Sonos Arc Ultra is all about that bass

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 16 October 2024

Sonos has announced a new flagship soundbar - the Arc Ultra - and it's making very big claims about audio quality. The manufacturer says the Arc Ultra features "Sound Motion" technology, which it calls "one of the most significant breakthroughs in audio engineering in nearly 100 years".

In short, Sound Motion is said to allow bigger, better sound from smaller products. In addition to improved clarity and depth, Sonos says the Arc Ultra doubles the bass output of its predecessor.

On top of Sound Motion, the Arc Ultra also has three extra drivers than the old Arc, for a total of 14. As such, Sonos says the Arc Ultra can deliver 9.1.4 spatial audio.

One other new feature is Bluetooth support, which isn't a feature that's previously been available on Sonos soundbars. As with other Sonos speakers, the Arc Ultra also supports Amazon Alexa and Apple AirPlay 2.

To get the most out of Beam, you'll need a TV with an eARC or ARC HDMI port. Sonos sells an optional optical adapter for TVs that don't have an ARC port, but these users will miss out on Dolby Atmos support.

The Sonos Arc Ultra will retail for $1,799, which is $300 more than the Arc currently sells for. Sonos is taking pre-orders for the Arc Ultra now, ahead of an October 29 release date.

Sonos also introduced a new high-end subwoofer to go with the Arc Ultra: the Sub 4. The Sub 4 is largely an aesthetic update, however. Sonos hasn't made any claims about enhanced sound quality, instead pointing to the new matte finish that matches the Arc Ultra.

The Sub 4 does however also have increased processing power and memory, as well as new WiFi radios. These aren't the kind of improvements that enhance sound quality, but they should ensure a longer life.

The Sub 4 is priced at $1,299, which is identical to what Sonos is charging for the previous generation Sub. The Sub 4 is also available for pre-order now and has the same October 29 release date.

If you bundle the Arc Ultra with the Sub 4, Sonos will give you a $310 discount off the total price.

Sonos' new product announcements come amid a period of turmoil thanks to a botched app launch. Sonos introduced a revamped app alongside the Ace headphones in May this year, removing functionality some users relied on, while also introducing bugs and instability.

The controversy culminated in the company introducing seven new commitments to rebuild trust earlier this month. These include better pre-launch testing, extended warranties, and establishing a customer advisory board. In addition, Sonos said that no member of the executive leadership team will accept an annual bonus for the fiscal year unless "unless the company succeeds in improving the quality of the app experience and rebuilding customer trust".

Sonos released another new update for its app today, and says that 90% of missing features have now been restored.

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Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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