Sonos Arc Ultra Review | 109 Data compared

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a 9.1.4-channel soundbar featuring innovative "Sound Motion" technology, which significantly enhances bass output within a slimmer design compared to its predecessor. It offers an immersive, wide soundstage, advanced speech enhancement, and for the first time, Trueplay tuning for Android users, along with Bluetooth 5.3 support. While it provides exceptional, nearly subwoofer-level performance, the unit is hampered by a high price point, lacks HDMI passthrough for external devices, and misses support for advanced DTS formats. For a detailed breakdown of the review, read the article at Digitec.

The $999 Sonos Arc Ultra introduces Sound Motion technology, providing a 9.1.4-channel experience with deep, punchy bass and exceptional dialogue clarity without needing a separate subwoofer. It serves as a versatile, all-in-one cinematic solution, improving upon its predecessor with enhanced spatial audio and the long-awaited addition of Bluetooth connectivity. Drawbacks include a high price, the absence of an HDMI pass-through port for consoles, and lack of support for DTS:X, alongside potential frustrations with the Sonos app software.

The CNN Underscored review deems the $1,099 Sonos Arc Ultra the new gold standard for standalone soundbars, utilizing "Sound Motion" technology to deliver enhanced bass and precise spatial audio from a slimmer frame. Key pros include a wide soundstage, significantly improved dialogue clarity through updated Speech Enhancement, and the addition of Bluetooth 5.3. While it offers a premium, immersive experience, potential drawbacks include the high price, lack of HDMI pass-through, and a large physical size requiring a 55-inch or larger TV for proper fit.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a powerful all-in-one soundbar featuring a 14-driver array and innovative "Sound Motion" technology, delivering rich, deep bass and an immersive 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundstage without requiring a separate subwoofer. It excels with a dedicated center channel for crisp dialogue and improved Trueplay tuning for both iOS and Android, making it a premium choice for home cinema. Despite its strong performance, drawbacks include a high price point, the lack of DTS:X support, and a single HDMI port that limits connectivity options.

The Sonos Arc Ultra earns a 4.8/5 score from Mashable for delivering theater-like, 9.1.4 spatial audio with impressive bass performance powered by new "Sound Motion" technology. It is highly praised for its immersive, cinematic sound and sleek design, which serves as a powerful standalone unit without needing a separate subwoofer. Key pros include an exceptionally simple, one-tap setup, seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem, and the ability to use voice controls for both the soundbar and smart home tasks. The device serves as both a high-end home theater component and a capable music speaker. Identified cons include a $999 price tag and a "Dialogue Enhancement" feature that feels less balanced than competitors, along with a reported bug involving an abrupt volume jump when using on-device controls. Despite these minor issues, it is touted as a top-tier soundbar for modern, large-screen setups.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a 9.1.4-channel flagship soundbar introducing "Sound Motion" technology, which significantly enhances bass performance without an external subwoofer. AVForums notes its wide, immersive soundstage and improved dialogue clarity, aided by new adjustable speech-enhancement levels. Design-wise, it is lighter and more refined, supporting Bluetooth 5.3 and featuring Trueplay tuning for Android. AVForumsPros highlighted include the punchy, balanced bass from the new woofer, exceptional vocal reproduction, and improved user controls via the top-mounted touch ledge. The unit provides extensive streaming options, including AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect. AVForumsCons include the continued lack of HDMI passthrough, limiting TV port availability, and a lack of DTS:X format support. While the bass is improved, it cannot match a dedicated subwoofer, and the premium price point is high. AVForums

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a premium soundbar featuring revolutionary "Sound Motion" technology, delivering a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience through 14 drivers and a four-motor woofer. It offers significantly improved, deeper bass than the original Arc and provides exceptionally clear dialogue along with a wide soundstage. The inclusion of Bluetooth 5.3 and comprehensive Trueplay tuning, now supporting Android, makes it a highly versatile, low-profile, and powerful standalone unit. Key, yet notable, drawbacks include the absence of HDMI pass-through, leaving only a single eARC port, and the lack of support for DTS:X formats, which may frustrate enthusiasts. Additionally, the review notes that the accompanying app, while improved, still feels less polished and occasionally unintuitive.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is recognized as a top-tier, one-box Dolby Atmos soundbar, distinguished by its innovative Sound Motion technology that delivers powerful, deep bass from a compact form factor. It provides exceptional 9.1.4-channel audio with precise spatial imaging, wide soundstage, and crystal-clear dialogue, marking a significant performance upgrade over its predecessor. While praised for its performance, the soundbar lacks an HDMI pass-through port and still does not support DTS:X decoding, limitations noted as cons for premium, cinematic setups. The unit features a refined design with updated touch controls, including a new volume slider, and improved user experience via the app with "Quick Tuning" Trueplay that works on Android.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a premium, $999 soundbar that enhances its predecessor with "Sound Motion" technology, enabling a 9.1.4-channel experience with improved bass and immersive Dolby Atmos, earning an Editors' Choice award. It features superior dialogue clarity via a dedicated center channel, plus long-awaited Bluetooth 5.3 support alongside Wi-Fi 6. However, its large, 46-inch-plus footprint requires significant space, and it comes at a higher price point than the original Arc.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, utilizing new Sound Motion technology and 14 drivers to deliver an impressive 9.1.4 spatial audio experience. It produces a crisp, spacious soundstage with highly defined, controlled bass and powerful, three-dimensional Dolby Atmos effects, even at high volumes. While designed for improved aesthetics with a lower profile and adding Bluetooth 5.3, it lacks HDMI 2.1 pass-through and still relies on an often frustrating, buggy app. What Hi-Fi?

