Incredible sound and an immersive, multi-directional listening experience from a single speaker

Exceptional sound; mimics true surround-sound quite well; multiple sound modes; Alexa/Google Assistant built-in

Expensive; very large; Expensive; very large

Sonos' latest flagship TV room is a top-end home cinema addition

Simple and slick to set up and use; Expansive Dolby Atmos sound; Numerous streaming options; Class-leading app

Not cheap; Can get aggressive at the top end; Some very capable competition; You might need a new TV

Despite its lack of home theater features and its large-and-in-charge size, the Arc delivers all the joys of Sonos ownership (from multi-room audio to smart assistant control) alongside seriously impressive sound.

Rich; powerful sound; Hands-off interface; Sonos style and versatility

Dolby Atmos limited to newer TVs; Short on inputs; Big and heavy

The Sonos Arc sets a sensationally high bar with outstanding sound quality for music and movies alike, offering fantastic sound staging, clear and rich vocals as well as Dolby Atmos support.

The Sonos Arc is the company’s excellent new soundbar, but there’s a chance that it might not work best for your TV.

Sonos has finally given us an upgrade to the Playbar, and it’s impressive. The Arc has an improved design, modern features and stellar sound. Plus, Arc automatically adjusts if you choose to expand your system.

The part of the Sonos model range most in need of attention is now dealt with - and pretty impressively, at that. The Arc isn’t your default choice of Dolby Atmos soundbar-cum-audio system, but it needs to be on your shortlist.

Wide, tall sound; Impressive bass response; Adept with music as well as movies; Cracking control app (even in beta);

Treble has attitude; Slightly uneven frequency response; No MQA support;

The Arc from Sonos is a streamlined soundbar that offers a premium surround sound experience without the need for supplementary speakers. If you want a minimalist surround sound package and you have a squarish home cinema room then the Sonos Arc is an excellent all-in-one surround sound system.

Dolby Atmos, TrueHD and Dolby Digital Plus; Discrete all-in-one soundbar; Amazing surround sound and music playback;

Doesn’t suit every room; Trueplay Tuning is iOS only; Smart assistant integration limited

The original Sonos Playbar was a standout product when it appeared on the market in 2013: It was a big soundbar that offered both multiroom music and a simple one-cable connection to your TV. Its age has started to show in the seven years since, however, and I've grown to like numerous other TV speakers better, including Sonos' own Playbase and Beam. After a couple of weeks listening to the all-new Sonos Arc, I can report Sonos has once again raised the bar. The Arc is simply one of the best soundbars you can buy.

If you're looking for a soundbar with voice assistants, multiroom music and other features, the Arc will float your boat.

Excellent sound for everything from Dolby Atmos movies to jazz piano; All-in-one unit doesn't need a subwoofer; Feature-packed including voice assistant and multiroom music;

Single HMDI eARC port limits Atmos; More expensive than other single-bar competitors; No Bluetooth streaming;

The Sonos Arc is easily one of the best soundbars money can buy with amazingly immersive sound and smart features. It's only hampered by HDMI issues.

Incredibly spacious sound; Dolby Atmos support; Slick user experience; Smart features;

Expensive; No HDMI pass-through;