Audio T Verdict
Arc Ultra takes everything that made the original Sonos Arc such an easy soundbar to recommend and pushes it considerably further. The big change is Sound Motion, Sonos' unusually compact multi-motor woofer technology, which allows Arc Ultra to produce substantially more low-frequency output while leaving space inside the cabinet for a more ambitious array of midrange and high-frequency drivers.
The result is a soundbar that can stand on its own as a serious television and music system, producing an expansive Dolby Atmos presentation without demanding a room full of speakers. Dialogue receives particular attention through a dedicated centre-channel approach and AI-powered Speech Enhancement, while Trueplay now works with both compatible iOS and Android devices.
Where Arc Ultra really comes into its own is its ability to grow. Add Sub 4 and a pair of Era 300s for a formidable wireless surround system, send the television soundtrack to one or two Sonos Ace headphones for private listening, or simply use Arc Ultra on its own for TV, music, Bluetooth and Sonos multi-room playback. It's Sonos' most complete soundbar to date.
Sonos Arc Ultra Dolby Atmos Soundbar
Sonos Arc Ultra is the flagship soundbar in the current Sonos home cinema range, combining an advanced multi-driver acoustic architecture with Sound Motion bass technology, Dolby Atmos spatial audio, HDMI eARC, Trueplay room optimisation and the wider Sonos multi-room ecosystem.
Designed to replace the speakers built into your television while avoiding the complexity of a conventional AV receiver and wired surround system, Arc Ultra can render an immersive 9.1.4 spatial audio experience from a single low-profile soundbar.
- Flagship Sonos Dolby Atmos soundbar
- 9.1.4 spatial audio presentation
- Sound Motion bass technology
- 15 Class-D digital amplifiers
- Nine silk-dome tweeters
- Two upward-firing tweeters for height information
- Six midwoofers
- Four-motor, dual-membrane Sound Motion woofer
- Dolby Atmos
- Dolby TrueHD
- Dolby Digital Plus
- Multichannel PCM
- DTS Digital Surround
- HDMI eARC / ARC
- Trueplay room optimisation
- Trueplay support for compatible iOS and Android devices
- AI-powered Speech Enhancement
- Four Speech Enhancement levels
- Night Sound
- Bluetooth 5.3
- WiFi 6
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Sonos multi-room streaming
- Dolby Atmos Music
- Sonos Voice Control
- Amazon Alexa
- Physical microphone disconnect switch
- TV Audio Swap with Sonos Ace
- Supports one or two Sonos Ace headphones for TV Audio Swap
- TrueCinema with Sonos Ace
- Expandable with Sonos Sub
- Expandable with wireless Sonos surrounds
- Black and White finishes
Sound Motion Technology
The defining technology within Arc Ultra is Sonos Sound Motion.
Conventional low-frequency drivers require space for the diaphragm to move forwards and backwards. This creates a particular challenge inside a soundbar, where customers naturally want a cabinet that is both slim enough to sit beneath a television and powerful enough to reproduce convincing bass.
Sound Motion approaches that problem using a four-motor, dual-membrane woofer architecture designed to generate substantial low-frequency output from a much flatter physical package.
More Bass Without a Bigger Soundbar
Reducing the space required for the bass system allows Sonos to use more of the Arc Ultra enclosure for the rest of the acoustic architecture.
The objective is not simply deeper bass. Freeing up internal volume makes it possible to position additional midrange and high-frequency drivers around the cabinet, helping Arc Ultra create a broader and more precisely controlled soundstage than the previous Arc.
Four-Motor, Dual-Membrane Woofer
The Sound Motion woofer uses four motors driving two membranes within its compact assembly.
This unusual arrangement is central to Arc Ultra's ability to produce useful low-frequency extension while maintaining the relatively slim 75mm-high cabinet expected from a modern television soundbar.
Can Arc Ultra Be Used Without a Subwoofer?
Absolutely. Arc Ultra is designed as a complete soundbar in its own right and Sound Motion gives it substantially greater bass capability than you might expect from its proportions.
