Arc Gen 2 in 2023?

With the era speakers sonos has finally acknowledged bluetooth.

I want to use Bluetooth headphones to arc.

I want to connect my pc to arc (same room but with monitor) via Bluetooth or 2nd hdmi, so I can work not rely on internal laptop speakers and also play music/audiobooks..

Sony is stepping up their non-playbar/a9 approach, and it's time for sonos to modernise (please;-)

Your request for BT is reasonable and will probably happen with an Arc Gen2 given Sonos trajectory to include BT on non-portable speakers. However I don’t see how adding  an HDMI input would bring value in your proposed situation unless you intend to have a cable running between your PC and the Arc???. Defeats the wireless solution for Sonos IMO. 

I have a hdmi cable in the wall by the desk to behind the TV, and logitech 4k webcam on top of TV (with wxtension lead)

  Bluetooth would do the job perfectly from laptop as long as stable for teams meetings etc.  Laptop is in thunderbolt Dock with lid closed so speakers both rubbish and muffled.

Seems unlikely that Sonos would move away from ARC, and add the expense of multiple HDMI interpreters into their hardware, but who knows.

There are probably Sonos users out there who don’t own an Arc, but are looking for a soundbar. They surely would be more interested in buying an updated version than in a 4 year old hardware.

So what is wrong for your use case with the four year old hardware in the Arc? What would newer hardware improve?

Just an outsider looking in and seriously considering going all-in after considering the Nakamichi Dragon…It would be incredible if Sonos allowed capability of separates with a solid atmos center channel that also performs receiver functions like their current soundbars. The center channel would have half of the arc drivers (4 front and 4 upward firing) yet double the processing power to achieve 2 Era 100s/300s/Fives as front left, right and 2 Era 100s/300s/Fives as rear surrounds. I do understand that this may just be impossible considering my minuscule purview of audio engineering/software capabilities. Just my thoughts and audio wanderlust. 
 

In keeping with the topic of the post, I would also like to see a refresh of the arc to include Bluetooth, 2.1 HDMI passthrough and DTS:X. 

I think if Sonos were going to allow a soundbar to act as a center channel, you would’ve seen it by now.  They are on their 5th iteration of soundbars, and that functionality has been requested since the first Playbar over a decade ago. 

I am also looking to update my playbar. I'm not going to buy an arc at this point in its life cycle. I have had bad luck in the past with buying and new models come shortly after. I can understand Sonos keeping it quiet as it would destroy sales if a new one is announced.

Yes, the arc probably does everything I need of a sound bar.

There must be many people in my position waiting for the arc2, Sonos marketing must know this. Its interesting they are pushing 20% off the arc. Is there a possible Christmas (or new year) present coming. I'll keep waiting.

Consider the possibility that prices have been increased somewhat this year in order to offer more aggressive discounts.

I know one large company that manufactures a fixed number model units, offers an initial discount period to introduce the product, then sells at the regular price. The model run is usually a year. If all units are sold before the follow-up model is available, the company has maximized its profit. If a few are left at the end, they are discounted for those customers who never buy anything unless there is a discount. The initial and end discounts are planned before the model is introduced. Why wouldn’t the company make another manufacturing run if the model is popular? It’s a large company and assembly lines are booked well in advance and tuned to be fully utilized. If model ‘A’ is so popular that another run is started, model ‘B’ will need to be taken out of production. Plus, parts procurement needs to be planned well in advance. It’s usually not possible to suddenly decide to squeeze another run of ‘A’ into next week’s schedule if parts procurement requires weeks (or more) of lead time or special tooling needs to be brought back and re-installed.