In recent years, soundbars have become a popular way to upgrade the audio for your television. With their ease of installation and often affordable price, it’s no surprise that soundbars have become a popular choice for those looking to improve their audio experience. Soundbars are quickly becoming a go-to option for those who want to upgrade their TV but don’t want to break the bank. There is a soundbar for everyone, regardless of your price range or preference for the newest audio technology. Since surround sound technology has advanced, soundbars can now offer an immersive experience that puts you in the thick of the action. So if you’re looking to take your TV experience to the next level, a soundbar might be what you need!
This blog post will compare the Sonos Arc vs. Samsung Q950A to help you decide which soundbar is better for your needs. We’ll look at factors such as sound quality, design, features, and more to determine which soundbar offers the best value for your money. So, read on to find out which soundbar wins in the battle of the Sonos Arc vs. Samsung Q950A.
Sonos Arc Overview
The Sonos Arc is the perfect soundbar for mixed use. Whether you’re watching movies, TV shows, or listening to music, the Arc will give you an immersive and powerful audio experience.
The Sonos Arc is a one-meter-long cylinder that combines a smart speaker, wifi music sound system, and home cinema kit in one. It supports the latest Dolby Atmos surround sound format, Dolby Digital, and plain old stereo. It is designed to be placed in front of your TV and requires just two cables for a minimalist look. Setting it up is easy and can be controlled with a voice assistant, TV remote, or the Sonos app. It also offers True Play tuning, AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect. It produces a wide and enveloping sound stage with excellent dialogue clarity and can be linked to a pair of surround speakers and a sub. So, if you’re looking for the ultimate audio experience, the Sonos Arc is a perfect choice.
Samsung Q950A
The Samsung Q950A soundbar package is a top-of-the-line product offering 11.1.4 surround sound with 3D audio support from both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. It is equipped with 15 drivers and includes a separate subwoofer and wireless surround units. It features advanced features such as Auto EQ and SpaceFit+ technology, as well as Q-Symphony and Amazon Alexa voice control, to provide an immersive audio experience.
The bar delivers crisp high-end detail, terrific bass, and excellent sound output, making it the perfect partner for any television. Furthermore, it will surely bring a movie theater-like sound to your living room without having to deal with speaker cables. The Samsung Q950A is a must-have for anyone who wants to experience superior audio quality in their home theater setup.
Sonos Arc vs. Samsung Q950A: Quick Comparison
The Sonos Arc and Samsung Q950A are excellent soundbars designed to provide an immersive home audio experience. When comparing the Sonos Arc soundbar and the Samsung Q950A, the main difference is that the former is more of an investment into an ecosystem. At the same time, the latter is a complete package with all components needed for a successful home theater system.
The Samsung Q950A is an all-in-one package with a soundbar, subwoofer, and satellite speakers. At the same time, the Sonos Arc is a stand-alone soundbar that can be extended with the Sonos Sub and Sonos One SL speakers for a more immersive audio experience. The Samsung Q950A is excellent value if you want a plug-and-play home theater system, while the Sonos Arc is a perfect choice for anyone that wants to invest in the Sonos ecosystem and add components down the line.
The bottom line is that the Samsung Q950A is an all-in-one solution, while the Sonos Arc is essentially an entry into the Sonos Ecosystem and is not a complete solution compared to the Samsung. Both these products will have their own set of advantages. The Samsung Q950A soundbar will be a superb purchase if you already have a Samsung TV. On the flip side, if you already have Sonos products, then investing in the Sonos Arc would be an added benefit.
Sonos Arc vs. Samsung Q950A: Basic Features
The Sonos Arc and the Samsung Q950A are excellent soundbars for an immersive audio experience, but they have different features and capabilities. The Samsung Q950A is an 11.1.4 system with 11 standard speakers, one subwoofer, 4 upward-firing speakers, and Dolby Atmos and DTS:X certifications.
On the other hand, the Sonos Arc is a 5.0.2 system with 5 regular speakers and 2 upward-firing speakers, as well as Dolby Atmos certification. Both soundbars support HDMI eARC and can be connected to TVs using ARC or optical cables. If you choose the Sonos surround system, which includes the Sonos sub and two compatible Sonos speakers to use as satellites, your Sonos system becomes a 7.0.2 system. You still, however, won’t have DTS:X.
The Samsung Q950A has support for both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. In contrast, the Sonos Arc supports Sonos Voice Control, which can be used to request music from popular services, control essential speaker features, and operate the power of your TV with voice commands. Furthermore, the Samsung Q950A comes with a dedicated remote control, while the Sonos Arc can be controlled using touch controls on the soundbar, TV remote, or the Sonos mobile app.
