Sonos Arc System vs Samsung HW-Q950T Soundbar: Which is the King?

[@JonahMatthes]

If you're interested in purchasing either of these systems, you can purchase them here! Sonos Arc System US (paid link): shop-links.co/1722018978756266946 Sonos Arc System Int (paid link): geni.us/IvoGXT Samsung Q950T US (paid link): shop-links.co/1722018977877882393 Samsung Q950T Int (paid link): geni.us/w08BPl

[@jothibasur]

Hi Jonah thanks for the detailed and excellent review. I get it that the Sonos ARC is the better soundbar available now. But I am not an apple user and from your review there was a footnote that without airplay its not so good. Could you please expand on that and taking in to account someone isnt an apple user would you still recommend Sonos?

[@JonahMatthes]

@@jothibasur Yeah, I think this is something I didn’t explain too well in the video. So with an Android device you can still play your music to the Sonos Arc and other Sonos speakers. However, you’ll need to connect those different apps in the Sonos App. I believe someone corrected me in saying that you can play music directly from your music library through the Sonos App as well. But you can’t output any and all audio from an Android device to the Sonos system like Bluetooth or Airplay would. It’s mainly setup for music playback. Hope this makes sense!

[@jothibasur]

​@@JonahMatthes Thank you that makes sense. As an android user you lose a bit of convenience, if Sonos supported ChromeCast it would have been better. Thank you for the quick response much appreciated.

[@dwaynedesa1749]

Hi Jonah, thanks for the review man. I liked both these speakers when I tested them. The only thing with the Sonos, is the price tag for the woofers and surrounds. My question for you though is how is the Q950T with all the firmware updates now?

[@orenpetel]

Does The samsung q950t can work without connecting the surround speakers?

[@Pryzm1965]

I went for the Sonos arc + 2x ones and the new sub Mini, absolutely love it. One of the best buys I ever made makes watching movies and TV just that more enjoyable, never regretted buying it for even a second.

[@Billmc997]

I really love my Sonos Arc system and the subwoofer has great sound with both movies and music with a ton of bass. Can’t go wrong with this system. Dolby Atmos compatibility is why I waited for the Arc and am super happy I got it for that reason alone.

[@tumunamegabe1968]

Sonos system is an other level of sound bars, my partner was complaining about the cost of the Arc and sub gen3 that I spent, now she's the one gave me money to buy two Sonos one to add on the system as surround speakers. Never go wrong

[@nytridr]

Just watched the entirety of your review and it was spot on. I actually bought the Samsung system first because I thought it sounded the best at Bestbuy. I returned it for the Sonos after the install because of how much of a pain in the ass it was and because the Sonos just looked cleaner. Ease of use, quality of materials and looks beat the Samsung's just a bit better audio quality.

[@manishjaiswal3523]

And that lackluster subwoofer.

[@boonsiangtan3609]

Nice review to include the usability instead of just focusing on the sound quality. I bought some audio product in the past due to the recommendation by other reviewer that talks about sound quality only. And it turn out that using the product is frustrating due to connectivity issue etc.

[@greatpoochini1]

My cats would nudge me towards the Q950, as the kind of high-end scratching post they think they deserve.

[@soalegria1971]

Oh hell no, time to get rid of those cats!

[@heavysaur]

Hahahaha

[@haloharry97]

This is why I do not own cats

[@rkw221]

@@soalegria1971 naaaw...my cat is named Ozzy and is the live reincarnation of THE Ozzy!! He even bites the heads off various once live things he brings home to me as presents. :D So just some pepper spray on the thing should do it, I would 'hope???'... ;D

[@eventhorizon2873]

my cats don't do this anymore, they associate that kind of behaviour with pain.

[@robertwiley8458]

Great review I'm a Sonos Arc user with 2 One SL s for a home theater experience. Simply Amazing experience without the sub because I have neighbors that I don't want to annoy. Exceptional and you can hear everything when I added 2 One SL s the Sonos Arc opened up and filled the room with awesomeness.

[@MrSlickyRicky123]

I can't lie this is the first video I've watch of yours and well done to you! great video, very informative, good detail and coverage of use, subbed and liked which is rare of me but keep it up! will keep an eye out for any new ones!

[@jimmccord3428]

Thanks for this Jonah. I just purchased the ARC and love the quick set-up and sound so far. With eARC, controlling the sound with my iPhone, the apple tv remote or the TV remote is a huge plus for me and my wife. I am going to order the Sub today to complete the system. You are correct the Wi-Fi control of the system is much superior to Bluetooth. Since my entire house will be using Sonos speakers throughout it made a ton of sense for me to go all in with Sonos. Adding you to my Subscription List. Thanks.

