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Research · 9.1.4-channel soundbar

Sonos Arc Ultra: what the testing says

The Arc Ultra is the standalone bar for voices and music. RTINGS calls it impressive for dialogue and great for music, and picks it as its best standalone bar for dialogue. On its own it's only decent for movies, because there's no rumble without a sub, and Sonos sells its Sub 4 for $899 more.

By The WhichTVShouldIBuy editorsUpdated Released Oct 2024
Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar in black, three-quarter view
Image: Sonos (official product page, opens in a new tab)
Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar in black, straight-on front view
Image: Sonos (official product page, opens in a new tab)

Our take

The short version

Sonos's flagship is one long bar with 14 drivers, including two up-firing tweeters and a flat, four-motor woofer Sonos calls Sound Motion. Sonos calls it a 9.1.4 experience; RTINGS tested it as 5.1.2. Either way, RTINGS finds 'an impressive amount of bass for a standalone bar', and rates it 'impressive for dialogue and TV shows' and 'great for music'.

Movies are where it needs help. RTINGS rates it only decent there: 'there's not much low-end rumble to go with the punch'. The fix is Sonos's Sub 4 or Sub Mini and a pair of Era speakers as rears, which is how RTINGS' top-rated Sonos setup is built, at a much higher total price.

It's simple to connect, with one HDMI eARC cable and no inputs, and it has no DTS:X. It doesn't name any TV-brand features, so it behaves the same with any TV. Sonos raised its price from $999 to $1,099; at 46.4 inches wide it fits under a 55-inch screen.

Pros and cons

What we like

  • RTINGS: impressive for dialogue, great for music
  • RTINGS' best standalone bar for dialogue
  • Strong bass for a bar with no sub
  • Expands with Sonos subs and speakers; Wi-Fi 6, AirPlay 2, Bluetooth 5.3

Trade-offs

  • Only decent for movies without a sub, per RTINGS
  • No HDMI input and no DTS:X
  • No optical input without a separate adapter
  • Price went up to $1,099

Who it's for

Buy it if…

  • Anyone who wants one bar, no sub, for TV and music
  • Sonos households
  • 55-inch and bigger TVs

Skip it if…

  • Movie-first buyers: the Samsung HW-Q990H includes a sub and rears
  • DTS disc collectors
  • Screens under 55 inches

Your TV

TVs it fits and syncs with

At 46.4 in (1,178 mm) wide, the Arc Ultra fits under a 55-inch screen, whose picture is 47.9 inches wide, and anything bigger. It's wider than the picture on a 48-inch screen or smaller. Our rule: a bar fits when it's no wider than the picture, since every TV is a little wider than its picture and the bar then won't overhang it. Check the gap under the screen too: the bar is 3 inches (75 mm) tall.

Sonos doesn't name a feature for any TV brand, so it works the same with every TV over HDMI eARC.

TVs we cover that it fits under

Sizes are the ones each TV is sold in. A sync feature is listed where Sonos names one for that TV's brand and model year.

Spec sheet

Arc Ultra specs

Sonos Arc Ultra specifications
Channels9.1.4, per Sonos (RTINGS tested it as 5.1.2)
Drivers14: 7 tweeters (2 up-firing), 6 midwoofers, 1 Sound Motion woofer; 15 amplifiers
Audio formatsDolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, multichannel PCM, DTS Digital Surround; no DTS:X
HDMIHDMI eARC to the TV; no HDMI inputs
HDMI passthroughNone
OpticalAdapter sold separately
WirelessWi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, AirPlay 2
Voice / micsSonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa; mic switch
SubwooferNone in the box; optional Sonos Sub 4 or Sub Mini
Rear speakersNone in the box; optional pair of Era 100, Era 300, or other Sonos speakers
Bar dimensions46.38 x 2.95 x 4.35 in (1,178 x 75 x 110.6 mm)
Bar weight13.01 lb (5.9 kg)
Room calibrationTrueplay (iOS and Android)
Dialogue / night modesAI Speech Enhancement, four levels; Night Sound
Also notableTV Audio Swap to Sonos Ace headphones

From the manufacturer sources listed below. “Not specified” means those sources don't state it. Model number: ARCG2US1BLK.

