Klipsch Cinema 1200 vs Sonos Arc which is better?

Klipsch Cinema 1200 vs Sonos Arc which is better?

With this Klipsch Cinema 1200 vs Sonos Arc article has the mighty Sonos Arc finally met its match? The Klipsch Cinema 1200 is a pretty big step up from the 600 in many different ways. It is packing a great deal of power and it is probably the kind of thing that many people think of when they decide they want a home cinema system. Recently I put together this Klipsch Cinema 600 vs Sonos Arc which is better? article and there the Sonos Arc was the clear winner, but this time Klipsch is bringing in the big guns!

The Price

Neither one of these are cheap, but there is a pretty damn big price difference between these two. In all honesty, starting this Klipsch Cinema 1200 vs Sonos Arc contents out looking at the prices of the two of them may make people make their mind up before reading anything else! These are two very premium products so yes, they are expensive, but I do not feel they are out of line with their respective prices.

Klipsch Cinema 1200:

The going rate for the Klipsch Cinema 1200 from what I can tell is $1,899. That is certainly a massive increase over what the Sonos Arc is going for! Of course, you do have to factor in that you are getting a subwoofer and also a set of rear speakers for this. It is a complete surround sound system and one that also offers Dolby Atmos so this was always going to be very expensive. I did have a look on eBay and it was a freaking nightmare. To start with, people are trying to sell just the subwoofer, just the soundbar, or just the rear speakers. It makes looking for this on there a real pain in the butt if I am being honest with you.

Sonos Arc: 

As of me writing this the Sonos Arc is currently priced at $799.99 which is the RRP for this soundbar. The price does tend to go between this and $899.99 on Amazon which is weird, as much as I love this soundbar, I would not pay that extra 100 Amazon sometimes ask for it. If you go on eBay, you can find a few deals on three, but you are probably looking at saving 50 bucks at much. The real thing you notice here is that it is massively cheaper than the Klipsch Cinema 600. You could even add the Sonos Sub to this and it would still be around the same price!

The Verdict: 

I came to this expecting to flat out say that the Sonos Arc is the clear winner here. However, I must say that the asking price for the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is not bad when you consider it has a subwoofer, rear speakers and also offers Dolby Atmos. Hmm, this is a tough one, but I do think if you have the budget for the Klipsch Cinema 1200, you may be better getting the Arc along with the Sonos Sub. Heck, you can even get a full surround set called the Surround Set with Arc + Sub which I think would truly bring the cinema experience home.

The Design

I like the design of both of these so this category in our Klipsch Cinema 1200 vs Sonos Arc battle is going to be very competitive. I think that some people underestimate how important the design of a soundbar is. This is going to be on full display so you want to make sure you have something you do not mind looking at all the time.

Klipsch Cinema 1200:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=URrKwKOg4GQ

The actual soundbar for the Klipsch Cinema 1200 looks very similar to the Klipsch Cinema 600.  This is a massive soundbar coming in at 54 x 17 x 9.5 inches. Have a look at this Klipsch Cinema 1200 Dolby Atmos Soundbar Review | Massive Sound video if you want to get an idea of just how large this thing is! The whole soundbar has a very, very premium feel to it. Klipsch well and truly went above and beyond with this thing and I think that they have made this as high-quality as they possibly could all the while keeping the price under 2 grand. Now, the thing with this is that I love the design, I love the dark black I love the grill and the Dolby Atmos speakers on the top. However, like the 600, I just do not like the side speakers. They really do stick out and not in a way I like. I would be cool with them if they were the same shade of black as the rest of the soundbar.

As this is a surround sound system, we have some other stuff to talk about. I love and I mean love the design of the subwoofer and the rear speakers. These have that Klipsch style and quality and they feel amazing. As well as having a high-quality feel to them, they also look great too. I actually prefer the look of the subwoofer and those rear speakers over the actual soundbar. They fit in with the soundbar very well and if it were not for those side speakers on the soundbar, it would truly be a perfect fit. If you have a home theatre, I think that as a package, you are going to be very happy with how this whole thing looks.

Around the back of the Klipsch Cinema 1200, we have three HDMI ports including your HDMI arc of course. You do also have your USB port in case there is any update that you need to do. There is no optical port on here, but who the heck buys something like this and does not want to use Dolby Atmos. I think that the back is fine and clearly Klipsch has made this with the intent of people using it for Dolby Atmos.

Sonos Arc: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjapPl9Z8Ko

I came across this Why You SHOULD Get The Sonos ARC in 2021 (Unboxing and Review) video which I think does a great job of showing off why so many people love the design that the Sonos Arc has. At 45 inches long this is pretty large so you will want to make sure it fits between the legs of your TV and is not having off the edge of your TV unit! The dimensions of this soundbar are 3.4” x 45” x 4.5” and when you first take it out of the box, it is very impressive the way the thing feels. It has a very, very premium kind of feel to it and it just feels like an incredible piece of tech in your hands. One of the things I think is neat about the Sonos Arc is that there are two models available for you. I have used the black one and love it, but there is also a white version. I do worry about that white version getting a bit grubby over time so that could be something you do need to consider before buying this.

