The Sonos Arc Ultra is a cutting-edge soundbar designed to deliver premium audio quality, seamless integration with smart home systems, and an immersive entertainment experience. In this review, we’ll explore the features, performance, design, setup, and overall value of the Sonos Arc Ultra in detail, highlighting its strengths and areas where it could improve.
The Sonos Arc Ultra represents the pinnacle of Sonos’ soundbar lineup, targeting audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts. Building on the success of the original Sonos Arc, the “Ultra” variant incorporates additional features such as enhanced Dolby Atmos support, upgraded internal drivers, and broader compatibility with high-resolution audio formats. With a price tag positioned in the premium range, it competes with flagship soundbars from Bose, Samsung, and Sony.
This review evaluates whether the Sonos Arc Ultra justifies its cost and delivers a top-tier audio experience.
Design and Build Quality
Sonos is known for its minimalist and elegant product designs, and the Arc Ultra does not disappoint. Here’s what stands out:
- Form Factor: The Arc Ultra sports a sleek, elongated design with gently curved edges, making it a visually appealing addition to any entertainment setup.
- Material Quality: Constructed from a durable matte plastic with a perforated grille that wraps around the front and sides, the soundbar feels robust yet sophisticated.
- Dimensions and Weight: Measuring approximately 45 inches in length, it is best suited for TVs 55 inches and larger. Despite its size, it remains lightweight enough for wall mounting.
- LED Indicators and Controls: Subtle LED indicators on the front panel provide feedback for voice assistants and system status. Touch-sensitive controls for play, pause, and volume are located on the top.
The design blends seamlessly into modern or minimalist interiors, emphasizing functionality without sacrificing aesthetics.
Features and Technology
The Sonos Arc Ultra is loaded with features that set it apart in the soundbar market. Below are the highlights:
Dolby Atmos and Surround Sound
The Arc Ultra’s defining feature is its advanced Dolby Atmos implementation. With an array of 11 custom drivers, including upward-firing speakers, it creates a 3D soundscape that enhances immersion in movies, games, and even music. Key details include:
- Upward-firing drivers: These add a vertical dimension to sound, simulating overhead effects.
- Surround Sound Compatibility: Works seamlessly with DTS
and other surround formats, broadening compatibility with modern content.
Smart Home Integration
The soundbar is a hub for smart home devices, offering native support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. Additionally, it is compatible with Apple HomeKit via AirPlay 2, making it versatile for various ecosystems.
Connectivity Options
- Wi-Fi: Dual-band Wi-Fi ensures stable connections for streaming services.
- HDMI eARC: The HDMI eARC port allows lossless audio transmission from compatible TVs.
- Ethernet Port: A wired option for stable networking.
- No Bluetooth: Like most Sonos products, the Arc Ultra omits Bluetooth connectivity, focusing instead on Wi-Fi for higher fidelity.
The inclusion of HDMI eARC and AirPlay 2 significantly enhances its utility in modern home setups.
Audio Performance
Audio quality is where the Sonos Arc Ultra truly shines. Let’s delve into its performance across different use cases.
Music Playback
The Sonos Arc Ultra handles music playback with finesse, offering:
- Rich Bass: Thanks to built-in subwoofers, it produces deep and punchy bass without requiring an external subwoofer.
- Crystal-clear Mids and Highs: Vocals and instruments are detailed and crisp, ensuring a balanced listening experience across genres.
- Room-filling Sound: Even at moderate volumes, the soundbar fills large rooms, maintaining clarity.
High-resolution audio support ensures audiophiles can enjoy their favorite tracks without compromise.
Movie and Gaming Experience
When paired with Dolby Atmos content, the Arc Ultra delivers:
- Immersive Surround Effects: Action scenes come alive with precise spatial audio cues.
- Dialog Clarity: The soundbar enhances speech intelligibility, particularly useful in dialogue-heavy content.
- Low Latency: Gamers will appreciate its minimal delay when connected via HDMI eARC.
The upward-firing speakers and advanced processing make it a compelling choice for home theaters.
Ease of Setup and User Experience
Sonos excels in making setup intuitive, and the Arc Ultra is no exception:
- Sonos App Integration: The app walks users through the setup process, including Wi-Fi pairing, firmware updates, and sound calibration.
- Trueplay Tuning: Using an iOS device, Trueplay adjusts audio output based on the room’s acoustics. While Android users miss out, the manual EQ compensates to some extent.
- Minimal Cables: With just an HDMI cable and a power cord, cable management is straightforward.
The soundbar is beginner-friendly yet offers enough customization for advanced users.
Compatibility with Other Sonos Products
The Arc Ultra is part of the Sonos ecosystem, allowing it to integrate seamlessly with:
- Sonos Sub Mini/Sub Gen 3: For enhanced bass performance.
- Surround Speakers: Add Sonos Era 300s or Ones for a true surround sound experience.
- Multi-Room Audio: Play synchronized music across multiple Sonos devices via the app.
This flexibility makes it a versatile investment for both standalone use and expanding into a larger system.
