Polk Audio Command Bar vs Sonos Arc

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Votes 2 2
Rating 3.5 3.5

Command Bar vs Arc comparison chart

Overall
Polk Audio Command Bar
6.6
Sonos Arc
7
10
8
Multichannel surround
5
4

Polk Audio Command Bar vs Sonos Arc review

Polk Audio Command Bar
vs
Sonos Arc

Choosing a soundbar is not an easy task and the Polk Audio Command Bar vs Sonos Arc comparison is meant to help you with that. As a result, it is clear that Arc is much better designed and has a better sound performance than Command Bar. According to the results of our comparison, Command Bar received 6.6 points out of 10 possible, and Arc was rated 7 points.

Advantages Polk Audio Command Bar over Sonos Arc

  • Separate subwoofer provided
  • Available the Apple Music service
  • Possible to create a multi-room system
  • Supports external media connection via USB

Advantages Sonos Arc over Polk Audio Command Bar

  • Available the Amazon Music service
  • Supports object-oriented sound with Dolby Atmos technology
  • Wireless connection via Wi-Fi
  • App for remote control

Audio features

The Command Bar is rated 6 of 10 against 5 for the Arc according to the audio features rating.

Command Bar
6
Arc
5

It worth understanding the difference between the two types of amplification: a passive soundbar does not have its own amplifier and receives amplification from the signal source, while an active soundbar has a built-in amplifier. The same active type of amplification is used in the Command Bar and the Arc.

There are stereo soundbars and multichannel ones. It is with the help of multichannel devices that you can get volumetric sound.

Command Bar Arc
Built-in channels2.1N/A
Amplification typeactiveactive
Output power, W160 (overall)N/A
Separate speaker (in package)00
Separate speaker connectionshas notwireless

Subwoofers

Soundbars can have a built-in or external subwoofer. The first type is inseparable from the soundbar body, but for the second, you can choose a good location for deep bass. The Command Bar comes with an external subwoofer. Competitors support wireless connection to a separate external subwoofer.

Command Bar Arc
Built-in subwoofer
Separate subwoofer (in package)
Separate subwoofer connectionswirelesswireless

Multichannel surround

Unlike stereo, when reproducing multichannel sound, each specific direction of sound corresponds to its dedicated channel with a separate independent loudspeaker, which creates a three-dimensional sound stage. The Command Bar received rating 5 out of 10 for multichannel audio processing, but the Arc, in the same category, earned 4 out of 10 points.

Command Bar
5
Arc
4

The peculiarity of Dolby Atmos is that this format is object-oriented, that is, each object of the audio signal is sounded separately and linked to its spatial location. Dolby Atmos surround sound support is implemented only in Sonos Arc.

DTS:X is an algorithm for processing sound scenes by the processor, linking directly to objects, rather than channels, and calculating the optimal distribution of sound output in a room. This ability to reproduce surround sound with DTS:X technology is not implemented in any of the soundbars in this comparison.

Command Bar Arc
Dolby Atmos
Dolby (other)Dolby DigitalDolby Digital
DTS:X
DTS (other)DTS Digital Surroundhas not

Streaming services

The possibility to listen online to millions of songs from one device has become a reality thanks to streaming services. For the ability to work with streaming services, the Command Bar received 5 points, and the Arc - 10 on a 10-point scale.

Command Bar
5
Arc
10

The popular Spotify service is available on both soundbars.

Command Bar Arc
Apple Music (AirPlay)AirPlay 2
Amazon Music
Spotify
Other streaming serviceshas notPandora, Tuneln, iHeart, Chromecast

Connectivity

The existence of a sufficient number of current connectors significantly expands the functionality of the device. For example, only through HDMI is it possible to implement the transfer of object-oriented formats, and the presence of a Bluetooth connection will allow remote control, etc. Connectivity of competitors was rated 7 out of 10.

Command Bar
7
Arc
7

The presence of Wi-Fi in the soundbar allows you to get rid of wires when connected to a sound source and get minimal audio latency when playing content from streaming services. Wireless connection via Wi-Fi is possible on the Arc.

Bluetooth connection is now one of the main communication protocols for speaker systems, which provides excellent quality and minimal audio latency. The availability of Bluetooth protocol, we can see in both models. The Command Bar has 1/1 HDMI inputs/outputs, but the Arc got 1/0 HDMI inputs/outputs from the manufacturer.

HDMI ARC is a very usefull technology that creates a two-way communication channel between a TV and another device. This is convenient since there is no need to use optical and other cables in the system. HDMI ARC is basic for both soundbars.

Command Bar Arc
WI-FI
Bluetooth
Ethernet (RJ45)01
NFC
HDMI input/output1/11/0
HDMI ARC
HDMI eARC
HDMI CEC
Optical digital input/output1/00/0
USB1 (USB 2.0)
Coaxial digital input/output0/00/0
Analog audio input/output (RCA)0/00/0
Headphone output00
Subwoofer output00

Features

Voice control is designed to make operating the device more convenient. This allows you to control basic soundbar functions from anywhere in the room.

Proprietary applications allow you to control your soundbars remotely. This is possible both via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. The Arc has its own remote control application. Both soundbars have a built-in microphone.

Some soundbars can be part of a multi-room system and it is an affordable solution for sounding the whole house. The Command Bar has the ability to use a multiroom system.

Command Bar Arc
Voice controlAmazon AlexaAmazon Alexa, Google Assistant
App control
Microphone
Remote control
Multi-room

Dimensions

Command Bar Arc
Size (Wx H x D), cm/in110 x 5 x 10.1/43.3 x 2.1 x 4.1114 x 7.6 x 10.1/45 x 3.4 x 4.5
Weight, kg/pounds1.8/4.96.2/13.7
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