A head-to-head soundbars comparison to help you pick the right one for your home theater.
Updated June 3, 2026
Verdict
The Sonos Arc is a premium single bar (5.0.2) with excellent sound and the Sonos multiroom ecosystem, but you add a sub and rears separately. The Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 includes a wireless subwoofer and rear speakers in the box for true Dolby Atmos surround at a fraction of the price. Buy the Sonos Arc for premium single-bar sound and Sonos whole-home audio; buy the Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 for complete Atmos surround on a budget.
Arc sold out; now sold as the Arc Ultra, under $2,500
Now sold as the Arc Ultra: Check Price| Sonos Arc | Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration | 5.0.2 single bar | 5.1.2 (bar + sub + rears) |
| Subwoofer included | No (add Sonos Sub) | Yes, wireless |
| Rears included | No (add Sonos rears) | Yes, wireless |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| Ecosystem | Sonos multiroom, AirPlay 2 | Basic, great value |
| Best for | Premium sound, Sonos homes | Full surround on a budget |
| Price | Arc sold out; Arc Ultra under $2,500 (bar only) | Under $500 (full system) |
The table above compares the Sonos Arc and the Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 on configuration, included subwoofer and rears, Atmos support and price, and the difference that actually decides it is that the Vizio arrives as a complete 5.1.2 system with wireless sub and rears for under $500 while the Arc is a 5.0.2 bar on its own.
The middle digit in a rating like 5.1.2 is the subwoofer count, which is the whole gap between these two: the Vizio's 5.1.2 includes one and the Arc's 5.0.2 does not.
You want premium single-bar sound, the Sonos multiroom ecosystem and app, and a clean one-bar look you may expand with Sonos add-ons later.
Now sold as the Arc Ultra: new Sonos Arc stock is no longer available on Amazon. Sonos has replaced it with the Arc Ultra, a single-bar Dolby Atmos soundbar with 9.1.4 processing, HDMI eARC and Trueplay that expands with the same Sonos Sub and rear speakers, so the comparison above still applies. It costs more than the Arc did. The buttons on this page go to the Arc Ultra.
Check the Arc Ultra (now sold in its place) on Amazon
You want complete Dolby Atmos surround — bar, wireless subwoofer, and rear speakers — out of the box at a budget price, without buying add-ons.
Check Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 on Amazon
Yes. The Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 comes with a wireless subwoofer and rear surround speakers in the box, giving you true 5.1.2 Dolby Atmos surround out of the package. The Sonos Arc is a single bar; a sub and rears are sold separately.
For premium sound quality, the Sonos multiroom ecosystem, and a clean single-bar design, yes. But if your priority is complete surround sound for the money, the Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 includes a sub and rears for far less and delivers a more enveloping setup out of the box.
Out of the box, the Vizio M-Series 5.1.2 — because it includes dedicated wireless rear speakers and a subwoofer for real discrete surround. The Sonos Arc creates a wide, virtualized soundstage from one bar and only becomes a true surround system once you add Sonos rears and a Sub.
Yes. The Arc is designed to grow — add a Sonos Sub and a pair of Sonos rear speakers over time to build a fuller surround system. This staged path is a reason to choose the Arc if you want to spread the cost and stay in the Sonos ecosystem.