[@daveillingworth6784]

Generally pretty comprehensive review mate. Well done. Possible update to add is the fact that which ever speakers are used for the surrounds can also be used completely independently around the house. Very handy for people who don't want permanent surrounds with their room aesthetic. Just bring them in for movie night and the rest of the time you have true multi-room audio. 😊

[@polforestorres]

Didnt finished the video yet, but I already wanna thank you for it!! Really well explained! :)

[@yodabeeshdc8275]

Thanks for the awesome review! I’ve been on the fence between both. I was leaning a lot towards the Samsung because I currently have both a Samsung TV and a lower end Samsung sound bar (HW-550). They integrate extremely well, and I plug my AppleTV into the soundbar. I’d like to run my AppleTV to the soundbar to the TV, and it seems like the 950 does the Atmos processing and therefore doesn’t rely on eARC. After watching this, I’m now leaning towards the Sonos despite the face that I don’t have an eARC TV and the Arc only has one HDMI port. The TruePlay app looks pretty good and customizable whereas the 950 just fires out sound with different canned settings. It’s really good to know the different quirks you’ve experienced with the 950. The big thing that you mentioned was that voice didn’t sound great on the 950. That is huge since my biggest pet peeve is that I need to constantly adjust the volume to hear clear voices despite different tweaks. (The “clear voice” setting on my HW-550 degrades the rest of the audio.) Oh, and the user interface on the Samsung sucks. WHAT were they thinking? Thanks again! You’ve got a new subscriber!

[@milespogi]

so happy and proud owner of Sonos setup 👍😊

[@AndyfBaby319]

Im a samsung rep and even i say go with Sonos

[@pieterh7808]

Solid review! However prices for Sonos in Europe tend to be way higher than in the US. The full Sonos system would easily cost 2000+ EUR (about 2500 USD). I recently bought the Q950T in a very attractive Black Friday deal (1000 EUR, about 1215 USD) and had no issues setting up the system. Very happy with my choice, but I agree Sonos has some nice features that I miss in my Samsung system

[@tumunamegabe1968]

Sonos is always expensive especially when u have to buy each speaker (item) individual but for me I used to Sonos playbase, playbar and sub gen2 and I just upgraded to the arc with sub gen3 I think it worth the cost I used to change speakers every six months but once I got Sonos I'm satisfied and happy. In Australia the new arc with sub gen3 plus two Sonos one sl costs us $2895 crazy

[@bierba]

@@tumunamegabe1968 €2250 in europe, on sale mind you. Which translates to $3281 australian.

[@boopidoo]

Got the Samsung soundbar and setup was extremely fast and simple. Using a Samsung TV no cables are needed. Also it is compatible with Google assistant and Google Home. Super easy to integrate with other devices connected through Google Home. Sounds great too. A+++ :) Also I've got cats and so far they haven't been interested at all, they scratch everything else in the house though... maybe they've added a cat repellant. :D

[@XAnonymousGuyX1]

Completely happy with my sonos setup. I've got the Arc, Gen3 sub, and 2 play 3's for the living room. The Beam and 2 One SL's for the bedroom, for our bar downstairs we've got the same Sonos setup as our bedroom with the addition of a Gen2 sub. Then an old $1400 Sony 5.1 surround sound system in the other living room that I bought nearly 10yrs ago on a black friday sale. That systems sure to be replaced with another sonos system at our next house if we still have a second living room. I will say, that 10yr old sony system still holds it's own against the sonos setups. With 1000w system and a 500w powered sub. The rear speakers connect to their own dedicated wireless receiver, but all the speakers are still wired in some way. Great system, just looks dated and is a pain to run all the wires through the walls to keep a clean look.

[@hitfoods1726]

Great job man! I like that you explained how hearing the systems through KZbin is a waste of time. Also liked your audiophile joke.😂

[@tommysrensen1417]

Man, I love your reviews. Very detailed and useful. You rule👍

[@JonahMatthes]

I appreciate that! Thanks so much!

[@christianducharme1646]

Good review ! I m really happy with my new Sonos Arc + Sub Gen3 + 2 One SL since one week. Amazing sound, easy to configure, no issue. Thanks a lot!

[@purdue1992jl]

I just got mine last Sunday and I love it. The sub is a beast

[@davechannel01]

Great review without any bias. I have Sonos speakers in every room in my house so it only made sense to introduce the Sonos arc/Sub/Play:One surrounds as my master bedroom Dolby atmos system. I have had it since 2021 and it never gives me any problems. The sound is fantastic for the type of setup that it is. In my living room, I have a full on component system with a Denon receiver, 7.2.2 Dolby Atmos, that is a totally different experience, but everything is hardwired and takes up much more space. I think the Sonos Arc with subwoofer and surrounds is a great Dolby Atmos for those who want a clean and minimal setup with a very good sound stage. Also, I like how there are no inputs to the Arc. I would rather the other peripherals connect to the TV and let the TV be the selection hub instead of the sound bar. Anyway, I gave your vid a thumbs up! Thanks dude!

[@PNWoutdoorReviews]

Truly enjoyed every second of your review and I'm so happy with my very recent ( yesterday ) purchase of the Sonos ARC sound bar. I'll eventually purchase the rest of the system but I had to replace my Bose 700 smart sound bar due to the constant connection issues with the HDMI.

[@pablomalverdes]

In other reviews, I've read Samsung bars work flawlessly with Samsung TVs, but many people have experienced issues when pairing with TV sets from other brands.

[@MisterChibs]

Pressed “Like” 3 times and agree with you. It’s better to have something that works. If you have to tweak and babysit your soundbar to get to work all the time, what’s the point? Maybe down the road Samsung will fix reliability issues but it’ll be to late. At least for me. Sonos for the win!

