Sonos ARCG2US1BLK
Score: 85/100Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8
Score: 87/100Rankings
Premium Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 offers 11-speaker, 495 W output with HDMI 2.1, Wi-Fi and room calibration; great for Dolby Atmos and gaming but needs an add-on subwoofer for deep bass.
The Sonos Arc Ultra is a premium 9.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos soundbar delivering deep bass, clear dialogue, and a spacious 3-D soundstage, tightly integrated with the Sonos ecosystem. Its modern Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity are strong, but the lack of HDMI inputs and DTS:X support limit flexibility.
| Attribute | | Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 |
|---|---|---|
— | 495 Wbest | |
9 | 11best | |
| ↓ lower better | 5.761 kg | 4.717 kgbest |
12 monthsbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8 |
|---|---|---|
Audio Performance(2) | ||
Audio Channels | 9 | 11 |
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby: Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Multichannel PCM; DTS: DTS Digital Surround | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS:X, DTS 96/24, LPCM (2ch/5.1ch/7.1ch up to 192kHz/24bit), MPEG‑H 3D Audio BL Profile (Level 3/4), 360 Reality Audio, IMAX Enhanced |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Soundbar Weight (kg) | 5.761 kg | 4.717 kg |
Mounting Type | Wall-mount | Wall-mountable |
Power & Battery(1) | ||
Power Source | AC mains | AC |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Optical Input | false | true |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the Arc Ultra as a top-tier all-in-one Dolby Atmos soundbar, highlighting its powerful bass, clear dialogue, and immersive soundstage, while noting the missing HDMI inputs and DTS:X support as drawbacks.
Everyday users love the deep bass, crystal-clear dialogue, and seamless Sonos integration, but complain about the absence of HDMI inputs, occasional app crashes, and the need for a separate optical adapter.
Professional reviewers praise the Bar 8 for its immersive Atmos performance, robust HDMI 2.1 capabilities and tight integration with Sony TVs, but they note the missing bundled subwoofer and comparatively weaker bass, recommending an add-on subwoofer for a true cinematic experience.
Everyday users rate the Bar 8 highly for its crisp, cinema-like sound, easy setup and sleek design, while repeatedly calling out the lack of deep bass without a separate subwoofer and occasional firmware hiccups.
“Bass is shockingly deep for a soundbar-no subwoofer needed for most content.”
“Dialogue is crystal clear, even in action scenes.”
“Easy setup and seamless integration with other Sonos speakers.”
