Sonos Arc
Author
Discussion

KobayashiMaru86

Original Poster:

1,640 posts

226 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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Anyone got one? Tempted as I want better audio, especially for games and movies. Apart from the price, the only things that put me off is you can't do Trueplay tuning unless you have an iOS device (everyone I know is Android) and some have said the app isn't the best either. But from what I've seen from reviews, which are always taken with a pinch of salt say it's great.

MOBB

4,076 posts

143 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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I've got one, replaced a Playbar, I've kept the original sub.

It is noticeable better than the Playbar, I'm very happy with mine :-)


juice

9,284 posts

298 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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I bought an Arc, Sub and the SL1's and after coming from a Samsung Soundbar and sub (admittedly not a high bar to start with) it's flippin ace !

KobayashiMaru86

Original Poster:

1,640 posts

226 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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How have you found the app? My main phone is Android so I'll have to find someone with an iPhone to tune it to the room. The reviews on the app look awful but it looks simple enough. The Arc would be on ethernet (router is behind TV) then all the rest will go on Wi-Fi all in the same room so can't see there being an issue.

MOBB

4,076 posts

143 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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Great app imo, never had an issue, easy to use etc

juice

9,284 posts

298 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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MOBB said:
Great app imo, never had an issue, easy to use etc
Yeah would agree with this. The setup was amazingly easy for the speakers. Ideally I'd find someone with an iphone to do some tuning but it sounds really good.
My first test was on Netflix - the 4K vers of 6Underground and it sounded really good to my untrained ear

Comacchio

1,543 posts

197 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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Now that they/Sony fixed the issue with sound dropping out it's great. I have the Arc, Sub and 2 One SLs in our living room, everyone is blown away by the sound the system can produce.

matjk

1,112 posts

156 months

Wednesday 16th June 2021
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Most people moaning about the app are actually having network issues and don’t have the patience or skills to work it out !
I had the odd issue using my WiFi but I then plunged a single speaker in via Ethernet and it fixed everything instantly.
I’ve Trueplayed mine and don’t think it does much, you can adjust the bass and treble yourself .
If you’re not going to get the sub and some witless rears (you really need too) they are probably much cheaper options that give a similar effect, Sonos comes into its own when you have multiple speakers , I have them all round the house now in different zones and love it

KobayashiMaru86

Original Poster:

1,640 posts

226 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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Went to Currys for a look. It's a pretty big unit compared to the Beam but I do have space for it. Listened to both with their test stuff. Beam seemed a bit better for music but for movies the Arc was noticeably better. Seemed sharper and even standing in front of it in a shop which is massive you got a good sense of direction. Should be good in my living room. Any issues with positioning? TV is in corner of the room but it's a small room so I should still be able to put speakers in corners to get a good effect.

What appeals is I could buy the Arc now but later add the sub and rear speakers when I can afford it or when I see a deal. Are you putting the sub near the TV or near when you sit?

MOBB

4,076 posts

143 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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Definitely try the arc first without the sub, you may find you don’t need the sub, the arc is pretty weighty on its own

595Heaven

2,875 posts

94 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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If you are using the Arc just for the TV audio, then you don’t really ever need to use the app after setting it up. This assumes that yout TV has an HDMI-ARC connection. HDMI-CEC should then allow you to control volume with your TV remote.

I guess if you add the Sub or Play One speakers then there may be some tweaking that you can do with the app.

As someone else said, invite a friend round with an iPhone to do the TruPlay setup!

kevinon

1,821 posts

76 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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The Arc is calling me. Got the sub, beam and 2 Sonos Ones, and this sounds great for music and Apple TV.

But now that Apple Music is moving to lossless 'spatial' / Dolby Atmos I stupidly listened with my AirPods Pro, and, sadly, the music sounded fantastic. (prolly not audiophile etc, I am not putting myself in that category)

I'm sure what I heard with AirPods would be so much better with an Arc. If I do some man maths contortions I will 'have to' make an Arc my forever soundbar.

Oh dear

Arranguez

377 posts

89 months

Thursday 17th June 2021
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I’ve got an Arc. If I’m honest I’m not blown away. Music isn’t top drawer. My bro, who used to work for Sonos, thinks the Arc is amazing. Looks nice mind you!

Sheets Tabuer

20,346 posts

231 months

Friday 18th June 2021
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I've been a massive fan of HiFi for years but after my ex "lost" my hifi I was loathed to start again.

I bought a samsung 950TS TV and was fully prepared to go down the hifi route again as I felt I needed to do the TV justice by getting proper surround sound, one of the things that made me think of the arc was it was wireless save for the power cord obviously and as I was thinking about moving I didn't want to start running unsightly cables everywhere or bash walls about.

I was really dismissive of the Arc coming from a Rotel processor and power amp a few year back, I'd scoff at a soundbar being able to put out the sound I was after but as the installation was simple I thought I'd try it, that coupled with the 100 day trial from Sonos meant I could send it back after I had really tried it for a month or two.

Jesus Christ I was blown away, it is an amazing piece of kits, so much so I went out and bought one for my bedroom too, I also added the rear and sub and I have to say with films it's incredible and the sound from spotify is equally as good.

I'm lucky in that I have a work Iphone so I could tune it on that but lots of people I know have an iphone so it's a matter of installing the app for 5 mins while you tune it, my personal phone is a samsung but I understand their reasons for not doing it on the million and one android phones out there.

Try one for 100 days and if you don't like it send it back.

Arranguez

377 posts

89 months

Monday 21st June 2021
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Hah! I wonder what I am missing with mine!

That said, we have a Base in another room and I think it is excellent.

JackReacher

2,212 posts

231 months

Thursday 30th December 2021
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I'm considering getting an Arc (and sub) to replace a 5.1 system, which is no longer practical or safe due to a toddler.

But does the Arc offer any real advantage over a Beam if my TV does not have an eArc (LG B6 Oled)?

wax lyrical

987 posts

257 months

Thursday 30th December 2021
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After doing a lot of research, I bought a Sonos Beam 2 and SW. The Arc doesn't do dialogue quite as well as the Beam 2 and that was important for me. Also, the Beam 2 can be placed above a TV, if required and that was important to me too.

The sound quality is amazing. I'll but 2 rears later on. Mainly used for TV and films. LG OLED 55E6


JackReacher said:
I'm considering getting an Arc (and sub) to replace a 5.1 system, which is no longer practical or safe due to a toddler.

But does the Arc offer any real advantage over a Beam if my TV does not have an eArc (LG B6 Oled)?

JackReacher

2,212 posts

231 months

Thursday 30th December 2021
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wax lyrical said:
Thanks, interesting point on dialogue, that is very important to me, but naively assumed the Arc would be at least as good as the Beam. The Arc is such a step up in cost that it's harder to justify if it doesn't do speach as well even if the sound effects are more impressive.

Sheets Tabuer

20,346 posts

231 months

Thursday 30th December 2021
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Dunno about the beam but the arcs dialogue is top notch and it has a dialogue button to emphasise it if its not enough. They are designed for different tv sizes though, the arc for 70 inch I believe, dont take my word for that, do some research. Might be talking out my arse.

robsa

2,375 posts

200 months

Thursday 30th December 2021
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We have Sonos throughout the house, and have been replacing bits with new bits these last year or two. We replaced a play one(?) for an Arc a few months ago, and have the updated Sonos Ones and whatever the Bass woofer is called. I hoped it might make it more reliable, but it isn't. It's still a bit flaky when selecting rooms and speakers, and does weird things occasionally, but generally when it works it's great. I actually take my Roam into the shower every morning which is ace.



Edited by robsa on Thursday 30th December 21:32