Bravo Verdict
Head to head

Sonos Arc vs Vizio M Series Elevate

Side by side comparison of two of the best soundbars on the market. Same category, different priorities.

Sonos Arc
Sonos

Sonos Arc

4.6 (6,200)
$899

A genuinely great soundbar that earns its premium price for most living rooms.

Vizio M Series Elevate
Vizio

Vizio M Series Elevate

4.4 (4,800)
$599

Real 5.1.4 Atmos including rear speakers, all under $600.

How do the Sonos Arc and Vizio M Series Elevate compare, spec for spec?

Spec
Sonos
Sonos Arc
Vizio
Vizio M Series Elevate
Price$899$599
Rating
4.6 (6,200)
4.4 (4,800)
Pros
  • Dialogue is clear and precise without fiddling
  • Impressive Dolby Atmos from a single bar
  • Dead simple one cable setup
  • Works seamlessly in any existing Sonos system
  • Expandable with sub and surrounds later
  • Includes sub and rear speakers
  • DTS:X support
  • Real Atmos with rears
  • HDMI 2.1 passthrough
Cons
  • $899 is steep with no sub included
  • Trueplay room calibration is iOS only
  • No DTS:X support
  • No HDMI passthrough cuts your TV ports
  • Very large and can overwhelm smaller TVs
  • App is subpar
  • Rears are wireless but need power outlets
  • Build feels cheaper than Sonos

Should you buy the Sonos Arc or the Vizio M Series Elevate?

Both are strong picks in the soundbars category. Here's how to decide:

Get the Sonos Arc if...

This is the soundbar for people who want serious audio without a rack of equipment. One cable, a quick app setup and you're done. The sound it produces from a single bar is legitimately impressive. Dialogue is crisp and clear right out of the box. Bass hits harder than you'd expect from something without a subwoofer. And the Dolby Atmos presentation is among the most convincing you'll hear from any all-in-one bar. Who is it for? Sonos fans first and foremost. If you already have Sonos speakers around the house, this slots right in. It's also the right call for anyone who wants a clean, minimal setup and doesn't want rear speakers or a separate sub cluttering the room. For a midsize to large room with normal ceiling height and four walls, it really does fill the space. Where it falls short is worth knowing upfront. There's no DTS:X support, which won't bother most people but matters if you have a big Blu-ray collection. No HDMI passthrough means you lose a port on your TV. The Trueplay room calibration that meaningfully improves sound quality requires an iOS device to run. Android users get left out. And at $899 the price stings, especially since rivals at similar price points sometimes bundle in a sub and rear speakers. Music playback is solid but not the main event. The soundstage skews toward movies and TV. If you mostly listen to jazz or classical you might find the midrange a bit thin. Buy it if you want the simplest possible path to genuinely great home theater sound. Skip it if you're budget conscious or your room is on the larger or oddly shaped side.

Get the Vizio M Series Elevate if...

Rotating up firing speakers, wireless sub, wireless rears, and DTS:X support at half the price of Sonos.