Arc Ultra Placement

Placing the Arc or Arc Ultra inside a cubby will affect the up firing speakers as well as the side firing speakers. Sonos Arcs need to have room for the drivers to work properly, so I would consider a different approach. If you must place the a soundbar inside that small shelf, i would suggest one without up firing or side firing speakers.

EDIT: The fireplace may also be an issue if it is used to heat the room. Placing a soundbar just above it can cause it to overheat and malfunction.

The ideal clearance guidelines:

• Above: Maintain a minimum of 4 inches (10 cm) between the soundbar and the bottom of the TV screen. If wall-mounting, ensure there are at least 5.5 inches (14 cm) of clearance between the TV and the Arc.
• Sides: Keep at least 1 foot (30 cm) of space on both ends of the soundbar. If you place it in a tight entertainment unit or between walls, the side-firing drivers won't be able to properly reflect virtual surround effects into the room.
• Back: Leave at least 2 inches of space between the back of the Arc and the wall if placing it on a cabinet.
• Front & Top: Ensure there are no physical obstructions directly in front of the speaker or blocking the upward-firing drivers. Never place the Arc inside an enclosed cabinet as this will drastically muffle the sound.

Thanks both. Based on the responses, it sounds like even wall mounting would be quite challenging given the current alcove design, let alone fitting the Arc Ultra inside the shelf.

The fireplace is used regularly during the winter, and I'd rather not have to worry about the heat affecting the soundbar or limit the use of the fireplace because of the soundbar.

With that in mind, it seems my options are either to forgo a soundbar altogether or start from scratch and explore other brands that offer slimmer, more alcove-friendly solutions. Appreciate the honest feedback

Could it go above the tv, in that alcove? Not ideal, but workable (if the monkeys can be moved!).

Technically it can, but there is no hole for HDMI and power cable to pass to the back of the TV. The alcove is few years old and that small shelf was originally built for soundbar, but obviously doesn’t seem fit for purpose, thanks anyways.

Sorry, I just can't get it out of my head. After spending so much time researching it, I had almost convinced myself to go ahead with the purchase.

If I were to wall-mount it below the TV in the white section (which is also wood), would that be a viable option? My thinking is that this would eliminate most of the concerns around the front-, side-, and rear-firing speakers being obstructed.

I know I probably won't achieve the recommended 10 cm clearance between the TV and the soundbar, but I'd leave as much space as physically possible.

I could then look at covering or repurposing the existing shelf somehow, although I'd probably need a carpenter's opinion on the best way to finish it off aesthetically.

Do you think this approach would allow the Arc Ultra to perform properly, or would the limited gap below the TV still be a significant issue? Thanks 

I don’t think that an ARC is appropriate for your requirements. You don’t want a unit that offers surround or DOLBY ATMOS. 

Moderator edit: changed ARK to ARC for clarity

Is Dolby Atmos a big part of the decision in choosing the Arc Ultra?

If you are not concerned much about it and still want a Sonos setup, you may want to look at an Amp with passive speakers that fit inside two of the cubbies left and right of the TV. If you are able to route cables from the TV to the Amp and speakers, that may be a better option for you 

Thanks all for the prompt responses, really appreciate it..

Looking at your options I'd go with mounting the Arc above the TV using a wall-mount bracket attached below the top opening but as low as possible. That gets you pretty good sound and away from the fireplace. If you don't want to mount it to the face of your cabinet making a  bracket that rests on the bottom of the top opening and angles down to provides an attachment point would be an easy option.  

For wiring I'd drill a hole big enough for the HDMI cable between the TV space and the top cubby or the cabinet front. The cubby would be less visible if the Arc was ever removed and they make snap-in covers that would fill the holes nearly invisibily.

JMHO… The ArcUltra isn’t a viable solution for your confined space. Out of curiosity… what panels are you considering removing that would benefit the ArcUltra placement. I can’t determine where the panels are located as the doors below IMO have no effect.

​@Stanley_4  - 

Thanks a million for your response. I'm just trying to better understand the option you're suggesting.

When you say "above the TV", do you mean mounting it in the white panel area below the TV or suspending it from the top shelf/cubby above the TV?

The reason I ask is that there isn't any meaningful space above the TV within the TV alcove itself—the TV almost completely fills the opening. I'm therefore struggling to visualise exactly where you would position the Arc.

I've actually created an AI-generated image of what I think Option 1 might look like. Is this what you had in mind, or have I misunderstood your suggestion? Could you clarify which location you have in mind?

Also, are Option 1 and Option 2 actually very similar in purpose, but they differ in where the bracket is attached.? Thanks again.

Option 1 - 

More like this, ugly but done on a tiny screen

Just as a note (mostly because I’ve failed at this), the hole ​@Stanley_4 mentions needs to be big enough to fit the end (connector) of the cable, not just the cable width itself…;)