with gen 3… getting the era 300 surrounds soon! I’m excited

[@TheSAHDLife]

Ohhh beauty. I would LOVE some 300's. If you remember you'll have to let me know how they sound. I'm jelly! 👊

[@juanlicona924]

I was so close to buy this arc sonos but instead I went for the new bose ultra 900 and this new bose soundbar is amazing for 800dlls is way different than the first one and has bluetooth which is a big deal for me I don’t doubt the sonos might be better but this new bose soundbar is good enough for me for movies and music

[@TheSAHDLife]

Honestly my favorite thing about Sonos isn't even the sound. I think if you got a better deal and you don't have any other Sonos products than what you got is probably the right choice. It's just how Sonos plays with other Sonos speakers is where it truly shines and it's worth every penny for me personally.

[@PrezidentHughes]

A 75" that only has 2 HDMI? 🤔 Is that a bootleg TV?

[@TheSAHDLife]

Hahaha right?! It's the Black Friday special from Samsung. It was about $899 CAD or around $680 USD brand new last winter... it looks great but yeah, that part sucksssss.

[@cloudspecs3864]

legend

[@TheSAHDLife]

👊😍

[@seanberry319]

Is that a current model tv? I didn’t know they still made them with only two hdmi. I would blame the tv manufacturer more than Sonos for the lack of hdmi. I have all my inputs going into my tv and just need one output going to the Sonos Arc. I do think they should have included a line-in on the arc though.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Ya!! Isn't that crazy a new 75" TV in 2022 had only 2 hdmi ports!!? Oh, and that's totally on me. Not hating the Arc for that, but it just would have been nice to have passthrough is all.

[@AudiophileTommy]

Get a Marantz HDMI splitter 🎉

[@TheSAHDLife]

You my friend don't have the cheapest taste! Haha. I got a crappy one off Amazon and guess what? It's kind of crappy! It works though... mostly.

[@alexlopez-dk4jq]

You taking Sonos over nakamichi dragon?

[@TheSAHDLife]

So, to be honest I haven't really heard a Nakamichi setup in a home environment. And to me, it's not even the sound quality that makes Sonos worth buying... I mean, it sounds great and good enough for me but it's the ecosystem. I always have music going on multiple speakers and the way the App works it's just so good for ME. If I was just going for the best theatre setup I'm not sure I would recommend the Sonos as hard... but since I like having speakers throughout the house... and like to listen to music while I do the dishes... the fact I can continue whatever is playing on my Arc soundbar to any other Sonos speakers is just so sick.

[@oz8753]

Is the new soundbar arc 2 coming soon?

[@TheSAHDLife]

I've seen rumours but I can't say for sure. It'll be really interesting to see what they do next. You looking to upgrade your sound?

[@willvargas4477]

I think you can use a IPad if you don’t have a IPhone.

[@TheSAHDLife]

That's a great point. We have an old one laying around. Though to be honest the one time I used Truplay on my wifes iPhone I didn't really like the sound. I had to add back the bass. That could be programming from my teenage years with a gigantic subwoofer in the back of my crappy car.

[@jackzhang4462]

Sonos is haven at movies, BOSE is better at music. For song, both more or less. But back to BOSE lifestyle, the 5 speaker system, both sound bar still far from it.

[@TheSAHDLife]

Do you know if Bose has a good app for using their speakers? That's where Sonos really shines.

[@kdk200]

The sound is good but it’s a garbage system. Sometimes it won’t let me listen to music even if it says connected it won’t play sound. The one I have doesn’t even have an aux port. You need their app and register to use it. Buy a different brand

[@TheSAHDLife]

The new Sonos app REALLY took a step backwards. It's been out for what, a month? And users are upset! The whole reason you get Sonos is because of the ecosystem and having multiple speakers. I would say if you only want one soundbar, there are other, better options. But if you want a speaker in your kitchen, maybe one in your garage, another in your living room, that's where Sonos really shines ONCE You get used to the app. Sorry to hear you had such a bad experience.

[@kdk200]

@@TheSAHDLife it worked ok most of the time. I’m using an old Samsung with the app, my current phone is a newer iPhone I guess switching over could probably fix it. Maybe it’s the update that the Samsung is having trouble connecting. It says connected, song plays silent for a minute then I get sound, try to restart song and same thing it’s silent for a minute

[@TheSAHDLife]

@@kdk200 I'm sure it would work better with the iPhone but still... that shouldn't happen. They took a great product and messed it up. Their new app is terrible. I just can't even believe it.

[@joytimmermans]

never use optical cable in 2023 for audio. you are missing so much and atmos also doesnt work

[@TheSAHDLife]

Good point... Though I have some older tvs around the house where I just have the playbar setup with an optical cable and it still sounds good for the kids and or playing video games on. But yeah, definitely not ideal in 2023 lol

[@MrSelvin78]

Guys no one ever realise how bad arc sound ?yes tinny sound from 1st day of launch...sonos is unable to fix arc's tinny sound till now...even 200$ sound bars sound pleasant

[@TheSAHDLife]

That's annoying eh? What size of room do you have it in? I had it in a very big room but I recently moved it to a smaller room and it sounds much better. I wouldn't describe it as tinny but I do know what you're talking about. Maybe you listen to some higher quality ones?

[@MrSelvin78]

@TheSAHDLife Yes...big room with high ceiling...need atlest volume level 22....With that volume definitely tinny sound is more pronounced and I think it's frequency overlap between internal speakers

[@kathie5216]

First!

[@DavidMander-rs4uk]

Soundbar for surround sound 👎

[@TheSAHDLife]

Yeah you need speakers behind you, and the Sonos does a great job of being able to wirelessly add speakers wherever you want. The upward firing speakers and speakers on the outer edge of the Arc ARE nice in addition to actual surround speakers (AND a sub).