
Is that this the very best sounding soundbar in the marketplace?
The Sonos Arc Extremely is a fully very good single-box soundbar answer and one that would very effectively be the knight in shining armor that Sonos has been ready for over the previous few months. It affords a really spectacular supply of Dolby Atmos with wonderful peak and width illustration, while providing nice bass, a large soundstage and wonderfully clear vocals. There is not any HDMI passthrough and there’s some stiff competitors at this value level, together with for multi-box options that do not depend on digital processing. However total, they’re minor qualms in what’s in any other case a fully incredible soundbar.
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Tremendous design -
Glorious sound high quality -
Works effectively with Sonos system -
Easy to arrange and use
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No HDMI passthrough -
Not low-cost -
Powerful competitors -
You may want a brand new TV
Sonos Arc Extremely: Introduction
It’s truthful to say Sonos hasn’t had the very best time not too long ago.
There was a time when the corporate may do no unsuitable and regardless of a variety of different – and cheaper – multi-room options showing in the marketplace, the Sonos prospects remained loyal to the corporate that had performed them so effectively over the past 20 years.
A few of that loyalty waned when the redesigned Sonos app appeared in Could, and on the time of writing – in November – and the app nonetheless isn’t fully mounted, although it’s getting there.
However, onwards and upwards as they are saying. The Sonos Arc Extremely was revealed in October 2024 and with breakthrough sound know-how and a refreshed design, does it do sufficient to be the multi-room firm’s knight in shining armor? Right here’s what I believed.
Setup and wi-fi choices
- Easy setup with Sonos app
- Requires HDMI eARC for finest expertise
I discussed the Sonos app having had some points over the previous few months, with setup of audio system being one in all them for some customers. However I’ve to say, the setup of the Sonos Arc Extremely actually was a wholly seamless expertise for me.
I even timed it as a result of I used to be fascinated by seeing how lengthy it was going to take if I stumbled upon any points. Three minutes is what it took me. That’s not together with taking my TV off the wall, which I did earlier than I began the setup and plugged within the HDMI cable into the HDMI eARC port able to then be plugged into the Arc Extremely, however it’s together with Trueplay tuning the Arc Extremely.
Plug within the Arc Extremely’s energy cable and it’ll seem as a pop up within the Sonos app. It first makes use of Bluetooth to determine a connection, after which you’ll be able to set it up as a brand new system or you possibly can add it to an present Sonos system.
When you’re doing the latter, it’s going to piggyback off any present Sonos audio system you need to entry your own home community. You’re taken by means of the setup up course of with easy steps, together with connecting it to your TV and it was all very easy.
I arrange the Sonos Sub 4 to make use of similtaneously the Arc Extremely too, although I had a few points with that setup. Nothing main, and we’re nonetheless solely speaking about 4 minutes to set that up, but it surely had a few hiccups updating the software program initially. For the Sub 4, Sonos makes use of NFC on the facet to acquire the PIN code for setup – the Arc Extremely makes use of a collection of chimes for the PIN however the Sub can’t do this.
As soon as paired, you’ll then want so as to add it to a room within the Sonos app. Oddly, you aren’t prompted to do that if you initially set it up like you might be with different Sonos audio system, together with the Arc Extremely.
Nonetheless, after you have added it to a room, you possibly can pair it up with no matter Sonos speaker you wish to use it with.
Design and {hardware}
- Capacitive controls on ledge
- Black and white color choices
The Sonos Arc Extremely most undoubtedly takes its design cues from its predecessor, the Sonos Arc, however there are some refinements of notice.
It’s a little bit slimmer by way of depth, with the thought being it will probably match beneath your TV simpler than the Arc. I had the Arc Extremely beneath my TV on the media unit and the TV is on the wall above, which is the place I had the Sonos Arc too so the depth isn’t actually one thing that ever bothered me.
It is perhaps your want come true although and whether it is, then I’m thrilled for you. We now have an in-depth function on how the Arc Extremely compares to the Arc.

Depth apart, the Sonos Arc Extremely additionally repositions its controls and that is in all probability the largest design differentiation between the brand new soundbar and the Sonos Arc.
There’s a ledge for the controls on the Arc Extremely, with the quantity trough you can see on the likes of the Sonos Period 100, Period 300 and Sonos Transfer 2 on the far proper facet of the ledge.
This enables for fast and easy sound adjustment, whereas a microphone mute button is located on the far left facet of the ledge. In the midst of that ledge, you’ll discover play/pause, in addition to the skip and rewind controls.
As with the Sonos Arc, there a minimize out in the back of the Arc Extremely for the ports and a few different {hardware} switches. You’ll discover the ability port – which is identical because the Arc, Ethernet port and one HDMI port.
Ideally, the Arc Extremely connects to your TV through HDMI eARC from that single HDMI port, although you should purchase an adapter to attach through optical and HDMI ARC can also be supported. There isn’t any HDMI passthrough nonetheless, so needless to say you possibly can’t join something to the soundbar itself and as a substitute, every little thing you wish to connect with your TV, like a Sky field, Apple TV or Hearth Stick for instance, all must be plugged into the TVs separate HDMI ports straight.
When you use HDMI eARC, sound is dealt with effortlessly so should you don’t have a TV that helps it, it’s possible you’ll think about upgrading.
Inside the again of the Sonos Arc Extremely, additionally, you will discover a microphone {hardware} swap – like what you can see on the Period 100 and Period 300, and additionally, you will discover a Bluetooth button do you have to want to connect with the Sonos Arc Extremely through Bluetooth – extra on that and the Arc Extremely options in a second.
I’ve to say, I actually don’t perceive why the Bluetooth button is on the again quite than on the management ledge, however I suppose that’s a call somebody someplace made and thought it was a superb one.

