6

Sonos Arc Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar
Updated Dec 20, 2023 11:30 AM

True Score

86
86
25

Experts

92
10.5k

Consumers

Product Awards

Top 10

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

The Sonos Arc’s premium pricing is justified by its impressive surround sound performance, but the lack of heavy bass output and Bluetooth connectivity might encourage picky buyers to consider other options.

SAVE $120
$899.00
$779.00

We’re reader-supported. Commissions finance our mission. Our ‘True Score‘ system independently powers ratings. Learn more

Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

First launched in 2020, the Sonos Arc is a premium 5.0.2-channel speaker that boasts a large soundstage and Dolby Atmos support. These two pros are very easy to find among the best speakers in the market..

Its lack of a subwoofer means that movie lovers will miss out on the low, thumpy bass that makes action scenes a lot more exciting, but its wide soundstage makes it easy to detect exactly where object sounds are coming from.

Unlike most highly-rated soundbars, the Sonos Arc is very limited in its array of physical inputs since it only has one HDMI port and one Ethernet port.

Its wireless connectivity options only allow for Wi-Fi connection or Apple AirPlay, as it does not support Bluetooth connectivity or streaming through Chromecast. For an alternative that supports all these options, see our Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar review.

Rankings (recommended in)

Best For

  • Sonos

Consensus

our Verdict

The Sonos Arc is a stellar 5.0.2 channel soundbar that delivers clear and accurate dialogue and instrumentals, with both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support for a wide soundstage and an immersive surround sound experience.

Its bass response is satisfying, and while it lacks Bluetooth connectivity, music can be streamed through WiFi, Apple AirPlay, or Spotify Connect, and there’s also Alexa and Google Assistant support for voice commands.

The soundbar has a very low 25ms latency tested over ARC and 21ms over Optical for in-sync listening, but there’s no full Eq for sound adjustments.

Unfortunately, its port selection is also quite limited, with only one Ethernet port. Overall, the soundbar is perfect for movie lovers looking for a cinematic, surround sound experience at home.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Premium sound quality
    • Sonos Arc is a great all-rounder for home entertainment. It is ideal for dialogue-focused content thanks to its pristine vocal and instrumental reproduction, and It also has a deep bass output.

  • Great voice clarity
    • Vocals are clear and precise on the Sonos Arc, thanks to its dialogue enhancement feature. This makes it ideal for TV shows or any other type of dialogue-focused content.

  • Smart features/connectivity
    • The Sonos Arc will stream and connect wirelessly through WiFi, Apple AirPlay, or Spotify Connect, and with a 21-25ms latency, audio-visuals are pretty well synchronized. This ultra-low latency is in the top 25% compared to other alternatives. It doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity but has both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Its companion app is also easy to use

  • Deep bass output
    • The Sonos Arc’s bass output is deep and thunderous and can be adjusted through the Sonos app.

  • Loud max volume
    • The Sonos Arc gets as loud as 87dB, and although this is satisfyingly loud for most people, it is only higher than average compared to how loud other alternatives can get.

Reason to Avoid

  • Mediocre surround sound
    • Despite support for Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital, the Sonos Arc’s surround sound is mediocre since it doesn’t ship with any satellite speakers or a subwoofer.

  • No full EQ
    • The lack of an EQ on the Sonos Arc means sound cannot be precisely fine-tuned to the requirements of the listener.

Sonos Arc Specs

Bluetooth EnabledBluetooth EnabledNo
DepthDepth4.56"
Dialogue Enhancement FeatureDialogue Enhancement FeatureYes
Energy Star CertifiedEnergy Star CertifiedNo
Equalizer Settingsn/a
HDMI ARCHDMI ARCYes
HeightHeight3.43"
Number of Audio ChannelsNumber of Audio Channels5.0.2
SubwooferSubwooferOptional (sold separately)
Surround Sound SupportedSurround Sound SupportedDolby Atmos
Voice AssistantVoice AssistantAmazon Alexa
Wall MountableWall MountableYes
WeightWeight13.8 lbs
WidthWidth45"
Wireless ConnectivityWireless ConnectivityNFC, Wi-Fi
Wireless Subwoofer ConnectivityWireless Subwoofer ConnectivityYes
Works WithWorks WithAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant

All Specs

Test Results

Low End Roll Off (Hz)85.99
High End Roll Off (Hz)17,984.021
Max Volume Test (db)91.6
Latency (ms)25
THD @ 80dB0.25

Like what you’re reading? Get trustworthy, transparent product reviews and the latest tech news delivered to your inbox every morning.