[@silky-smooth]

Btw you can play music straight from your phone on the Sonos. You can also set up a network using the same wifi and have your entire music collection. Then you can make it public or private and anyone on your network can control all your music. So it doesn't just have to be an iPhone

[@galagus187]

Sounds interesting do you have a guide I can follow please?

[@silky-smooth]

@@galagus187 you can just Google how to create a home network on wondows 10. It takes 5 minutes. Then go into your sonos app and add that location for it to find/play music. Then every device you use on that wifi network will play all the music you loaded. Fyi the laptop or cpu you used to create the network must be on.

[@silky-smooth]

@@galagus187 m.kzbin.info/www/bejne/m5TSnZx4pbGWeqs

[@henille]

Thx man. Was close to buy the Samsung on half price now (black week) but when you told me about your girlfriend issues I'm back on Sonos. My wife is a technical disaster ;)

[@JonahMatthes]

Happy Wife Happy Life

[@cikomessi]

Your wife has to be a Lady outside, be a good cooker a be a Legend in bed😉

[@brendanbarrett5152]

Fair play for not bothering with audio samples, complete waste of time on youtube

[@vincentseidle954]

never understood when people complain about the reviewer not testing audio while they listen on their laptop

[@DJCocoaPuffz]

@@vincentseidle954 bb no n. Bbbonnnnnnnnnnyyo

[@kingwillbisthebest]

Great video brother. Keep it up. I'm looking at the q950a after your review of that system.

[@Wilbgr8]

After reviewing the Sonos Arc with 2 s1's and the Samsung 850a with subwoofer, honestly I understand what you mean by it sounds better!! I'm tempted to purchase the Samsung 900a and team it with the wireless 9500s, to see if this combination will still beat the arc! Like you, I despise the cloth, it will not age well and the ability to add more speakers to the arc is a nice feature but the Samsung sound is just better hands down!! I'm unsure how or why everyone says the Arc beats the samsung 950. Price alone you get more bang for your buck.

[@monroe2245]

6:41 LOL I can hear the aggression in your voice. Our cat is living on borrowed time. If I saw it on my speakers it would bag's packed, new home for kitty. All great, high quality vids for anyone else who hasn't seen the different iterations between samsung q950, Sonos and the other competitors he reviews. A must watch if your out there hunting for wireless surround. I was sold on the jbl but looks like samsung after watch his review. Passed on Sonos as I'm not sure how well it's individual speaker config is setup for atmos(?)

[@Tiggzg]

Jonah, love your reviews. You cover all the basis’ and easy to understudy

[@man2moto]

Just purchased the Samsung sound bar and Samsung 75 inch tv q80a. Let me make this clear….I’M NOT PROMOTING Samsung products. Upgraded the sound bar from Klipsch r-20b and 55 inch 1080p Samsung tv. My opinion only. Took me about 2 1/2 - 3 hours setting up tv and sound bar. In a small to medium room. Watched a movie called ‘The Tomorrow War’, Unbelievable and awesome sound (also great picture). What is not mention is the sound bar works with the speakers inside the tv. I put the volume at about 35% which is more than enough. I’m like WOW!!!!! I’m keeping my fingers crossed hoping I do not have issues like he had.

[@Im-sure]

I just bought the Sonos along with my lg G2 and it’s great! A year after this video…

[@klaymoon1]

I heard that Samsung has a crippled software division - not because software engineers are not good - but because the top managements treat the software division as if a second rate citizen compared to hardware engineers. I heard that frequently the software division gets very rushed projects with constantly changing specifications. I think that culture is showing up on the final products like these. It's a software game now but Samsung just didn't get the message yet.

[@fiddycaliber947]

Excellent coverage, keep up the awesome content Jonah.

[@johnrambo6990]

Great review, however, I wish people always remember that these reviews are always 1 person’s opinion. We all hear and see things differently, so the most important part is to consider the price and what your budget allows.

[@lancestone9877]

I just hooked up the Samsung 950A. Great system!!!

[@BTheInstaller]

Good stuff bro. I wish the sonos could do more speakers, would like some upward rears. Maybe doable in near future.

[@darrellchavez7194]

I was told you can connect more one sl or ones if needed

[@JimHarmer]

Hey Jonah! It’s Jim from Income School. Happened on your video as I’m working on my sonos system. You’re killing it! Thanks for the vid.

[@JonahMatthes]

Hey Jim! Hope you guys are doing alright. I really appreciate that, it means a lot! Can't believe it was about a year ago that you guys finally pushed me to make the jump to KZbin. Can't thank you guys enough! Let me know if you have any questions about anything, I'm happy to help!

[@Wilbgr8]

I have been in search for a surround sound upgrade from my old samsung 550 sound bar, after having a house party and the sound bar didn't deliver very well with a crowd. Since then I've been watching various videos, I sampled Sonos beam w/ 2 s1's, it delivered nicely while using pandora, but the sound quality diminished while listening to music on youtube. Unsure what that meant, so I purchased the Sonos Arc in an effort to combat that since the arc costs as much as the beam and s1's. While trying out the arc, I purchased a Samsung 850A with subwoofer, the volume capability kicked the arc's arse. I do love the idea of adding more speakers as time progresses because samsungs wired "wireless" rear speakers are a big NO!! I still haven't figured which I prefer.. Such a hard decision, but Samsung has way more volume than Sonos Arc.

