Sonos Arc Ultra review
Best for: Best sound from one bar · Premium
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Pros
- Spacious Dolby Atmos from one bar
- Sound Motion woofer for bass without a separate sub
- Trueplay works on iPhone and Android
- Sonos multi-room music
Cons
- No HDMI input for passthrough
- No DTS:X
- Expensive
Full review
The Arc Ultra is Sonos's flagship soundbar and the best choice if you want cinema-style sound from a single bar under the TV. Sonos lists 14 drivers powered by 15 amplifiers in a 9.1.4 layout, including two up-firing tweeters for Dolby Atmos height effects and a Sound Motion woofer designed to produce more bass than a bar this slim normally could.
Trueplay room tuning works from both iPhone and Android phones, adjusting the sound to your room. Sonos does not publish a wattage, so we do not give one.
It is also a capable music speaker you can put under a TV, with Wi-Fi 6, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth 5.3 and the Sonos multi-room system. Voice control is via Sonos Voice Control or Alexa.
The limitations: there is a single HDMI eARC connection and no HDMI input, so all your devices must plug into the TV. It does not decode DTS:X. You can later add a Sonos Sub and rear speakers for a full surround system, at considerable extra cost.
Full specifications
| Channels / layout | 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos |
|---|---|
| Drivers and power | 14 drivers, 15 Class-D amps (watts not published) |
| Subwoofer included | No (built-in Sound Motion woofer) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes |
| DTS:X | No (DTS Digital Surround only) |
| Up-firing drivers | Yes (2 up-firing tweeters) |
| HDMI eARC | Yes |
| HDMI input / passthrough | None |
| Wi-Fi / AirPlay / Chromecast | Wi-Fi 6, AirPlay 2 (no Chromecast) |
| Bluetooth | Yes (5.3) |
| Voice assistant | Sonos Voice Control, Amazon Alexa |
| Room correction | Trueplay (iOS and Android) |
| Control app | Sonos app |
| Size (W x H x D) | 1178 x 75 x 111 mm |
| Weight | 5.9 kg |
| Wall mount | Optional Arc Ultra wall mount |
| Rear speaker / sub expansion | Yes: Sonos Sub and rear speakers (e.g. Era 300) |
| Year launched | 2024 |
| UK price (Sonos) | £999 |
Specifications checked against: Sonos UK Arc Ultra page
How it compares with its rivals
| Feature | Sonos Arc Ultra | Samsung HW-Q990F 11.1.4ch soundbar system | Sony Bravia Theatre Bar 9 (HT-A9000) | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | Bose Smart Soundbar | Denon DHT-S218 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | Best sound from one bar | True surround in the box | Consoles and Sony TVs | Small and mid-size TVs | Atmos height on a budget | Clearer TV sound for less |
| Price band | Premium | Premium | Premium | Upper mid-range | Mid-range | Budget |
| Channels / layout | 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos | 11.1.4 (23 speakers in total) | Not published (13 drivers, 5 phantom front speakers) | Virtual surround and height (no count published) | 5 speakers incl. centre tweeter and 2 up-firing | 2.1 |
| Drivers and power | 14 drivers, 15 Class-D amps (watts not published) | Bar, dual-driver sub, 2 rears (756 W total per retailer listing) | 13 drivers plus 4 passive radiators (watts not published) | 5 drivers, 3 passive radiators, 5 Class-D amps | 5 drivers (watts not published) | 6 drivers: 2 tweeters, 2 mid, 2 built-in subwoofers |
| Subwoofer included | No (built-in Sound Motion woofer) | Yes, wireless sub plus 2 rear speakers | No (optional) | No | No (optional) | Built in (2 down-firing) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes (virtual) | Yes | Yes (decoding, no height drivers) |
| DTS:X | No (DTS Digital Surround only) | Yes | Yes | No (DTS Digital Surround only) | Not listed by Bose | Not listed by Denon |
| Up-firing drivers | Yes (2 up-firing tweeters) | Yes (bar and rears) | Yes (2) | No | Yes (2) | No |
Prices in every region
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