Sony HT-ST5000 vs Sonos Arc review

Votes 20 20
Rating 3.8 3.8

Sony HT-ST5000 vs Sonos Arc comparison chart

Sony HT-ST5000 vs Sonos Arc review

Sony HT-ST5000
vs
Sonos Arc

I had a chance to test and compare two models: Sony HT-ST5000 vs Sonos Arc and this review should help people who are looking for a good soundbar. The Sony HT-ST5000 was rated 8.6, while the Sonos Arc has a rating 7. The soundbars are equipped with a different number of buttons, power, volume down, volume up, input Bluetooth, music service for the HT-ST5000 and volume down, volume up, play/pause, microphone for the Arc.

Audio features

Each of the models under consideration has active amplification type. The built-in subwoofer is not implemented in any of these models. An external subwoofer can be connected to any of the units in this comparison. Rate 9 out of 10 received the Sony HT-ST5000 for audio features and specs, but the Sonos Arc received 5 out of 10. Each of the competitors can play content from Spotify.

Connectivity

Both models have a wireless Wi-Fi interface. Soundbars from this comparison have Bluetooth support. There are 3/1 HDMI inputs/outputs in the Sony HT-ST5000 versus 1/0 HDMIs in the Sonos Arc. As in the HT-ST5000, so in the Arc there is the HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). We rated the connectivity of the HT-ST5000 at 9 out of 10, while the Arc was rated 7/10.

Features

Both devices have integrated voice control via Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant. Each of the soundbars can be controlled using the application. The soundbars in this review are equipped with a microphone. The Sony HT-ST5000 may become part of a multiroom system.

Multichannel surround

Manufacturers equipped both units with Dolby Atmos audio decoder. The HT-ST5000 can work with surround sound due to DTS:X support. The HT-ST5000 was rated 8/10, while the Arc received a mark of 4/10 for multichannel surround.

Advantages Sony HT-ST5000 over Sonos Arc

  • Separate subwoofer in package
  • Multi-room support
  • Compatible with DTS:X

Advantages Sonos Arc over Sony HT-ST5000

  • Amazon Music compatible
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Common

Product

Sony HT-ST5000
Sonos Arc

Model

HT-ST5000
Arc

Brand

Sony
Sonos

Reviews

184
368

General

Placement type

table-top, wall-mountable
table-top, wall-mountable

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

power, volume down, volume up, input Bluetooth, music service
volume down, volume up, play/pause, microphone

Audio features

Built-in channels

7.1.2

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

800 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
0

Separate speaker connections

wireless
wireless

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay 2

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, Tuneln, Deezer, TIDAL, Napster, SiriusXM, Qobuz, Chromecast, iHeart
Pandora, Tuneln, iHeart, Chromecast

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
1

NFC

HDMI input/output

3/1
1/0

HDMI ARC

HDMI eARC

HDMI CEC

Optical digital input/output

1/0
0/0

USB

1 (USB 2.0)

Coaxial digital input/output

0/0
0/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

1/0
0/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
has not

User manual

Manual

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

117.8 x 7.8 x 14.4/46.4 x 3.1 x 5.7
114 x 7.6 x 10.1/45 x 3.4 x 4.5

Weight, kg/pounds

8.1/18
6.2/13.7

Other

Release year

2017
2020
Sony HT-ST5000
Sonos Arc
Sony HT-ST5000
Sonos Arc

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 8.6
  • 7
  • 8.6Sony HT-ST5000
  • 7Sonos Arc