With 14 speakers in a slim housing, the new Sonos soundbar Arc Ultra produces excellent sound and surprisingly effective surround sound. Its basses are also more than audible, but the good piece deserves the extra oomph of the new Sub 4.
You get the best sound in a home theater with a surround system that consists of at least four speakers: a central speaker, two satellites and a subwoofer. If you want 3D sound, you can add ceiling speakers. However, such a set-up is complex and expensive.
Many users therefore prefer soundbars that can “simulate” such systems in a space- and cost-saving manner. The new Sonos Arc Ultra, which costs just under 1000 euros, is even said to have a 9.1.4 system on the slim box. ntv.de put the soundbar in front of the television to see whether it could actually do it.
14 speakers installed
The 5.9 kilogram Ultra doesn't look much different than the normal Arc. It is around 1.18 meters wide, only 7.5 centimeters high and 11 centimeters deep. Amazingly, Sonos has housed the 14 speakers and electronics necessary for a 9.1.4 system in the compact box. Seven tweeters, six midrange drivers and one woofer. For 3D sound, they are partly directed to the sides and upwards, or so-called waveguides direct their frequencies in different directions.
There's a lot in there.
(Photo: Sonos)
On the top of the rear base there is a bar with touch surfaces to control playback and volume, although this is usually done via an app or the television's remote control. In addition to the power connection, there is only a single HDMI input (eArc) and an Ethernet socket in a recess on the back. The switches are also hidden here to deactivate the voice control microphone or connect a device via Bluetooth.
Easy commissioning
Setting it up via the app is quick. Once the soundbar has been found, the WiFi connection and TV control can be set up in just a few minutes. It is then important that you let the Arc Ultra “measure” the room by emitting sounds. This means it can adapt sound and 3D playback to the circumstances. The best way to do this is to use an iPhone or iPad. This allows you to move through the room while the devices record the sounds emitted by the soundbar.
The Sub 4 is an ideal addition, but too much for some rooms.
(Photo: kwe)
Alternatively, you can leave the task to the Arc Ultra's microphones. This is less precise, but it is the only option on Android. You also have to resort to it if creaking floorboards disrupt the measurement.
Excellent sound with decent bass
The effort is worth it, the difference is audible. In any case, the sound of the relatively compact soundbar is excellent. It is characterized by extremely cleanly defined mids and exceptional clarity. Even without voice amplification in the app, voices can be understood very well. In addition, the new woofer with dual membrane and four drives delivers quite powerful bass, which, despite the tightness in the compact box, does not get in the way of the mids and highs.
This is also fun when listening to music, and you have several options. You can stream via the Sonos app or from Spotify, but you can also connect players via Bluetooth or Apple's Airplay. In terms of sound, we recommend using the Sonos app. Although it received a lot of criticism for making improvements in the run-up to the introduction of the Ace headphones, it is now much more functional and clearer.
Amazingly effective with Dolby Atmos
When it comes to 3D sound, the Arc Ultra delivers surprisingly good results when appropriate Dolby Atmos sources are available. Then you actually perceive sounds that come from all possible directions. This is best demonstrated in video games when you turn away from a source of noise. Even in videos you can occasionally hear a door closing behind you or a vehicle approaching.
How well this works depends not only on the source, but also on the room. The fewer distracting angles and objects there are, the better. But even the Arc Ultra can't keep up with a real 3D home system.
Sub 4 brings a lot more oomph
To get even more out of it, you can complement it with other Sonos boxes. This includes the new Sub 4, which costs around 900 euros. That's a lot of money to add to the 1000 euros for the Arc Ultra. Provided you can afford it and have your own house, tolerant neighbors or fantastically soundproof rooms, the investment is worth it.
The subwoofer harmonizes perfectly with the soundbar and its sound can also be adjusted to suit rooms. It takes over the lows where the limits of the Arc Ultra are and goes down so far that you can feel the bass rather than hear it. It has so much oomph that the equipment sometimes vibrates.
That's impressive, but not suitable for every household. Alternatively, you can also use a Sonos Sub mini, which is sufficient for apartments and is available for around 400 euros.
Two Sonos One satellite speakers were also used in the test, which significantly improved the spatial sound. Other speakers from the manufacturer or from Ikea (Symfonisk) can also be used for this.
Conclusion
The Sonos Arc Ultra impresses primarily with its excellent, clear, full and room-filling sound, and the bass has a surprising amount of power. Dolby Atmos is more noticeable on this soundbar than on most competitors. But if you really want 3D or at least effective surround sound, you can't avoid using satellite speakers with the Arc Ultra.