The Sonos Arc does not come with any mounting mechanism, but they have one available as an accessory. The mounting option is easy to set up and allows you to mount the soundbar to the wall or a shelf. It enables you to place the soundbar at the ideal angle and is made to fit snugly and securely. The Samsung Q950A soundbar has no mounting options, though compatible mounting brackets can be purchased separately. These brackets are designed to fit the soundbar perfectly and ensure it is securely mounted to the wall.
Sonos Arc vs. Samsung Q950A: Audio Features
The Sonos Arc and the Samsung Q950A provide immersive, surround audio experiences. The Sonos Arc can produce Dolby Atmos surround without the subwoofer and the satellites, using psychoacoustic technology and upward-firing speakers.
On the flip side, the Samsung Q950A uses a Q-Symphony feature to increase channels. The Samsung Q950A Q-Symphony feature is an innovative sound technology that allows users to sync the integrated speakers of their compatible Samsung TVs with the soundbar itself, creating a virtual 13-channel surround sound system. This feature uses advanced digital signal processing to adjust the audio output to perfectly match the size and shape of your room, ensuring that you get the best sound experience possible.
The common feature between these two soundbars is that they both have a feature that can customize your soundbar preferences to your room’s specific size and dimensions.
The Samsung Q950A offers SpaceFit Sound+ and Auto EQ technologies, which can tune the speakers to the size and dimensions of your listening space using an integrated sampling microphone. For sound optimization based on content, Samsung also provides Active Voice Amplification technology that analyzes scenes from your video content and dynamically optimizes the audio to be in perfect sync.
The Sonos Arc has its own alternative through the innovative Trueplay technology, which allows users to optimize the sound to their room and listening environment. With Trueplay technology, users can use a mobile device with the Sonos app to create a sound map of their room, allowing the soundbar to calibrate itself based on the room’s unique characteristics and ensure that the audio is perfectly balanced and optimized for the listener.
The Sonos Arc soundbar has Class-D amplifiers that provide high-power and low-distortion audio. These amplifiers can deliver up to 100W of power to each of the 11 drivers in the soundbar, and they use advanced digital signal processing to ensure a balanced and clear sound. The Class-D amplifiers are also designed to be energy efficient, consuming less power than traditional amplifiers and reducing the heat produced. This ensures that the soundbar can deliver high-quality audio for long hours without any issues. In addition to the Class-D amplifiers, the Sonos Arc has silk dome tweeters and elliptical woofers. Like the Samsung, the Sonos Arc has adjustable EQ modes and a speech enhancement feature that allows you to clearly hear key dialogue points.
The Sonos Arc is also equipped with a far-field mic array that allows for hands-free voice control of the speaker. This mic array can pick up sound from up to 16 feet away and is optimized for use with voice assistants like Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. With this feature, you can use voice commands to control the speaker, request music, or even turn the TV on and off. Additionally, the mic array is designed to filter out background noise, so your voice commands will always be heard clearly.
For nighttime listening, the Sonos Arc offers another great feature called Night Sound, which reduces the volume of intense scenes and emphasizes dialogue so you can watch a movie at night without disturbing others at home.
Who Should Buy The Sonos Arc?
The Sonos Arc is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to invest in the Sonos ecosystem. This stand-alone soundbar can be paired with the Sonos Sub and Sonos One SL speakers for a more immersive audio experience, and it comes with Dolby Atmos certification. With the Sonos Arc, you are investing in an ecosystem of wireless connected speakers with built-in voice assistants and superior app support that you can use in any configuration you want. The Sonos Arc is perfect for those who want to start with something simple and keep adding new components down the line, with virtually unlimited room for addition and upgrades.
Who Should Buy The Samsung Q950A?
The Samsung Q950A is the perfect solution for anyone looking for a complete home theater system experience without having to worry about additional purchases or upgrades. The soundbar provides an 11.1.4 surround system, with Dolby Atmos and DTS:X certification, and is shipped with a subwoofer and satellite speakers. It also supports voice assistants and has technologies like SpaceFit Sound+ and Auto EQ, allowing you to calibrate the sound to your listening space. All of this comes in a single, plug-and-play package and is available at a competitive price.
Sonos Arc vs. Samsung Q950A: The Verdict
The Sonos Arc is an excellent choice for those who already own other Sonos products or want to start investing in the Sonos ecosystem and add additional components down the line. The Sonos Arc is better suited to those who remain open to an unlimited expansion of their sound system in the future through the use of mesh technology and additional network connections.
On the other hand, anyone searching for a complete home theater system may consider the Samsung Q950A as a great soundbar option. It offers a complete package and is the perfect solution for somebody looking for the ultimate audio experience without looking to expand or buy additional speakers for their audio system. If you want the complete solution out of the box, then the Samsung Q950A is the better option.