Sony HT-A5000 vs Sonos Arc: Which is best for you?

Have a look at the top features of both these soundbars. This will help you to make a quick decision. To learn more, stay with us till the end.

Sony HT-A5000: Best Features

Sony HT-A5000 is packed with smart features. It supports Bluetooth 5.0, Chromecast and supports several options that are missing in Sonos ARC. It has Acoustic Center sync that allows Bravia TV and bar to act as center speaker. To tweak the sound, you will find Night mode and DTS: X. It uses Sound Field Optimization technology to adjust sound based on room structure.

Sonos ARC: Best Features

Sonos ARC has Google Assistant and Alexa built in. Along with others, it has Amazon Music HD in it. To access the online music streaming services, you need to rely on Sonos app. Overhead effects are impressive with Dolby Atmos.

Sony HT-A5000 vs Sonos Arc: Compare and contrast

Sony HT-A5000 vs Sonos Arc, which one should you get? This section will help you decide.

• Size and Design

If you compare Sony HT-A5000 vs Sonos ARC dimension, they are almost similar but the ARC is slightly smaller than Sony A5000. In general, it is large and looks unique with curved sides. We loved the white bar instead of the boring black.

The soundbar height of Sony is small enough not to block any view. Design is simple yet elegant. There are controls on plastic top panel. You can easily place both these bars under large TVs with 65” or 75” screen size.

• Sturdiness

Sonos ARC soundbar is covered by plastic instead of fabric or metal. The bar is made from high quality plastic as well. Build quality is quite good.

Sony HT-A5000 is made of plastic with metal grille. Most of the body is made of plastic instead of glass top like the Sony HT-A7000. The external quality of the bar is very good and feels robust.

• Performance

Sony HT-A5000 is a has room calibration feature along with other technologies to improve the overall sound. With angled side tweeters, soundstage is wide. If you choose to purchase Sony rear speakers, 360 Spatial Sound Mapping will create multiple phantom speakers. Two up-firing drivers along with Dolby Atmos create noticeable overhead effects.

The sound will bounce off the ceiling and create illusional height effect. Vertical Surround Engine and S-Force Pro Front Sound features focus on improving height and surround effect. But, at this price point we expect better surround sound and separation. It uses independent center channel for loud and crisp vocals. You can also use the dialog enhancement feature as well.

Sonos Arc shows powerful Atmos effects with broader soundstage. Side-firing drivers helps in this case and the audio follows the action on screen. It can get quite loud so you can use them in crowded places or for large parties. 11 drivers with 3D effects bring out sonically accurate sound from the bar. You can easily pair a Sonos sub and surround speakers for premium surround performance and bass.

They will connect wirelessly to the bar so you will have a cable-free room. If you own iOS device, you can use Trueplay for room calibration. Vocals are clear and lead instruments are accurate. Treble region is crisp and attacking but not too harsh or bright. It can handle movies and music pretty well. Even as a standalone bar, the performance is impactful and satisfying.

• Connectivity

Sony HT-A5000 has more connecitons than Sonos Arc. It has HDMI In/out, optical and USB. In terms of wireless options, it supports Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. However, Sonos Arc doesn’t support Bluetooth, nor does it have HDMI In.

Sonos Arc has HDMI out and Wi-Fi connection options. You can also use the given optical adapter if you need.  

• Control

Comparing Sony HT-A5000 vs Sonos Arc, Sony comes with a remote control, but you won’t find one with Sonos. You need to rely on mobile app to control the ARC. Although the app is intuitive, we still think a remote would be easier to use.

Sony A5000 soundbar can be controlled with remote, mobile app and you can also check the onscreen options. It works with voice assistant enabled devices but doesn’t have them built-in like in Sonos Arc.

• Settings:

Sony A5000 soundbar has different options that you can choose from Night Mode, Voice Mode, Immersive Audio Enhancement. It has two sound modes: Standard, Sound Filed.

For Sonos Arc, use the Sonos S2 Controller app to tweak options like Equalizer (bass, treble, loudness), Speech enhancement and night sound.  

• Futureproof

Both Sony and Sonos bars are futureproof. Sony HT-A5000 supports subwoofer and rear speakers. You can choose from SA-SW3 and SA-SW5 sub. For rear, go for SA-RS3S.

Sonos ARC allows you to purchase sub and surround speaker to connect to it.

Sony HT-A5000 Pros & Cons:

Sonos ARC Pros & Cons:

Parting words:

If you want upgrade to your TV sound, choose the Sonos HT-A5000. It sounds rich, full along with good soundstage. It can fill up average sized rooms easily. Comparing Sony HT-A5000 vs Sonos ARC, you can choose Sony to save around $100 and purchase a subwoofer with it.If you want a single bar for large parties, go for Sonos Arc.

It is the best alternative to full surround setup. The bar shows rich, detailed and immersive performance. But in terms of features and smart options, Sony HT-A5000 might be better than Sonos Arc. Either way, you will experience major upgrade over built-in TV speakers and have the option to improve sound with external speakers.

In case you seek more powerful soundbar, you can have a look at Vizio Elevate (). It has 5.1.4 channels, and it comes with satellite speaker along with a sub.

FAQ:

Is standalone soundbar good enough?

If you have tight spaces, standalone bar offers the best solution. While you can choose from Sonos Arc or Sony HT-A5000, you can also look for soundbars with more number of channels. We suggest pairing a subwoofer which will dramatically improve the overall sound.

Why should I choose Sony HT-A5000 over Sonos Arc?

If you don’t have plans to go for a sub, then you can choose Sony HT-A5000. It has dual built-in subwoofers to work on the low ends.