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a premium 9.1.4 all-in-one soundbar featuring 14 drivers and new "Sound Motion" technology that provides significantly improved, balanced bass compared to its predecessor. It excels in rendering clear dialogue and maintains exceptional clarity at high volumes without requiring an external subwoofer. Pros include the addition of Bluetooth 5.3 and effective TruePlay room correction, though it lacks a full graphic EQ. Key drawbacks highlighted in the review include the continued absence of HDMI pass-through, limiting its use as a central connection hub. Furthermore, while it supports Dolby Atmos, it does not support DTS:X, and the necessary optical adapter for older TVs is now sold separately. The unit is best suited for users prioritizing a sleek, single-bar setup over multi-device HDMI switching. For the full, detailed review of the Sonos Arc Ultra, visit RTINGS.com.

The TechRadar review of the Sonos Arc Ultra describes a five-star hardware product hindered by a "nightmare" setup process, largely due to catastrophic issues with the Sonos app. While the initial setup is described as "torture" due to necessary, forced resyncing of home theater components, the soundbar itself delivers incredible audio performance and represents a significant upgrade over the original Arc. The Arc Ultra’s primary strengths, or pros, lie in its new Sound Motion driver technology, which provides superior bass, exceptional dialogue clarity, and a wide, immersive Dolby Atmos soundstage. Despite the technical frustrations, the sound profile is described as perfectly balanced and highly capable of handling high volumes without distortion. Ultimately, the reviewer concludes that the "glorious" audio quality justifies the effort, making it the best soundbar Sonos has ever created, though potential buyers should be prepared for software frustrations. Key cons include the unreliable app experience, alongside minor hardware complaints regarding the lack of DTS:X support and HDMI pass-through.

The CNET review positions the $999 Sonos Arc Ultra as a high-performance upgrade prioritizing musicality, detailed audio, and enhanced dialogue clarity over the expansive, cinematic soundstage of its predecessor. Featuring new "Sound Motion" technology, the unit delivers deeper, more impactful bass and refined performance for music, yet it is described as less "fun" and more contained for home theater use compared to the original Arc or Bose alternatives. While boasting superior sound and Bluetooth 5.3, the Arc Ultra is more expensive, lacks HDMI pass-through, and drops Google Assistant support.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a premium, all-in-one soundbar that significantly upgrades bass and spatial audio over its predecessor using new "Sound Motion" woofer technology, acting as a formidable standalone unit. Pros include a 9.1.4 channel configuration for enhanced Dolby Atmos immersion, improved dialogue clarity through specialized processing, and the addition of Bluetooth connectivity. However, the $999 device faces cons such as a higher price point, the continued lack of HDMI pass-through ports, and ongoing user concerns regarding app reliability.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a significant upgrade, using "Sound Motion" technology to deliver a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience from a redesigned 14-driver unit. It excels with improved dialogue clarity, punchier bass, and a sleeker, lower-profile design that avoids blocking TV screens. While it is a top-tier performer, downsides include the lack of HDMI passthrough and no DTS:X support, along with a high price point.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a premium 9.1.4-channel soundbar featuring "Sound Motion" technology, offering 14 drivers for improved bass and a wider, more immersive Dolby Atmos soundstage. Key pros include exceptional dialogue clarity with three speech-enhancement levels and a streamlined, lower-profile design, though it remains a high-priced, premium device. Notable cons focus on the lack of HDMI pass-through, occupying a TV port without providing a replacement, and, despite impressive internal woofers, it cannot replicate the deep, room-shaking bass of a dedicated external subwoofer.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a premium, five-star soundbar featuring "Sound Motion" technology that delivers a significantly broader soundstage, enhanced bass, and improved 3D immersion compared to the original Arc. It offers exceptional audio quality for both movies and music, featuring clearer vocals via AI-driven speech enhancement, a sleek design, and added Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity. While it boasts superior performance, the device lacks HDMI passthrough for external devices, cannot match the true rear-channel immersion of dedicated multi-box systems, and carries a high price point.