Published testing

What the testing says

Other outlets tested the Arc Ultra; we didn't. Each finding is theirs, with the page and its date.

Cross-shop

Alternatives to consider

  • LG Sound Suite H7 soundbar, front view from slightly above
    Image: LG (official product page, opens in a new tab)

    LG Sound Suite H7

    Channels
    5.1.3 Atmos
    Approx. price
    ~$849.99
    In the box
    Bar only
    Fits under
    55" and up
    TV sync
    LG
    Width
    47.2 in

    LG's 2026 standalone bar: very good for music and great for dialogue, with LG speakers you can add later.

    Pros

    • Pro: RTINGS: great for dialogue, very good for music
    • Pro: Strong bass for a bar with no sub
    • Pro: Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify and Tidal Connect

    Trade-offs

    • Trade-off: No sub in the box; the W7 is $599.99
    • Trade-off: No HDMI input; latency a bit high, per RTINGS

    Top fit scores

    Dialogue
    4 out of 5
    Music
    4 out of 5
    Movies
    3 out of 5

    Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published testing and specs, not our own measurements.

    Check price

    Affiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.

    Read the breakdown: LG Sound Suite H7
  • Samsung HW-Q990H soundbar with its wireless subwoofer and two rear speakers, three-quarter view
    Image: Samsung (official product page, opens in a new tab)

    Samsung HW-Q990H

    Channels
    11.1.4 Atmos
    Approx. price
    ~$1,497.99
    In the box
    Bar, sub, and rears
    Fits under
    65" and up
    TV sync
    Samsung
    Width
    48.5 in

    A full 11.1.4 system in one box: bar, sub, and two rears, with RTINGS' top verdicts for movies and dialogue.

    Pros

    • Pro: Sub and two rears in the box: true 11.1.4 with nothing to add
    • Pro: RTINGS: amazing for mixed use and dialogue, impressive for movies
    • Pro: Two HDMI inputs with 4K 120Hz passthrough

    Trade-offs

    • Trade-off: 48.5 inches wide: fits 65-inch screens and up
    • Trade-off: RTINGS calls it largely unchanged from the Q990F

    Top fit scores

    Movies
    5 out of 5
    Dialogue
    5 out of 5
    Bass
    5 out of 5

    Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published testing and specs, not our own measurements.

    Check price

    Affiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.

    Read the breakdown: Samsung HW-Q990H
  • Sonos Beam Ultra soundbar in black, three-quarter view
    Image: Sonos (official product page, opens in a new tab)

    Sonos Beam Ultra

    Channels
    7.1.2 Atmos
    Approx. price
    ~$695.50
    In the box
    Bar only
    Fits under
    42" and up
    TV sync
    None stated
    Width
    29.5 in

    Sonos's new compact bar with real up-firing drivers; What Hi-Fi? and TechRadar gave it five stars.

    Pros

    • Pro: 5 of 5 from What Hi-Fi? and TechRadar
    • Pro: Two up-firing drivers for real Atmos height
    • Pro: Fits under a 42-inch screen

    Trade-offs

    • Trade-off: Not yet tested by RTINGS
    • Trade-off: No DTS:X and no HDMI input

    Top fit scores

    Dialogue
    4 out of 5
    Music
    4 out of 5
    Bass
    3 out of 5

    Editorial fit scores, 1–5, from published testing and specs, not our own measurements.

    Check price

    Affiliate link to Amazon. Price approx., seen Oct 2026.

    Read the breakdown: Sonos Beam Ultra

Sources

Manufacturer specs

Published testing

Manufacturer specs and published testing, researched October 26, 2026. The Amazon price is the buy-box price for a new unit that day ($1,099, sold by Amazon.com). We didn't test this soundbar ourselves; findings credited to an outlet are that outlet's.