The Complete Sonos Arc Ultra Buyer’s Guide
Following four and a half years of success with the original Arc, Sonos is back with a new flagship Dolby Atmos soundbar: the Sonos Arc Ultra. Being marketed as “the soundbar reinvented,’ this ambitious new product aims to raise the bar for soundbar performance once again. But does it deliver? That’s what we’re hoping to find out in this review.
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Haven't got the time to read? Watch our Sonos Arc Ultra Review on YouTube.
Ready for a deep dive? This blog is packed with info. Use the links below to jump to the good stuff! 👇
Sonos Arc Ultra vs. Sonos Arc: Should You Upgrade?
Despite looking similar to the original, the Sonos Arc Ultra represents a significant upgrade to Sonos' flagship soundbar. This is much more than an incremental upgrade; Arc Ultra has been designed to deliver an even more immersive and detailed audio experience.
Key Improvements Include:
- Enhanced Acoustic Architecture: The Arc Ultra features a new 14-driver array, including their new dedicated SoundMotion™ woofer for deeper bass and improved overall sound quality.
- Support for 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos Surround Sound: With more surround channels and wider soundstage, the Arc Ultra blows its predecessors five-channel phased array out of the water with immersive 9.1.4 ch Dolby Atmos Surround sound
- Improved Centre Channel Clarity with Adanced Speech Enhancement: Sonos’ new acoustic architecture maximises centre channel performance in Arc Ultra, therefore offering better vocal clarity and dialogue for movies and TV. They’ve also revamped their Speech Enhancement feature giving you more control over the dialogue.
- Bluetooth 5.3 Connectivity: A long-awaited addition, following the likes of the Sonos Era 100 and Era 300, the Arc Ultra now supports Bluetooth 5.3.
- Updated Trueplay Tuning: Trueplay Tuning, the room optimisation technology, now supports both Android and iOS devices.
For a deeper dive into the specific improvements, read on or check out our blog post, Sonos Arc Ultra & Sub 4 Announced: Everything We Know So Far.
Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Arc: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
We get it. It's natural to feel a bit of FOMO when an exciting new product like the Sonos Arc Ultra is released. But, while it's a significant upgrade, it's not necessarily a must-have for everyone.
Having said that, if you’re looking for the next step in upgrading your performance, then the Arc Ultra is definitely worth taking a look at. You’re levelling up in the number of channels, the immersion, the bass and the vocals, and while it’s not a night-and-day difference, there is a noticeable step up in performance, which, if we had to estimate, would be around 30-40% better overall.
If you've recently invested in the original Sonos Arc, there's no urgent need to rush out and upgrade. But for those who have the budget or who are considering selling their old Arc or moving it into another space, then we think you’ll be happy with the upgrade.
Read More: Sonos Arc Review: Is It Worth It In 2024?
Sonos Arc Ultra: Price
The Sonos Arc Ultra lands with an RRP of £999, a £100 price increase over its predecessor. Understandably, the increased cost might cause a few concerns, but it's worth thinking about the competition in this case.
When compared to the price of other premium soundbars on the market, like the Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 (£1399 / $1400 / AU$1795), for example, the Arc Ultra still feels well positioned. Plus, when you consider the wealth of upgrades we’ve had over the original Arc, an extra £100 isn't a massive leap up in price for those upgrades.
We'll delve deeper into whether the Arc Ultra is truly worth the extra investment throughout this review. But, based on first impressions, the addition of SoundMotion™ technology, Bluetooth, enhanced 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos surround sound, and more, you can certainly begin to argue that this is a significant upgrade that’s worthy of the increase in cost.
For those interested, the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 are both available now over on our website. They also come with our 6-Year Extended Sonos Warranty, Free Next Day Delivery* and 30-day return policy for added peace of mind when you shop with us too.
Sonos Arc Ultra: Design
Straight out of the box, it’s clear that the Sonos Arc Ultra has been cut from the same cloth as the original Arc. We’ve still got the same sleek curves, wraparound grille and elongated design, but the Arc Ultra also benefits from a new back panel, which houses the soundbar’s touch controls including a voice control toggle, playback controls and a new volume slider.