[@nunoV12]

Hey. I'm considering buying a Q800A and I noticed your comment... Why are the Samsung rears a big no? You're talking about the 9500s right?

[@dominus10]

I don't understand why all these reviewers on KZbin are having so many reliability issues with the Q950T. I've had one for weeks and haven't so much as had one cut out, or inputs switching or anything. I do wish it had an auto calibration tool and the app was much better, but the audio experience has been very solid. If you can be bothered using an SPL meter and manually calibrating it, there isn't a single soundbar system out there that it doesn't beat (and I've tried a few). It's shame Samsung probably rushed this out to market and this is almost required though..

[@Santanapain]

6:53 Jonah- *talking* Cat in bottom left corner - “BABABOI”

[@qaasgeemmm9596]

Thanks for your review & your conclusion was what i was expecting! 😊

[@danielreckwell3043]

I wish you didn't favour the sonos. It felt like the whole time you just ripped on the samsung and didn't give it a fair go. I watched your other review on the Samsung and similar reaction as well. Hard to make a decision when you already like one. Your not giving people a chance to make there minds up. No hate, you did a great job and got a thumbs up. This is just my opinion.

[@JDM_UK]

Very well layed out video/review. Easy to follow and mentioned a lot of things people need to know about a product. However, one friendly tip/request, please can you mention what version HDMI the Input/Outputs are e.g. 1.4, 2.0a, 2.0b, 2.1 etc. Also if they support the HDCP 2.2. This type of information isn't always the easiest to find and i think it would be great if you are able to mention this going forward. I'm starting to become a fan of your videos, keep up this good work and I'm sure you will become one of the "go to" KZbinrs for a review/information on a product

[@JonahMatthes]

I really appreciate the feedback! I'll do my best to mention the supported HDMI versions and HDCP 2.2 support where needed in the future. Can definitely see how these will be useful for people. Thanks for the support!

[@JDM_UK]

@@JonahMatthes Great stuff, and no problems dude. Looking forward to future videos!

[@samuelquintanar5929]

Awesome! Just the review I was looking for, thanks!

[@RQuinton79]

I started searching for soundbars in January and watched 100's of videos comparing different systems to another. It's a shame I didn't find you sooner, you have great content and love the thorough reviews. I ended up in home testing the Visio SB46514-F6 (5.1.4), the Samsung Q90r (7.1.4 and Q950t predecessor), the Nakamichi 7.1.4 and the Nakamichi 9.2.4. The Q90R was $1600 and for the price was incredibly disappointing. I agree that the rears and sub seem like an afterthought. No matter how I placed the rears, I never felt I was getting a real atmos effect. The Visio was only $700, but sounded like a $300 bar so enough said there. The 9.2.4 Nakamichi at $1400 absolutely blew everything out of the water. I honestly didn't know how awesome Atmos was until I hooked up that system and played a few games and movies that took advantage of it. I know everything is out of pocket for you, but if you get the chance, I highly recommend the Nakamichi 9.2.4 if you are going to stay with a sound bar. Not that it is perfect, but my goodness what a difference. My second choice would definitely be the Sono that you reviewed, even though I didn't at home test it, I did hear it in the store (it sounded great), but there is one huge advantage that the Sonos has over all other sound bars and that is the upgrade/replacement path. At the end of the day, I ended up going with a receiver and separates, not because I'm some audiophile, but because the first Visio I tested came with a broken speaker. I was able to return and replace the whole system that night (Best Buy) but it really changed how I viewed soundbars. If one component goes on the Q905t for example, the entire system goes with it. You can't just replace a speaker and be done with it. If there is a future upgrade, say a hypothetical HDMI 3 or something, you are stuck. This is one additional area that the Sonos system really shines. You can grow your sound experience slowly, or go all in with a complete set, but still know if a speaker goes, you can just replace it. If the hypothetical HDMI 3 comes out, maybe you have to replace the Sonos Arc, but the remaining speakers and subwoofer will still work. The Sonos gives so much more future proof and flexibility than pretty much any other soundbar on the market. Another user posted that Sonos may release a new SL one with upward firing speakers. I have no idea, but if they do, it should be a seamless process to upgrade rather than having to buy a whole new system.

[@Kemenyan73]

Thank you for your comment. Long but really insightful for a potential soundbar buyer like me.

[@MrProfessorPN]

EXCELLENT review! I was trying to figure out which one to get as an android user. But I think I will go for the Sonos Arc system

[@diegogarcia4255]

I don't have experience with the Sonos Arc, but my sound experience with my Samsung HW-Q950T has been excellent. To be fair, I use a high spec'd PC and with Dolby Atmos (via Dolby Access). Dolby Access app allows me to enable channel upmixer, and I think it does a good job. I also use a Fire TV Cube (2nd Gen), which has Dolby Atmos support, and I really don't have complaints with it. For example I watched Formula One Drive To Survive on it, which has Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos, and it's incredibly immersive. I think most of the bugs have been fixed through firmware updates, outside of occasionally having the subwoofer or rear speakers go offline, I don't really have a whole lot of issues. I have found that there will be a few songs that the subwoofer makes like a crackling sound, apparently it has something to do with the subwoofer channel, which can be adjusted, so I'll test that out next time I have the issue. My biggest gripe will always be the stupid display on top of the soundbar, WHO IN THE WORLD thought that was a good idea?

