I'm using a Sonos Arc linked to TV and computer for both surround sound and music. This replaced an ageing full surround sound system of separates. I didn't expect the cheaper and smaller Sonos to sound as good, but my wife disliked the clutter of 7 speakers, sub, receiver etc and I hoped the Arc would be "good enough" while getting rid of most of the clutter.
This worked up to a point. The room looks much better, and for watching TV I'm reasonably happy with the Arc. But for music (streamed from a Mac Mini) it's not cutting it. I'm not a hi-fi buff and the sound for music doesn't have to be truly exceptional, but I want it to be better than I'm getting from the Arc alone.
I'm considering adding a couple of speakers to the system, for example the Sonos 1 (or Era 1?). My concern is that the "normal" way to set this up with the Arc would be with the speakers behind and facing the TV. That's not going to give the best result for listening to music either: ideally you want the speakers in front of and facing you.
Another option is a separate hi-fi and speakers for music, but this would start re-introducing the clutter I wanted to get rid of. Also it would seem a shame to get the additional speakers and not have them integrate with the Arc to improve the TV sound. And there are advantages of easy integration with additional speakers from Sonos rather than a different maker.
I have not ruled out the option of adding the Sonos sub but that's a different issue.
I'd be grateful for any thoughts from anyone who has been through a similar thought process.
This worked up to a point. The room looks much better, and for watching TV I'm reasonably happy with the Arc. But for music (streamed from a Mac Mini) it's not cutting it. I'm not a hi-fi buff and the sound for music doesn't have to be truly exceptional, but I want it to be better than I'm getting from the Arc alone.
I'm considering adding a couple of speakers to the system, for example the Sonos 1 (or Era 1?). My concern is that the "normal" way to set this up with the Arc would be with the speakers behind and facing the TV. That's not going to give the best result for listening to music either: ideally you want the speakers in front of and facing you.
Another option is a separate hi-fi and speakers for music, but this would start re-introducing the clutter I wanted to get rid of. Also it would seem a shame to get the additional speakers and not have them integrate with the Arc to improve the TV sound. And there are advantages of easy integration with additional speakers from Sonos rather than a different maker.
I have not ruled out the option of adding the Sonos sub but that's a different issue.
I'd be grateful for any thoughts from anyone who has been through a similar thought process.