A Sonos Sub is an expansion rather than a requirement.
For many normal living rooms, starting with Arc Ultra by itself is a sensible approach. You can then decide whether the additional depth, scale and impact of a dedicated subwoofer is worthwhile after living with the soundbar.
Start With Arc Ultra on Its Own
You do not need to buy an entire Sonos surround system on day one. Arc Ultra works as a standalone soundbar and can later be expanded with a Sonos Sub, wireless rear speakers or both.
15 Class-D Amplifiers
Arc Ultra contains fifteen Class-D digital amplifiers, each tuned to work with the soundbar's acoustic architecture.
Individual amplification allows Sonos' digital signal processing to control the various drivers according to their position and intended role within the soundstage.
There is therefore no separate AV receiver or external power amplifier required.
Nine Silk-Dome Tweeters
The current Arc Ultra specification uses nine precisely angled silk-dome tweeters.
These handle high-frequency information, dialogue detail and much of the directional information used to create the soundbar's wide spatial presentation.
Their position around the enclosure allows sound to be projected forwards, sideways and upwards rather than simply coming from one narrow point underneath the television.
Two Upward-Firing Height Drivers
Two of the tweeters are angled upwards to reproduce dedicated height information.
With a suitable Dolby Atmos soundtrack, these drivers use reflections from the ceiling to help create the impression of sound arriving from above the viewing position.
This is an important part of Arc Ultra's ability to create a three-dimensional presentation without physically installing loudspeakers in the ceiling.
Your Room Still Matters
Upward-firing Dolby Atmos reproduction works by interacting with the room. Ceiling height, shape and material can therefore influence the strength and precision of the height effect. Trueplay helps Arc Ultra adapt to the acoustic environment, but different rooms will naturally produce different results.
Six Midwoofers
Six midwoofers reproduce the core midrange frequencies where much of the body of voices, music and effects is found.
They are positioned as part of the broader acoustic array so Arc Ultra can combine tonal weight with the directional control required for an expansive home cinema presentation.
9.1.4 Spatial Audio
Arc Ultra is designed to render a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience with Dolby Atmos.
This describes a sound field with nine ear-level channels, a low-frequency channel and four height channels represented within the spatial presentation.
It should not be confused with having fourteen separate physical loudspeaker cabinets positioned around the room. Arc Ultra uses its driver array, acoustic reflections and digital processing to create that multichannel experience from the soundbar itself.
Dolby Atmos
Dolby Atmos allows film, television and music mixes to position sounds within a three-dimensional space rather than being restricted entirely to conventional left, centre and right channels.
When Arc Ultra receives a compatible Atmos soundtrack, effects can be placed across the width, depth and height of the listening environment.
The Sonos app displays a Dolby Atmos badge when the soundbar is successfully receiving an Atmos signal.
Dolby Atmos Over HDMI ARC or eARC
Arc Ultra connects to the television using its HDMI eARC / ARC connection.
Dolby Atmos carried in Dolby Digital Plus can be passed by compatible HDMI ARC televisions, while higher-bandwidth formats including lossless Dolby TrueHD and multichannel PCM require an HDMI eARC connection.
eARC Gives You the Broadest Format Support
If you want to use lossless Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos carried within TrueHD or multichannel PCM from devices such as Blu-ray players and games consoles, connect Arc Ultra to a compatible HDMI eARC television.
Supported Home Cinema Audio Formats
Arc Ultra supports a broad range of television and movie audio formats:
- Stereo PCM
- Dolby Digital
- Dolby Digital Plus
- Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus
- Dolby Atmos via compatible eARC source
- Dolby TrueHD via eARC
- Dolby Atmos via Dolby TrueHD and eARC
- Multichannel PCM via eARC
- Dolby Multichannel PCM via eARC
- DTS Digital Surround
The Sonos app can display the format currently being decoded, which is particularly useful when checking the setup of a television, streaming box, Blu-ray player or games console.
