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  1. Home
  2. Soundbar
  3. Compare
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
    6. Center
    7. Surround 5.1
    8. Height (Atmos)
    9. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers vs Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 03, 2024 06:17 PM

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Amazon.com

Tested using Methodology v1.1

Updated Aug 02, 2024 09:04 PM

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Amazon.com
Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Picture
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Picture
Channels
5.1.2
Channels
4.1.4

Variants

  • Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers (Black)
  • Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers (White)
  • HT-A9 with SAS-SW5 (Light Gray - Black)

Review

See Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers review

See Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module review

0
2

Our Verdict

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers

Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module

The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers and the Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module are both very premium setups. The Sonos is a 5.1.2 setup with better center and surround performances, and it can also get louder with less compression at max volume. There's even an optical port available, which the Sony lacks. That said, the 4.1.4 Sony has a very unique design and better soundstage and Atmos performances. There's even a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough, unlike the Sonos.

0

Check Price

Black
Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers
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Light Gray - Black
HT-A9 with SAS-SW5
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White
Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers
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Light Gray - Black
HT-A9 with SAS-SW5
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Light Gray - Black
HT-A9 with SAS-SW5
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Light Gray - Black
HT-A9 with SAS-SW5
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Light Gray - Black
HT-A9 with SAS-SW5
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Notice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our soundbars test methodology.

Main Differences for

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

8.0
7.4

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.2
7.5

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.3
5.4

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
0.0

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
10

Center 
 

7.8
6.6

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
9.0

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Style photo - bar
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Style photo - bar

Show text

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Style photo - sub
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Passive Radiator

Show text

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Style photo - satellites
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Show text

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Dimensions photo - bar
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

44.9" (114.1 cm)
6.3" (16.0 cm)

Height  

3.4" (8.7 cm)
12.2" (31.0 cm)

Depth  

4.7" (12.0 cm)
5.8" (14.8 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Dimensions photo - sub
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

6.2" (15.7 cm)
10.6" (27.0 cm)

Height  

15.4" (39.2 cm)
15.9" (40.5 cm)

Depth  

16.1" (41.0 cm)
16.5" (42.0 cm)

Show text

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Dimensions photo - satellites
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

4.7" (12.0 cm)
6.3" (16.0 cm)

Height  

6.3" (16.1 cm)
12.2" (31.0 cm)

Depth  

4.7" (12.0 cm)
5.8" (14.8 cm)

Show text

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Bar Mounting Holes
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Satellite Mounting Holes
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
Yes

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Build quality photo  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Build quality photo
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Build quality photo

Show text

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers In The Box photo
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module In The Box photo

Show text

Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.2
7.5

Stereo Setup  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Stereo Setup
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

5.1.2
4.1.4

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard Surround

Slope 
 

0.16
0.03

Standard Error 
 

3.20 dB
2.79 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

27.9 Hz
46.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.6 kHz

Show text

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.2
7.5

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
Standard Surround

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

0
6

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

-1
N/A

Slope 
 

0.05
0.03

Standard Error 
 

3.17 dB
2.79 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

27.9 Hz
46.9 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
19.6 kHz

Show text

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
9.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.30 dB
2.14 dB

Show text

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.3
5.4

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.7 dB SPL
86.6 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.30 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

0.43 dB
4.75 dB

Show text

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

7.6

THD  

See details on graph tool

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.47

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.88

Show text

Center 
 

7.8
6.6

Center Setup  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Center Setup
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Phantom

Slope 
 

1.27
-0.04

Std. Err. 
 

3.19 dB
2.95 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

77.9 dB SPL
88.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.33
0.42

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.66
1.66

Show text

Surround 5.1 
 

6.9
7.5

Surround Setup  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Surround Setup
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.47
-0.90

Std. Err. 
 

3.76 dB
3.50 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

73.4 dB SPL
89.2 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.37
0.40

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.85
1.42

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No

Show text

Height (Atmos) 
 

6.1
7.1

Height Setup  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Height Setup
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Up Firing, Bar & Satellites)

Slope 
 

0.18
0.36

Std. Err. 
 

3.10 dB
1.97 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

63.8 dB SPL
82.3 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.93
1.16

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.20
0.32

Show text

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

7.5
8.3

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

EQ 
 

No
Presets

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
Yes

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
No

Virtual Surround 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

Adapter into HDMI ARC
No

HDMI ARC 
 

1 (shared)

HDMI Out 
 

eARC
1 (shared)

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No

Full HDMI In 
 

No
1

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

No
No

RCA In 
 

No
No

USB for Files 
 

No
No

Ethernet 
 

1
1

Subwoofer Output 
 

No
No

Show text

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

9.6
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Supported
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Yes

eARC 
 

Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
10

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Yes

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Yes

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Yes

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported

5.1 PCM 
 

Yes

Show text

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
0.0

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
No

DTS 
 

Supported
No

PCM Channels 
 

2.0

Show text

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

8.5

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

42 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

41 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

59 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

92 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

101 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

101 ms

Show text

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

0.0
7.8

HDMI Latency Video  

Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

74 ms

Optical 
 

N/A

Full HDMI In 
 

54 ms

Show text

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

9.0

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

99 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

129 ms

Show text

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
Yes

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Yes

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Yes

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Yes

Show text

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

Show text

Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Interface photo
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Interface photo

Display 
 

No
Yes

Show text

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Controls photo
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Controls photo

Show text

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Remote photo
Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module Remote photo

Show text

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Google Assistant 
 

Yes (Built-in)
No

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
No

Show text

Check Price

Black
Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers
Searching
Finding store
Light Gray - Black
HT-A9 with SAS-SW5
Searching
Finding store
White
Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers
Searching
Finding store
Light Gray - Black
HT-A9 with SAS-SW5
Searching
Finding store
 
Light Gray - Black
HT-A9 with SAS-SW5
Searching
Finding store
 
Light Gray - Black
HT-A9 with SAS-SW5
Searching
Finding store
 
Light Gray - Black
HT-A9 with SAS-SW5
Searching
Finding store
Back to Top

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers

Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module

Comments

  1. Comparison
 • Posted 1 year ago

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers vs Sony HT-A9 with Bass Module: Main Discussion

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