Sonos for tv. Any good?

[caduceus]

I'm looking for a surround sound setup for my Phillips tv and pending a look in Richer Sounds, might plump for a Sonos ARC soundbar and two rear speakers (Sonos too I think).

Are they any good?

Thanks in advance
Cad

[dirtbiker]

I've got the original Sonos Soundbar with 2 x Plays as surround and the sub and to me it sounds great - very easy to set up as well.

[Brummiebeau]

We have the ARC with 2 x1's and the sub and its great. I don't use it anywhere near it's full potential but when ever I do have music on it or a film then its bang on.

[Captain_Morgan]

caduceus said:

I'm looking for a surround sound setup for my Phillips tv and pending a look in Richer Sounds, might plump for a Sonos ARC soundbar and two rear speakers (Sonos too I think).

Are they any good?

Thanks in advance
Cad

Sonos or the IKEA branded Sonos speakers are your only rear channel option.

[Stuart70]

Brummiebeau said:

We have the ARC with 2 x1's and the sub and its great. I don't use it anywhere near it's full potential but when ever I do have music on it or a film then its bang on.

I have exactly this and the sound quality and verisimilitude of the surround sound is astounding.

I have genuinely got up to look for a helicopter in the sky when one flew over in a film. Yes, I do listen with the sound UP HIGH.

[caduceus]

Thanks for the reviews chaps.
I went to Richer Sounds Watford yesterday and purchased the Sonos Beam, 2 1's (rears) and mounting bracket. Unfortunately, AFTER I paid, they advised me they didn't have any of it in stock, only the bracket. However they would get DPD to deliver it today. It didn't arrive and it won't be, due to a 'logistical error'. Very disappointing.
90% of the catalyst why I bought this setup was to enjoy the England game on Sunday with the missus in an immersive environment. Given the experiences I've had with couriers, I'm assuming todays experience will be replicated tomorrow, and the gear won't turn up at all till next week...too late. Fingers crossed it does arrive.

Thanks again for the reviews gents. I was happy with the sound...albeit a sloppy setup in store.

[Gary C]

Does the ARC get over the worst bit about the original sound bar that you had to find a TV that would do Dolby passthrough on HDMI ?

Ours is great with the built in TV netflix etc, but only stereo for Sky which is disappointing

[Piginapoke]

caduceus said:

I'm looking for a surround sound setup for my Phillips tv and pending a look in Richer Sounds, might plump for a Sonos ARC soundbar and two rear speakers (Sonos too I think).

Are they any good?

Thanks in advance
Cad

Yes, excellent and cab be used as hifi too

[LeadFarmer]

I recently purchased a Panasonic OLED TV and complimented it with a Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar.
Can't comment on the Dolby Atmos effects as my living room is the wrong shop to bounce sounds off walls etc, but its a very good speaker.

[matjk]

Only thing I would add is try and get a sub , gen1 used is fine, it makes a huge difference to the surround sound .

[Stuart70]

matjk said:

Only thing I would add is try and get a sub , gen1 used is fine, it makes a huge difference to the surround sound .

Definitely this

[Lucid_AV]

Gary C said:

Does the ARC get over the worst bit about the original sound bar that you had to find a TV that would do Dolby passthrough on HDMI ?

Ours is great with the built in TV netflix etc, but only stereo for Sky which is disappointing

BIB - Surely that's a TV issue though?

The original Playbar (if that's what you meant by 'original sound bar') had just an optical input. However, optical is what we used with DVD players for a decade or more, and it will carry DD5.1 (even 6.1 matrixed at a push) and DTS5.1, so there's really no barrier to enjoying DD so long as the TV passes it. The lack of a HDMI connection did mean that there wasn't any ability to have HDMI control of course, but with the IR learn feature then volume control was possible.

There aren't many TVs around that won't pass DD5.1 through their HDMI to the optical out, but there are the odd exceptions. What make and model is your TV?

DTS is a different kettle of fish. But then again, Sky doesn't use DTS and very few (if any?) other linear TV and streaming services do either. It's only really an issue for some console games and physical disc playback.

I take it you've checked the audio settings on the Sky box are set to DD / Dolby? Are there any audio settings on the TV relating to the inputs?

[Gary C]

Lucid_AV said:

Gary C said:

Does the ARC get over the worst bit about the original sound bar that you had to find a TV that would do Dolby passthrough on HDMI ?

Ours is great with the built in TV netflix etc, but only stereo for Sky which is disappointing

BIB - Surely that's a TV issue though?

The original Playbar (if that's what you meant by 'original sound bar') had just an optical input. However, optical is what we used with DVD players for a decade or more, and it will carry DD5.1 (even 6.1 matrixed at a push) and DTS5.1, so there's really no barrier to enjoying DD so long as the TV passes it. The lack of a HDMI connection did mean that there wasn't any ability to have HDMI control of course, but with the IR learn feature then volume control was possible.

There aren't many TVs around that won't pass DD5.1 through their HDMI to the optical out, but there are the odd exceptions. What make and model is your TV?

DTS is a different kettle of fish. But then again, Sky doesn't use DTS and very few (if any?) other linear TV and streaming services do either. It's only really an issue for some console games and physical disc playback.

I take it you've checked the audio settings on the Sky box are set to DD / Dolby? Are there any audio settings on the TV relating to the inputs?

There were very few TV's that passed 5.1 from an external device via the HDMI input through to the Optical output for use in the playbar when it was first released. It was part of the HDCP. It was a constant topic in the Sonos forum.

Since switching to mainly using the internal source (netflix etc) its not been an issue so not looked at it for probably 5 years.

[ZedLeg]

I have a beam and it’s the only speaker I have in the living room now. My original plan was to expand the set up with more speakers and a sub but I don’t need it.

It’s an excellent thing.

[JackReacher]

Stuart70 said:

matjk said:

Only thing I would add is try and get a sub , gen1 used is fine, it makes a huge difference to the surround sound .

Definitely this

I'll go against the grain here and say the sub is overkill, well it was for me anyway. I got the full beam gen 2, sub, and 2 one SLs as rears package and found I actually preferred listening to it without the sub. It was a bit too much for me in terms of bass. It is very subjective, some will like it and will also depend on the room it is it. The good thing is sonos allow returns up to 100 days, so I've sent it all back and will order an Arc on its own.