My Review: My audio journey has spanned almost every configuration imaginable: basic 5.1 wired sets, LG soundbars, Sony AV receivers with Bose systems, and eventually the standard Sonos 5.1. I recently took the ultimate leap, upgrading via Sevenoaks to the full Sonos flagship setup: the Arc Ultra, two Era 300s, and a Sub Gen 3.
Moving from a standard 5.1 to this 9.1.4 system has been a revelation. Here is my honest take:
The Positives (+)
The Gold Standard of Sound: Sonos is undoubtedly the king of the sound world. It offers a deep, premium quality bass paired with a crispness that is a joy for anyone who listens with "attentive ears." Once you go Sonos, you can’t live without it.
Simplest Setup Ever: This was the easiest system I’ve ever used. Connect the Arc Ultra first, then add the other pieces one by one—the whole system bonds flawlessly. No tech-headache required.
True Dolby Atmos: To truly enjoy Atmos, you need this specific kit. The Era 300s and Arc Ultra work together to create a massive 3D soundstage, especially once you run the Trueplay tuning.
Practical Features: Settings like Speech Enhancement and Night Mode make the system very user-friendly for real-world living.
Premium Value: It’s pricey, but the build quality, brand trust, and extended warranty (like the 6-year one from Sevenoaks) make it a great long-term investment.
The Negatives (-)
The "ARC" Glitch: Random sound drops are a known issue. I often have to switch my TV audio to internal speakers and back to the Arc to "wake it up." For this price, it should be seamless.
The App Prison: The Sonos app feels like a "control freak" environment. You are largely restricted to playing what they allow, often requiring premium subscriptions to even use the added services.
Bluetooth & Connectivity: Even with Bluetooth hardware, you can’t easily just "cast" a song from your phone to the whole system. Adding a personal music library is a hurdle that isn't suitable for non-tech-savvy users.
Atmos Content Gap: True Dolby Atmos content is still hard to find, and when you do find it, it’s often hidden behind the most expensive subscription tiers or labeled with "fake" Atmos tags.
Final Verdict: I love this system day and night. I’m currently running a single Sub Gen 3 and plan to add a Sub 4 in the future. If you want the best sound and easiest physical setup on the planet, buy Sonos … just be prepared to live in their ecosystem on their terms.
I am here to share my experience and open to share suggestions with you guys
**Big WOW Factor** The Gold Standard with a Few Handcuffs
Welcome to the community. Glad to hear you are enjoying your Sonos. I’d like to address the points you feel are negative with a bit of explanation. BTW...I’m a user like yourself meaning I’m not a Moderator nor a member of Sonos Tech Support. My comments are based upon my real-world experience. That said any rebuttal you may have to my comments is welcomed.
On another note...if you are experiencing a specific problem/issue please start a new post. Don’t reference it in this thread. By doing so it will be seen by more community members and not get overlooked in this one. 🙂
The "ARC" Glitch: Random sound drops are a known issue. I often have to switch my TV audio to internal speakers and back to the Arc to "wake it up." For this price, it should be seamless.
IF you are experiencing sound drops you should run a diagnostic within 10 minutes of the next occurrence, make note of the reference ID (do not post it in the community) and then call Sonos Tech support to discuss it. The above is a last resort assuming you are positive there is no fault with cable connections and/or your TV sound settings or needed updates.
The App Prison: The Sonos app feels like a "control freak" environment. You are largely restricted to playing what they allow, often requiring premium subscriptions to even use the added services.
How is it a prison compared to any other company that offers a wireless home speaker system with an app and access to streaming services? The services you are offered are licensed to Sonos via agreement with the source provider such as Spotify, AppleMusic and others. All subscription services offer different levels depending upon what the user is willing to pay for. Sonos merely allows access to whatever services/tier they have purchased.
Bluetooth & Connectivity: Even with Bluetooth hardware, you can’t easily just "cast" a song from your phone to the whole system. Adding a personal music library is a hurdle that isn't suitable for non-tech-savvy users.
What issues are you having with Bluetooth as there may be something we (or Sonos Tech Support) can assist with.
Granted that adding a Music Library can be a hurdle for non-tech savvy people. However, here again the community and Sonos Tech Support have been successful in helping many.
Atmos Content Gap: True Dolby Atmos content is still hard to find, and when you do find it, it’s often hidden behind the most expensive subscription tiers or labeled with "fake" Atmos tags.
I don’t see how this is a negative for Sonos as they are not the content creator. Furthermore, the content creator (streaming source) sets the subscription price.
With regard to
The App Prison: The Sonos app feels like a "control freak" environment. You are largely restricted to playing what they allow, often requiring premium subscriptions to even use the added services.
This has always been the case, even before SONOS. A tape player, for example, can only play tapes. A tuner can only play radio stations located within a small, local geographic area. SONOS can play many, many dozens of online services, Internet Radio, and local devices, such as turntables, tape decks, and tuners. Actually, SONOS provides a no cost developer kit that any online service can use to incorporate their content into the SONOS ecosystem. There is no cost to the SONOS system owner or the content provider to enable a service, however, the service will usually charge a use fee, possibly as embedded advertisements, necessary to support their operating costs. Competing hardware, such as a traditional A/V receiver, might offer access to half a dozen or so, online services, and (possibly) Internet Radio.
With respect to the included, no extra cost SONOS controller that you may not like, there are inexpensive 3rd party controller Apps that can be used for daily operation.
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