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After the home run that was last year’s Ace headphones, Sonos has tried to build on that momentum via the launch of the new AUD$1,799 Arc Ultra soundbar. Having used it for the last few weeks, I can confidently say my TV has never sounded better.
Paired with the brand’s new Sub 4 subwoofer (AUD$1,299), the Arc Ultra is an outstanding home cinema solution for anyone who is unable (or simply can’t be bothered) to install a full surround sound system. Plus, the Arc Ultra offers a number of handy features that set it apart from the usual soundbar fare.
Sonos Arc Ultra Key Information
| Brand | Sonos |
| Speakers | 7 x Tweeters, 6 x Midwoofers, 1 x Woofer |
| Connectivity | HDMI out (eARC), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, AirPlay 2 |
| Surround Sound Format | Dolby Atmos |
| Voice Control | Sonos Voice Control, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant |
| Dimensions | 1,178 mm x 110.6 mm x 75 mm (WDH) |
| Weight | 5.9 kg |
| Colour | Matte White, Matte Black |
Sonos Arc Ultra Set-Up
The first thing that strikes me with any Sonos product is the ease of unboxing and installation. Even removing the packaging from the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 feels like a premium experience, with toggles built into the boxes that unlock access to the products within. This approach removes the need for any tearing of cardboard and makes post-setup tidying a breeze — no scrounging for scraps of debris across your living room floor.
The whole experience recalls old reports that Steve Jobs was adamant the packaging of Apple products (and particularly the iPhone) should enhance the enjoyment of the user. Clearly the good folk at Sonos were paying attention.
Once you have the cardboard neatly out of the way, Sonos’ polished offering continues. Having connected the power and your TV’s HDMI to the Arc Ultra, the Sonos app makes it easy to integrate the soundbar into your home theatre setup, as well as your home’s broader audio network. The same goes with the Sub 4. Sonos has received some flack for its app experience of late, but I found it entirely intuitive and had both the soundbar and subwoofer ready to go within minutes.
Sonos Arc Ultra Design and Build
The Sonos Arc Ultra is a handsome piece of kit when you consider that it has to fit within the obvious limitations of the soundbar form factor. Available in a matte black or matte white finish, it features a minimalist build that measures 1,178 mm wide, 110.6 mm deep, and 75 mm high. This last measurement shaves 12 mm off the previous generation, which I appreciate as it ensures the new soundbar fits comfortably underneath my unmounted Samsung 65-inch OLED panel without obscuring the bottom of the screen. For those whose TV is mounted, you can do likewise with the Arc Ultra if you so choose.
Boasting the elegant matte black finish, my review unit matches its Sub 4 sibling as well as my Sonos Ace headphones. The overall look is curved and sleek— even if the most refined black cylinder still looks like, well, a black cylinder—and from the viewing position on the couch, it looks like it’s all grille, punctuated by the Sonos logo and a glowing status light.
In comparison, I’ve found the Sub 4’s design more aesthetically interesting, despite the fact it’s also a large slab of black. There’s something about the smooth surfaces, hollowed-centre square design, and matte finish (far superior to the previous gen’s high-gloss appearance) that looks quite sculptural and cool.
Returning to the Arc Ultra, while most of it consists of the aforementioned cylinder, the centre features a rectangular platform emerging from its rear that houses the device’s touch controls. These require an intuitive range of taps or swipes that work perfectly well, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself using them only rarely. You’re far more likely to turn to your TV remote or your smartphone’s Sonos app to control play/pause, volume, and EQ than you are to stand up and walk over to the soundbar. Having said that, I’m glad those touch controls are there, just in case.
Sonos Arc Ultra Sound Quality
The Sonos Arc Ultra delivers an impressive sound experience, further elevated by the Sub 4. While in the past it would have been unreasonable to expect a soundbar and its accoutrement (no matter how premium) to compete with a truly high-end home cinema system, we’re getting closer all the time, and the Sonos Arc Ultra makes a damn fine go of it.
A significant upgrade from the previous-generation Arc’s far-from-sloppy 5.0.2-channel configuration, Sonos’ latest effort boasts a 9.1.4-channel setup capable of supporting Dolby Atmos’ enriched audio offering. Obviously, you need the Sub 4 and a pair of Sonos Era 300 speakers (AUD$749 each) to make the most of this, but the beauty of Sonos is the ease with which you can add or remove elements to your speaker arrangement as you see fit. So, you can start with the soundbar and build out from there with minimal hassle.
Inside the Arc Ultra, 15 Class-D amplifiers power 14 Sonos-engineered drivers that fire outwards, upwards, and sideways, delivering on what the brand describes as “an all-new acoustic architecture.” What that means in its most basic form is that the Arc Ultra serves up a range of audio treats designed to fill your listening space and leave you feeling surrounded by sound. Even without the twin Era 300 units acting as satellite speakers, the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 do a great job of cultivating an immersive experience, delivering impressively rich detail and a lack of distortion even at high volume. And with the Era 300s in place the whole experience is elevated to another level.
This was particularly apparent while watching the new Dune: Prophecy TV series. As a massive fan of the recent Dune movies, I was always going to check out this prequel series, but my determination to review the Arc Ultra’s capabilities and the show’s use of Dolby Atmos made it essential. To put it bluntly, the Sonos Arc Ultra, Sub 4, and the twin Era 300s enabled Dune: Prophecy to deliver one of the greatest audio experiences I’ve ever encountered in my own home. I felt completely enveloped in the sounds of that world, leaving me entirely engrossed. Yes, it really is that good.
Sonos Ace Headphones Integration
One of the downsides of living in an apartment is that there are times I need to show consideration for my neighbours. As such, binging Dune: Prophecy into the wee small hours of the morning doesn’t go down too well, particularly if you’re indulging in the formidable levels of volume the Sonos Arc Ultra has to offer.
Handily, with the aforementioned Sonos Ace headphones, you can get around this issue by taking advantage of Sonos’ TV Audio Swap functionality. This is easy to set up through the Sonos app and once you do, simply turn the headphones on, hold the Content Key on the right cup and the audio will move from the Arc Ultra to your headphones. What sets this feature apart is that you’re not just getting an audio experience reminiscent of a Bluetooth connection to your TV, but rather the Ace headphones replicate the sounds of the Arc Ultra in your viewing space, even using head tracking to shift the sound in your cans to make it feel like you’re still listening to the soundbar. It’s niche but pretty remarkable.
Sonos Arc Ultra Final Verdict
The Sonos Arc Ultra, Sub 4, pair of Era 300 speakers, and Ace headphones deliver a comprehensive home audio experience that is absolutely top tier. Even with just the soundbar, you’ll encounter a dynamic, rich audio experience that enhances your viewing experience whether you’re simply enjoying more crisp dialogue during a Seinfeld rewatch or checking out the latest blockbuster.
However, it’s when the whole setup is in place that Sonos’ Arc Ultra really shines, harnessing the cutting-edge Dolby Atmos audio of releases like Dune: Prophecy to deliver an experience that’s nothing short of revelatory.
DISCLOSURE: The author of this article, Rob Edwards, was provided the products by Sonos for the purposes of this review. All opinions expressed are those of the author. For more information on our independence, testing and review guidelines, you can read our full editorial policies here.
