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If you, like me, are seeking something — anything — simple and good in your life, buy the new soundbar from Sonos. That is, if you can afford it. But let’s worry about practicalities later. Let’s dream about a better life for a moment.
(Can better sound from your TV really make for a better life? Yes. Don’t @ me.)
Sonos, the speaker company that specializes in multiroom sound, has made some of the best soundbars — and wireless speakers in general — out there for the past several years. Sonos speakers always sound good and are easy to set up. They are also almost always pretty expensive. The $799 Sonos Arc fits that description perfectly.
The Arc is the first soundbar from Sonos that can handle Dolby Atmos sound, which is the latest surround sound technology. Atmos sounds very good and you definitely want it. More movies and TV shows are becoming available with Atmos sound, including most of the latest releases from Netflix and Disney+ (including Hamilton). But Atmos can require a lot of speakers, wires, and configuring, which is why having it in a single soundbar is the simplest way to get it.
The Arc may be the best combo of price and performance in an Atmos soundbar that you’ll find right now. It’s also the best sounding speaker Sonos makes.
The Sonos Arc is Simple
Here’s how simple the Arc is: You connect it to your TV through an HDMI cable. (Caveat: the HDMI port on your TV must support eARC, which allows it to send sound to the soundbar. Most newer TVs have eARC.) If you have a streaming box, plug that into your TV. The TV relays the sound to the Arc. You’re done.
If a movie or show includes Atmos sound, the Arc will play it. If it doesn’t, it adjusts the sound to the best option. No fuss.
The Arc doesn’t come with a remote, because you can use your TV’s remote to control the sound. One less device on the coffee table. You can also use the Sonos app to control volume; the app also lets you boost dialog and bass, among several other adjustments.
You can also control the Arc with your voice thanks to built-in Alexa or Google Assistant. That’s about as easy as it gets.
The Sonos Arc Sounds Fantastic
Did I mention the Arc is the best sounding speaker that Sonos makes? And that’s saying something.
The Arc is long — it looks best with 55-inch or larger TVs — and packed with 11 drivers. The result is a wide, big sound. Throw in Atmos and you get audio that has depth and detail that will surprise and delight you. You feel like you’re in the audience while watching Hamilton; your brain believes you’re in the middle of a battle between the Resistance and the Final Order in Rise of Skywalker.
The Arc is well balanced overall, though I did find the treble a bit sharp for my taste. It doesn’t come with a subwoofer (that’ll set you back another $699, gulp), but unless you really want the floor to rattle, you won’t need the extra bass. If you want to trick out your system, you can add some wireless surround speakers too.
Sonos was best known for making speakers for music, and the Arc excels at that, too. Vocals sound full and it delivers solid bass. It can serve as the centerpiece of a multiroom audio system, allowing you to play the same song throughout the house. That’s good, too.
But What If I Don’t Have An Extra $800 Lying Around?
Do you need to spend $800 on a soundbar? No. There are plenty of great options to improve the sound of your TV. The Yamaha YAS-109 is $180 and is huge leap forward from what your TV speakers can produce sonically. If you want Atmos but can’t spend $800, Vizio’s 36″ 5.1.2 Home Theater Sound System with Dolby Atmos will run you $500 and also sounds really good.
You’re not going to a movie theater or concert for a while. So you owe it to yourself to invest in good sound in your home. Whether it’s the Arc or something within your budget, you’re worth it. Yes, you are.
Buy the Sonos Arc on Amazon.com
