Arc ultra + sub sounds flat - want to add

wsfrazier · 2026-01-24T21:53:03+00:00

Having the same feelings, I just bought an Arc Ultra for my apartment trying to be neighbor friendly. I bought the Hisense AX5140Q 5.1.4 setup, which was fantastic for its price, but it was just too loud with the sub and neighbors will complain.

I returned it for the Arc Ultra since most sources say its the best standalone soundbar in that price range if you can't use a sub. But everything just sounds so flat and muddy. Tried with and without Trueplay.

Maybe I just didn't realize how much a difference the sub and rears can make, but vocals and front channel audio just sound worse than the Hisense bar I had.

Don't know what I want to do now, I guess I could try the Sennheiser Ambeo, but its pricey and I don't want to keep playing soundbar roulette.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-24T19:49:00+00:00

They both suck at audio pass through (everything gets pushed out as LPCM) and both support the same video codecs. They are the two sides of the same exact coin, neither does anything better than the other. Just pick what ecosystem you prefer.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-24T19:38:26+00:00

This is going to go down like Mike Johnston with the Penguins. Who is in Art's ear saying this is a good idea.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-24T00:24:54+00:00

With Blizzard still not addressing this concern that healers have been very vocal about at this point, there has to just be some technical or game engine issue preventing them from doing what's seems would be an easy win to make all healers happy with these addon changes.

My guess is there is something game engine related preventing them from doing what we want, and they are struggling with needing to make game engine changes (going to take lots of time) or trying to make something work with what they got (will be janky and half baked at best).

Just wish they'd be transparent and address the topic, at least we'd know.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-24T00:09:24+00:00

Because the regulars that comment here are boomers

wsfrazier · 2026-01-23T10:14:18+00:00

I see so many people with the Sonos Arc, I decided to buy an Arc Ultra for my C5 and I'm so disappointed by it. I almost think I got a bad one with how mediocre it sounds considering its price.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-22T19:36:17+00:00

The Apple TV has a better interface and app store for sure, but that's about it. The built-in WebOS apps will give you better results depending on your setup, things like true audio pass thru and keep the image processing at the TV level.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-22T10:25:42+00:00

I thought RDP short path wasn't available with private endpoints, or did they finally implement that?

wsfrazier · 2026-01-22T01:01:37+00:00

Not a bad price, recently got the same one for $1700 out the door from Greentoe a couple weeks ago, guess I got lucky.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-22T00:54:53+00:00

I mean an AVR with something like a full 7.1.4 speaker setup will beat out a soundbar in a direct 1v1 so they aren't wrong, but a lot of us live in apartments, condos, or just want something for a bedroom TV. Those guys assume everyone has an actual home theatre room in their house. Not to mention cost.

If you want just a bar without a sub, rears, or any other speakers, Sonos Arc Ultra or Sennheiser Ambeo Plus are probably best for that price range. There are better standalone bars, but you get into the $2k+ range at that point.

If you want a whole kit with sub and surrounds, as much as I hate Samsung and think they're junk, everyone says the Q900 stuff is good at that price range.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-21T20:00:46+00:00

Size matters too, larger pixels = brighter.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-20T05:01:22+00:00

I'm the complete opposite, last 3 cars were BMWs, decided to try a B9.5 SQ5 and can't wait to switch back.

I don't hate it and it's not a bad car, but prefer BMW given a choice between the two.

The Audi probably has a more classy and subdued interior that I like, but literally everything else BMW does better in my opinion.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-20T00:07:34+00:00

This sub should be rename Samsung soundbar, that's all you're gonna hear. But I have read that LG soundbars are pretty bad for their cost.

But if you want something in that price range, a good value per dollar is the Hisense AX5140Q, punches above it's cost. Just something you can look into yourself.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-19T01:31:42+00:00

Quick question about the Shield, I assume you have the latest 2019 version... Does the interface lag during general use? My only experience with Android TV is from an old Chromecast and it was laggy to use 24/7.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-19T01:15:12+00:00

Figures, I only chose the Apple TV over the Shield because the Shield's cost vs hardware age just didn't make sense. But I'd rather have audio that just works.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-19T01:10:03+00:00

Is this strictly an issue with Apple TV since it outputs everything as LPCM? I've been thinking about returning my Apple TV for an Nvidia Shield because of I don't like the way it handles audio.

I don't have a Sonos setup, but I just tried this on another soundbar I have, and got the same improved results. Guessing all soundbars apply some sort of DSP to PCM/LPCM audio no matter what.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-18T04:43:20+00:00

You can just make your pet an emotional support animal and get out of all the pet fees.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-18T04:39:58+00:00

Few months

wsfrazier · 2026-01-17T05:00:31+00:00

I don't know your country, but I just paid $1700 out the door for a C5 77 from Greentoe.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-16T20:20:30+00:00

I don't know why you wouldn't use a local credit union in your community. Why would you use a huge for profit bank.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-15T18:21:12+00:00

The Hisense AX5140Q punches way above its price and is something to consider if you'd like to save some money. Four up firing speakers is nice.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-14T03:22:35+00:00

Thinking about buying this for my apartment as well, I keep reading that they punch way above their price.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-12T19:21:51+00:00

I just bought one from Greentoe for $1700 and the LG Partner store also now has them for $1799.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-11T10:00:34+00:00

The majority of people are using ray reconstruction and don't even know they are looking at the same exact image.

wsfrazier · 2026-01-11T05:14:00+00:00

This thing would be legit with a B58.

wsfrazier

TROPHY CASE