HDMI eARC
One HDMI eARC / ARC connection carries television audio to Arc Ultra and also allows compatible control information to travel between the television and soundbar.
Using HDMI-CEC, the television remote can control Arc Ultra volume without requiring a separate soundbar remote.
HDMI Cable Included
A 1.5m HDMI cable is supplied with Arc Ultra.
For the majority of installations, setup therefore consists of connecting the soundbar to power, plugging the supplied HDMI cable into the television's ARC or eARC socket and completing configuration through the Sonos app.
What if My TV Only Has Optical?
Arc Ultra can be connected to an optical digital output using the optional Sonos Optical Audio Adapter.
The adapter is sold separately and provides a useful route for older televisions that do not offer HDMI ARC.
However, optical does not provide the same bandwidth or control functionality as HDMI eARC, so HDMI should be used whenever the television supports it.
Optical Limits Some Features
An optical connection does not provide the full format and HDMI-CEC capabilities available through ARC or eARC. For the best Arc Ultra experience, particularly Dolby Atmos and lossless multichannel formats, use HDMI eARC where possible.
AI-Powered Speech Enhancement
Dialogue intelligibility has received particular attention in Arc Ultra.
Speech Enhancement uses processing designed to detect human voices within the soundtrack and make dialogue easier to understand without simply increasing the overall television volume.
Arc Ultra provides four customisable Speech Enhancement levels through the Sonos app, allowing the amount of assistance to be tailored to the programme and listener.
Four Speech Enhancement Levels
Rather than offering only an on/off dialogue switch, Arc Ultra allows the amount of vocal enhancement to be adjusted.
This is useful because the ideal setting can differ considerably between a well-recorded film soundtrack, a quiet television drama and a programme where dialogue has been mixed underneath loud music and effects.
Useful for Different Listeners
Speech intelligibility is not simply a matter of volume.
Room acoustics, programme mixing and individual hearing can all make voices harder to follow. Adjustable Speech Enhancement allows dialogue to be made clearer without forcing everyone in the room to listen at an unnecessarily high volume.
Night Sound
Night Sound reduces the intensity of louder effects while raising quieter information.
This helps reduce the large level difference between whispered dialogue and explosions, making late-night television easier to follow without constantly reaching for the remote.
It is particularly useful in flats, shared homes and family environments where full cinema dynamics are not always appropriate.
Trueplay Room Tuning
Every room affects the sound of a loudspeaker.
Walls, floors, furniture and the position of the soundbar all change the balance heard at the listening position.
Trueplay measures the acoustic behaviour of the room and adjusts Arc Ultra's equalisation accordingly.
Trueplay on iOS and Android
Arc Ultra expands Trueplay accessibility by supporting compatible iOS and Android devices.
This is a particularly useful change for households that do not use Apple mobile devices, allowing more owners to optimise Arc Ultra for the room through the Sonos app.
Run Trueplay After Final Positioning
Position Arc Ultra and the television first, add any Sub and surround speakers you intend to use, then carry out Trueplay once the system is in its final arrangement. Moving the system significantly afterwards can alter the room response.
Bluetooth 5.3
Unlike the original Sonos Arc, Arc Ultra includes Bluetooth audio streaming.
Press the dedicated Bluetooth button to pair a compatible phone, tablet, computer or other source and play directly to the soundbar without first selecting a music service inside the Sonos app.
This is particularly convenient for visitors and for apps that you simply want to hear quickly through the main sound system.
WiFi 6
Arc Ultra supports WiFi 6 and is compatible with 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi networks from suitable 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax routers.
WiFi remains central to the Sonos experience, providing multi-room playback, music services, system updates, AirPlay 2 and communication with compatible wireless Sonos home cinema products.
Apple AirPlay 2
AirPlay 2 allows compatible iPhone, iPad and Mac users to send audio directly from supported applications to Arc Ultra over WiFi.
It provides an alternative to browsing for content within the Sonos app and can also be used as part of an AirPlay multi-room arrangement.
Music as Well as Television
Arc Ultra is not restricted to home cinema.