One of the things that I always say I like about the Sonos Arc is how curvy and sleek the whole body is. They have gone for a plastic grill here and the way it curves up and down the front of the soundbar is very, very sleek. I cannot imagine that there would be anyone who would not be happy with having this sitting out on display in their living room or home theatre. I really do like what Sonos has done here and when they do eventually come out with a follow up to this, I have to imagine they will use a very similar design. The design is one of the things that is always universally praised about this.

Sonos have made the Sonos Arc with people who want Dolby Atmos in mind. That is why there is no optical port on the back of here, only an HDMI one. Look, I completely get it I really do. However, Sonos has you covered if you want to use an optical cable as they give you an HDMI to optical cable. Just remember, this does take away Dolby Atmos’ functionality. You do also have a USB port on here in case there are any updates that need to be installed.

The Verdict: 

Soundbar to soundbar the Sonos Arc wins this round hands down! I am not a fan at all of these speakers on the side of the Klipsch Cinema 1200. The rest of the soundbar looks great and I love the design of the rear speakers and the subwoofer. However, the soundbar is something that I think would bother me due to the speakers on the side of it. The Sonos Arc on the other hand is just a very sexy and cool soundbar that I have zero complaints about in regards to its design.

The Sound

We are coming to the main event of this Klipsch Cinema 1200 vs Sonos Arc battle which is more epic than Freddy vs. Jason! These are two heavyweights from their respective companies and this is going to be a very interesting round. In theory, you would think that the Klipsch Cinema 1200 wins this hands down, but the Sonos Arc has more than a few tricks up its sleeve to try and combat the full surround sound the 1200 offers.

Klipsch Cinema 1200:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5I5SS9pxbHk

The intent of the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is to bring the cinema experience home and this does that. Have a look at this Klipsch Cinema 1200 | Dolby Atmos 5.1.4 Sound Bar + Surround Sound System | Tips & Tricks guide which gives you some neat tricks to get the best sound out of the unit. I think that this gives you that cinema sound you are seeking. The actual soundbar is great, one of the best that Klipsch offers, and we have to start by talking about Dolby Atmos. Captain Marvel is a movie I really like and it has a great Dolby Atmos track when you crank the volume up. I was impressed with it here, but it just is not as prominent as the Sonos Arc. To be fair, I am much more familiar with the Arc than I am this so perhaps over time I would warm to the Dolby Atmos that this offers. A movie like Captain Marvel as it is sci-fi based has some great sound effects that really do showcase how awesome Dolby Atmos is.

As the Klipsch Cinema 1200 offers full surround sound I want to talk about a movie that really will showcase that, Interstellar. I saw this in the theatre and I can hand on heart say that the wormhole scene sounded just as good through the 1200 as it did in the theatre. When you watch a movie that is designed with surround sounds in mind like Interstellar or the epic Baby Driver just to name two. Really will make you appreciate movies so much more. I have used many surround sound systems and I can honestly tell you that this is one of the best. I think if you have a proper home theater, having this as your sound system is going to make you very happy.

There are many different settings that you can play around with on the Klipsch Cinema 1200 and that is fun to mess with. Thanks to the subwoofer, you are getting a nice thumping bass here. I recently picked up the Bloodsport/Time Cop Blu Ray two pack and was very impressed with the bass when the time travel bubble happened in Time Cop. I do also have to say that dialogue is also amazing through here. You can have a “clear voice” type setting on if you want the dialogue to be really clear. However, no matter what setting you have on, the dialogue is exceptionally clear.

Sonos Arc:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8x8nAOO8M38

This The New Sonos Arc video from Sonos gives you an idea of why so many people love this soundbar! I have to say that each time I have used the Sonos Arc, the more I have been impressed. The Dolby Atmos this provides is truly great and manages to make you feel like you are engulfed in sound. A movie like Jumanji: Welcome To The Jungle has a fantastic Dolby Atmos track that really showcases why Dolby Atmos is the way of the future when it comes to bringing the cinema experience at home. I have had the pleasure to play around with many different Dolby Atmos soundbars over the last couple of years and I have to say that the Sonos Arc truly is one of the best. I have said this before, but a local electronics store uses the Arc to try and show people how you can now have cinema style sound at home!

One other aspect of the Sonos Arc that is phenomenal is the way it handles dialogue. A movie that had me on the edge of my seat was Gravity which is just a fantastic movie. The way that even when people are talking quietly the Arc is able to make sure you hear every syllable is truly incredible. Of course, when there is shouting or something loud happening where there is also talking, it handles it all perfectly. The way this thing mixes sound is truly amazing and this is without even messing with any of the settings which you can do via the app which you have to download in order to use all of the advanced features the Sonos Arc offers.

