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
+2+2 The biggest gain you can get by using two subwoofers is the evening out of room modes. A single subwoofer can suffer from resonant frequencies bouncing off the ceiling & walls causing peaks and nulls. A second sub may also suffer from room modes, but because it’s in a different location in the room the peaks & nulls will effect different frequencies than the first subwoofer. This helps flatten the frequency response curve.
If you TruePlay the room with the two subwoofers you should not necessarily get more bass. I would certainly not want that result, but with two subwoofers you should get better balanced bass.
@MoPac
I completely agree, MoPac. My interest in a second sub is precisely to "fill the room" and eliminate those null spots. Currently, with just one sub in the front right corner, I can tell the bass is localized. By adding a second unit… likely behind or under the sofa … I am hoping to achieve that "even" pressure where the deep rumble feels like it is coming from the atmosphere of the room rather than a specific box. It is the "balanced bass" you mentioned that I am after, rather than just raw volume.
I’m surprised you detect the location of the sub. I figured with the Arc Ultra being capable of a frequency response lower than the Arc the crossover would be low enough to make the sub essentially disappear. I have the Arc & Sub 3 and after TruePlay the sub is not easy to locate, at least with my eyes closed.
Mine is located on the right side next to the TV cabinet, so not in a corner. Corners tend to exaggerate bass.
I was getting a buzzing sound when I first set up the sub. Turned out to be the shelves of the TV cabinet vibrating against the cabinet wall. Wedge shaped rubber door stops fixed that.
That is a very fair point, @MoPac. My "localisation" might be slightly exacerbated by my current setup; with a 15-month-old "mischief" in the house who enjoys using the sub as a garage for his toy cars, I’ve had to hide my current unit under a table!
My main concern with adding a second sub behind or under the sofa is that if it's too close, that "boom" might overwhelm the Arc Ultra. However, I’m hoping that by utilising the space behind my sofa, where I already have my Era 300s on stands, I can find a balance that adds that physical "4D" rumble without drowning out the dialogue. It’s a bit of a delicate dance between deep bass and vocal clarity, especially with a screen as monstrous as mine!
As for the 25% discount email, I had the same experience. Once I crunched the numbers, the "deal" didn't feel quite sweet enough for the Sub 4, so I think I’ll stick to my plan of hunting for a bargain Gen 3 on the secondary market.
+18Have you looked at Soundskins to protect your Sub and be able to put it in a better place?
There are a variety of covers for the Sub to child/pet/bug proof the openings.
+2@Stanley_4
I appreciate the suggestions, gents. I actually hadn't realised there was such a market for Sub covers!
I had considered using the original white mesh sleeve that the Sub was packed in, mainly because I want to keep the "white set" aesthetic without a thick "curtain" blocking the sound waves. However, my main concern with that is heat; I wouldn't want the internal components to get too toasty during a long film if the air can't circulate properly.
I'll certainly look into the white version. it sounds like it might be exactly what I need to keep the system looking sharp while protecting it from toy car incursions!
+19I think with class D amps there is no heat issue. Of course you should research this prior to investing in a cover.
A little bit of cloth will not significantly impede bass.
I am cheap, made my own covers for three Subs from one length of speaker grill cloth from Amazon.
Used it all, and I'm cheap, so my garage Sub gen 2 is living in the white bag my Sub 4 came in. Seems to work fine, can't hear it flapping at moderate volumes (not tried higher, hate calls from the HOA) or any impact on the sound.
+2Thanks for the reassurance regarding the acoustics and the amplifiers, gents. It is good to know that a bit of fabric won't muffle those deep rumbles.
To Stanley_4, I must say I admire the DIY spirit! Saving a few quid while getting exactly what you need is always satisfying. I would certainly appreciate it if you could share a few images of your handiwork to inspire the rest of us.
Unfortunately, I suspect I shall have to look for a ready-made alternative like the Soundskins. I don't possess a sewing machine, and my "know-how" in that department is fairly non-existent! I’d likely end up with something that looks more like a potato sack than a premium speaker cover.
Hard to share images as all but the garage are not easy to access and require I ask family to assist in getting to them.
Really minimal sewing needed, scissors, needle and thread are more than adequate. I did two styles, a SoundSkin type slip-over cover and a simple band of the speaker cloth.
The fancy ones I simply draped the cloth over, inside-out and sewed a line of thread up each corner, folded the top like wrapping a present and sewed the flap down, then snipped off the extra material.
The bands, even easier, cut to width, wrap, sew a line across the width, snip the excess and rotate the seam to underneath the Sub.
First one took about 30 minutes to get looking nice, simple was about 5 minutes.
At my cost, $11.00 for the lot I saved $280.00 over the SoundSkins. The plastic covers are far cheaper for ready-built options and likely a better choice if you don't need the fancy colors to blend a Sub into the spouses decor.
+2Hard to share images as all but the garage are not easy to access and require I ask family to assist in getting to them.
Really minimal sewing needed, scissors, needle and thread are more than adequate. I did two styles, a SoundSkin type slip-over cover and a simple band of the speaker cloth.
The fancy ones I simply draped the cloth over, inside-out and sewed a line of thread up each corner, folded the top like wrapping a present and sewed the flap down, then snipped off the extra material.
The bands, even easier, cut to width, wrap, sew a line across the width, snip the excess and rotate the seam to underneath the Sub.
First one took about 30 minutes to get looking nice, simple was about 5 minutes.
At my cost, $11.00 for the lot I saved $280.00 over the SoundSkins. The plastic covers are far cheaper for ready-built options and likely a better choice if you don't need the fancy colors to blend a Sub into the spouses decor.
@Stanley_4
That is a rather ingenious bit of work, Stanley. Saving over £200 with just a bit of speaker cloth and a needle is certainly something to be proud of! I suspect many of the "Grand Maestros" here would find that very inspiring.
However, I’m afraid I’ll have to look for a ready-made alternative. I intentionally bought my entire set in white so it could double as decor, and I fear my own hand-stitching might lack the "designer" finish the room requires! I’ll certainly show your post to my other half.
As it happens, I’m due to renovate my TV room this summer. I’ll be installing acoustic panels on one of the walls and giving the whole space a bit of a facelift, so finding a cover that looks "integrated" rather than "DIY" is high on my list of priorities.
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