When the television is switched off, it operates as a powerful Sonos streaming speaker for music, radio, podcasts and other supported audio.
You can play through the Sonos app, WiFi, Bluetooth or Apple AirPlay 2 and group Arc Ultra with other Sonos products elsewhere in the home.
Dolby Atmos Music
Compatible spatial music can also be played in Dolby Atmos.
Rather than limiting Atmos to film soundtracks, this allows music mixed specifically for a three-dimensional presentation to make use of Arc Ultra's directional driver array.
Sonos Multi-Room Audio
Arc Ultra becomes a room within the wider Sonos system.
It can play independently or be grouped with compatible Sonos speakers elsewhere around the home.
You might therefore have television audio in the living room, different music elsewhere, or group several rooms together when you want the same music throughout the house.
Sonos Voice Control
Sonos Voice Control provides hands-free control over supported Sonos functions.
The far-field microphone array uses beamforming and multichannel echo cancellation to identify commands even when the soundbar itself is playing.
Amazon Alexa
Amazon Alexa is also supported in regions and languages where the service is available.
With the appropriate setup and a compatible television connected over HDMI ARC or eARC with HDMI-CEC enabled, voice commands can also be used for functions such as television volume and power control.
Physical Microphone Privacy Switch
A physical switch on the rear of Arc Ultra disconnects power to the microphone system.
This is different from simply muting the microphones in software and provides a clear hardware method of disabling voice pickup when it is not wanted.
Capacitive Touch Controls
Controls on the soundbar itself provide local access to common functions without requiring the phone or television remote.
They can be used for:
- Play and pause
- Volume adjustment
- Skip
- Replay
- Voice assistant control
- Grouping and ungrouping compatible Sonos products
Works With Your TV Remote
Once Arc Ultra is connected through HDMI ARC or eARC, everyday television volume can normally be controlled with the existing television remote.
This keeps the system simple and avoids introducing yet another dedicated remote control to the coffee table.
TV Audio Swap With Sonos Ace
Arc Ultra integrates directly with Sonos Ace wireless headphones for private television listening.
TV Audio Swap transfers the soundtrack from Arc Ultra to Ace without requiring the television itself to establish a separate Bluetooth headphone connection.
This is particularly useful late at night, when somebody else is working or sleeping, or simply when you want a private cinema experience.
Two Sonos Ace Headphones at Once
Current Sonos software allows TV Audio Swap to operate with one or two pairs of Sonos Ace headphones simultaneously.
Two people can therefore watch a film or play a game together privately without using the room loudspeakers.
Private Cinema for Two
Arc Ultra can send TV sound to two Sonos Ace headphones at the same time. Dynamic head tracking is disabled when two pairs are receiving TV Audio Swap simultaneously.
TrueCinema With Sonos Ace
TrueCinema takes the Arc Ultra and Sonos Ace relationship further.
Arc Ultra helps map the acoustic character of the room and that information is used to render a private surround presentation through Ace that is intended to feel more like listening to a room-based cinema system.
The objective is to move the perceived soundstage away from being confined entirely between the ears.
Expand With Sonos Sub 4
Arc Ultra can be paired wirelessly with the Sonos Sub 4 for substantially deeper and more powerful low-frequency reproduction.
Adding a dedicated Sub also allows the soundbar to concentrate more of its available resources on the rest of the soundtrack rather than asking it to reproduce the deepest bass by itself.
Why Add a Subwoofer?
A dedicated subwoofer can improve more than just explosions.
Film scores, electronic music, low orchestral notes and environmental effects all contain information at frequencies that benefit from a larger dedicated bass system.
Sub 4 is therefore about scale, extension and overall system headroom rather than simply making everything louder.
Sub Mini
For rooms where the full size and output of Sub 4 are unnecessary, Sonos Sub Mini can provide a more compact route to additional low-frequency reinforcement.
Which approach is more appropriate depends on the room size, required playback level and the type of content being enjoyed.
