Retired Sonos Staff

Meet Arc, Brilliant sound for your TV

Extraordinary sound meets elegant design

Eleven high-performance drivers, including custom elliptical woofers and precisely angled side tweeters, produce vivid detail and impressive bass for home cinema and music streaming. Arc's upward-firing drivers create a multi-dimensional soundstage that moves around you, rendering every whisper and explosion with dramatic clarity, detail, and depth.

With its elongated shape, soft profile, and seamless façade, Arc discreetly mounts to the wall or sits beneath the TV without pulling focus. When mounted, a magnetic sensor detects the orientation and smartly adjusts the EQ to temper bass resonance.

Arc’s sound was specially tuned with the help of Oscar-winning sound engineers to emphasize the human voice so you can always follow the story. The advanced processing creates five phased-array channels that masterfully deliver sound to your ears from all directions at the exact right moment. Use enhanced Trueplay tuning technology to optimize the sound for the unique acoustics of your room, even calibrating the height channels for precise localization.

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You can also make a surround sound setup with a pair of our surround capable Sonos speakers, such as a pair of Sonos Ones, or amplify it all with a Sub for an extraordinary surround experience.

Some more details on Sonos Arc:

Simple to set-up. Plug Arc into power and then connect it to your TV using the HDMI-ARC cord. Bring your phone up to Arc to automatically pair and securely transfer WiFi credentials using near-field communication (NFC).
HDMI eARC. Increased bandwidth supports high-quality audio and has lip-sync compensation built in.
Dolby Atmos. Play Atmos and Atmos-encoded audio to play from your collection and favorite services through your TV’s HDMI ARC or eARC connection.
Ambient light sensor. Arc detects how bright the room is and automatically adjusts the brightness of the LEDs to be visible but not distracting.
Automatic remote sync. Arc connects to your TV's HDMI eARC port with a single cable and automatically syncs with your remote.
Control your way. Control Sonos Arc with your voice, the Sonos app, your existing TV remote, your favorite music service’s app, or AirPlay 2. Capacitive touch controls for play, pause, skip tracks, adjust the volume, and group rooms just by tapping or swiping the top of the soundbar. LED indicates status, mute status and voice feedback.
Smart voice recognition. A four far-field microphone array used for advanced beamforming and multichannel echo cancellation makes sure you’re heard, even when the music is blasting, even when playing in immersive surround sound. For privacy, turn the microphone off with a tap. The LED light is hardwired and will always indicate if the microphones are enabled or if your voice assistant of choice isn't listening.
Optimized for your listening. From within the Sonos App, tap Speech Enhancement so you never miss a word, or Night Sound to amplify quiet noises and reduce loud ones so you can enjoy late night TV without waking the entire house.
Tune with Trueplay. Trueplay puts the speaker-tuning capability of the pros in the palm of your hands, adapting and optimising the sound of the speaker to the unique acoustics of the room. iOS device required.
Low profile and compact size. The dimensions are 3.4 x 45 x 4.5 inches (87 x 1141.7 x 115.7 mm) H x W x D and Arc weighs 13.78 lbs (6.25 kg).

Pre-order today on Sonos.com in stunning black with matte finish or white with matte finish for $799 US (€899 EUR, €799).

We’ve announced details for the Sonos Five and new Sonos Sub. You can also check out our blog for some great stories.

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Show previous replies

melvimbe

I have a Playbar mounted on my wall and now interested in the Arc. Any insight if I unmount the Playbar will there be holes visible that the Arc won’t hide?

It was mentioned back a few pages that the Playbar all mount should work with Arc

Yes, but “should” and “will” are key distinctions when dealing with precise measurements/mounts, etc… It would be helpful if Sonos could provide clarity around the interoperability of the two mounts.

I seriously doubt Sonos would say you can use it if doing so looked poorly on your wall, particularly if that means they lose out on the sale of another wall mount.

Danny

C

Cats89

Contributor II

Need some advice - really want to order the new Arc but want to see if there is any way to get it to work with my older Pioneer plasma Kuro (still love me some Kuro so I’m not giving it up). Obviously the Kuro has no ARC channel to use. Is there any setup where I obtain the full Atmos audio on the Arc from my devices (cable box, AppleTV, Blue-ray)? I know I can use an digital audio extractor and input into the Arc via the optical adapter but the optical wire has its limitations and won’t transmit an Atmos signal - maybe just a Dolby 5.1 at most. That seems like it may be really limiting the capability of the Arc?

Can I use an HDMI splitter that goes 1 signal into 2 simultaneous outputs (1 to the TV for video and the other directly into the Arc for the audio signal)? Or some other type of audio extractor that utilizes HDMI?

