Sonos Arc Ultra Review: A Game-Changer for Home Cinema Audio

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Sonos Arc, offering a more immersive and detailed sound experience. This soundbar delivers clearer dialogue, deeper bass, and a more refined soundstage, making it an excellent choice for home cinema enthusiasts who primarily stream content. However, with limited support for DTS formats and only one HDMI eARC input, the Arc Ultra may not be the best option for those looking for broader audio format compatibility. Let’s dive into the features, pros, and cons of this soundbar to see if it’s the right fit for your home entertainment setup.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Detailed, clean dialogue: The center channel is optimized for clear dialogue, making it easier to hear conversations in movies and TV shows.
• Excellent bass: The new Sound Motion woofer technology delivers deeper and more precise bass.
• Expandable: You can add up to two subwoofers and wireless rear speakers for a full surround sound experience.

Cons

• No DTS:X support: Limited DTS support could be a dealbreaker for those with large physical media collections.
• Only HDMI eARC input: Lacks additional HDMI inputs, which may limit connectivity options.

Key Features

9.1.4 Channel Audio

The Sonos Arc Ultra boasts 9.1.4 channel audio, powered by 14 drivers (seven tweeters, six midwoofers, and one woofer). These drivers are designed to deliver a more immersive sound experience, with two upward-firing tweeters for height channels. You can also expand the system by adding rear speakers or up to two subwoofers.

Sonos Ace Compatible

The Arc Ultra is compatible with the Sonos Ace headphones. This allows you to enjoy personal listening or watch content at night without disturbing others. You can check out the Sonos Ace headphones on Amazon.

Design

Refined Yet Familiar

At first glance, the Sonos Arc Ultra looks similar to the original Arc. It comes in both black and white finishes and is slightly longer than its predecessor. The design is sleek and modern, with an uninterrupted mesh covering the front and sides. It feels robust and well-built, maintaining Sonos’ reputation for high-quality craftsmanship.

Connectivity

The soundbar features a single HDMI eARC input, which may be a limitation if your TV or projector doesn’t support eARC. While it works with standard ARC, you’ll need eARC for lossless audio and multi-channel PCM from external sources. If your TV lacks eARC support, you may need additional hardware, adding complexity to your setup.

Features

Works with Other Sonos Speakers

The Sonos Arc Ultra can be paired with additional Sonos speakers, such as the Sonos Sub 4 and Era 300, to create a full surround sound system. This allows for a more immersive experience, especially when watching Dolby Atmos content.

You can find the Sonos Sub 4 on Amazon and the Era 300 on Amazon.

Sound Motion Woofer

The new Sound Motion woofer technology uses a four-motor, dual-membrane design to offer deeper bass in a compact form. This makes the Arc Ultra capable of producing a realistic surround sound effect, even without external speakers.

TruePlay Tuning

Sonos’ TruePlay tuning system ensures that the Arc Ultra is optimized for your room. You can choose between the quick option, which uses the onboard microphone, or the advanced option, which uses your phone’s microphone to fine-tune the sound based on your seating position.

Sound Quality

Clear Dialogue and Balanced Soundstage

One of the most noticeable improvements in the Sonos Arc Ultra is its ability to deliver clear dialogue without sacrificing the overall balance of the sound. The center channel is optimized for speech clarity, making it easier to catch every word in a movie or TV show.

Deep, Precise Bass

The Sound Motion woofer technology ensures that bass frequencies blend seamlessly into the overall soundstage. This results in a more cohesive listening experience, where low and high frequencies transition smoothly.

Immersive Surround Sound

The Arc Ultra excels at creating an immersive sound experience, particularly when watching Dolby Atmos content. The upward-firing tweeters and multiple drivers work together to create a 3D soundscape, making it feel like sound is coming from all around you.

However, the soundbar struggles to mimic rear channels effectively. For a truly immersive surround sound experience, adding wireless rear speakers like the Sonos Era 300 can make a significant difference.

Final Thoughts

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a fantastic soundbar for those who primarily stream content and want a high-quality, immersive audio experience. With its clear dialogue, deep bass, and expandable options, it’s an excellent choice for home cinema enthusiasts. However, if you need broader audio format support or multiple HDMI inputs, you may want to explore other options.

If you’re ready to elevate your home entertainment system, you can purchase the Sonos Arc Ultra on Amazon.

FAQs

Does the Sonos Arc Ultra support DTS?
Yes, it supports basic DTS, but not the lossless DTS-HD Master Audio or DTS:X.

Does the Sonos Arc Ultra use the same wall mount as the Arc?
Yes, you can use the same wall mount and swap the old Arc for the new Arc Ultra.

By investing in the Sonos Arc Ultra, you’re not just buying a soundbar—you’re upgrading your entire home audio experience. Whether you’re watching the latest blockbuster or listening to your favorite tunes, this soundbar delivers in every way that matters.