The Arc’s back panel is equally as straightforward as the predecessors; you'll find an HDMI eARC/ARC port for your Dolby Atmos support, a new Bluetooth pairing button, an Ethernet port, AC power input and a new hard switch to mute the soundbar’s microphones—a nice touch from Sonos, especially for users who appreciate that extra bit of privacy.
In terms of physical dimensions, there's really not much in it. The Arc Ultra is slightly wider and slightly deeper than the Arc, and it’s also a bit slimmer, which is impressive considering the upgraded internals—but more on that later.
Overall, the subtle refinements to the design are a welcome addition. We’re big fans of Sonos’ decision to retain the sleek form factor and think it looks equally impressive on a TV unit or wall-mounted, and the inclusion of a back panel is a particularly useful upgrade, as it provides easier access to the volume and other controls.
While on the topic of wall mounting, if you're upgrading from the original Arc and wondering about mount compatibility, the Arc Ultra can technically be mounted using the old Sonos Arc bracket.
However, due to slight dimensional differences between the two soundbars, the old wall mount will protrude slightly on either side when used with the Arc Ultra. This is only noticeable up close and shouldn't be an issue during regular viewing, but if you’re after a perfect fit, we’d recommend taking a look at the specific Arc Ultra Wall Mount instead.
Sonos Arc Ultra: Connectivity
When it comes to connectivity, the Arc Ultra has built on its predecessor’s already impressive feature set by adding Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity to the mix—a long-awaited change, especially for Sonos fans who prefer this type of direct device streaming.
Of course, as with all Sonos products, the Arc Ultra also opens up wider streaming support for music, radio, podcasts, audiobooks and more via Wi-Fi using the Sonos App. Plus, there’s also support for Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2 and Voice Control via either Sonos Voice or Amazon Alexa. Unfortunately though, just like a lot of Sonos’ latest releases, there’s no Google Assistant functionality on this model.
Now, just like the original Arc, you can connect your TV to the soundbar via HDMI eARC for optimal Dolby Atmos audio or use a standard HDMI ARC connection if eARC isn't available. For older TVs, an optical cable with a Sonos HDMI ARC to Optical Adaptor (sold separately) can also be used; just remember, you won’t be getting the most out of the soundbar if it’s not eARC.
Why No DTS:X or HDMI Passthrough?
The Sonos Arc Ultra doesn't offer support for DTS:X, which we know has been a request by some in the Sonos community before.
We reached out to Sonos to ask why DTS:X support is missing, who shared that they focused on the most popular codecs used in streaming, broadcast and gaming. So it sounds like they don't feel there is enough demand right now. Worth noting though, as that could be a dealbreaker for those of you who feel DTS:X is a priority.
Additionally, the lack of HDMI passthrough on the Arc Ultra might surprise some. That said, Sonos has always prioritised a simpler setup approach, and while that would’ve been a 'nice to have' feature, it stays pretty consistent with their overall design philosophy.
Sonos Arc Ultra: Additional Features
The Arc Ultra was quick and easy to set up. Once we’d plugged it into the mains, connected it to our TV via HDMI, and fired up the updated Sonos app, we were guided through the entire process. Once setup, there are a few key features we’d recommend exploring in the app:
Adjustable EQ & Loudness Toggle:
Within the Sonos app, you can fine-tune your listening experience with adjustable bass and treble sliders. For optimal sound at lower volumes, use the loudness toggle. Before making any adjustments, we recommend running Trueplay (see below) to tailor the sound to your specific room.
Trueplay Tuning:
Trueplay tuning is Sonos’ room optimisation software and by far the quickest way to give your Sonos Arc Ultra an instant performance boost. We’d recommend running this as Trueplay analyses your room's acoustics and optimises the sound for your exact space. **Plus, it's now compatible with both Apple and Android devices, making it more accessible than ever.
