Sonos launches Arc soundbar with Dolby Atmos
Therumoursare true, as usual, and Sonos has confirmed a new soundbar called Arc is on the way complete with Dolby Atmos support. The firm has also upgraded some other speakers.
Read our fullSonos Arc review.
Considering the Playbar, Sonos’ first foray into home theatre, launched in 2013, it’s about time a replacement came along. The Arc is exactly that and also replaces thePlaybase, too.
Sonos says it builds on the firm’s “industry-leading innovations in home theater, with software-driven audio that immerses listeners in dramatic detail, crystal clear dialogue and impressive bass, featuring support for Dolby Atmos.”
The soundbar is powered by no less than 11 drivers consisting of eight elliptical woofers and three silk-dome tweeters. They’re all angled in various directions to achieve an immersive experience withDolby Atmos, which is available on more than 25 video streaming services like Netflix.
The Arc pulls in some features from its pint-sized brother, theBeam, with microphones and support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. It also has, of course, Trueplay for built-in tuning, including the new challenges that Atmos brings – namely height.
Arc can be sat in front of your TV or wall mounted and it intelligently knows where it is in order to automatically adjust the sounds for each orientation.
Like the Playbar, it has an infrared sensor so you can use your TV remote to control the volume. It also has an LED light that knows when it needs to be on or off based on ambient light conditions.
The inclusion of HDMI eARC (enhanced audio return channel) keeps setup simple – although it still has optical if you prefer – and adds the ability for high-quality audio playback. Airplay 2 is also supported.
The Sonos Arc is available topre-order at £799/US$799from today and will go on sale10 June, available in black or white, each with a matt finish.
S2 app
Coming just before the Arc on8 June, is Sonos’ new software platform called S2. This app offers an upgraded experience and is required to use the Arc or upgradedSonos speakers(see below).
Sonos says it brings support for higher resolution audio technologies, including Dolby Atmos as well as “increased security”.
An redesigned interface should make it easier for users to find content, control sound and create a more personal system with features like saved room groups.
Read aboutSonos S2 upgrades, supported products and S1 compatiblity.
New Sub and Sonos Five
Sonos has also upgraded two of its existing speakers so the Sub is now Gen 3 and thePlay:5is also Gen 3 and renamed to simply Sonos Five.
It’s a case of fine-tuning with tweaked designs and upgrades in the form of improved connectivity. They both increased memory, more processing power and a new wireless radio.
The biggest news here is that the Sonos Five is available in white with a matching white grille.
The Sub Gen 3 and Sonos Five will go on sale10 Junepriced at£699/US$699 and £499/US$699respectively.
Author: Chris Martin, Reviews Editor, Tech Advisor
Chris got his break as a reporter at infamous site The Inquirer and has been at Tech Advisor for more than 12 years. With a BA degree in Music Technology, audio is his specialism, but over the years he has reviewed all kinds of gadgets, from smartwatches to mesh Wi-Fi to coffee machines.