Add Era 300 Rear Speakers
A pair of Sonos Era 300 speakers can be added as wireless surrounds.
Era 300 is particularly well suited to Arc Ultra because its own directional driver arrangement is designed around spatial and Dolby Atmos playback.
Moving surround information to dedicated physical speakers behind the listening position creates a much more enveloping home cinema system than asking the soundbar alone to reproduce the entire room.
Arc Ultra With Era 300 and Sub 4
For the most complete Sonos home cinema configuration, Arc Ultra can be combined with Sub 4 and a pair of Era 300 rear speakers.
This gives the system dedicated front soundbar processing, substantial low-frequency reinforcement and physical surround/height capability behind the listening position.
Arc Ultra on Its Own
- Single-box television system
- 9.1.4 spatial presentation
- Sound Motion bass
- Dolby Atmos
- Trueplay
- Music streaming
Full Sonos Surround System
- Arc Ultra front soundstage
- Sonos Sub for dedicated deep bass
- Pair of Era 300 rear speakers
- Physical surround channels behind listener
- Expanded Dolby Atmos experience
- Wireless Sonos integration
Can Other Sonos Speakers Be Used as Surrounds?
Arc Ultra supports compatible Sonos rear-surround configurations in addition to Era 300.
Surround speakers are normally added as a matched pair through the Sonos app and positioned behind the main listening position to the left and right.
Compatibility differs between Sonos models and generations, so check the current Sonos surround guidelines or speak to Audio T before purchasing a pair specifically for surround use.
Surround Speakers Change How Some Features Work
When compatible Sonos speakers are bonded to Arc Ultra as dedicated surrounds, certain standalone functions on those rear speakers are disabled.
These can include their individual AirPlay, Bluetooth and line-in functions, because they are operating as part of the home cinema room rather than as separate Sonos rooms.
Rear Speakers Become Part of the Cinema Room
Once a compatible pair of Sonos speakers has been configured as Arc Ultra surrounds, think of them as components of the home cinema system rather than independent rooms. Remove them from the surround configuration if you want to return them to normal standalone operation.
Arc Ultra Compared With the Original Arc
Arc Ultra is much more than a cosmetic revision of the original Sonos Arc.
Sonos Arc
- Previous-generation premium Sonos soundbar
- Dolby Atmos
- HDMI eARC
- WiFi streaming
- Trueplay
- Apple AirPlay 2
- No conventional Bluetooth music input
Sonos Arc Ultra
- Current flagship Sonos soundbar
- Sound Motion woofer technology
- 9.1.4 spatial audio presentation
- Expanded acoustic architecture
- Bluetooth 5.3
- AI Speech Enhancement
- Trueplay for compatible iOS and Android devices
- Updated touch controls
Arc Ultra or Beam (Gen 2)?
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) offers many of the core Sonos home cinema features in a considerably smaller soundbar.
Beam (Gen 2)
- Compact Dolby Atmos soundbar
- Ideal for smaller and medium rooms
- HDMI eARC
- Sonos multi-room
- Trueplay
- More discreet footprint
Arc Ultra
- Flagship Sonos soundbar
- Better suited to larger rooms and TVs
- Sound Motion bass technology
- More ambitious spatial presentation
- Bluetooth streaming
- More expansive standalone performance
Low-Profile Design
Despite the acoustic complexity inside, Arc Ultra is only 75mm high.
The curved cabinet and matte finish are intended to keep the visual focus on the television rather than making the soundbar dominate the room.
At 1178mm wide, it is naturally better suited visually to medium and large televisions than very small screens.
Dimensions
- Height: 75mm
- Width: 1178mm
- Depth: 110.6mm
- Weight: 5.9kg
Black or White
Arc Ultra is available in Black and White, both using a matte finish.
This gives you the option of contrasting with the television or blending the soundbar more closely with surrounding furniture and décor.
Tabletop or Wall Mounting
Arc Ultra can sit on suitable furniture beneath the television or be wall mounted.
