Sonos launches new Arc soundbar with Dolby Atmos

The wireless home-audio specialist Sonos is launching the first of its next-generation speakers with a new Dolby Atmos voice-controlled soundbar called Arc. Arc replaces the firm's popular Playbar and Playbase as its top-end TV sound system, re-engineered to provide a wider, more powerful sound and built on the new S2 software platform, which is due to roll out to existing speakers soon. The elliptical soundbar contains 11 separate speakers and is designed to sit below, above or in front of a TV. Four woofer speakers face forwards to provide the centre, left and right channels, two point to the side to provide the wide and rear channels, while two more point upwards to provide the height channel that is part of Dolby's Atmos home-cinema sound. Three tweeters provide high notes, while the bar can be wall or table-top mounted, adjusting automatically for the best sound.