Lovers of a wireless entertainment set up that delivers; the Sonos Arc Ultra is the 2024 flagship soundbar to look forward to, working to deliver a simplified yet immersive home theater experience.
For those of you who are new to Sonos, this soundbar is the latest offering of the Sonos brand, designed for users who wants a wireless entertainment setup and is beginner-friendly for those new to and are serious about their audio system. The brand's modular approach allows one to integrate new and existing Sonos products into the evergrowing ecosystem.
Alongside the Arc Ultra release is the Sonos Sub 4, a wireless subwoofer to support your soundbars or any other existing audio system you have. Yes, Sonos products are sitll useable with other systems as long as there's a wireless connectivity to audio equipment.
Admittedly, our stint with the pair was brief but had us sufficiently fascinated with what the Sonos system can give.
Editor
Jodee Tan chevron_right
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The Simple Designs Are Easy To Match Most Rooms
The Arc Ultra, like all other Sonos products, has the brand's signature sleek, minimalist design complete with a matte finish which doesn't attract fingerprints. This soundbar is available in black or white, and blends nicely with modern home decor.
As our set up was quite dark, we do wish our cabinets were of a brighter colour to give it a cosy feel. Otherwise, this Arc Ultra is flexible. You can even choose to mount it onto a wall below your TV.
New to the flagship, not seen in older Sonos soundbars, was the control bar on the back, which was first introduced in the Sonos Era series. This allows for enhanced user interaction and control.
As for the Sub 4, it also sticks to the signature Sonos minimalist design with a rectangle gaping hole in the middle. For its design, the Sub 4 can be positioned upright or laid flat, which provides flexibility for its placement to suit different room layouts.
Practical & Straightforward Audio Features
Arc Ultra is made up of 14 drivers which include seven tweeters, six mid-woofers, and a new 'Sound Motion' woofer. It supports high-resolution audio formats, including Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Atmos.
The Sound Motion technology itself is the key that enhances the bass performance for Arc Ultra, providing its audio profile with deep and impactful low frequencies.
With the whole system it adds up to a 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos experience that gives the Arc Ultra the ability to transcend a 250 square feet room (estimated) with clear and rich immersive sound.
Should you want boosted bass, especially if you have a room larger than 500 square feet, the Sub 4 proves its value when you position it well, adding more depth to audio especially in movie genres. According to Sonos, the Sub 4 can deliver low bass down to 25Hz. It has dual 5" x 8" elliptical woofers facing inwards to create a force-cancelling effect. This helps it minimise any rattling effects too.
Our Experience: Setup, Connectivity & Features
Both products, thankfully, offers HDMI eARC to allow high-quality audio transmission. Otherwise, Bluetooth connectivity for versatile streaming options is also possible.
The star feature these two possess is their Sonos' multi-room audio system compatibility. This is great news for those who aren't able to purchase multiple Sonos audio accessories at once, which means better flexibility in upgrading your home audio system. With their playback compatibility, the duo allows synchronization with other Sonos speakers for a cohesive audio experience.
For the Arc Ultra, it has built-in voice assistants and Apple AirPlay 2 support to allow seamless integration with other devices.
Our set up is quite limited due to the studio's size and room layout, so we were only able to position the Sub 4 beside the Arc Ultra. But our prior first experience to the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 combo in showrooms was positive and efficacious.
In our experience, we had first tried the Arc Ultra on its own, which did not sweat when it came to delivering powerful, loud and clear audio, especially with speeches. Once we unpacked the Sub 4 and paired it with the Arc Ultra, we immediately noticed the rich depth and bass support it gives. We hardly had any vibrations and rattles.
If you're a traditional subwoofer user, you might not find the Sub 4 as powerful. Although a simple setback one may get over easily, it's also very subjective and therefore would need to be highlh thought about before you purchase the Sonos duo or either products.
Additionally, connectivity was very simple. All you have to do is download the Sonos app, and follow the clear guides after choosing the setup option. With the app, control entirely how and when your Sonos products activate, their designated rooms, as well as choose which song plays on which Sonos product.
Who is this for?
It's clear that Sonos Arc Ultra, especially if paired with the Sub 4, is aimed at audio enthusiasts and audiophiles that want a seamless and premium, all-in-one soundbar and subwoofer for a smart home ecosystem.
If you're interested in the products due to the Sonos app and connection set up, it is quite easy to understand and worth considering for your space.
The flexibility to control songs from your phone as well as placement by attaching it to anywhere besides under your TV (thanks to the wireless connection) means better customisability for certain sound effects you want in your home. With that said, we can also easily envision that audio lovers who want good audio for their bedroom will also find the Arc Ultra a great addition. However, if you are looking for an audio product to go with your existing set up (especially with non-smart audio counterparts), this might not be the best choice.
The duo does not come at an affordable price. Through the official Sonos distributor in Malaysia — TC Acoustics — the Arc Ultra is priced at RM5,899 and the Sub 4 at RM4,799. If you're interested in purchasing the duo together, it'll cost RM10,159 which is RM539 cheaper. Ultimately, those who love the convenience of owning a wireless set up will love the combination. Otherwise, it's better to think them over if you already have a traditional audio system set up you love.
Pros:
- Clear sound quality that's flexible across most genres; shines in cinema and music playing
- Design is simple and allows for flexibility in customising placement of products
- Good connectivity options with its multiple input choices (has HDMI eARC, Bluetooth and AirPlay)
- Nice smart integration; offers modular-approach for upgrading your existing Sonos ecosystem
Cons:
- Not budget-friendly. This set (or either one) are premium prices that offers convenience and connectivity first and foremost
- Lack of DTS:X audio format despite its premium price tag; limits compatibility with some immersive content
- End of review -
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