Sonos provides dedicated M5 x 0.8mm mounting threads and offers a compatible Arc / Arc Ultra Wall Mount separately.
Whichever installation is chosen, avoid obstructing the front, side and upward-firing acoustic paths.
Leave the Upward-Firing Drivers Clear
Arc Ultra relies on upward-directed sound for part of its Dolby Atmos presentation. Avoid placing it inside an enclosed cabinet or directly underneath a shelf that blocks the path towards the ceiling.
Positioning Arc Ultra
For normal tabletop installation, position Arc Ultra centrally beneath the television with its front and top surfaces unobstructed.
Make sure the soundbar is stable, has enough clearance from the television screen and is not positioned so far back that furniture interferes with the directional drivers.
Wall Mounting
The dedicated Sonos Arc and Arc Ultra Wall Mount provides a low-profile installation directly beneath the television.
Wall mounting can be particularly effective with a wall-mounted screen because it keeps the visual relationship between picture and sound neat and symmetrical.
Bluetooth Button
A dedicated Bluetooth button allows Arc Ultra to enter pairing mode without having to navigate through multiple app screens.
Once paired, a phone, tablet or computer can stream audio directly to the soundbar using Bluetooth 5.3.
Far-Field Microphone Array
Arc Ultra's microphone array is used for voice control and Trueplay tuning.
Beamforming and multichannel echo cancellation help the system distinguish commands and acoustic measurements from the sound being reproduced by the speaker itself.
Internal Quad-Core Processor
Arc Ultra uses a quad-core processor based around four A55 cores running at 1.9GHz.
The processor supports the substantial amount of digital signal processing required for spatial audio, room correction, network operation, voice features and home cinema decoding.
Internal Power Supply
The power supply is built into the soundbar and accepts 100–240V AC at 50/60Hz.
There is therefore no external power brick to accommodate behind the television.
What Comes in the Box?
- Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar
- 2m power cable
- 1.5m HDMI cable
- Quickstart Guide
- Legal and warranty information
The optical audio adapter and wall mount are optional accessories and are not part of the standard Arc Ultra package.
Recommended Arc Ultra Setup
- Position Arc Ultra centrally beneath the television or install it using a suitable wall mount.
- Make sure the front, sides and upward-firing acoustic paths are unobstructed.
- Connect the supplied HDMI cable to the television's HDMI eARC or ARC socket.
- Connect Arc Ultra to mains power.
- Open the current Sonos app on a compatible iOS or Android device.
- Add Arc Ultra to a new or existing Sonos system.
- Allow the app to complete television setup.
- Check that HDMI-CEC is enabled on the television where required.
- Play compatible content and confirm the incoming audio format in the Sonos app.
- Run Trueplay with the system in its final position.
- Adjust bass, treble and loudness if required.
- Select the preferred Speech Enhancement level.
- Configure Night Sound if useful for late-evening viewing.
- Add Sonos Voice Control or Amazon Alexa if required.
- Pair Bluetooth sources if desired.
- Add a Sonos Sub if greater low-frequency depth and impact are required.
- Add compatible rear surround speakers if you want a more enveloping physical surround system.
- Configure TV Audio Swap and TrueCinema if using Sonos Ace.
Key Features
- Sonos Arc Ultra
- Flagship Sonos soundbar
- Dolby Atmos soundbar
- 9.1.4 spatial audio experience
- Sound Motion technology
- Four-motor dual-membrane woofer
- 15 Class-D amplifiers
- Nine silk-dome tweeters
- Two upward-firing tweeters
- Six midwoofers
- Dedicated height reproduction
- HDMI eARC
- HDMI ARC compatible
- Dolby Digital
- Dolby Digital Plus
- Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus
- Dolby TrueHD via eARC
- Dolby Atmos via TrueHD
- Multichannel PCM
- Dolby Multichannel PCM
- DTS Digital Surround
- Dolby Atmos Music
- Trueplay room tuning
- iOS Trueplay support
- Android Trueplay support
- AI-powered Speech Enhancement
- Four Speech Enhancement levels
- Night Sound
- Bluetooth 5.3
- WiFi 6
- 2.4GHz and 5GHz WiFi
- Apple AirPlay 2
- Sonos multi-room audio
- Sonos app control
- Sonos Voice Control
- Amazon Alexa
- Far-field microphone array
- Physical microphone disconnect switch
- Capacitive touch controls
- TV remote control
- TV Audio Swap
- One or two Sonos Ace support
- TrueCinema
- Sonos Sub compatibility
- Sonos surround speaker compatibility
- Era 300 surround expansion
- Black finish
- White finish
- 75mm height
- 1178mm width
- 110.6mm depth
- 5.9kg weight
- Wall-mountable
- HDMI cable included
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Sonos Arc Ultra still current?