[@serjoka77]

I listened to both Samsung and Sonos solutions and, of course, it’s a very subjective thing here. But from the frequency response and fidelity Sonos wins hands down and it’s a very objective thing. BUT at the end I bought the Bose system (Soundbar 700, Bass Module 700, and Surround Speakers 700). Bose experience is absolutely amazing, I don’t care about channels and speakers numbers if the overall experience is bad.

[@poof3192]

Any issues with the 700? I've been debating on getting the arc vs the 700 but the 700 has mixed reviews.

[@serjoka77]

@@poof3192 no issue at all, but if you are planning to buy the Bose soundbar 700 only, then I would 100% suggest you to go with the Sonos Arc, especially if you have a big room. On the other hand Bose has the Adaptive technology which is great and it adjusts the sound according to your room configuration. This is priceless if you are planning to buy the sub and the surround speakers later on.

[@poof3192]

@@serjoka77 I would be getting the soundbar and sub with either system and adding surrounds later. I have a medium size room. Would you still recommend the arc if I don't get the surrounds now?

[@anonym2002a]

@@poof3192 I'am also thinking which of these both System I should buy (also Soundbar + Sub + Surround) but after watching a couple of videos i think i would go for the Sonos Arc because it has Dolby Atmos, better connectivity and was released later ( so it will get more updates). Both of the Systems give you an amazing Sound and they sound nearly equal, but the Sonos Arc is clearer and sound is better when you listen to music , while the Bose 700 has a better bass (which was very important to me until i found out that you can regulate ist on the Sonos System. Overall, if you would listen to them you cannot tell which one is playing. Also, the Sonos doesen't have Dts or Dts:x so if you have a lot of Hd Blurays or Dvds you would get no sound (which isn't a problem for me because the TV i want is the LG CX which also don't support it and the are several devices which can convert Dts to Dolby Digital and most 4k Blurays use Dolby Atmos).

[@poof3192]

@@anonym2002a I didn't know about the DTS. I have a good amount of bluray movies and recently bought a 4k player. Sonos won't play any sound at all? Something to think about.

[@MrRobaloAmigo]

It seems that almost all issues with Q950T are fixed (unfortunately, still no full multichannel LPCM support and no multichanell stereo music playing). For me it works super stable nad consistent now and for now, it's better choice over Arc. If they will add missing features (attack the support, people!), it will be far better.

[@ShashankKatiyar0]

What do you mean by 'no multichanell stereo' (genuinely asking)? I had last year Q90R and 'surround profile will upmix the stero to al the channels (except height channels). I found a solution to even that if you have Nvidia Shield. Basically, if you upmix in SHield in first and play in 'surround profile, any sound is played in all the channels (including height). Did you mean something else or this profile is missing from Q950T?

[@MrRobaloAmigo]

@@ShashankKatiyar0 Multichannel stereo means all speakers (without SUB) in system works as "single" speaker playing stereo and using Full frequency, it's far better than upmix that only adds highs to the rears which sounds tiny. For example Denon has multichannel stereo and it's better system if You like to be fully surrounded by music. BTW, multichannel LPCM support was partially added to the HW-Q950T (Works in Win 10).

[@ShashankKatiyar0]

@@MrRobaloAmigo Got it.

[@popuppete]

The best way to evaluate audio quality is based on how it sounds through my phone speakers in a KZbin video. Also turn the volume up all the way. I want to hear how loud they are.

[@chrisl5114]

First considered the Sonos but read many threads about compatibility with Samsung TV's. Mainly audio cutting off and on. Plus the Q950T is now around $1000. Considering these two factors plus the fact that the Sonos doesn't support DTS:X I'm going with the Q950T.

[@abandonbelief]

Surprised alexa didnt know you were talking about her and say something about it lol

[@grahamhaynes4284]

I've had a HW-Q950T for five months and never had any reliability or operational problems.

[@garretts431]

Its amazing how some customers get flawless performance with samsungs complete surround wireless systems. My n950 was plagued with disconnects and many forums agreed and same with the q90r - especially having quiet rear speakers.

[@robertphillips4155]

Thanks for your videos, you do a great job covering a lot of material. I am replacing a $150 USD Sony system and I’m not going to string wire or have speakers sticking on the wall. The system has to be stealth, wireless, simple, and reliable. All the things you mentioned about Sonos. Because of your review and the review of others, I narrowed it down to Sonos and Bose. Both sounded great with lots of bass and crystal clear vocals but I can easily control the Sonos with my Apple TV remote (a very simple control) and the bass was a little puncher (is that a word?). Anyway, thanks for the input.

[@shannonw2782]

I have the Arc, 2x Subs and 2x ones and it sounds amazing !

