Review: Sonos Arc Ultra looks great, but I will not uphold from the bow

Despite the name, Sonos Arc Ultra is not a substitute for the company’s excellent arc, which is the tempting UPSell with all the features you want but do not need it technically. Instead, this is really a complement to the bow – and replacing it, as the gradual disposal of the original arc will be sold until the remaining inventory is sold.

Why does the new name confuse a little? Sonus’s simple argument. Although Arc Ultra is very similar to its predecessor from the outside, everything has been changed inside – changed enough so that the company felt that the usual “Gen 2” sign would confirm things.

So, since I am coming from an arc, I feel qualified to ask and answer: How much is Arc Ultra’s quality, and how do you compare the original arc and the rest of the serious Soundbar market?

Price, availability and specifications

ARC Ultra is now available, from Sonos itself and the usual spread of technology retail traders, and will return you to $ 999.

This is $ 100 on a $ 899 arc, although at the time of writing this report Soundbar was deducted much less, at only $ 699. At this price, it is certain that the original is the best purchase, although I do not expect the stock to last longer.

What is good in Sonos Arc Ultra?

The same names, but different

What is best in Arc Ultra is a healthy mixture of new and old bits. The design, for example, almost changed, and the best of it. Ultra is slightly longer than its predecessor, although there is a lower profile to help in increasingly calculating the slim TV stands. But regardless of the modified dimensions, it seems significantly familiar – my partner has not even noted that the sound bar was switched until I indicated to it.

The rear control items moved a little, to a dedicated block at the back of Soundbar. The slightly volatile scroll tape of loudspeakers is merged in the last era here, but the controls are very familiar.

Other fun features of welcoming include fully support to transfer the wireless sound to Sonos Ace (more about it later), a mixture of manual tick (for iOS) and the less powerful automatic version (Android), and the unarmed option to combine Soundbar and Sonos Subwoofer or PROFEYS for the home theater more Complete.

The new thing is everything inside makes the super sound, well, super. This is the first Sonos speaker to use what he calls: vocal movement technology. The length and the difference is that this technology allowed Sonos to create a much smaller sound of sound without compromising the output of the flower. Reducing the size of these amplifiers, in turn, liberates a space for other drivers, and thus Ultra contains a total of 14 – three more than the first arc.

Between the extra loudspeakers and some modified sites, ARC Ultra provides a more detailed sound, a more immersive ocean audio experience and a Dolby Atmos experience. I decided not to associate with my usual 100 surrounding era for a more fair test, and I was surprised when I found that I had almost missed me. No, Ultra cannot repeat the experience of a pair of actual headphones behind your head, but through the liar of the sound in the corners everywhere, it significantly imitate a good imitation.

Also do not use my music sound bar, but Ultra is more than able to pull its weight when needed. There is a wonderful scope, openness to sound, almost complete clarity. The smaller sound movement is still delivers the brightness that can be either conclusive or bombing, depending on the circumstances, although his pair with the new SUB 4 also contributes to a noticeable addition to gravity.

TL; D. Yes, this seems better than the original bow, and perhaps better than any other sound tape you will find at the price. However, I am still not particularly recommended to Ultra as an upgrade option for the current ARC owners.

What is bad in Sonos Arc Ultra?

Revenue

The first problem facing Arc Ultra is a simple problem: the bow was really good. No one will matter to buy the first Sonos audio tape, or a cheaper -style upgrade like Ray or Beam. But since the original bow is now more than four years, I bet that some current owners will think at least in Ultra as a promotion. Although it looks great, I am not sure if it is different enough to justify $ 1,000 expenses.

I used to use my arch until I reviewed Ultra, and I promised to it since Sonos collected the new sound bar. Ultra did not feel the changing upgrade of the game when I replaced it, and I couldn’t say that I missed it terribly since I left. It is a great audio tape, but we deepen the revenue lands of this stage.

Despite all its size and superior, I think users who will really be able to justify Grand’s drop on a sound tape will also find themselves thinking about adding SUB 4 to their preparation, which is another $ 800.

I can only wonder what Sonos could have been using Sound Motion Tech to provide more brightness instead of extra loudspeakers and medium pressure that pressed it – was this a sound tape that does not really require a branch besides that? We will never know, but the fact that Sonos has launched a new sound amplifier alongside The Arc Ultra tells you that he may not want Soundbars’s voice to happen completely good so far.

Finally, a quick note on the program and communication. This has used a major force for Sonos technology, but since the company has updated its application earlier this year, that was not completely true. He still returns again to showcase symmetry with the oldest application – although almost exists – but I did not find reliability on an equal footing.

Despite the re -assignment and repeated attempts, I completely failed to associate my Sonos ACE headphones with the Arc Ultra to put the wireless sound. Perhaps this is because ACE has already linked to my old Dubai, but re -appointments must be resolved – and besides that, this is the exact position in which any arc and ACE will be present.

I faced other smaller communication problems during my presence with Arc Ultra – the speaker disappears from the application or from Bluetooth or struggles to pace with my surroundings and SUB – although these are all in time. But for $ 999, I expect such issues to be minimal, if they are not present. I can’t completely trust my Sonos network as I used to.

The new application is not assisted by the new application, which does not provide error codes and minimal exploring and fixing errors. Therefore, when problems occur, you will be in the dark and depend on Googling the problem and hope for the best.

Should you buy it?

If you already own the bow, and work well, the upgrade is not essential at all. It is not enough to upgrade to be worthy of attention. For anyone else, think about it – but search for a reduced original arc first, while the stocks continue, as the big savings will be enough to make this model the best purchase.

Otherwise, do not let me discourage me about Arc Ultra too much. It is truly an exceptional speaker, and if you want to spend $ 1,000 on a higher sound tape, I am not sure if you can do a better job. It looks beautiful, looks great, and you should work well for years to come – assuming that Sonos collects her program a little together.