Yes. Arc Ultra is the current flagship soundbar in the Sonos home cinema range.
Is Arc Ultra the replacement for Sonos Arc?
Arc Ultra is the newer flagship model, introducing Sound Motion, an updated acoustic architecture, Bluetooth connectivity, enhanced Speech Enhancement and broader Trueplay support.
Does Arc Ultra support Dolby Atmos?
Yes. Dolby Atmos is one of its principal home cinema features.
What does 9.1.4 mean?
Sonos describes Arc Ultra as rendering a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience, representing nine ear-level channels, low-frequency information and four height channels within the sound field.
Does Arc Ultra actually contain fourteen separate speakers?
Its 9.1.4 description refers to the spatial audio experience rather than fourteen separate speaker cabinets around the room. Arc Ultra uses its internal acoustic architecture and processing to render those channels.
What is Sound Motion?
Sound Motion is Sonos' compact low-frequency technology using a four-motor, dual-membrane woofer to produce substantial bass output from a relatively slim enclosure.
How many amplifiers does Arc Ultra have?
Fifteen Class-D digital amplifiers.
How many tweeters does Arc Ultra have?
Sonos' current specification lists nine silk-dome tweeters.
How many upward-firing tweeters are there?
Two.
How many midwoofers are fitted?
Six.
Do I need a Sonos Sub?
No. Arc Ultra is designed to work as a complete standalone soundbar. A Sub can be added when you want deeper bass, greater scale and increased low-frequency headroom.
Can I add Sonos Sub 4?
Yes. Sub 4 is an ideal partner for a high-performance Arc Ultra home cinema system.
Can I use Sub Mini?
Yes in a compatible Sonos configuration. Whether Sub Mini or a full-size Sub is more appropriate depends on room size and the level of low-frequency performance required.
Can I add rear speakers?
Yes. Compatible Sonos speakers can be configured as a matched rear-surround pair.
Can I use Era 300 as surrounds?
Yes. A pair of Era 300 speakers provides an especially capable spatial-audio surround system with Arc Ultra.
Does Arc Ultra have HDMI eARC?
Yes.
Will it work with HDMI ARC?
Yes, although eARC is required for some higher-bandwidth lossless formats.
Do I need eARC for Dolby Atmos?
Not necessarily. Dolby Atmos carried in Dolby Digital Plus can work over compatible HDMI ARC connections. Dolby TrueHD-based Atmos and other high-bandwidth formats require eARC.
Does Arc Ultra support Dolby TrueHD?
Yes, with an HDMI eARC connection.
Does it support DTS?
Sonos supports DTS Digital Surround. This does not indicate a licensed DTS decoder for every DTS format.
Does Arc Ultra support multichannel PCM?
Yes, over HDMI eARC.
Is an HDMI cable supplied?
Yes. A 1.5m HDMI cable is included.
Can I connect Arc Ultra by optical cable?
Yes, using the optional Sonos Optical Audio Adapter.
Is the optical adapter included?
No. It is sold separately.
Does Arc Ultra have Bluetooth?
Yes. Arc Ultra supports Bluetooth 5.3 audio streaming.
Does Arc Ultra have WiFi?
Yes. It supports WiFi 6 and compatible 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks.
Does it support AirPlay 2?
