@Macro dynamics It’s difficult for Sonos to spend money on lossless DTS support when major TV manufacturers like LG and Samsung aren’t even supporting it anymore.

That’s correct, I do have some Blu-ray discs, and can use all the Dolby formats, DTS and MC-LPCM, but my majority movie-viewing is now mostly via the online streaming services. I’m happy to see DTS-X/HQ added to Sonos, but personally speaking, if that means increased costs due to licensing and development, then I think it should be those that want those codecs who pay for them.

Maybe a subscription service would be the answer. I’m just not sure there is the demand for the codecs though, as it appears the majority are now streaming movies/shows these days. I guess if the demand had been high, then Sonos would have implemented such a subscription service for those codecs by now.

I’m curious as to what those users would pay to have those codecs, if it were say, a monthly subscription?

So are you mostly streaming then? And don't own alot of physical media?

The same could be said for LG and Samsung? I was really pleased to see Sonos adding standard DTS because then I should have got some sound instead of silence, only to find LG had deleted DTS between my TV model years. I can transcode to LPCM but then hit an intermittent sound drop issue. Obviously HD and X would be even better for convenience, but I’d quite like the basics to work first.

I don't think a muti million dollar company like sonos should have any issues covering the cost. 

Given that most other soundbars that are much less expensive than sonos support DTS:X, sonos should have no issues covering the cost. 

DTS HD & DTS X would be amazing. Like 60% of my physical media collections would have new life breathed into it! Imagine if sonos made this happen for Christmas 2022. Wouldn't that be incredible. 

My disc doesn't have dts-x and no you won't be able to get that on sonos which is a shame 

Guessing the UK version I have is different to yours 

@MrZeDark just checked my Harry Potter steel book collection and it is hdr10 and dts-hd master 7.1 

The apple tv version I have is dolby vision and 5.1 dolby digital…

Just thought I'd offer that information 😊

So is there any example of an old movie that was originally created before spatial audio existed that has been re-recorded in DTS:X?  I found this list and there does appear to be some older movies available. Although I’m not sure everything on the list is accurate.

Are you referring to the original “Alien”, one of the sequels, or just any movie with aliens in them?   Perhaps you have different sources, but I can’t find Alien recorded in DTS X anywhere.  DTS and DTS HD, yes, but not DTS X.

For me a very difficult decision deciding between these two systems based upon what I heard in my listening environment with my own content. Both systems sound great with very effective Dolby Atoms height speaker effects. Overall, the HT-A9 + Sony SW3 Sub sounds more airy and bright to my ears in my room than the ARC but not something I would call “sounds better” than the ARC--just different.

The HT-A9 phantom speaker is a marvel with very effective and clear dialog and you can move those two front speakers all over the place with some limitations and still retain very effective dialog. Uncanny really. 

**The Sony HT-A9 initially did have wireless disconnect problems for many when it was first released. This was fixed with an early Sony firmware update and I can confirm this was fixed when I used the system.** I did have one disconnect when I was running the HT-A9 right next to the active Sonos ARC--but The HT-A9 presented a wireless conflict message suggesting I run an automatic RF optimization process and with one click that was resolved and I was able to run the HT-A9 alongside the Sonos ARC without any further issues.

**I’ve never experienced wireless speaker disconnects with my Sonos system Ince I got it up and running, even when many others were complaining about Sonos speaker disconnects recently with one of the previous Sonos firmware updates, now apparently fixed.**

I have to admit is was a thrill to finally hear DTS:X from my UHD/4K blu-rays with the HT-A9. However, In the end I had a hard time distinguishing DTS:X from LPCM 5.1/7.1 from the same blu-ray through the Sonos Arc 5.1.2. But I do have to go through an extra  work-around to hear LPCM 5.1/7.1 on the ARC particularly since my LG TV blocks all forms of DTS codecs and I can't bypass the LG TV with the Sonos Arc’s single HDMI eARC port which is for me and my equipment frustrating. 

Finally, and again to my surprise the HT-A9’s four height speakers effect really didn’t win me over the Sonos’ two height speakers. At least not in my listening environment and acoustics. I was surprised at just how well the Sonos two-only height speaker effect compared to the HT-A9’s four and this was something I really concentrated on testing for many hours. The HT-A9 has the edge in this regard, but not enough to choose it IMO over the Sonos ARC 5.1.2 at least not in my listening enviroment.

In the end, I decided to stick with the Sonos Arc 5.1.2 even though there are a few things about the HT-A9 I prefer: two HDMI ports, the ability to process ALL forms of DTS from my 4K UHD Blu-rays and the many ways you can place the HT-A9 speakers all over the room without degrading sound and I do hope Sonos comes with an additional rear height speaker options some time soon.

The reasons I didn’t keep the HT-A9 include the most important ( in my house) 1. my wife preferred the Sonos Arc footprint and “the look”, black color with her decor over the four much larger HT-A9 light gray speakers. #2 I also experienced a heat problem with the HT-A9 controller box that Sony assured me was normal--that controller box became very hot to the touch quickly and that worried me--even though Sony assured me that was normal. 

Honestly both systems sound great in my environment. Different sound e.g., the HT-A9 sounds airy, bright compared to the Sonos 5.1.2, to my ears that doesn't mean better. 

I really enjoyed the opportunity to compare both side by side in my own environment and I think I could be very happy with both--but could only keep one.