[@rkw221]

thanks so very much for your candor wrt bugginess of the 950T. The level of bugs is Windownian. I'm 60 now and have done my time dealing with IT related bugs in expensive gear & software systems. I'm DONE fixing shit for these companies...hell I spent 100s of hours helping out the early development people at Creative Labs when all we had was the Sound Blasters. I would have thought by now a company like Samsung would ensure a $1700 product would be, well, 99% bug free. Then again, they also make phones which like to catch fire just for shits & giggles. So, meh... Kidding aside I was very leery of anything Samsung save for a TV itself and researching I was not sold on them much anymore either. Your honesty pretty much tells me the 950T system is the real deal, when it is working. That idea of working seems to be purely arbitrary and at the whim of the built-in 'critical need circuitry'. So going to save the $1700 for now as the Sonos might not be right for me in general. I just want movies/TV streaming and live sports. I am not a TV fan in general anymore and seek to just drive out into the deserts of AZ, kick back with my 24kWh of LFP batteries and 1740W of solar and a few other upgrade surprises in my 38' RV and watch TV, go fishing and enjoy the stars at night. So, basically I just want a nice immersive 3D sound for my 55" TV that does not require me to nursemaid it every time I turn it off or on or switch to a different streaming app...

[@GlennLidstone]

Thanks for this video! Great job and totally appreciate this review.

[@PerfectorZY]

Also WiSA will offer those who want a wider fuller sound stage, but ease of use just what they are looking for.

[@ericguhong]

This video provides much clarities and is super helpful on my decision-making process!

[@sdeestar]

I would definitely go with the sonos! I have the arc set up in my basement and it does wonders, I tried the ambeo bar before replacing it with sonos arc. However a soundbar cannot replace a multiple speakers entertainment set up, but for a soundbar to claim to deliver a 9.1.2 experience just because it has so many speakers in one bar, is misrepresentation in my opinion.

[@nickabbott4411]

Hi, not sure if you'll get this in a timely manner but why did you "downgrade" from the Ambeo to the Arc? I'm deciding between a 2nd hand Playbar for now and then when I get a new TV I really want the Ambeo but I'm also thinking about the Arc and I'd like to know why you got rid of the Ambeo or which one you prefer. Cheers!

[@sdeestar]

@@nickabbott4411 the ambeo did not deliver from a surround standpoint. My room is a long rectangular room, which is what I thought it was recommended for, but it fell short in delivering the surround sound. Airplanes flying over your head, you’re not gonna hear it. Sound coming from behind you, you’re not gonna experience that, there is so much it can throw. It it just impossible for it to replace actual speakers located on top and behind you, which is the true surround experience. Don’t get me wrong, the sound bar sounds amazing, but it is false advertising when they say it delivers true surround, you’ll have to literally crank up the volume before you even start to hear any kind of reflection. I ended doing the sonos arc, and then two surround speakers and it’s amazing.

[@nickabbott4411]

@@sdeestar Thanks very much for your answer and in super quick time as well, it's appreciated. That's not really what I wanted to hear lol but I do kind of expect that, unfortunately. Nothing is going to beat real speakers but I was hoping that this might get much closer. I'm stuck to having a soundbar (unless I want to be single! 😁) so I need to make sure I get something that will be a step up and not have speakers all over the room. I don't think I'll even get away with 2 rear speakers either. The only way I might pull it off is if i get the IKEA lamp sonos speakers but that might be a risk! The Arc is much cheaper than the Ambeo so I might just go with that for now and sneak the speakers (lamps 😂) in later on! Whereas the Ambeo is limited to just external subs which is a shame. It also makes me think we might be due an Ambeo v2 and that would destroy me paying that much and it being obsolete in a year!

[@TheTucsonTwo]

Great review, Jonah. A few quick statements about placement ( different for everyone, I know ) would be appreciated. A brief mention of manufacturer/other mounting options ( wall or otherwise ) would also be interesting. Thanks, I'm a subscriber now !

[@dilipkumar4321]

I love Sonos Arc, awesome sound quality

[@GesBey]

Very useful video, thank you. My main problem with modern-day TV productions is the quality of dialogue. When compared to programs from e.g. 15 years ago! picture quality is obviously far superior, but speech seems to be far inferior in clarity. It would be great if you could comment on the difference in speech quality between these two systems.

[@thegreatempire3882]

I have a feeling that Sonos will be releasing new SL one speakers with upward firing speakers next year to go with the Arc bar

[@JonahMatthes]

I can definitely see that happening.

[@paul8926]

It’s only a matter of time.

[@joebarnett1498]

Been thinking the same. Will prioritize the sub first then...

[@flim-flammington]

I agree, as someone who owns the older model of them i see no reason to upgrade but i would immediately if they put upward firing speakers

[@MrRetobor]

that would be nice

[@Senna-xi1gr]

Yes I got to the end so thanks for all your time.👍🇬🇧🏆

[@ratedtriplex]

So this is Samsung's 3rd or 4th iteration of their x.1.4 soundbar and they still can't get it right. Still have connection issues, still have cec issues, still have weak rear speakers, still sounds mediocre with certain content. Unbelievable.

