Sonos' Arc Ultra soundbar is official, with revolutionary new speaker tech that offers 'double the bass'

9.1.4 channels using Sonos' new 'Sound Motion' designs – plus a Sonos Sub 4

15 Oct 2024, 13:10 · TechRadar

News By Carrie MarshallContributions from Matt Bolton published 15 October 2024

(Image credit: Sonos)

The Sonos Arc Ultra is official, and it's launching on October 29, 2024, at a price of $999 / £999 (Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed). It's a massive upgrade over the existing Sonos Arc, and introduces a brand-new speaker technology that promises to deliver incredible immersion which looks set to rival the best soundbars.

Here's what you need to know…

Sonos Arc Ultra: key features and specifications

The original Sonos Arc was a 5.1.2 surround system, but the Arc Ultra is 9.1.4. And it has what Sonos calls Sound Motion, the technology it acquired when it bought speaker firm Mayht a few years ago. The technology, previously known as HeartMotion, enables speakers to be made much smaller than those with traditional speaker drivers without compromising on power or sound quality.

Sonos says: "A significant breakthrough in audio engineering, Sound Motion drastically reduces the size of the transducer while supercharging the bass, opening a new chapter in sound innovation where bigger, better sound can be delivered from smaller products."

That means Sonos has been able to cram more bass power into what's still a relatively slim soundbar – in fact, Sonos says it's 18% smaller by volume than the original Arc. The Arc Ultra has dimensions of 2.95 x 46.38 x 4.35 inches (75 x 1178 x 110.6mm), and weighs 5.9kg. It comes in black and white finishes, as usual for the best Sonos speakers.

There are 14 drivers here, three more than in the Arc: seven silk-dome tweeters "with waveguides on both ends", six mid-range drivers, and a a built-in Sound Motion woofer.

Sonos adds that "a proprietary four-motor, dual-membrane woofer delivers exceptional bass in a revolutionary flat, compact design".

There are 15 channels of Class D amplification behind all of this – I presume two channels are going to the Sound Motion woofer, otherwise there's a spare.

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