The remastered version of Phantasm also sounds very
good on the Arc. The growling and snarling of the
hooded monsters can be heard clearly, and the gunshots
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scene near the end in the portal room, the high-pitched
whining and low, eerie thrumming of the portal sounds
overwhelming and creepy, evoking a sense of dread.
Dialogue can be clearly heard through all of this, with
strong directionality and stereo panning.
ONE-PIECE SOUND WITH A PUNCH
The Sonos Arc is an admirable step up from the Beam
and Playbar, combining Dolby Atmos-compatible
audio, directional tweeters, strong standalone bass, and
voice-assistant support. It costs twice as much as the
Beam, but it packs in more features and a lot more
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performance and extensive support for streaming audio
services (along with AirPlay 2), and you have an
excellent all-in-one sound system.
If you don’t mind giving up voice assistant support,
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power and includes a wireless subwoofer for about
$200 less than the Arc. And for even less cash, the Roku
Smart Soundbar can be combined with the Roku
Wireless Speakers and Roku Wireless Subwoofer for a
genuine surround experience for under $500. If you
want the best blend of power, features, and
functionality, though, the Sonos Arc is your best bet and
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WILL GREENWALD
PC MAGAZINE DIGITAL EDITION (^) I SUBSCRIBE (^) I JULY 2020
It costs twice
as much as the
Beam, but it
packs in more
features and a
lot more
power,
justifying the
expense.