Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Arc: Should You Upgrade?

Which Sonos Soundbar is Right For You?

The Sonos Arc Ultra landed in late 2024, bringing improvements in sound quality, bass performance, and immersion. But is it worth upgrading from the original Sonos Arc? Or, if you can still find the Arc at a good price while both models are on the market, is it worth the extra budget? In this guide, we’ll compare the two models and help you decide whether the step up to the Arc Ultra is the right move for you.

The Sonos Arc Ultra replaces the Sonos Arc as the new flagship soundbar for the brand, sitting above the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and Sonos Ray in the lineup.

Key Differences: Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Arc

Design and Features

Build quality and aesthetics

Sonos maintains its signature modern aesthetic with the Arc Ultra. At first glance, it does look very similar to the original Arc. It maintains the sleek, minimalist design but is slightly slimmer and lighter. A new, updated slide control for volume adjustment enhances usability, and the refined design ensures it blends seamlessly into any living space.

Connectivity enhancements

While maintaining the usual Wi-Fi connectivity for a seamless at-home experience, the Arc Ultra also introduces Bluetooth connectivity, a long-awaited addition for users who want more versatile streaming options. We also still get HDMI eARC for high-quality audio transmission. Some users may be disappointed that Sonos has not included HDMI passthrough, which could be a drawback for those with more complex home theater setups.

There is also no DTS:X on the Sonos Arc Ultra which may also be a disappointment for some consumers who have been requesting this feature for a while now. It does appear there's not enough demand to add this to their soundbars as they focus on the most popular codecs used in streaming, broadcast and gaming.

Arc Ultra also offers Spotify Connect, Airplay 2, Tidal Connect and voice control with Sonos Voice or Amazon Alexa. The only things missing are Chromecast and support for Google Assistant.

Sonos' room optimisation software, Trueplay Tuning, is slightly different with the Arc Ultra vs the Arc. Android Users can now benefit from optimised performance with a new Quick Tuning version which using the builtin mics in the soundbar itself. Apple users can continue to use Trueplay Tuning via the Sonos app on an iOS device.

Sound Performance: How much of an upgrade?

While the Arc Ultra looks very similar to the original Arc from the outside, there has been a lot of changes under the hood. We step up from a 5.0.2 setup to a 9.1.4 arrangement. We go from 11 Class D amplifiers on the Arc to 15 Class-D amplifiers on the Arc Ultra and a completely reconfigured arrangement of speakers.

A major change with the Arc Ultra is the addition of a new Sound Motion woofer. This is a big step up in innovation, enabling the soundbar to deliver up to double the bass output of Sonos Arc (estimated at 50Hz) within the same slim form factor. 

Overall for movies and TV content, the Arc Ultra delivers a noticeable improvement over the Arc. The number of channels, the immersion, the bass levels and the vocal performance are all a step up and in total contribute to a 30 - 40% better sound performance. 

Bass performance

As expected from the internal changes, the Arc Ultra delivers a noticeable improvement in bass response. The Sound Motion woofer helps the Arc Ultra deliver a punchier, more controlled low-end. While it doesn’t match a dedicated subwoofer, it delivers the best bass performance we've heard from a standalone soundbar of this size.

Vocals and dialogue clarity

The new internal speaker configuration improves midrange performance, ensuring vocals come through with more weight and clarity. A new version of Sonos’ Speech Enhancement feature enhances dialogue, making voices crisper and more defined, especially in action-heavy films.

Immersion and Dolby Atmos

The biggest improvement in immersion comes from the Arc Ultra’s reconfigured drivers and the addition of extra speakers. This allows for more precise sound steering, improving overhead effects and creating a wider, more enveloping soundstage. The increased number of height and surround channels results in a more three-dimensional listening experience, making movies and games feel more dynamic and spatially accurate.

With a 9.1.4 speaker setup (compared to the Arc’s 5.0.2), the Arc Ultra significantly improves surround effects. Height channels steer audio more precisely, creating a wider, more immersive soundstage. Whether it’s overhead effects like helicopters flying or ambient environmental details, the Arc Ultra does a better job at bringing sound into the room.

Music Performance

The Arc Ultra is no longer just a movie-centric soundbar—it delivers an enhanced music listening experience. The Sound Motion woofer provides deeper bass extension, making genres like electronic, rock, and jazz sound more robust.

Additionally, improved midrange clarity ensures vocals and acoustic instruments come through with greater warmth and detail. The original Arc was often seen as cinema-focused, so it’s great to see Sonos making improvements for music playback.

Podcasts and audiobooks also benefit from the upgrades, making dialogue richer and more natural-sounding.

Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Arc in a Home Cinema Setup

For those using the original Arc with a Sonos Sub and Era 300 surrounds, the question remains: does replacing the Arc with the Arc Ultra make a difference?

Surprisingly, yes. The Arc Ultra adds noticeable clarity and presence to dialogue while offering better bass integration. Previously, deep male voices could be slightly affected by the crossover with the Sub, but Sonos has adjusted the crossover frequency from 110Hz (on Arc) to 70Hz (on Arc Ultra), ensuring a cleaner bass response.

The overall soundstage is boosted with the Arc Ultra, making the front channels feel more immersive with better weight and depth, particularly in larger rooms.

Of course, the difference isn't as profound as comparing the two soundbars on their own. However the Sonos Arc Ultra, Sub 4 and 2 x Era 300 speaker bundle is the best cinematic package from Sonos available to this date.

Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Arc: Final Verdict

Pros:

✅ Improved bass with Sound Motion woofer
✅ Enhanced dialogue clarity & Speech Enhancement advancements
✅ Greater immersion with 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos setup
✅ Bluetooth connectivity for added flexibility
✅ Better overall music performance

Cons:

❌ Still no HDMI passthrough
❌ Cost to upgrade
❌ Not a "must-upgrade" for recent Arc purchasers

The Arc Ultra provides a clear performance boost over the original Arc, but the decision to upgrade depends on user priorities.

For casual users or more budget-conscious buyers, investing a further £999 when you already have an award-winning soundbar in the Sonos Arc might not be worth it. The original Arc is a great sounding soundbar and if you're happy with the performance, it will continue to deliver a impressive sound performance for your content.

For home cinema enthusiasts or music lovers who have the budget to take the next step up, you will find value in the noticeable improvements to performance. For those who prioritise top sound performance, the Arc Ultra would be a solid investment. Even better if you can find another room to use your original Arc in, or even make some money back on it. Of course, we do offer 30 day extended returns so you can test it out for yourself, risk free.

Other Useful Content

Blog: Sonos Arc Ultra Review: The Dolby Atmos Soundbar To Beat?

Blog: Best Dolby Atmos Soundbars 2025: The Complete Buyer's Guide

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