I’m additionally going to say the Sonos Sub 4 design right here as I examined it alongside the Arc Extremely. The Sonos Sub 4 appears to be like similar to the older generations of Sub but it surely has a matte end now, just like the Sonos Sub Mini.
I didn’t assume that was an enormous deal, however within the flesh it appears to be like quite a bit higher than the earlier shiny end and it picks up quite a bit much less mud and fingerprints too, which is an absolute win. The toes are additionally sturdier than the earlier Sub fashions. Elsewhere, every little thing else is identical.
Options
The Sonos Arc Extremely packs a punch in terms of its function set, including a few extras over the Sonos Beam 2 and Sonos Ray, in addition to the older Sonos Arc. There’s Bluetooth for starters, as I discussed above, however that’s not likely new for Sonos audio system now, with all of the newer fashions providing it.
What’s new is the Sound Movement tech which I’ll discuss in a second, in addition to extra superior Speech Enhancement settings.
With different Sonos soundbars, you possibly can flip the Speech Enhancement on or off, however there’s nothing extra granular than that.
For the Arc Extremely, you possibly can change the Speech Enhancement between Low, Medium and Excessive, with Medium being the default.
It makes for crystal clear audio which I very a lot appreciated, although I believe it might be higher to have the ability to entry these Speech Enhancement settings straight from the Now Enjoying card quite than having to enter system settings.
You may flip Speech Enhancement on or off from Now Enjoying, however you possibly can’t swap between Low, Medium or Excessive, even should you lengthy press.

From the system settings nonetheless, you possibly can regulate the Arc Extremely’s EQ settings, in addition to the peak audio if you’re taking part in Dolby Atmos content material or immersive audio codecs, and you may also toggle Spatial Music on or off.
The Night time Sound function will be discovered right here too – nice for when little ones are asleep upstairs and also you don’t need the movie you’re watching to make it really feel like a aircraft has gone into your home, and there are additionally varied different settings to make for an honest consumer expertise.
The Sonos Arc Extremely performs good with different Sonos audio system, as you may count on, permitting it to be grouped so TV audio will be transferred across the different Sonos audio system in your house, or music will be performed by means of the Arc Extremely if you’re not utilizing it for TV audio.
The soundbar can after all be used independently as speaker even should you don’t have some other Sonos audio system, however should you do and it’s grouped up, there’s a setting within the Sonos app that allows you to mechanically ungroup it if you flip your TV on.
The Arc Extremely helps Amazon Alexa too so you possibly can hyperlink up your Amazon and Sonos account and use your Arc Extremely to assist the children with their homework, or ask what the climate is like, and Sonos Voice Management is on board too, which permits for straightforward voice management of the Arc Extremely itself, like turning the quantity up or down. T
right here’s no Google Assistant help, as there was alongside Alexa up to now, however that’s been the case for the reason that Period 100 and the Period 300 so it received’t come as a shock to Sonos followers.

Another factor to say is Sonos Ace headphones. The Arc Extremely has the TV Audio Swap function that launched on the Arc (although is now obtainable on Ray and Beam soundbars), when you may have Ace headphones, permitting you to switch the audio between your Arc Extremely and Ace headphones. It really works effectively and whereas it’s not a function I personally use a lot, it’s there if you’d like it.
By way of connectivity, there’s Apple AirPlay 2 help on the Arc Extremely, and help for options like Spotify Join too so loads of methods to get your music taking part in on the Arc Extremely even if you aren’t utilizing it for enhancing your TV audio. Sonos affords help for over 100 music streaming companies, and there’s additionally radio.
The Sub 4 in the meantime, has just a few of its personal settings, together with the flexibility to regulate its stage. Whenever you pair up the Sub 4 with the Arc Extremely, you’ll be prompted to Trueplay tune it, which in itself helps ship higher efficiency.
I like which you can toggle the Sub on or off although. At night time, you may wish to tone down the decrease frequencies to maintain neighbors completely satisfied and a easy swap on or off within the Sonos app is a a lot simpler method to do this than eradicating the Sub totally or pulling the ability twine out.
Sound high quality and efficiency
What you’re paying for right here although is the sound high quality as a result of it’s really incredible on the Arc Extremely. The sound structure has been fully redesigned from the Sonos Arc so regardless of the Arc additionally sounding wonderful, the Arc Extremely takes it to the following stage – I suppose dwelling as much as its identify.
It ushers within the new know-how developed by Mayht – an organization Sonos acquired again in 2022 with this know-how being known as Sound Movement.
The Arc Extremely is the primary product from Sonos to debut Sound Movement and it comes within the type of one of many woofers making up the 14 audio system inside this soundbar. There are seven tweeters and 6 mid-woofers in that providing, which compares to a complete of eight woofers and three tweeters within the Arc’s make up.

