Audio Install Guide — Clean Mounting + the Audio Rack
Most universal soundbar mounts are bad. The exception is the Sanus model-specific mounts designed for the Sonos Beam and Arc — those sit clean and tight to the TV. Here's the rest of what 22 years of installs taught me about whole-house audio hardware.
The soundbar-mount problem
Most universal soundbar mounts are bad. The bracket is floppy, the soundbar hangs an awkward distance below the TV, the cable management is exposed, and the whole thing wobbles when you walk past. After 22 years of installs, the only mounts I recommend without hesitation are the manufacturer-specific ones designed for a single soundbar model. They sit clean and tight to the TV — the soundbar looks like it grew out of the wall.
Sonos Beam & Arc — the Sanus designed-for mounts
Sanus designed a wall mount specifically for the Sonos Beam, and a separate one for the Sonos Arc. They are thoughtfully designed to sit flat against the wall right under the TV — no floppy bracket, no exposed cable, no awkward gap. Tight, clean, and professional. These are the ONLY soundbar mounts I'll install at a client's house without warning them they may be unhappy with how it looks.
★ Rick's install note
Universal soundbar mounts almost always look like an afterthought. Sanus's Beam and Arc mounts look like Sonos designed them. That's the difference. If you're putting a Beam or Arc on the wall, this is what to use.
Sanus Wall Mount for Sonos Beam (Gen 1 + Gen 2)
Steel construction, designed specifically for the Beam profile. Aluminum cable channel hides power and HDMI runs. Mounts flush to the wall directly under the TV — minimal gap, no floppy bracket. Fits both Beam Gen 1 and Beam Gen 2.
Check on Amazon →Sanus Wall Mount for Sonos Arc & Arc Ultra
Same thoughtful design, sized for the longer Arc / Arc Ultra. Cable channel hides the eARC HDMI and power cables completely. Sits tight under the TV — looks like the soundbar is built into the wall.
Check on Amazon →What about other soundbars?
For most other soundbars, the manufacturer ships its own dedicated mount or partners with someone like Sanus on a model-specific design. Always check the manufacturer's accessories page first. The "universal" mounts at Best Buy are the last resort.
The hierarchy I follow at install:
- Manufacturer-designed model-specific mount (Sanus for Beam/Arc, LG's own brackets for their Atmos bars, etc.) — first choice, every time.
- Sit it on a shelf or TV credenza — sometimes the right answer is to skip the wall mount entirely and put the soundbar on a sturdy media shelf 2-4" below the TV.
- Universal soundbar mount — last resort. Most look cheap. Use only if 1 and 2 aren't options.
In-ceiling and architectural speakers
For whole-house audio that doesn't sit on furniture, in-ceiling speakers are the cleanest answer. Sonos partnered with Sonance for an architectural lineup that pairs with the Sonos Amp ($699). For audiophile setups, B&W, Monitor Audio, and KEF all make excellent in-ceiling drivers that work with any AV receiver or amplifier — not Sonos-specific.
Wiring an existing house for in-ceiling audio is the part most homeowners underestimate. A proper install pulls 16/2 or 14/2 speaker wire through attic and wall cavities to each speaker location, terminates at a central rack or AV closet, and feeds an amplifier. That's a $3,000-$15,000 project depending on house size and wire-runs — a meaningful upgrade most owners only do during renovation or new construction.
The audio rack — what actually belongs in it
For households running serious whole-house audio, the rack lives somewhere out of sight (closet, basement, equipment room). Inside:
- An AV receiver (if you have a theater room with surrounds) — Denon X-series or Marantz Cinema series for HEOS, or any modern AVR for non-HEOS households.
- One or more multi-zone amplifiers if you're driving in-ceiling speakers in multiple rooms. The Sonos Amp drives one zone of architectural speakers; for 6+ zones, dedicated multi-channel amps make more sense.
- The network switch feeding the audio zones — wired Ethernet to every Sonos/Bluesound/WiiM device beats Wi-Fi for reliability.
- A UPS battery backup — saves you from rebooting the entire stack every time the power flickers.