The Sonos Arc was one of my favourite soundbars of the last few years. Now, the company has upgraded its flagship offering with the Sonos Arc Ultra, so I had to dive in and see if it was worth the investment. Priced at $999, this premium audio device represents a meaningful evolution from its predecessor, offering enhanced features and superior sound quality that justify its position at the top of Sonos’ lineup. But, as with everything at the top tier of audio hardware, it may not be for everyone, even if it delivers amazing sound.
Sonos has brought a very clean, minimalist look to all its recent speakers, and the Arc Ultra is no different. On the surface, this new soundbar looks like a slight adjustment to what we saw before, but the real innovation comes in how the internal speakers work to bring your audio to life. At 46.3 inches wide and 2.9 inches tall, it’s slightly wider but shorter than the original Arc, creating a more streamlined profile that complements modern TV setups, which I am honestly a fan of. The matte-finished cylindrical body and integrated grille preserve what is arguably one of the most elegant soundbar designs available today.
The back of the Arc Ultra resembles the Arc and features a spot for the power cord, a toggle for the microphone, a button for Bluetooth, and a single connection for an eARC HDMI cable. As with the original Arc, you will need a TV that offers an eARC port, or the Arc Ultra, unfortunately, cannot work with your device. This requirement remains unchanged from the previous iteration.
The real audio magic comes from the new internals of the speaker. The Arc Ultra boasts impressive technical credentials with its 9.1.4 channel configuration, supporting a wide range of audio formats, including Dolby Atmos, DTS Digital Surround, and high-resolution audio up to 24-bit/48kHz. If that weren’t enough, Sonos has also added Bluetooth connectivity to the Arc Ultra, addressing a significant limitation of the original Arc and allowing for easier device pairing without requiring Wi-Fi access or the Sonos app.
As I touched on above, the Arc Ultra now features 14 speaker drivers in a 9.1.4 channel configuration, compared to the original Arc’s 11 drivers in a 5.0.2 setup. The Arc Ultra now includes seven tweeters, six midrange drivers, and one woofer, compared to the eight midrange drivers and three tweeters in the Arc. While this may be a lot to take in, suffice it to say the overall sound quality delivered by the Arc Ultra is richer and provides greater clarity, especially in complex audio scenarios, such as action movies or modern TV shows.
This also means that while both soundbars offer Dolby Atmos, the Arc Ultra delivers a more immersive audio experience overall. It is worth noting that this new speaker configuration produces noticeably more bass than its predecessor, even without a separate subwoofer, such as the Sub 4, in the mix.
This new configuration delivers fantastic sound and works well, especially when playing on a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X|S, to bring media to life. Beyond that, the Arc Ultra excels at bringing clarity to your audio, even in dialogue. This is an area where many soundbars fall flat and struggle to bring dialogue to the forefront, but Sonos has achieved this, and it sounds fantastic.
“Sonos has also added Bluetooth connectivity to the Arc Ultra, addressing a significant limitation of the original Arc and allowing for easier device pairing without requiring Wi-Fi access or the Sonos app.”
The centre channel delivers cohesive, intelligible voices that remain clear even without engaging the three-level Speech Enhancement feature. This enhancement is particularly noticeable in content with complex audio mixing or accented dialogue. It even works on movies or shows where it can at times be nearly impossible to catch everything.
Movies on Netflix, along with audio in modern action games on the Series X, all sounded good during testing. This goes beyond the industry-leading clarity of the original Arc—something I am astonished Sonos managed to improve upon.
While I have only touched on it, the gaming performance is particularly impressive with the Arc Ultra, thanks to its precise sound positioning and powerful bass response, which add new dimensions to interactive entertainment. The soundbar’s ability to create a convincing sense of space and movement makes it an excellent choice for gamers seeking immersive audio without a full surround sound setup.
“…the Arc Ultra excels at bringing clarity to your audio, even in dialogue.”
Depending on the types of games you play, it may be more noticeable. However, when games take full advantage of a good sound mix, the Arc Ultra brings them to life, giving each sound—and every haunting creature in the distance—a new sense of terror. I played Silent Hill 2 on the Arc Ultra and was blown away by how it brought each minute sound that might normally be overlooked to the forefront of the experience, delivering a level of immersion not usually found on a soundbar.