[@DutchRS]

Great review. I bought the Q950T and have had to send it back after a day. Films were great, but music through Spotify connect or BT was terrible. The rear speakers sounded like they were under water and were only possible to hear if you had your ear next to them. The screen on the top annoyed me more than I expected it to as well. Having to get up to check which source was selected and which surround mode was on just seems rediculous. Time to save for the Sonos.... but that is now almost double the price as Samsung have dropped theirs to 1000.

[@YKZL]

Great comparison man !!! recently purchased Sonos full setup like yours and its really blow my mind and ears. Its so good and balanced.

[@chylld]

Great review! Had narrowed my choices down to these two and making the final decision is now trivial.

[@UnperfectBalance]

fast forward to the 18 min mark and it's a great video. You're welcome. (no disrespect, YT needs a TLDR que to videos)

[@decarvalh0]

Just got the Sonos Arc at costco for 1050. I’ll get the subwoofer and speakers in December

[@philb-ze8sz]

Sound bars are excellent for easy setup over TV sound. I have heard many and this one and they all sound thin. While my ZVOX 580 does not do surround and such, it sounds much fuller than the Sony, Samsungs, and LG I have heard. PLUS the ZVOX has subout so I can connect my Martin Logan Depth-i Sub which outputs to other smaller subs placed around my family room. These brands will not use sub out because they want to lock you into their subs, the ONLY sound bar I would consider is the AMBIO series dues to having sub out.

[@drkvenger]

Nakamichi Shockwafe Ultra SSE 9.2.4 is the true king. Sonic fidelity, bass, dynamic range and build quality are class leading + its pricing undercuts these by hundreds of $.

[@wattysbff]

Hands down.. it’s the Sonos for looks and performance.

[@ClarionCaww]

Great review. Very fair and balanced, giving recognition to better sounding bar but giving better overall userexperience to Sonos

[@noki448]

HW q90r is a beast.., no problems!!!..

[@Sepander]

Between these two, it was easy choice for me. Here Q950T costs 599€ (+150€ stands for rears) and Sonos system costs over 2300€. Samsung system was a no brainer.

[@verygoodbrother]

where are you based?

[@adithyajoolukuntla6054]

Absolutely great comparison

[@bluebayeux]

Hi Jonah! New sub here! Great job on your videos!! I love that you articulate without rambling and cover the info so thoroughly. Don't forget about us Apple folks though please. The voice enabled Sonos Ones do support Homekit/Siri but I've watched 2 of your vids covering Sonos and I don't think you mentioned that? Anyway, I hope your channel gets huge because you are really talented at this! :)))

[@tuolumne9]

The Sonos arc is a compromised product that isn't really palatable to a mass market audience - No bluetooth, no display, and no multiple HDMI inputs make this a compromised product, so the sales numbers it throws up aren't surprising. The final nail in the coffin for the Sonos Arc is the marginal audio quality. As this is a flagship soundbar, it more or less misses the mark based on this alone. I understand there's a "community" behind Sonos that seems to be very enthusiastic, but the problem here is a compromised product on too many fronts. Samsung really needs to figure out integrating individual speaker settings to the SmartThings app (which they are currently working on), and the q950t, like the q90r before it, has problems with sound cutting out with mesh wifi networks that Samsung should have figured out there. Samsung also needs to figure out the quiet surround sounds for most content, as the video brought up. So too is the interaction with non-Samsung TVs, but the reality here is that Samsung wants you to buy one of their TVs, as they really do work well with one another, The sound quality, when there's no interference, is really great with the q950t. True audiophiles are going to actually pick the Samsung, like they did the q90r before it. Samsung bought Harmon International in 2016, and along with it, some of the industry's best sound engineers. It's the software and user experience that Samsung still has work to do.

[@harrisonrands1594]

I work in the AV business, and I gotta disagree with you man. Every Arc I’ve installed has only been met with positive reviews. I’ve even got a 95 year old lady who can use the app and everything on her own. It’s sound quality may not be the best of the market, but it’s good enough to impress me (and I’ve installed many very high end surround sound systems) and everyone who hears it

[@maitre32]

@@harrisonrands1594 Of course it gets positive reviews. People buy into a brand without knowing what really good audio sounds like - Bose has been doing this for decades. I own a few Sonos speakers I got from work employee perk programs. I find them lacking in every regard. They are not bad per se but I would never buy their product and there are several other options out there that produce much better sound.

[@sl8ed]

When I bought my first Sonos set up the lack of bluetooth was definitely a concern. Wifi networks have come a long way since then though. I cannot think of a single time in my house or garden I thought, oh I wish I could use bluetooth. But I have cursed bluetooth many times when using my portable speakers or headphones that drop out constantly. I have the Sonos Move that comes with Bluetooth. I used it once with BT for the novelty. No display is an interesting one. I would never go anywhere close enough to the speaker to use a display even if it had one. I have a fantastic display and remote control in my pocket that I can carry around anywhere, with an interface light years ahead of any display I have seen on any HiFi product. I do agree that at least 1 extra HDMI would have been nice, but not an issue with my tv. Audio quality wise there is nothing that can touch it that is not an expensive home cinema separates system. Personally I can live with any loss in sound quality (which is unmeasurable to my ears) for the absolute pleasure and convenience it is to use and listen to my Sonos system. But I fully respect the list of must haves in your head. I expect you are very happy with the kit you have at home.