When Sonos launched the Arc Extremely, it stated the Sound Movement tech was one of the “vital breakthroughs” in audio engineering this century, permitting for a drastic discount within the dimension of the transducers whereas providing nigger sound from, the smaller parts. It additionally stated there was a brand new centre channel structure for vocal readability, which I already talked about was wonderful on the Arc Extremely.
The general sound efficiency is great nonetheless, with the Arc Extremely providing a wonderful illustration of 3D sound output.
The Arc did a fairly good job right here from its 5.0.2 output, however the Arc Extremely upgrades that to 9.1.4 throughout 9 entrance and facet channels, 4 up firing channels and one woofer. You may add a subwoofer, just like the Sub 4 (which is fabulously bassy) to essentially improve the low-end frequencies, and you’ll add rear channels, however the Arc Extremely does a terrific job as a single field answer.
There’s critical bass even with out the Sub 4 on, a lot in order that I actually hope your neighbors such as you, and I imply like you numerous should you’re planning on cranking up the quantity, but it surely’s not simply bass that the Arc Extremely handles effectively.
Sonos audio system have at all times been bassy in order that half isn’t a shock. I watched a lot in testing this soundbar, from Mad Max and Prime Gun: Maverick, to Lincoln Lawyer and The Gentleman on Netflix and the Arc Extremely delivers on all fronts. I additionally listened to a variety of tracks, from classical to pop and I’ve but to seek out one thing that doesn’t sound good.

Digital processing of Dolby Atmos isn’t going to have the ability to fairly compete with a system of separate audio system – I’ve skilled it in an Atmos studio earlier than and it actually is outstanding, however that is as convincing as you’ll get from a speaker with no rear channels behind you.
The soundstage is huge and the Arc Extremely delivers respectable stability and wonderful element no matter it’s taking part in.
Ultimate ideas
The Sonos Arc Extremely is a fully very good single-box soundbar answer and one that would very effectively be the knight in shining armor that Sonos has been ready for over the previous few months. It affords a really spectacular supply of Dolby Atmos with wonderful peak and width illustration, while providing nice bass and wonderfully clear vocals.
There’s no HDMI passthrough, which could put some off, and there’s some stiff competitors at this value level, and that features for multi-box options that don’t depend on digital processing. The Bluetooth button being on the again of the Arc Extremely can also be an odd positioning and there’s the price to contemplate too should you’re even interested by including surrounds or the Sub.
However, even with these qualms, the Sonos Arc Extremely is a fully incredible soundbar that I’ll genuinely miss when my assessment unit goes again. The design is slick, the sound is great and the Sonos options and fast and easy setup make it a wonderful choose.
How we check
Once we publish our critiques, you possibly can relaxation assured that they’re the results of “dwelling with” long run exams.
Our critiques are complete, goal and truthful and, after all, we’re by no means paid on to assessment a tool.
Have a learn of our how we check audio system submit to study extra.
FAQs
No. The Sonos Arc Extremely doesn’t have HDMI passthrough, which the Sonos Are didn’t both. It means you need to join something like a video games console or Apple TV by means of your TV itself.
Sure, you possibly can join the Sonos Arc Extremely by means of optical however you will want an adapter that’s offered individually by means of Sonos. Utilizing HDMI eARC – which stands for enhanced Audio Return Channel – is really useful as sort of connection permits full-resolution sound indicators, together with Dolby Atmos, to be handed out of your TV to the soundbar. HDMI ARC can also be supported in case your TV doesn’t help HDMI eARC however should you connect with a TV utilizing HDMI ARC, the Dolby audio codecs supported are dependent in your TV mannequin and producer. The TV could also be able to sending Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Digital. An HDMI ARC connection can not help TrueHD or MAT.
The Arc Extremely helps Dolby Atmos, TrueHD, MAT, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Digital.
Full product identify: Specs
Kind | Black and White |
UK RRP | £999 |
US RRP | $999 |
Measurement (Dimensions) | 2.95 x 46.38 x 4.35 inches / 75 x 1178 x 110.6 millmeters |
Weight | 13.01 lbs (5.9kg) |
Launch Date | 29 October 2024 |
Sensible residence Ecosystems | Alexa and Sonos |
Controls | Capacitive |
Bluetooth | Sure, Bluetooth 5.3 |
Wall mounted | Sure, with a mount. |
Connection | HDMI eARC, HDMI ARC, Optical (with adapter) |
Reminiscence | 2GB SDRAM |
Storage | 8GB NV |
Wi-Fi | Suitable with WiFi 6. Connect with WiFi with any 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax 2.4 GHz/5 GHz broadcast-capable router. |