Thanks for thoughts and advice.

E

ewolkoff

Enthusiast II

I got a LG Oled C7 with ARC but no eARC. I stream all my media off an Apple TV 4K. Will I be able to get Dolby Atmos?

From the asterisk section of Apple’s Dolby Atmos support page

“Apple TV 4K uses a high bandwidth form of Dolby Atmos that doesn’t work over ARC connections.”

No, unfortunately you will not. I’m in the same boat with a Samsung QLED from 2018 (the 2019+ versions are eARC capable). With Apple TV you need to plug directly into the sound bar and use the bar as an HDMI switch (which the Arc is not capable of), or have eARC on your TV. From what I can tell, there are no other options, unless there is some type of external HDMI switch that could work.

Another option is to get a Roku. No Atmos from Netflix, but it will play from Amazon Prime and Vudu. Unfortunately, this is a bit of a problem with the Apple TV. You may also be able to use your TV apps to get Atmos.

Sjoop1985

Can I use an HDMI splitter that goes 1 signal into 2 simultaneous outputs (1 to the TV for video and the other directly into the Arc for the audio signal)? Or some other type of audio extractor that utilizes HDMI?

Thanks for thoughts and advice.

No, you can't, as discussed on some of the previous pages of this thread.

Sonos Arc needs an ARC or eARC connection to receive audio.

Audio over ARC and the "regular" audio stream of HDMI are two different things. You need a device that can negotiate a handshake with the Arc for the correct signal, not something that simply spits out the entire HDMI signal.

While it sounds counterintuitive, the HDMI port on the Arc is technically actually an HDMI output, that can accept an (e)ARC from the TV - the "R" in (e)ARC stands for "return" So simply splitting a HDMI signal and plugging it into the Sonos' "output" will not work.

You would need a device that can extract audio from a normal HDMI and then re-embed it into an Audio Return Channel. Someone actually found a device that does this, but it is not easy to come by and as of yet not available for eARC.

Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans (John Lennon) --- Living room: Arc, Sub, 2x One - Kitchen: One - Bedroom: Play 3 - Office: Beam - Bathroom: Play 1

M

matt79rome89

Lyricist II

I got a LG Oled C7 with ARC but no eARC. I stream all my media off an Apple TV 4K. Will I be able to get Dolby Atmos?

From the asterisk section of Apple’s Dolby Atmos support page

“Apple TV 4K uses a high bandwidth form of Dolby Atmos that doesn’t work over ARC connections.”

No, unfortunately you will not. I’m in the same boat with a Samsung QLED from 2018 (the 2019+ versions are eARC capable). With Apple TV you need to plug directly into the sound bar and use the bar as an HDMI switch (which the Arc is not capable of), or have eARC on your TV. From what I can tell, there are no other options, unless there is some type of external HDMI switch that could work.

Trying to think about this more with an AppleTV. Would the following possibly work:

Apple TV HDMI out to this device: https://www.hdfury.com/product/avr-key/

Then a HDMI from the AVR Key audio port to the Sonos Arc. And another HDMI out from the AVR Key video port (UHD/HDR) to the TV.

Hoping that achieves both Dolby Vision and full Atmos? According to the AVR Key’s device specs it outputs both.

melvimbe

You would need a device that can extract audio from a normal HDMI and then re-embed it into an Audio Return Channel. Someone actually found a device that does this, but it is not easy to come by and as of yet not available for eARC.

I am not usually in favor of claiming that ‘fix it’ devices like this that don’t exist absolutely need to, but the more I think about this, the more I am in favor of it. A device that can mimic the role a TV is supposed to play with ARC and eARC would have many uses.

those that are using projectors for display devices
those that have TVs that are not ARC capable.
those that have TVs that are ARC capable, but poorly implemented on the TV side (this seems to happen a lot)
those that have TVs that are ARC capable, but looking for eARC with TrueHD
those that have TVS with eARC, but the eARC is poorly implemented on the TV side (not sure if this happens much)

The downsides I see is that it would not be useful for TV smart apps, unless it was ARC capable on both input on and output sides. The other is that I can’t see a way it would be useful with traditional AVRs (unless it had other unrelated features, such as converting an ARC signal from a TV to an optical signal for an AVR that isn’t ARC capable)

Danny

D

dcb17

Trending Lyricist I

I got a LG Oled C7 with ARC but no eARC. I stream all my media off an Apple TV 4K. Will I be able to get Dolby Atmos?

From the asterisk section of Apple’s Dolby Atmos support page

“Apple TV 4K uses a high bandwidth form of Dolby Atmos that doesn’t work over ARC connections.”