[@texasarchitect]

Androids aren't limited to Bluetooth. The Wi-Fi connection to my Sonos system works fine.

[@Shoubox1]

Great job! Very well reviewed. Great information.

[@complexsquid]

Here in NZ the Q950T costs less than half what the full Sonos kit does. Would you still go for the Sonos or does it not justify double the price?

[@HarrisonD]

Yeh man not worth it. I got the 900A as no need for rears. Go with the Samsung much better value.

[@alanpalmer5706]

Hello Jonah my name is Alan from the uk. I have q950t soundbar and son has just purchased same one for his bedroom. But now my rears and sub are crackling could they be interfering with each other. Thank you and keep up the good work.

[@peterlymberis7239]

I just purchased the Q950T. I have a LG OLED tv with only ARC. From what I understand in your review, the only way to get the FULL details on the Atmos is to have a tv with E-ARC, or to add some kind of secondary audio device? Is it worth it for me to do all this? Will the sound be THAT much worse if I just connect it to the ARC? I don't want to spend so much money on the sounder only to not have optimum sound. Thanks in advance for your help! I really enjoyed your review!

[@k1serkan]

I think with the Q950T you can have Atmos plugging your source of ATMOS to one Q950T HDMI IN and the HDMI OUT to your ARC TV. But if you want to hear ATMOS directly from your TV you will need your TV have a HDMI eARC 2.1. To see ATMOS in streamimg in DD+ compressed audio I think you have enough with your normal ARC HDMI from your TV, even with the Sonos ARC

[@shockjock35]

I currently have an LG soundbar that I custom fit into my mantle above my fireplace. So if I upgraded to the Sonos or Q950T the upfiring Atmos speakers would be rendered useless as they would be covered in the mantle enclosure. Plus in ceiling Atmos speakers sound way better.

[@guelphdgc7995]

No google assistant is a big detractor for Samsung. Maybe Sonos will make One SL + with an up firing speaker.

[@ronj1215]

The Sonos has a hollow sound to it..THE Q950T has a far more superior sound. Given the price..you get more BANG for your buck with THE Samsung. Great video!

[@Exploringthemagic]

Idk after the most recent updates 12.1 to the Sonos I think it sounds great now, there was some bass and treble issues when it was first released. But I think these days being easy to use and less issues is important as well. Something Samsung has never been great at.

[@leroysuzanscheijven-kuijst9370]

Got the hw-q80r last year for around 500euro. Still happy with it and way cheaper. Also full metal and screen in front of the soundbar. (Couldnt fit the rears in my livingroom thats why i dint get the q90r, and the q80r was 400 eu cheaper)

[@TheChatterCafe]

Samsung Q990B vs JBL 9.1, which one is better for watching movies and listening to music ? I am planning to buy one, so please guide me.

[@rampyrs]

Loved the review! Very well-detailed! Supporting you since day one! Keep up bro!

[@russbartlett2314]

Great review 🤠 Anyone having lip sync issues via ps4pro .. no issue while in PCM but massive delay with bitstream

[@MAYURSHARMA17]

I was looking exactly for same, as the price is huge difference

[@prathyush10]

Hey, that was a great review, also like the fact that you mentioned the issues you were facing with the Samsung system plus the inconsistencies with the system which is often overlooked but is a piece of important consumer information. I do have a question though Keeping in mind that the cost of the setup would increase substantially will the Sonos ceiling speakers give better atmos performance? I like to stick to Sonos for its modularity and simple setup. Thank you for your insights.

[@MotorSportWallOfShame]

Great video, noticed after this is a 1 year old video, I'm about to buy the q950A do you know if the connectivity problems have been resolved please? Thanks

[@karthikr177]

The Q990 is much better now and it is on sale in many places. Check it out if you haven't got any sound bar

[@mellowtones1985]

Great review! I’ll be upgrading my Sonos setup sometime next year.

[@bolundholm6788]

Thanks for sharing. Very informative indeed.

[@mehmd1913]

Very nice review. There is no doubt to me that Sonos is superior. However, for the price the system should have upward firing drivers on the satellite speakers. There absolutely should be more HDMI inputs on the sound bar. Recognizing that that optical outputs are becoming obsolete, there should still be one on the speaker. Sonos does make ceiling speakers I believe for a true Atmos experience but that then makes the price skyrocket. I really want a Sonos system yet I want more channels for a true Atmos experience. Once they start selling satellites with upward firing drivers then I will take the plunge. In addition, the only true audio experience is with an AVR and wired speakers. Sonos makes a bridge for its speakers to work with this setup but again the inputs and jacks a kind of weak. Maybe you should do an in depth review of that.

[@Killieguy84]

are you saying the price has “fuckuated” 🤔😂 anyway nice review I think the Sonos is the one for me...very good looking...The Samsung looks very industrial to me

[@YoYo-uh3xj]

WTF? Lmfao

[@eventhorizon2873]

i hate the q950t has dedicated settings, i understand what you mean bij industrial. but the overall sound is way better then sonos, according to many test sites like rtings.com