soundbars · Head-to-head
Sonos Arc Ultra ARCG2US1BLK vs ZVOX AV157
Best Dialogue Performance (Premium)
Sonos Arc Ultra ARCG2US1BLK
7.8/10
$1,099.00 at Amazon
Check price at Amazon
The short answer
Sonos Arc Ultra ARCG2US1BLK comes out ahead overall with 7.8/10 against 7.0/10 for the ZVOX AV157. Sonos Arc Ultra ARCG2US1BLK is stronger on dialogue clarity and overall sound quality. ZVOX AV157 is stronger on ease of setup & use for seniors, value and safety, energy & repairability.
- Choose the Sonos Arc Ultra ARCG2US1BLK if: Households willing to spend for top-tier sound, where a family helper can do the app setup, and someone needs hearing-loss-oriented speech enhancement.
- Choose the ZVOX AV157 if: Hard-of-hearing viewers whose older TV has only optical or headphone outputs.
Scores by criterion
| Criterion | Sonos Arc Ultra ARCG2US1BLK | ZVOX AV157 |
|---|---|---|
| Dialogue clarity | 9.2Discrete center channel plus RNID-tuned AI. Praised by RTINGS and Tom's Guide. | 7.5Older TechHive praise, offset by TechRadar's 'unnatural' remark. |
| Dialogue boost range & controls | 8.5Four AI levels aimed at hearing loss. | 8.512 levels plus Output Leveling. |
| Ease of setup & use for seniors | 6.0TV-remote control works after setup, but the app is required and drew a 2024 backlash. | 6.5Single cable, but a separate remote is required. |
| Overall sound quality | 9.59.1.4 Atmos in one box. | 4.5Single-purpose small speaker. |
| Value | 5.0$899-$1,099 is steep if dialogue is the goal. | 6.5$199.99, close to the HDMI-equipped AV835. |
| Safety, energy & repairability | 7.5Sonos discloses lower idle power, screw-based disassembly and halogen-free boards. No recall found. | 8.0Replacement power supply and remotes, renewed units and a 60-day trial. |
Specifications
| Spec | Sonos Arc Ultra ARCG2US1BLK | ZVOX AV157 |
|---|---|---|
| Exact evaluated bar, subwoofer and surround configuration | — | Single AccuVoice AV157 speaker bar; no subwoofer or surrounds |
| Workflow type | — | Standalone single-box TV speaker |
| Dialogue feature | AI Speech Enhancement (RNID-developed) | AccuVoice + SuperVoice |
| Exact US model and regional suffix | — | AV157 |
| Dialogue enhancement levels | 4 levels | 12 levels |
| Soundbar width | — | 432 mm |
| Dedicated center channel / speech driver | Yes | No |
| Soundbar height | — | 86 mm |
| Automatic volume leveling | — | Yes |
| Soundbar depth | — | 74 mm |
| Channel configuration | 9.1.4 | — |
| Meets editorial 800-mm width and 80-mm height filter | — | No |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | No |
| Separate subwoofer included | No | No |
| HDMI ARC/eARC | Yes | No |
| Full HDMI source inputs excluding ARC/eARC return port | — | 0 ports |
| Optical input | — | Yes |
| Bluetooth | Yes | No |
| Width | — | 17 in |
| Physical remote, TV remote, account and app requirements | — | Included remote; no app; mode switch by long press (Digital Trends) |
| Observed direct manufacturer selling price | — | 199.99 USD |
| Verified manufacturer list price, not assumed from a crossed-out reference | — | 249.99 USD |
| Listing, indexed listing, cart, delivery or conflicting-render status | — | zvox.com $199.99 with 60-day trial; Amazon $199.99 from third-party seller (live) |
| Manufacturer direct home-trial period | — | 60 days |
Sonos Arc Ultra ARCG2US1BLK
Pros
- Discrete center channel
- Four-level AI Speech Enhancement developed with RNID
- Excellent music and movie sound with Dolby Atmos
- TV-remote control over eARC after setup
- Lower idle power than the original Arc, per Sonos
Cons
- Very expensive; Best Buy and Walmart have listed it well below Amazon
- Setup requires the Sonos app
- The Sonos app redesign drew complaints, including about accessibility
- Adding a sub or rear speakers costs more
The strongest performer for dialogue and sound overall. Buy it when budget allows and a family helper can do the one-time setup.
Full Sonos Arc Ultra ARCG2US1BLK review →ZVOX AV157
Pros
- Works with optical or 3.5mm TVs
- 12 voice-boost levels
- Output Leveling for ads
- Replacement power supplies, remotes and renewed units sold
- Compact size
Cons
- No HDMI, so the TV remote cannot control it
- Voices can sound unnatural at high boost
- Weak for music and movies
- Needs a second remote
A narrow but useful product. It is best for older TVs, where it can make a real difference to speech.
Full ZVOX AV157 review →Both products are part of our guide The Best Soundbars for Dialogue Clarity and Seniors of 2026, where you can see every pick, how we score and current prices from each retailer.