Comparisons with Competitors
To provide context, here’s how the Sonos Arc Ultra fares against key competitors:
| Feature | Sonos Arc Ultra | Bose Smart Soundbar 900 | Samsung HW-Q990C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Premium | Similar | Slightly Lower |
| Dolby Atmos | Advanced | Comparable | Exceptional |
| Smart Features | Alexa, Google, AirPlay | Alexa, Google | Alexa, SmartThings |
| Bass | Built-in, Expandable | Requires Subwoofer | Built-in, Expandable |
While all three are excellent, the Sonos Arc Ultra stands out for its ecosystem integration and user-friendly app.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Immersive Dolby Atmos experience.
- Stunning design with premium build quality.
- Easy setup and app-based customization.
- Seamless integration with smart home systems.
- Expandable with other Sonos devices.
Cons
- Expensive compared to competitors.
- No Bluetooth connectivity.
- Trueplay tuning is limited to iOS devices.
Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Atmos with Apple TV 4K
The Sonos Arc Ultra supports both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Atmos content when paired with an Apple TV 4K. For Dolby Atmos playback, Apple TV 4K employs a high-bandwidth audio format called MAT (Metadata-enhanced Audio Transport). However, to utilize this format, an eARC-capable TV is required. Some TVs with Dolby certification can convert Dolby Atmos content from Apple TV 4K into an ARC-compatible format, but this depends on your TV’s capabilities. It is advisable to consult your TV manufacturer for specific compatibility details.
Pricing
The Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar is priced at $999.00, reflecting its premium feature set and advanced audio performance.
Do You Need a TV with HDMI eARC?
The Sonos Arc Ultra can connect to TVs through three types of outputs: HDMI eARC, HDMI ARC, and optical. However, for the best experience, HDMI eARC is strongly recommended. Here’s what you need to know about each connection method:
- HDMI eARC (Recommended):
- Supports the widest range of Dolby audio formats, including Dolby Atmos, TrueHD, MAT, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Digital.
- Ensures high-bandwidth, lossless audio transmission for the most immersive sound.
- HDMI ARC:
- Supported audio formats depend on your TV’s capabilities and manufacturer.
- May include Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, and Dolby Digital, but TrueHD and MAT are not supported via ARC.
- Optical (via Sonos Optical Audio Adapter, sold separately):
- Limited to Dolby Digital, depending on the TV.
- Dolby Atmos, TrueHD, MAT, and Dolby Digital Plus are not supported with an optical connection.
For the best Dolby Atmos performance, use a TV with HDMI eARC. If you rely on ARC or optical, you may encounter limitations in supported audio formats.
Advanced Acoustic Architecture
The Sonos Arc Ultra is engineered to provide exceptional sound through cutting-edge acoustic design. Key audio components include:
- Amplifiers:
Fifteen Class-D digital amplifiers are expertly tuned to match the soundbar’s acoustic architecture, delivering precise and powerful audio. - Tweeters:
Seven silk-dome tweeters, positioned at precise angles, ensure crisp high frequencies and clear dialogue. Two of these tweeters are upward-firing, creating dedicated height channels to enhance spatial audio and Dolby Atmos effects. - Mid-Woofers:
Six mid-woofers faithfully reproduce mid-range frequencies, providing rich, detailed soundscapes for music and movies alike. - Sound Motion™ Woofers:
A revolutionary four-motor, dual-membrane woofer system delivers exceptional bass performance. Despite its compact, flat design, it produces deep and resonant low frequencies.
Voice Control and Microphone Features
The Sonos Arc Ultra comes equipped with an advanced microphone array that supports voice control and Trueplay tuning:
- Far-field Microphones:
Utilizes advanced beamforming technology and multichannel echo cancellation for accurate voice recognition and hands-free control, even in noisy environments. - Microphone Privacy:
A dedicated mic-off toggle switch ensures privacy when desired.
Customizable Sound Settings
Adjustable EQ:
The Sonos app allows users to fine-tune bass, treble, and loudness settings, ensuring a personalized audio experience.
Trueplay Tuning:
This proprietary software calibrates the soundbar to your room’s unique acoustics, optimizing performance for your space. Trueplay is compatible with both iOS and Android devices, although functionality may vary.
Speech Enhancement:
Adjust dialogue clarity to your preference using the Sonos app, ensuring crisp and intelligible speech in dialogue-heavy content.
Night Sound Mode:
This mode reduces the intensity of loud sounds while amplifying quieter ones, making late-night viewing more comfortable without disturbing others.
The Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar combines sophisticated design, advanced features, and unparalleled audio performance. For home theater enthusiasts and audiophiles alike, it offers a highly customizable and immersive listening experience.
Verdict
The Sonos Arc Ultra is a remarkable soundbar that delivers exceptional performance for movies, music, and gaming. Its advanced Dolby Atmos implementation, premium design, and robust feature set justify its high price for those seeking top-tier audio quality. While some limitations, like the lack of Bluetooth and Trueplay’s iOS exclusivity, may deter a few users, these are minor drawbacks in an otherwise stellar product.
For audiophiles, home theater enthusiasts, or anyone looking to invest in a high-quality soundbar, the Sonos Arc Ultra is an excellent choice. It not only meets expectations but sets a new standard for what a premium soundbar can achieve.
1 Comment
Too Premium Audio Quality and Good Thought!!