While many soundbars boast Dolby Atmos, few actually deliver on it in a significant way. The Sonos Arc managed it, but the Arc Ultra improves on that already impressive offering. When media is optimized for the spec, the Arc Ultra creates a convincing three-dimensional sound stage that extends both vertically and horizontally. The speaker’s ability to project sound above and around the listener is remarkable for a single-unit system, though it becomes truly exceptional when paired with additional Sonos speakers for a complete surround setup.
For testing, I used two Sonos One speakers for the rear audio, with a Sonos Sub 4 working alongside the Arc Ultra. The level of detail delivered was fantastic—it brought media to life in a very full and robust way. While it may not be game-changing if you already own an Arc, for those upgrading from the Sonos Ray or Sonos Beam, the Arc Ultra offers a night-and-day difference in the level of immersion it provides.
Also, before I forget, if you are someone who has the Sonos Ace headphones, the Arc Ultra does support the audio swap feature, something that is great if you do not live alone, and want to watch a movie or play a game late into the night.
This leads me to the next issue some people have been having with Sonos in general: the app. If you are already invested in the Sonos ecosystem, there is nothing drastically new with the Arc Ultra. The app works well to get everything installed and set up, and with how the overall system operates, you don’t need to use the app all that often when you are just watching movies or playing games. Your TV’s remote will adjust the levels on the Arc Ultra thanks to the eARC port. There is also the option to use your voice to play songs, which works well.
The app has been improved significantly in recent months. While I still run into occasional issues, Sonos has done a good job addressing the major problems people experienced at launch. When you want to access more advanced features, such as adjusting the level of dialogue clarity, the process is relatively easy, with the app straightforwardly guiding you to the settings you need. I did have a bit of trouble setting up the surround the first time getting the Arc Ultra setup, but I found a reset of the Sonos One speakers I was using for the test setup helped clear these issues, and I was up and running in less than 30 minutes.
After all is said and done, I am impressed with the improvements Sonos has brought to the Arc Ultra. It has become my new go-to favourite offering when I need to recommend a soundbar, provided you already have Sonos in your home. That being said, there is always room for improvement. For me, I found the high frequencies could occasionally sound a bit harsh, particularly with Dolby Atmos content. This is not a major issue, but it was something I was surprised by, considering how good most of the audio delivered by the Arc Ultra is. It could be due to the particular mix of the specific game I was playing, but it is something I wanted to note.
Additionally, I really do wish there were more physical connections with this iteration. The absence of HDMI inputs might disappoint some users, especially given the premium price point. And if we are nitpicking, I would have loved to see the Bluetooth button in a slightly easier-to-reach location. While I understand the choice for aesthetics, it is annoying to have to reach around the back to press it, particularly if you plan to mount the bar on the wall.
This brings us to the price. The Sonos Arc Ultra commands a premium compared to the Arc, although the difference varies depending on where you are in the world. At $999, the Arc Ultra is only $100 above the MSRP of the original Arc, but it delivers performance that justifies the investment and sounds noticeably better. The improved bass response, clearer dialogue, and enhanced Dolby Atmos performance make it a compelling upgrade from the original Arc. For those building a new home theatre system, it serves as an excellent foundation that can be expanded with additional Sonos components.
That being said, if you are not already invested in the Sonos ecosystem or do not plan to purchase more Sonos products, the value proposition of the Arc Ultra is harder to justify. It is a fantastic soundbar that delivers a solid Dolby Atmos experience, but its value is enhanced by the ability to expand your home theatre setup by adding a sub, rear speakers, and more. As just a soundbar, there are other options that deliver a similar experience at a much lower price point.
Conversely, if you already own a Sonos Arc, the Arc Ultra may not make as much sense unless you have a way to sell or gift your old soundbar. While the Arc Ultra is an improvement, it may not feel like a $999 upgrade over what you already have.
While expensive, for those invested in the Sonos ecosystem or anyone seeking a premium soundbar that can serve as the cornerstone of a high-quality home theatre system, the Arc Ultra represents a sound investment in audio excellence. It delivers an audio experience that excels with gaming and optimized media. The Arc Ultra successfully bridges the gap between convenience and performance, offering a listening experience that will satisfy both casual viewers and discerning audiophiles alike.
- All-new acoustic architecture with Sound Motion technology fills every inch of the room and precisely place sounds all around you
- Unparalleled 9.1.4 spatial audio experience with Dolby Atmos