Product Comparison

Sonos Arc Review

|||||

Sonos Playbar Soundbar Review

Samsung HW-Q90R Review

Samsung HW-Q90R Review

True Score

86
NR
85
NR

Ranking

#

6

/

149

#

/

149

#

14

/

149

#

/

8

Market Context

First launched in 2020, the Sonos Arc is a premium 5.0.2-channel speaker that boasts a large soundstage and Dolby Atmos support. These two pros are…

First launched in 2020, the Sonos Arc is a premium 5.0.2-channel speaker that boasts a large soundstage and Dolby Atmos support. These two pros are very easy to find among the best speakers in the market..

Its lack of a subwoofer means that movie lovers will miss out on the low, thumpy bass that makes action scenes a lot more exciting, but its wide soundstage makes it easy to detect exactly where object sounds are coming from.

Unlike most highly-rated soundbars, the Sonos Arc is very limited in its array of physical inputs since it only has one HDMI port and one Ethernet port.

Its wireless connectivity options only allow for Wi-Fi connection or Apple AirPlay, as it does not support Bluetooth connectivity or streaming through Chromecast. For an alternative that supports all these options, see our Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar review.

The Sonos Arc is a 5.0.2-channel soundbar that has support for Dolby Atmos. This makes it slightly better than the Sonos Playbar since it cannot…

The Sonos Arc is a 5.0.2-channel soundbar that has support for Dolby Atmos. This makes it slightly better than the Sonos Playbar since it cannot render Dolby Atmos content. The Arc can stream music through Apple AirPlay, but the Sonos Playbar doesn’t support this feature. The Arc offers voice assistant support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, but the Playbar doesn’t work with these.

The Sonos Arc gets louder than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), making it more suitable for use in large gatherings. The Sonos Arc also allows…

The Sonos Arc gets louder than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), making it more suitable for use in large gatherings. The Sonos Arc also allows for height level adjustment, which is a feature that the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) does not have.

The Sonos Arc has unique features such as auto volume adjustment and auto night mode, and these are features that the Samsung HW-Q90R does not…

The Sonos Arc has unique features such as auto volume adjustment and auto night mode, and these are features that the Samsung HW-Q90R does not have. However, the Samsung soundbar includes a subwoofer and two satellite speakers, which are additions that the Sonos Arc doesn’t ship with.

Bluetooth Enabled

No

Depth

4.56"

3.9"

Dialogue Enhancement Feature

Yes

Yes

Energy Star Certified

No

Equalizer Settings

n/a

n/a

HDMI ARC

Yes

Yes

Height

3.43"

2.7"

Number of Audio Channels

5.0.2

3

Dig Deeper

Sonos Beam Gen 2 Review →

All Stores

Updated every 24 hours

  • Save $120
    $899.00
    $779.00

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    No
  • Save $56
    $899.00
    $843.37

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    No
  • $899.99

    Availability

    In Stock

    Free Shipping

    No

Score Card

E

Expert Score

86

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

92

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

86

Any product with a True Score above 70 is a Mixed Reviews

Expert Scores

  • Rtings
    101.4

    Category Trust Rating

    76
    The Sonos Arc is good for mixed usage. It’s a really premium standalone bar that’s… Read More

    By:

    Jake Thauvette
  • Techgear Lab
    84.03

    Category Trust Rating

    70
    For those seeking a premium listening experience from a top-ranked sound bar, the Sonos Arc… Read More

    By:

    Michelle Powell
  • PC Mag
    51.6

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    The impressive Sonos Arc takes the best parts of the company’s other soundbars and combines… Read More

    By:

    Will Greenwald
  • Which?
    59.2

    Category Trust Rating

    NR
    This Sonos Arc is a high-end soundbar that’s compatible with Dolby Atmos, and controlled using… Read More

    By:

    Unknown
  • Tom’s Guide
    77.58

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    If you’re a Sonos fan with some money to spend, you won’t find a more… Read More

    By:

    Kate Kozuch
  • Trusted Reviews
    57.5

    Category Trust Rating

    90
    As impressive as the Dolby Atmos soundbar was, the system can get better with a… Read More

    By:

    David Ludlow