Nothing cures a fall like a great victory. That’s exactly what Sonos needed from the new Arc Ultra. Built on the already excellent Sonos Arc (9/10, WIRED recommended), the Ultra is thinner, clearer, bassier, and more immersive for just $100 more, and is the first product released in what Sonos claims which is a mistake. -Free app-mosphere.
Software bugs have plagued the Sonos app since the company revamped it alongside the launch of its first headphones, the Ace (8/10, WIRED recommends), earlier this year. This is the error that keeps giving. In my review period I found another issue where the bar would disappear from the app after linking the new one Under 4 and a pair of Era 300 speakers (9/10, WIRED recommended) in a surround system.
Fortunately, the problems finally seem to be resolved. After a simple power cycle, I experienced over a week of error-free operation, which, combined with the lack of similar reports online, leads me to cautiously consider my issues resolved. For me, the Ultra is now stable and responsive, while its sonic abilities put it among the best soundbars I’ve tested all year.
Subtly slimmed down
Sonos has always provided a luxurious unboxing experience, and the Arc Ultra maintains that. The minimalist packaging gives way to a sleek, perforated matte tube of outsized proportions that looks strikingly familiar to the original Arc.
There are some telling adjustments, including a 3-inch shorter height to sit more comfortably under TVs and a wider stance that extends to more than 46 inches wide. A plate on the back houses ventilation for the amplifiers and Sonos’ latest touch controls, including play/pause, song skip, voice control, and a granular volume slider to match the in-app version. Like all Sonos speakers, the Ultra comes in traditional black or white.
Photography: Ryan Waniata
Inside the cylindrical housing are 14 individually powered drivers (three more than the Arc), including seven tweeters, six midrange drivers, and a new “Sound Motion” woofer for bass. You’ll get support for all major Dolby audio formats, including lossless Dolby Atmos, and support for DTS surround sound (Sonos says it’s not a “licensed decoder”), but not DTS:X, the 3D Atmos rival.