Sonos Arc Ultra Review with Sub 4 - Hear the BASS Difference! 🔥
The biggest improvement the Arc Ultra has over the previous version is that, even on its own, it can produce full and rich bass, thanks to the new SoundMotion woofers. Somehow, Sonos was able to build those woofers in a way that it’s super flat and compact, but can achieve deep excursion for maximum air displacement.
Along with cramming more speakers inside compared to the previous model, 14 versus 11, it’s now able to output the soundbar equivalent of 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos. But how does it actually sound playing Atmos content, and is its bass so good that you don’t need to add on the Sonos Sub 4?
In this review, I’ll share my thoughts on the Arc Ultra’s sound quality and compare it with some binaural sound samples.
What’s also been added to the Arc Ultra is a row of controls at the back, including a groove that controls the volume, playback controls and a microphone located at the left end of the speaker. The microphone not only allows handsfree control with voice assistants like Alexa or Sonos voice controls but also supports auto Trueplay calibration, which optimises the Arc Ultra to your room’s acoustics quickly.
What I don’t quite like is the location of the switch that turns off the microphone. You literally have to reach your fingers in and feel around for it, which would be very hard to do if it was wall mounted. The same thing for the Bluetooth pairing button, which is way more important to have in an easy access location. And there’s no way to put it into pairing mode from the Sonos app either, yet.
Connectivity wise, you’ve got an Ethernet port for network stability and 1 HDMI eARC. While the single input might seem limiting, most people have an external hub or use their TV as a hub for media players, like Apple TV and game consoles.
I stopped being upset at Sonos soundbars having just one input because most people don’t seem to mind. Obviously this input being eARC, your ARC Ultra becomes an extension of your TV so it’s also possible to use your TV remote to operate the volume. If it doesn’t happen automatically, you can link up your TV remote in the Sonos app.
TV remote in the Sonos app
In terms of app, I’m aware that there are issues that hasn’t been resolved with long time customers, particularly those who had all their settings and timers on the previous version of the app.
Additionally, there are some things that can be better, such as making the speaker settings more accessible, it’s been pretty easy to get things up and running. During a livestream, I actually set up both the Arc Ultra and the Sub 4 pretty quick and smooth. What’s also great is that you can set the volume of the Arc Ultra’s height channel when listening to Dolby Atmos content.
Dolby Atmos
As part of my listening tests, I wanted to put the Arc Ultra through some Dolby Atmos content, just to see how well it phases discrete channels, and how immersive it could actually get. It was a combination of movies and music, but I also played Atmos content from my friend Jennifer. She runs the channel JenniferGala which hosts her work creating Dolby Atmos audio and movie experiences. You guys should go check her out.
👉 Have a listen to the Dolby Atmos Sound Sample (Binaural).
But I didn’t just listen to the content on YouTube, I also tested the Asrc Ultra on Apple Music which has her content in actual 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos, and the Arc Ultra did sound even more engaging and immersive. It wasn’t able to phase the rear channels to the back of my head like physical rear speakers, but it could place sound effects in 3 dimensional space both at the sides, and the space between me and the speaker.
It’s probably the closest you can get to Dolby Atmos without actual rear channels. Although if you want to, you can also throw in a couple of Era 300s for even more engagement from the front and the back. That one came out a bit wrong.
What’s also important is height channels. The soundstage did feel tall, but it wasn’t like having actual ceiling speakers yet so it wasn’t so cinematic. For example, I didn’t feel like a surfer about to get overwhelmed by a tidal wave. But given that I can jack up the height channel in the Sonos app, I choose to ram it all the way up to get maximum height sensation during climaxes. By intense, I mean movie climaxes, although I realise how that might sound.
Jacking up the height channel in the Sonos app
For music, I like that it sounds rich and clean, with great stereo and track separation, and a spacious soundstage above the soundbar and a little to the sides. It won’t sound like traditional separates, but the enjoyment factor is still there for casual music listening and just setting the mood.
In terms of vocal reproduction, vocals can sound a bit on the bright side, but not to the point of sounding too fatiguing.
👉 Have a listen to the sound sample.
Sub 4 is not needed?
Moreover, let’s talk about the Sub 4 because some of you might be wondering if it’s even necessary to get that, now that the Arc Ultra has SoundMotion.
In my opinion, the answer is yes, you need the Sub 4. While the Arc Ultra can deliver better bass, it’s only in the upper bass lower mids region around 250hz and above. This means you can get fullness and muscle, but no gravity bombs, and no LFE rumble either. To illustrate this, let me share a comparison using a track with deep bass drops, Me vs Me by .
By default, the Sub 4’s bass volume can be a bit soft for my tastes, which is why I set it to +2 for my own listening. If you like it less boomy, decrease it as you like.
Now, can you get sub bass by jacking up the Arc Ultra’s bass to max without the Sub 4? Unfortunately, no. It just makes mids more boomy, and it doesn’t add any LFE. That’s why if it’s within your budget, definitely add the Sub 4. It’s smaller than the last version so it doesn’t take up too much space. You could even slide it flat beneath your couch, if there’s a power socket nearby.
Final Thoughts…
Overall, the Sonos Arc Ultra is a fantastic soundbar. It sounds very good on its own and even better with the Sub 4, but it holds up very well by itself if you want to take that Dolby Atmos experience to the next level. If you’ve heard the original Arc, you’ll notice that this one’s got more bass. I’ve compared them in the store, that’s a fact. Only problem I have with it so far is the Bluetooth pairing button in a hard to reach place. You need to reach your fingers in and feel around for it. It’s a bit hard to find.
Anyway, if you want to check the latest prices of the Arc Ultra and the Sub 4, I’ve got links to their Amazon pages below.
Check latest prices:
Sonos Arc Ultra - Link TBA
Sonos Sub 4 - https://amzn.to/4fSxjji
(Affiliate Links Disclosure)
When you make a purchase through the Affiliate Links on this site, the site earns a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