Advanced Speech Enhancement:
Designed to improve dialogue clarity, Sonos’ Speech Enhancement feature has had an upgrade that’s currently only available on the Sonos Arc Ultra. Rather than a simple on and off toggle, there are now three specific levels to choose from on Sonos’ latest flagship soundbar.
- Low = A slight boost to voices and addresses “minor mix issues”.
- Medium = An improved version of Sonos’ original speech enhancement feature. (A step up on the speech enhancement setting on the original Arc).
- High = An even more pronounced setting for those who prioritise dialogue that edits the overall sound experience
Given the impressive vocal clarity of the Arc Ultra already, we typically switched between the lowest level of speech enhancement or turning it off entirely. It would be great to see this advanced feature added to the other Sonos soundbars via a software update in the future, but we’ll have to wait and see if that’s on the way.
Night Mode:
Night Mode is another handy feature that reduces the impact of loud sound effects like crashes and explosions, perfect for late-night viewing without disturbing others. If you’re after a completely private listening experience, pairing the Arc Ultra with Sonos Ace headphones is another great option too.
Read More: How To Connect Sonos Ace to a Soundbar with TV Audio Swap
Sonos Arc Ultra: Internals
When it comes to the Sonos Arc Ultra’s internals, this soundbar hasn’t just undergone your standard generational update; it's had a complete overhaul.
Arc Ultra boasts a pretty much completely new configuration inside, which is how it can offer a 9.1.4ch soundstage where the Arc is limited to 5.1.2.
Key Upgrades at a Glance:
- Increased Driver Count: Increased from 11 to 14 drivers, including 7 tweeter waveguides, 6 mid-bass drivers and a new SoundMotion™ bass woofer.
- SoundMotion™ Technology: The Arc Ultra's standout feature is its SoundMotion™ woofer. This innovative technology, developed following Sonos' acquisition of Mayht Holding BV back in 2022, allows for a slimmer driver design that can deliver double the bass output of the original Arc, estimated at around 50 Hz.
- More Amplification: A total of 15 Class-D amplifiers now power the Arc Ultra’s drivers (the original Arc had 11), with two dedicated to driving the new SoundMotion™ woofer.
How It Works:
The original Arc used a simple driver configuration with one mid-bass driver and one tweeter for the front left, right, and centre channels with an additional mid-bass driver for the heights and surrounds.
The Arc Ultra, on the other hand, switches things up, stepping up to 9.1.4 surround sound configuration. Its front row utilises six mid-bass drivers with beam-forming technology and DSP (Digital Signal Processing) to project sound directly towards the listener, to the sides and upwards, while seven tweeter waveguides precisely place detailed sound around your room.
The other key innovation is the addition of the SoundMotion™ Woofer. Without getting too technical, this woofer places its motors at the edges of the driver and utilises force-cancelling cones to minimise vibrations. This enables the Arc Ultra to produce considerably more powerful, cleaner bass from a much smaller driver.
Sonos has called this “one of the most significant breakthroughs in audio engineering in almost 100 years" because, along with offering improved bass, it also helps the soundbar offer a more powerful, balanced sound overall too.
How? Well, by offloading the low-frequency duties to the dedicated SoundMotion™ Woofer, the Arc Ultra’s mid-bass drivers are able to focus more on delivering more precise mid-range, resulting in a richer and more detailed soundstage across the board.
Sonos Arc Ultra Review: Sound Performance
From our testing, we’ve highlighted the five key takeaways that made this soundbar stand out when it came to sound performance. To hear it for yourself, check out our full sound test on YouTube.
✓ Powerful, Balanced Bass Response
✓ Enhanced Vocal Clarity
✓ Precise Sound Placement & More Realistic Spatial Audio Experience
✓ Upgraded Height Channels
✓ Superb Handling of Both Music & Movies
Sonos Arc Ultra Sound Performance For Movies:
Despite the similar-looking exteriors, the Sonos Arc Ultra is a big step up on the performance of the Sonos Arc for movies, offering a more immersive, detailed, and powerful soundstage overall.