I did talk about how you can buy the Sonos Sub before which is a truly amazing subwoofer. While the Sonos Arc can clearly not match what the 1200 is offering in terms of bass. I think that the soundbar still holds its own when it comes to bass. You are not going to get big booming bass as you would with a dedicated subwoofer, but I think this is still pretty impressive. Staying with space for a moment, Apollo 13 when played with this is great, especially the launching sequence. I have watched this with a soundbar and a dedicated subwoofer before and I can tell you that the Arc did manage to hold its own here.

The Verdict: 

Is it really fair to put just a soundbar up against a full surround sound setup? I would probably have to say no. Look, if you want cinema quality surround sound the clear winner here is the Klipsch Cinema 1200. The Dolby Atmos may not be as good as what the Sonos Arc is offering. However, those rear speakers and the dedicated subwoofer really do add a great deal to the overall sound experience you are getting. If you are not bothered about having surround sound and just want the Dolby Atmos, the Arc is the winner here.  

The Remote Control

I always like to talk about the remote control in these contests and this Klipsch Cinema 1200 vs Sonos Arc fight is no different. I have talked about the Sonos Arc a number of times here and I always and I mean always say the same thing! You probably know what to expect here, but let’s take a closer look at how you will be controlling both of these soundbars.

Klipsch Cinema 1200: I am a pretty big fan of the remote controls that Klipsch makes and the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is very fitting for the system. It has a kind of curvy design that feels great to hold and it is not overloaded with buttons, but it is very easy to get the sound just the way that you want it. There is an app that you can download and use with the soundbar which can give you more control. However, for most people, the remote control is going to be more than fine.

Sonos Arc: Sonos decided that no one wanted a remote control anymore so the Sonos Arc does not come with one! You can control this with your voice if you want, but I hate this, and as I have a Scottish accent this and my Alexa that I have at home always struggle to understand me! Anyway, Sonos has this incredible app that you need to download to your phone or tablet. You have complete control over your soundbar with this and it is pretty awesome how you can mess around and tinker with different settings to get the sound just the way that is perfect for you. The app is great, it really is. However, give me a remote control Sonos! Even if it was something basic, a remote control should have been included here.

The Verdict: Klipsch is stepping out of the ring and taking the prize money here! It is not even just by default as the remote control that comes with the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is a great remote. It is well made, has a sleek and cool design and it gives you the perfect amount of control over your 1200. The app that Sonos has created is great, but I do not always like to have my phone next to me when I am watching a movie so it is a pain in the butt for me!

What Is In The Box?

Make sure you know what to expect when you bust open these boxes! Here you can see what you are getting for your money with both of these. This way you can know if you need to have anything else before your new soundbar arrives.

Klipsch Cinema 1200: Due to the actual soundbar being massive, the subwoofer, and the extra rear speakers, the Klipsch Cinema 1200 comes in a massive box. If my kids were home when this thing arrived they would have had a great time with the box! Inside the box, Klipsch has made sure that you have all you need to get up and running. You get batteries for the remote and you also get an HDMI cable as well so it is ready to be connected to your TV right away.

Sonos Arc: As this is just a soundbar the box is considerably smaller than the box for the Klipsch Cinema 1200. Still, the box for the Sonos Arc is pretty damn long! Inside here you get the Arc, its power cable, and the instruction manual. They give you a decent quality HDMI cable in the box too. One thing that I always praise Sonos for is having an HDMI to optical cable converter so people who do want to use an optical cable can do so.

The Verdict: While the Arc gives you all that you need to get this thing hooked up to your TV and experience Dolby Atmos. I do have to give this round to the Klipsch Cinema 1200 which comes in a huge ass box, but it has a ton of stuff inside of it. To be fair, this round actually should have been a tie as they both come with exactly what you need.  

What Is The Best?

Here we are at the end of our Klipsch Cinema 1200 vs Sonos Arc contest and it has been very interesting. Trying to pick a winner between the Klipsch Cinema 1200 and the Sonos Arc is pretty tough as they both offer a different experience. I will always be a huge advocate for the Sonos Arc. If you want a soundbar that offers you great Dolby Atmos, you are not going to be disappointed with what this is offering. Straight up, I prefer the level of Dolby Atmos that the Arc provides over the 1200. However, I am a cinema lover at the end of the day, and getting a surround sound experience like the Klipsch Cinema 1200 is offering is truly amazing. I have to say that straight up the 1200 I feel offers a more cinema like experience than the Arc. Also, even with the massive price, I still think that it is offering great value for money.

However, I do have to say that if you have the kind of money that the 1200 is going for. I do think you may want to consider purchasing the Surround Set with Arc + Sub. Yes, it is very expensive, but it could be a good alternative to the Klipsch Cinema 1200.

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