No, unfortunately you will not. I’m in the same boat with a Samsung QLED from 2018 (the 2019+ versions are eARC capable). With Apple TV you need to plug directly into the sound bar and use the bar as an HDMI switch (which the Arc is not capable of), or have eARC on your TV. From what I can tell, there are no other options, unless there is some type of external HDMI switch that could work.

Trying to think about this more with an AppleTV. Would the following possibly work:

Apple TV HDMI out to this device: https://www.hdfury.com/product/avr-key/

Then a HDMI from the AVR Key audio port to the Sonos Arc. And another HDMI out from the AVR Key video port (UHD/HDR) to the TV.

Hoping that achieves both Dolby Vision and full Atmos? According to the AVR Key’s device specs it outputs both.

Interesting. Maybe that could work. In my case, it would not as I also have a Fios cable box that I would also need to feed somehow into the Arc, but if the ATV is your standalone media box that could be a solution.

C

Cats89

Contributor II

Can I use an HDMI splitter that goes 1 signal into 2 simultaneous outputs (1 to the TV for video and the other directly into the Arc for the audio signal)? Or some other type of audio extractor that utilizes HDMI?

Thanks for thoughts and advice.

No, you can't, as discussed on some of the previous pages of this thread.

Sonos Arc needs an ARC or eARC connection to receive audio.

Audio over ARC and the "regular" audio stream of HDMI are two different things. You need a device that can negotiate a handshake with the Arc for the correct signal, not something that simply spits out the entire HDMI signal.

While it sounds counterintuitive, the HDMI port on the Arc is technically actually an HDMI output, that can accept an (e)ARC from the TV - the "R" in (e)ARC stands for "return" So simply splitting a HDMI signal and plugging it into the Sonos' "output" will not work.

You would need a device that can extract audio from a normal HDMI and then re-embed it into an Audio Return Channel. Someone actually found a device that does this, but it is not easy to come by and as of yet not available for eARC.

Thanks for clearing that up for me - I had not understood the difference in receiving a regular HDMI A/V signal and receiving an HDMI -ARC signal.

Next question - how much sound quality am I giving up if I decide to purchase the Arc and utilize just an optical audio connection into the Arc along with 2 play 1’s and a sub??? I’m not really a high end audiophile - just good movie sound and good music. At some point I’ll have a newer TV which will likely to have an eARC channel.

Thanks for the help!

jgatie

Thanks for clearing that up for me - I had not understood the difference in receiving a regular HDMI A/V signal and receiving an HDMI -ARC signal.

Next question - how much sound quality am I giving up if I decide to purchase the Arc and utilize just an optical audio connection into the Arc along with 2 play 1’s and a sub??? I’m not really a high end audiophile - just good movie sound and good music. At some point I’ll have a newer TV which will likely to have an eARC channel.

Thanks for the help!

The optical will give you standard Dolby Digital 5.1 from the TV. For music sources there will be no difference.

E

ewolkoff

Enthusiast II

I got a LG Oled C7 with ARC but no eARC. I stream all my media off an Apple TV 4K. Will I be able to get Dolby Atmos?

From the asterisk section of Apple’s Dolby Atmos support page

“Apple TV 4K uses a high bandwidth form of Dolby Atmos that doesn’t work over ARC connections.”

No, unfortunately you will not. I’m in the same boat with a Samsung QLED from 2018 (the 2019+ versions are eARC capable). With Apple TV you need to plug directly into the sound bar and use the bar as an HDMI switch (which the Arc is not capable of), or have eARC on your TV. From what I can tell, there are no other options, unless there is some type of external HDMI switch that could work.

Trying to think about this more with an AppleTV. Would the following possibly work:

Apple TV HDMI out to this device: https://www.hdfury.com/product/avr-key/

Then a HDMI from the AVR Key audio port to the Sonos Arc. And another HDMI out from the AVR Key video port (UHD/HDR) to the TV.

Hoping that achieves both Dolby Vision and full Atmos? According to the AVR Key’s device specs it outputs both.

Interesting. Maybe that could work. In my case, it would not as I also have a Fios cable box that I would also need to feed somehow into the Arc, but if the ATV is your standalone media box that could be a solution.

I don’t think it would work. That looks like it is for AVRs that do not have 4K video passthrough. Apple TV requires eARC for Atmos because that’s how Apple programmed it -- it won’t work over a regular HDMI ARC port even though there is no reason an HDMI ARC Port cant transmit Atmos. That key doesn’t look like it will trick the Apple TV into thinking its connected to eARC.

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Extraordinary sound meets elegant design

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