Straight out of the box, we were impressed by the Arc Ultra's powerful bass performance, especially considering its slim design. While it won’t quite match the performance of a dedicated subwoofer like the Sonos Sub Mini or Sonos Sub 4, it delivers punchy, powerful low-end that outperforms a lot of other standalone soundbars in this category.
A larger soundbar like the Sennheiser Ambeo Max will offer even deeper bass, but for its size, the Arc Ultra punches well above its weight, even rivalling some of the high-end performers like the Devialet Dione.
Vocals and dialogue were another standout, even impressing without the speech enhancement feature turned on. Obviously, you can level up from there, but the extra clarity and realism were noticeable throughout our testing, and it made it easier to follow intricate plot lines, whether we were binge-watching shows like ‘Game of Thrones’’ or enjoying the fast-paced action scenes of ‘Dune: Part Two’.
As mentioned, Arc Ultra has a very different configuration for height and surrounds, and again, this was observable in testing. It steers the audio better in your space, and we definitely were able to pick up on the extra channels.
It offers a wider soundstage than the previous Arc, and it fills the space better. Plus, it’s harder to pinpoint where the audio is coming from, making it feel as if there are more speakers around the room.
This was particularly notable in the intro sequence of "Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga." The birds and insects surrounding the characters seemed to extend into the room, creating a more immersive experience.
Sonos Arc Ultra Sound Performance For Music:
We’ve also done a lot of testing with the Arc Ultra for music too, and again, its a big step up in performance from the Arc, with many of the same improvements being noticeable.
The bass definitely offers a more balanced and well-rounded sound, and the vocals are a standout feature too. The Arc Ultra was also particularly strong with Dolby Atmos music and spatial audio content, and we’ve also been impressed with the clarity for both podcasts and audiobooks.
The previous Sonos Arc did have some critics when it came to music playback, and its good to see that Sonos have addressed this and definitely taken a leap forward with Arc Ultra. That said, if we had to make a recommendation, a pair of Sonos Era 300s or a pair of Sonos Fives will be preferable for those looking for an out-and-out music setup from Sonos.
Sonos Arc Ultra Review: Sonos Soundbar Comparisons
Sonos Ray
While it’s no match for the Sonos Arc Ultra, for those seeking an ultra-compact Sonos soundbar for smaller rooms, the Sonos Ray is a great choice.
Although it's nowhere near capable of matching the sheer power and immersive soundstage of the Arc Ultra, it still delivers impressive audio performance for its size, and it's a brilliant option for bedrooms, offices, or smaller living spaces where a full-sized soundbar might be overkill.
Read More: Our Comprehensive Sonos Ray Review
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is an award-winning soundbar for good reason, and with an RRP of £449, its a great value choice that’s hugely popular among audio fans.
That said, while the Beam (Gen 2) features three front-firing and two side-firing drivers, enabling it to deliver three-dimensional Dolby Atmos sound, it lacks dedicated upward-firing drivers. To compensate, it relies on psychoacoustic technology to simulate overhead sound. Which, while impressive, won’t match the immersive impact of the Arc Ultra's dedicated height channels.
For us, the Arc Ultra has definitely widened the gap between Sonos' flagship and mid-range soundbars, and while the Beam (Gen 2) is still an exceptional choice for small-to-medium-sized rooms, if you’re after the best performance, the Arc Ultra is the way to go.
Read More: Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review: Is It Worth It in 2024?
Sonos Arc Ultra Review: Best Home Cinema Upgrades
The true power of Sonos lies in its ecosystem. By adding a Sonos subwoofer, a pair of Sonos surround sound rears, or both, you can elevate your home cinema experience. While there's no one-size-fits-all answer, the best configuration depends on your personal preferences, space, and budget.
We'll share our tips on how to get the most out of your Sonos Arc Ultra below. But for those eager to dive deeper, explore our range of Sonos Home Cinema Bundles to find the perfect setup for your needs.
