Sonos Arc Ultra Review

Review Summary

The Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar has quickly become a top choice for home theater enthusiasts seeking an immersive audio experience in a single, sleek unit. Known for its integration of Dolby Atmos and the signature Sonos sound quality, the Arc Ultra is designed to provide cinema-grade sound without the bulk of a traditional multi-speaker setup. Having tested this soundbar thoroughly, here’s our comprehensive review covering its design, setup, sound performance, and more.

Design & Build Quality

The Sonos Arc Ultra stands out for its minimalist design, which fits seamlessly into any modern home setup. Available in matte black and white, it has a refined, understated look with gently curved edges that give it a smooth, elegant appearance. Measuring about 45 inches in length, the Arc Ultra is built to match larger TVs (50 inches and above), ensuring it doesn’t look out of place on a wall mount or media console.

Sonos has crafted the Arc Ultra with high-quality materials. The soundbar’s outer casing is built from robust polycarbonate, with a perforated grille that spans the entire length of the unit to allow sound to flow freely. During our testing, we appreciated how its sleek profile and subtle design make it feel less intrusive in the living room. However, due to its size, it may feel oversized if paired with smaller TVs.

Setup & Ease of Use

Setting up the Sonos Arc Ultra is remarkably simple. With the Sonos S2 app, users are guided through a step-by-step setup process. For those with compatible TVs, the HDMI eARC connection ensures an easy, high-quality audio connection. If your TV doesn’t support eARC, the Arc Ultra is still compatible with standard ARC or optical audio (using the included adapter), though this limits access to some advanced audio features.

The Sonos app also enables users to control settings, adjust sound profiles, and manage streaming services. The Arc Ultra supports most major streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Tidal. In testing, the app proved to be user-friendly and responsive, with quick access to streaming content and multi-room settings.

One unique aspect of the Sonos experience is Trueplay, a tuning technology that uses your smartphone’s microphone to optimize the sound based on room acoustics. While this feature is currently only available on iOS devices, it’s invaluable for users with unconventional room layouts, as it tailors the sound to your specific space. We found that Trueplay made a noticeable difference in balancing bass and treble, especially in rooms with high ceilings or reflective surfaces.

Sound Quality & Performance

The Sonos Arc Ultra’s performance is where it truly shines. Equipped with eleven high-performance drivers, including two upward-firing ones, the Arc Ultra produces a truly immersive 3D soundscape. Its Dolby Atmos support creates a dynamic sound field where effects like footsteps, rain, or explosions seem to move around the room, enhancing the realism of movies and games.

In our testing with various Dolby Atmos content, including action scenes and dialogue-driven films, the Arc Ultra excelled at delivering clear and balanced audio. Voices were sharp, bass was punchy without overwhelming other frequencies, and ambient sounds were dispersed effectively to create a surround-like experience. For music, the Arc Ultra was equally impressive, delivering detailed audio across genres, from bass-heavy hip-hop to classical orchestras.

One limitation is that the full Dolby Atmos experience relies on ceilings to reflect the sound from the upward-firing drivers. For rooms without standard ceilings (such as vaulted spaces), the immersive effect may be somewhat diminished. Nonetheless, even without perfect conditions, the Arc Ultra provided a spacious sound field that exceeded expectations.

Smart Features & Voice Control

Sonos has equipped the Arc Ultra with compatibility for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing for hands-free control over playback, volume adjustments, and smart home integrations. During testing, voice commands were responsive and accurate, with the soundbar effectively picking up voice prompts even when playing audio at moderate volumes.

The Arc Ultra also integrates seamlessly with the rest of the Sonos ecosystem, making it easy to build a multi-room audio setup. If you already own Sonos speakers, you can connect them through the Sonos app to play synchronized audio throughout your home, or even set up stereo pairs and surround speakers. In our setup, we tested pairing the Arc Ultra with a Sonos Sub and a pair of Sonos One SLs, which provided a fully immersive surround sound setup with additional depth in bass and clarity.

Connectivity & Compatibility

The Arc Ultra is compatible with most modern TVs via HDMI eARC, which is required for uncompressed, high-quality Dolby Atmos audio. If your TV does not support eARC, the soundbar also supports standard HDMI ARC and optical connections. However, using optical audio may limit the sound quality and restrict some advanced audio features.

With Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Apple AirPlay 2 support, streaming audio from smartphones, tablets, and other devices is straightforward. We found that streaming via Wi-Fi provided the best sound quality, with minimal lag or interference. The Arc Ultra lacks a traditional Bluetooth connection, relying instead on Wi-Fi and AirPlay, which may be inconvenient for users without a strong Wi-Fi network.

Overall Rating - 4.5/5

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a standout in the soundbar market, offering a premium audio experience that truly elevates home entertainment. With its robust build quality, sleek design, and advanced sound capabilities, it’s clear that Sonos has aimed this soundbar at audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts alike. While it comes at a premium price, the Arc Ultra’s performance and smart integration justify the investment for those looking to upgrade their audio setup.

For homes with compatible setups, the Sonos Arc Ultra’s Dolby Atmos and multi-room capabilities make it an ideal choice for immersive entertainment. However, those with unique room shapes or no iOS device may want to consider these limitations. Overall, it’s a high-quality soundbar that delivers in almost every aspect and is especially recommended for existing Sonos users looking to expand their audio system.