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Sonos Arc vs Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Sonos Arc
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
Tested using Methodology v1.3
Updated Nov 28, 2024 02:21 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.3
Updated Nov 28, 2024 02:21 PM
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
Channels5.0.2
Channels5.1.2
Variants
- Arc (Black)
- Arc SL (Shadow Edition)
- Arc (White)
- Smart Ultra Soundbar (Arctic White)
- Smart Ultra Soundbar (Black)
Our Verdict
Sonos Arc
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
The Sonos Arc has the edge over the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar. While both bars offer similar performance in many ways, like stereo soundstage and dynamics, the Sonos has a slightly better less bright, piercing center performance . Its surround performance is more natural, too, and it has an Optical port that supports DTS. However, the Bose is better built and supports more wireless playback formats.
Main Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
7.4
7.3
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
No
Full Comparison
Design
Style - Bar
Style photo - bar
Style - Subwoofer
Style photo - sub
Sub Wireless
No
No
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Style - Satellites
Style photo - satellites
Satellite Wireless
No
No
Dimensions - Bar
Dimensions photo - bar
Width
44.9" (114.1 cm)
41.1" (104.5 cm)
Height
3.4" (8.7 cm)
2.2" (5.7 cm)
Depth
4.7" (12.0 cm)
4.3" (10.8 cm)
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Dimensions photo - sub
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Dimensions - Satellites
Dimensions photo - satellites
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Mounting
Bar Mounting Holes
Satellite Mounting Holes
Mountable Bar
Yes
Yes
Bar Brackets Included
No
No
Mountable Satellites
No
No
Satellite Brackets Included
No
No
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.2
7.1
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Channels
5.0.2
5.1.2
Tested Preset
No Preset
No Preset
Slope
0.37
0.50
Standard Error
3.33 dB
3.74 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
51.1 Hz
48.3 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.2
7.4
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
No Preset
No Preset
Suggested Bass Setting
0
0
Suggested Treble Setting
-3
-50
Slope
-0.09
0.03
Standard Error
3.08 dB
2.97 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
51.1 Hz
48.3 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
8.0
8.0
Crosstalk Error
2.28 dB
1.68 dB
Stereo Dynamics
8.1
8.0
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
91.6 dB SPL
94.2 dB SPL
DRC @ 90dB
0.28 dB
0.50 dB
DRC @ Max Volume
0.75 dB
2.30 dB
Center
7.8
8.2
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Discrete
Discrete
Slope
-0.40
0.57
Std. Err.
2.94 dB
3.54 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
76.5 dB SPL
95.0 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.32
0.49
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.56
1.96
Surround 5.1
5.7
5.6
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Phantom (Side Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Front Firing and Up Firing, Bar)
Slope
0.01
-0.42
Std. Err.
3.27 dB
3.35 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
75.1 dB SPL
95.6 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.39
0.72
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
0.98
2.72
7.1 Rears
No
No
Height (Atmos)
6.1
6.1
Height Setup
H Frequency Response
Localization
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)
Slope
0.55
-0.76
Std. Err.
2.91 dB
3.68 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
62.0 dB SPL
87.7 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.07
0.58
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
0.18
1.68
Sound Enhancement Features
5.7
4.7
Room Correction
Yes
Yes
Dialogue Enhancement
Yes
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
No
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
No
No
Bass Adjustment
Yes
Yes
Treble Adjustment
Yes
Yes
EQ
No
No
Surround Level Adjustment
No
No
Rear Level Adjustment
No
No
Height Level Adjustment
Yes
Yes
Virtual Surround
No
Yes
Connectivity
Inputs/Outputs - Bar
Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Optical Audio In
Adapter into HDMI ARC
1
HDMI Out
eARC
eARC
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
No
No
Full HDMI In
No
No
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
No
No
RCA In
No
No
USB for Files
No
No
Ethernet
1
1
Subwoofer Output
No
Yes
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
9.6
8.1
Dolby Atmos
Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital
Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Supported
Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Supported
Supported
DTS
Supported
Not Supported
DTS:X
Not Supported
Not Supported
DTS-HD MA
Not Supported
Not Supported
PCM Channels
Up To 7.1
Up To 7.1
Audio Format Support: HDMI In
0.0
0.0
Dolby Atmos
Not Supported
Not Supported
Dolby Digital
Not Supported
Not Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Not Supported
Not Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Not Supported
Not Supported
DTS
Not Supported
Not Supported
DTS:X
Not Supported
Not Supported
DTS-HD MA
Not Supported
Not Supported
PCM Channels
Not Supported
Not Supported
Audio Format Support: Optical
10
6.5
Dolby Digital
Supported
Supported
DTS
Supported
Not Supported
PCM Channels
2.0
2.0
Audio Latency: ARC
8.5
9.0
ARC Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
42 ms
59 ms
PCM-5.1 ch
41 ms
55 ms
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
59 ms
55 ms
Dolby Digital
92 ms
80 ms
Dolby Digital Plus
101 ms
97 ms
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
101 ms
94 ms
Audio Latency: HDMI In
0.0
0.0
HDMI Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
N/A
N/A
PCM-5.1 ch
N/A
N/A
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
N/A
N/A
Dolby Digital
N/A
N/A
Dolby Digital Plus
N/A
N/A
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
N/A
N/A
Audio Latency: Optical
9.0
7.8
Optical Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
99 ms
122 ms
Dolby Digital
129 ms
166 ms
Video Passthrough To TV
0.0
0.0
1080p Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
Not Supported
1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
Not Supported
4k Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
Not Supported
4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit
Not Supported
Not Supported
4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
Not Supported
8k Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
Not Supported
HDR10 Passthrough
No
No
HDR10+ Passthrough
No
No
Dolby Vision Passthrough
No
No
HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough
No
No
FreeSync Passthrough
No
No
G-SYNC Passthrough
No
No
ALLM Passthrough
No
No
Wireless Playback
3.0
10
Bluetooth
No
Yes
Wi-Fi Playback
Yes
Yes
Chromecast built-in
No
Yes
Apple AirPlay
Yes
Yes
Spotify Connect
Yes
Yes
Additional Features
Interface
Interface photo
Display
No
No
Bar Controls
Controls photo
Remote
Remote photo
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
Yes (Built-in)
Yes (Built-in)
Google Assistant
Yes (Built-in)
No
Apple Siri
No
No
Microphone Mute
Yes
Yes
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Sonos Arc
Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar
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Sonos Arc vs Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar: Main Discussion
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