Yes.
Can I play music without the television?
Yes. Arc Ultra operates as a Sonos music speaker independently of the television.
Does it support Dolby Atmos Music?
Yes, with compatible content and service.
What is Trueplay?
Trueplay measures how the room and speaker position affect the sound and adjusts Arc Ultra's equalisation accordingly.
Does Trueplay work on Android?
Yes. Arc Ultra supports Trueplay tuning with compatible iOS and Android devices.
What is Speech Enhancement?
It uses processing to identify and clarify human voices within a soundtrack, helping dialogue remain intelligible.
How many Speech Enhancement settings are there?
Four customisable levels.
What is Night Sound?
Night Sound reduces loud peaks while making quieter information easier to hear, which can make late-night viewing more neighbour and family friendly.
Does Arc Ultra have voice control?
Yes. It supports Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa where those services are available.
Can the microphones be physically switched off?
Yes. A rear switch disconnects power to the microphone array.
Can my TV remote control Arc Ultra?
Yes. HDMI-CEC allows normal television volume control through a compatible TV remote.
Does Arc Ultra work with Sonos Ace?
Yes. TV Audio Swap transfers television sound between Arc Ultra and Sonos Ace headphones.
Can two Sonos Ace headphones listen to the TV at the same time?
Yes. Current Sonos software supports TV Audio Swap with one or two pairs of Ace simultaneously.
What is TrueCinema?
TrueCinema uses information about the room to create a more room-like private surround presentation through compatible Sonos Ace headphones.
Can Arc Ultra be wall mounted?
Yes. Sonos offers a compatible Arc and Arc Ultra wall mount separately.
How wide is Arc Ultra?
1178mm.
How tall is Arc Ultra?
75mm.
How deep is it?
110.6mm.
How much does it weigh?
5.9kg.
What colours are available?
Black and White, both with a matte finish.
Does it come with a remote control?
A separate Sonos remote is not required. Arc Ultra can be controlled with the Sonos app, capacitive controls, compatible voice control and your existing television remote.
Can I place Arc Ultra inside a cabinet?
We would avoid enclosing the soundbar because its front, side and upward-firing acoustic output needs room to operate correctly.
Can I put it directly below a shelf?
A shelf immediately above the soundbar can interfere with upward-firing Dolby Atmos reproduction. Leave a clear acoustic path wherever possible.
Is Arc Ultra better suited to a large TV?
At 1178mm wide, Arc Ultra is visually and acoustically well suited to medium and larger television installations, although screen size alone does not determine compatibility.
Do I need the Sonos app?
Yes. Arc Ultra must be set up using the current Sonos app before television playback can be configured.
Related Sonos Products and Audio T Guides
Why Buy Sonos Arc Ultra From Audio T?
Arc Ultra can be an extremely simple one-box television upgrade, but the Sonos ecosystem also gives it considerable scope to grow. Choosing the right Sub, deciding between different surround speakers, positioning everything correctly and making sure the television is actually sending the best audio format can make a substantial difference to the finished system.
Audio T can demonstrate Arc Ultra on its own and as part of a complete Sonos Dolby Atmos system, help check television compatibility and advise on positioning, wall mounting, Trueplay, Sonos Ace integration and the most appropriate route for your room and budget.
- In-store Sonos demonstrations
- Arc Ultra demonstrations
- Dolby Atmos demonstrations
- TV compatibility advice
- HDMI eARC setup guidance
- Audio-format troubleshooting
- Trueplay setup advice
- Soundbar positioning guidance
- Wall-mounting advice
- Sonos Sub matching
- Subwoofer positioning advice
- Era 300 surround demonstrations
- Wireless surround planning
- Sonos Ace demonstrations
- TV Audio Swap guidance
- TrueCinema setup
- Sonos multi-room planning
- WiFi and network advice
- Ongoing after-sales support
Contact your local Audio T store to experience Sonos Arc Ultra, compare it with other Sonos soundbars or build a complete wireless Dolby Atmos home cinema system.