Sonos home cinema kit - choices
Discussion
Planning to make use of the 40% discount on Sonos kit. Have been looking at the various soundbar combinations.
For around £5-£600 after discount I have the choice of:
- the arc soundbar https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/shop/arc
- gen 2 beam with a mini sub https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/shop/entertainment-set...
- gen 2 beam with 2 era100 satellites https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/shop/surround-set-beam...
Room layout & use doesn’t really suit or warrant a full surround system so edging towards the arc, or the beam+sub mini, but wondering if the Arc would be better?
Grateful to hear from anyone with experience of the above?
For around £5-£600 after discount I have the choice of:
- the arc soundbar https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/shop/arc
- gen 2 beam with a mini sub https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/shop/entertainment-set...
- gen 2 beam with 2 era100 satellites https://www.sonos.com/en-gb/shop/surround-set-beam...
Room layout & use doesn’t really suit or warrant a full surround system so edging towards the arc, or the beam+sub mini, but wondering if the Arc would be better?
Grateful to hear from anyone with experience of the above?
It's the size of the room that matters, if you are in a big room the look at the Arc, otherwise the Beam will likely be fine. The sub makes a huge difference as well so unless you plan on investing in the future to get the sub to go with Arc then I would go Beam and Sub.
For me the sub made a huge difference to the enjoyment of movies.
For me the sub made a huge difference to the enjoyment of movies.
From your choices, if your room is on the smaller side (4x4 as a rough guide), I'd go Beam and mini-sub and later add the satellites.
If your room is larger, with a large TV, then Arc with sub and satellites added later.
I have the Arc and sub which sound great to my ears and I'm getting the Era 300's next month.
If your room is larger, with a large TV, then Arc with sub and satellites added later.
I have the Arc and sub which sound great to my ears and I'm getting the Era 300's next month.
I moved to a new house with an awkward shaped room, a Sonos bar (the more expensive one) and a sub were recommended, tbh they were ok on TV but a bit rubbish for music, I hooked some cheap speakers upto my old Yamaha amp and it was way better.
In the end I sold the sonos kit at not too much of a loss as I had got the discount and bought some decent Q accoustic speakers and a REL sub
It’s night and day better.
In the end I sold the sonos kit at not too much of a loss as I had got the discount and bought some decent Q accoustic speakers and a REL sub
It’s night and day better.
Sorry should have said, room is reasonably large (7.5 x 6.5m & is more of a family living / dining room rather than a dedicated tv / cinema room. I do have another room with a 5.1 setup & better tv.
Sofas are in the middle of the room so tricky to get satellite speakers behind you without trailing cables all over the place so a front setup would be tidier. Tv is a reasonable but oldish 42” Panasonic.
Sofas are in the middle of the room so tricky to get satellite speakers behind you without trailing cables all over the place so a front setup would be tidier. Tv is a reasonable but oldish 42” Panasonic.
paulmac said:
Sorry should have said, room is reasonably large (7.5 x 6.5m & is more of a family living / dining room rather than a dedicated tv / cinema room. I do have another room with a 5.1 setup & better tv.
Sofas are in the middle of the room so tricky to get satellite speakers behind you without trailing cables all over the place so a front setup would be tidier. Tv is a reasonable but oldish 42” Panasonic.
For the room size definitely Arc and sub although the TV will be a 'weak' part of the system as an overall experience. However, if you have a good home entertainment system elsewhere and this is just a second system, Beam and mini-sub will likely be just fine paired with the small TV. Sofas are in the middle of the room so tricky to get satellite speakers behind you without trailing cables all over the place so a front setup would be tidier. Tv is a reasonable but oldish 42” Panasonic.
Alternatively set it up as a more refined music listening experience and get speakers better suited to that role.
That being said, I really like my Sonos kit for everything. I've been down the much more expensive audiophile hi-fi route and, to my ears, the Sonos is just as good, looks neat and tidy and all works from my iPhone.
I tried a beam gen 2 with sub and rears. I found it all a bit much for normal tv/film watching. The room is about 5m x3.5m. So then tried the beam on its own but wasn't satisfied, so sent all that back and replaced with just an Arc and much much happier. More detail and wider sound stage for me trumped the previous set up even without the surround or extra bass. It's also nice not having that extra kit floating around. I am tempted to try a sub mini for a little more bass.
paulmac said:
Digger said:
How are you getting that 40% discount OP ?
Sonos emailed me with an offer - think they are sending them to those still actively using the old s1 kitI have a beam in my front room which is about 4x4m. Works perfect for me.
z4RRSchris said:
We have the beam and then 2 x old play 3's as the rears which are proper jobs. Its nice but not a patch on my old 7.2 system, but no wires etc.
Ive a old play 1 so going to find another for the the other room.
Where is this 40% off code!
Seems like the 40% was sent out randomly. If you have not received one yet then you won't. i didn't either Ive a old play 1 so going to find another for the the other room.
Where is this 40% off code!
Lovey1 said:
Seems like the 40% was sent out randomly. If you have not received one yet then you won't. i didn't either
Yep, the 40% thing is random and few - a marketing strategy. Best you can do otherwise is 15% off via their Upgrade plan.
The nice thing about the upgrade path is you don’t have to return the older kit.
I have older kit listed on my account so have redeemed the 15% on each and used it for Era 300’s.
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