Sonos Arc + Apple TV 4K + Vizio E-Series (E70-F3)

On another note I knew I did my research before buying the Arc. Such as it is, there is no clear information but here, strait out of the M658 manual.

 

That’s about all it says about Atmos. 

I’m definitely getting that Atmos icon on my E series when it’s sending through Atmos content (built in Netflix and Plex apps). And obviously the TV knows from Dolby Atmos since there’s an actual icon and all. So agreed very frustrating that it can’t deal with what’s coming out of the Apple TV. Not sure whether to be more peeved at Vizio or Apple here. Or maybe Dolby for making such a damn complicated format. 😎

Wow. I’m not getting atmos from inbuilt Netflix. Set it bitstream. Etc. Hmmm. I read somewhere that the internal speakers need to be off. Let me check. I think it could be in Auto although I have fiddled with so many settings I can’t be sure.

I only got the Arc yesterday. My troubleshooting was limited by my son & wife just wanting to watch TV. I think I have to approach this as a troubleshooting process and use my notepad to track changes. 

I thought the internal apps would work easily. I expected some issues with ATV  

...But that line specifically states it will passthrough Atmos. 
 

I’m tempted to pick up a Roku or Fire TV to check it out. 
 

I’m fairly technical so I’m confident if it’s possible I’ll get there but… Sonos=simplicity to me. Having to use my brain this much goes against my usual experience! 

I’ll report back! 
 

I had to have the Digital Audio Output set to Auto on my E-Series to get Atmos out of the built-in apps. PCM lead to Stereo 2.0 output (understandably since the Arc doesn't currently support LPCM), “D Digital” got me to Dolby Digital Plus 5.1 if memory serves (though I’ll need to double-check this), and “Bitstream” only got me Dolby Digital 5.1. 

Since both the Apple TV and the E-Series support Atmos (or at least, in the TV’s case, understands that it exists), I’ve got to believe that a firmware/software update on one or both of them would actually make it work. Apple is outputting Atmos over Dolby Digital Plus over HDMI-ARC (which both the TV and the Sonos Arc understands), but they’re doing it within a Dolby MAT container which apparently only plays well with eARC. I’m sure Apple has their reasons, but I'm equally sure that they could simply push Atmos out over regular Dolby Digital Plus if they wanted to. Same thing with Vizio - I’m guessing since the TV understands Atmos and can handle “Dolby Audio” as they call it, that there could be a firmware update that would see the Dolby Digital Plus stream in a MAT container and use it to pass Atmos. 

I’m not holding my breath for either of these possibilities, however. Neither company has the incentive to spend the resources on what is sure to be a niche of a niche user base. 

In the end, the Sonos Arc is a beautifully designed product that’s about 5 years too early to be truly useful if Atmos is what you’re after. In a few years, as people upgrade their sets to new units that support eARC the Sonos Arc will (should) truly be the plug and play solution that Sonos obviously wants it to be. Until then, we’re paying the price as early adopters to figure all this stuff out. 

PS 1 - I’ve yet to hear any compelling Atmos content out of my Sonos Arc, so I've soured considerably on the idea. But I'm still hoping to be wowed once I add some Sonos One SLs as surrounds. 

PS 2 - A company called HD Fury seems to be hard at work on an add-on device that would allow Sonos Arc users to get eARC (and therefore Atmos) from just about anything that supports it. I’ll definitely be keeping a close eye on this development: 

https://www.reddit.com/r/sonos/comments/h7z9gv/hd_fury_is_working_on_an_earc_solution_for_sonos/

Hi - thanks for the update. I’m trying out various settings, including those you recommended. No Atmos through Netflix (checking on shows I know are atmos) on the built in app. Speaker off. Tried digital output on each setting. No luck. 
 

Had a play with the ATV now.  No dice. 
 

I know there is not much content as yet - just like 4K/HDR was at first but I knew as 4K HDR shows appeared I could watch them immediately. Right now with Atmos I have idea. 
 

Not giving up. Just. Disappointed. 
 

I know a third party device may help …  but the Sonos decision to simplify is adding complexity! 
 

Interesting to read your impressions. A few things to note, I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the surrounds, makes a huge difference as indeed does the sub, regarding atmos, I felt the same until I ran trueplay again, ensuring I waved around above the height speakers, and can now confirm definite, and excellent atmos results

Picked up a Roku. Still no joy with Atmos. Vizio will pass through DD+ from the Roku. But not atmos. 
 

Essentially there is Zero Atmos content available to me through my TV. Did I mention it is a 2019 TV. I don’t think the replacement mode is out yet. It’s current.