Sonos Arc Ultra: Adding Sonos Surround Sound Rears
For us, the Arc Ultra’s newly enhanced bass performance has changed the game when considering your next home cinema upgrade. Instead of prioritising a subwoofer, we’d recommend a pair of Sonos Era 300 rears as your first step.
Of course, a pair of Sonos Era 100’s is a more than viable option, but the combination of the Arc Ultra and Era 300's creates a truly immersive cinematic experience that’s hard to beat.
The way the height and surround channels work together is great, allowing for more immersion when the sound is coming from all around you, and it’s actually a great cinema setup for anyone who might be concerned about a separate sub being a step too far.
Other Sonos Surround Sound Rear Speakers:
Note: To use in-wall or in-ceiling speakers, you will need a Sonos Amp to connect them wirelessly for a completely clutter-free setup.
Read More: Sonos Era 300 vs Sonos Five: Which Premium Speaker is Best?
Sonos Arc Ultra: Adding A Sonos Subwoofer
For those who crave even deeper bass, adding a Sonos subwoofer to the Arc Ultra is still a great option. While the Arc Ultra's built-in Sound Motion™ woofer delivers impressive bass for its size, a subwoofer can provide a more impactful experience.
Built to deliver more than just bass, these subwoofers are also designed to take the load of the lowest frequencies from your soundbar and other Sonos speakers. This, in turn, will afford your Sonos Arc Ultra more processing power to deal with dialogue and midrange much more effectively.
Sonos currently offers three compatible subwoofers for your home cinema: the compact Sonos Sub Mini, the Sonos Sub (Gen 3) and the new Sonos Sub 4. While all three options can improve your bass experience, the Sub 4 is the standout choice for us, delivering deep, impactful bass that perfectly complements the Arc Ultra. For those seeking even more bass, you can pair two Sub 4s or a Sub 4 with a Sub Gen 3 to create a truly seismic low-end performance, though just be wary; this could be overkill for certain rooms.
Previously, the crossover point for the previous Arc and Sub was around 110 Hz, which sometimes meant that deeper male vocals could get picked up by the Sub, which we don’t want.
We reached out to Sonos, who clarified that the crossover point for Arc Ultra and Sub is now 70 Hz, so we should get cleaner bass performance from the subwoofer, as both the subwoofer and Sound Motion™ woofer in Arc Ultra will work together to deliver the lower frequencies.
Read More: Sonos Sub Mini vs Sonos Sub: Which Subwoofer is Right For Me?
Sonos Arc Ultra Review: Our Verdict
For us, the Sonos Arc Ultra brings a new conversation around what we can expect from our soundbars, especially thanks to the addition of SoundMotion™.
While there are plenty of soundbars on the market that offer impressive bass or bold sound, they often compromise on design or form factor, which some might not want to sacrifice. The Arc Ultra strikes a perfect balance, offering both a sleek design and powerful audio capabilities.
We can see this being the start of a new chapter in sound innovation where bigger sound and better performance can be achieved in smaller products. Sonos are claiming this is the soundbar reinvented, and we do think this will change the perception of what’s possible for soundbars in the future.
Is it worth the money? Well, coming in at £999, the Arc Ultra is definitely a premium product. However, when compared to similar offerings from the likes of Bose and Samsung and considering the significant improvements over the previous Arc, you can go a long way to justifying the price tag.
Naturally, we're excited to see how Sonos' innovative technologies, like SoundMotion™ will be implemented in future products. Could we see it in other soundbars, wireless speakers, or even headphones? Who knows! That's a question for another blog. All we can say for certain is Arc Ultra is a worthwhile upgrade, and we can’t wait to spend more time with it!
Other Useful Content
Blog: Sonos Arc Ultra & Sonos Sub 4 Announced: Everything We Know So Far
Video: Sonos Ace Review: We're Surprised
Video: Testing EVERY Sonos Arc Surround Sound Setup
Video: Sonos Buying Guide 2024: What to Buy?
For more information about the Sonos Arc Ultra or any other Sonos products, get in touch and one of our Tech Guides would be happy to help!
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