I’m utterly disappointed. To top it off I’m underwhelmed with the sound - feels like it’s holding back. Some of the depth is missing. Bass is off and it seems there is a thread about it so I posted a few hours ago. I did some tests and the bass response is definitely suspect. 
 

All in all I think I have my first disappointing Sonos product. It’s so so close I don’t want to give up yet! Not all on Sonos, Vizio to blame a as well. But Sonos just made the arc to simple for its own good. Shame. It’s as simple as the beam really but is dealing with a more complex codec platform. 
 

I’ll think it through for a few days and it might become my first Sonos return. I have to think if I can live with a $1000 atmos Soundbar for the next 5+ years that won’t do atmos unless Vizio update something. Sonos do seem to care about customers but Vizio. Not too sure. May be my first and last Vizio TV. And if Vizios solution is another Vizio product… they can stuff it! Shame because the picture quality is very impressive on this TV to my eyes. 

It’s been a super-weird day with the Arc. A few more random observations: 

• Got a pair of One SLs to use as surrounds. Setup was a complete pain in the ass. It took over an hour and a half and multiple factory resets on both speakers to get past all of the errors. Then when I did get them connected they didn’t want to update. Then they didn’t want to register. Then they didn’t want to pair as surrounds to the Arc. A terrible and utterly unexpected experience - the exact opposite of the quickness and ease of setting up the Arc. Far and away the most disappointing aspect of the entire deal so far. 
   
• 5.1 (or, really, 5.0 since I don’t have the Sub yet) sounds really, really nice. Is it super high-end? No, but it’s effective. And I’m currently running the One SLs on power banks with AC outputs (https://www.omnicharge.co/products/omni-20/) while I figure out placement which is pretty amazing - and flexibility counts for A LOT in my book these days. 
   
• Also, points for the One SLs just being pretty adorable. They’re just about the same size and shape of my HomePods while packing about the same punch which really makes me pretty happy. 
   
• For basic TV watching (we’ve been catching up on Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD on Netflix), the Arc + Ones is quite lovely. Dialogue is loud and clear and surround effects on shows with 5.1 are effective. Bass still isn’t quite there yet without the Sub, but the soundstage is every bit as decent as my old setup (though, admittedly, since the TV is shoved into a corner I could never get the Left and Right speakers very far away anyway). 
   
• For no reason that I can tell, sometimes - but not always - the Sonos app believes that I’m getting Atmos out of my Apple TV on things that are definitely not Atmos. Sometimes the TV will even think that and show the Audio Out Dolby Atmos icon. Makes zero sense to me. 

I’m definitely warming up to it with the addition of the surrounds, but the jury’s still out. Still haven’t decided if I’m going to keep it (nearly $2k all in is a LOT to throw at this - way more than I spent on the TV itself), but I’m digging the ability to AirPlay 2 music to it, I’m digging having surround in my weirdly-shaped living room (which I could never figure out a good way to do before), and the basic simplicity of it is starting to grow on me.

More to come. 

Thanks for the observations. I ordered mine on 6/6 and my confirmation email says should be delivered by 6/19. 
 

If you don’t have it mounted can you confirm if the Arc blocks the bottom of your TV at all? I’m a little concerned that the height may block off a tiny sliver at the bottom since I don’t plan to mount it but place directly in front of the TV on the console. 
 

I’m curious to try out the sound difference myself since I already find the Beam 5.1 setup to work quite well. Just FYI the Sub makes a huge difference with the Beam. No question I would get the Sub first then the rear surrounds with the Beam. Can’t speak for the Arc yet though given I haven’t tried yet. I’m hoping Atmos will impress but at the same time I have 11-12ft ceilings and an open plan kitchen behind my living area so we’ll see how well

it does. 

Not in the least (when paired with my E70-F3). The closer pic, below, is sitting on the floor right in front of the TV, about 3 feet away.  The other one is from the couch, about 15 feet away. It literally disappears when watching TV. I’d thought about getting the white one to match the TV stand and also just because it looked pretty awesome, but I’m glad I went with black because white would probably cause distracting reflections.

Am definitely looking forward to the Sub’s arrival later this week. Was listening to some EDM with my youngest (he’s a fan) and there was one track that REALLY made the “muddy bass” issue stand out, so am hoping that the Sub will fix that until the software fix comes out. 

Thanks for that. Looks like the official specs for your TV have the stand adding 2.9 inches whereas my P75-F1’s stand adds about 2.67 inches but that should still be enough I’m hoping to not block anything even when viewed straight on. 
 

Let us know your views when you get the Sub. For me the Sub changes everything with the Beam.