Sonos has officially introduced the Arc Ultra soundbar and the Sub 4 subwoofer, two highly anticipated releases in the world of home audio. Slated for release on October 29, the Sonos Arc Ultra will retail for $999, and the Sonos Sub 4 will cost $799. These devices come after months of rumors and leaks, offering a glimpse into the future of Sonos’s sound technology. They also mark Sonos’ first major product launches since the release of its Ace headphones in May. Let's have a look at what these two products bring to the table.
The Sonos Arc Ultra serves as a successor to the widely popular Sonos Arc, but it comes packed with new technology that sets it apart. A standout feature of the Arc Ultra is its 9.1.4 audio channel configuration, delivering a spatial audio experience supported by Dolby Atmos. With 14 drivers, the soundbar aims to create a more immersive soundscape by delivering audio not only from the front but also from the sides and above, making it ideal for users who crave a theater-like experience at home.
A key innovation in the Arc Ultra is the introduction of a new transducer technology called Sound Motion. This feature allows Sonos to produce deeper and more robust bass in a slimmer and more compact design. By minimizing the size of the transducers while increasing their efficiency, Sonos claims the Arc Ultra offers double the bass performance compared to its predecessor, especially at the lower 50Hz frequency.
The Sound Motion technology, which was developed by Mayht, a company acquired by Sonos in 2022, represents a significant step forward in speaker design, allowing for more powerful sound in a smaller footprint.
“For decades, Sonos has revolutionized home theater and music experiences with products that look as great as they sound. Driven by our hunger for innovation, we created Sound Motion to break the boundaries of what’s possible by a single speaker, bringing this industry-first transducer technology to home theater where demand for extraordinary sound is equal to designs that fit modern living spaces,” said Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos.
“Arc Ultra is a reimagination of our best-selling soundbar, leveraging this incredible innovation to deliver an unprecedented sound experience from a sleeker design.”
In terms of usability, Sonos continues to refine its TruePlay feature, which allows users to calibrate their sound systems according to the unique acoustics of their rooms. Previously, TruePlay was exclusive to iOS devices, but with the Arc Ultra, it will now be available on Android, marking a significant enhancement in accessibility for Android users.
Another notable improvement is the soundbar's upgraded center channel, which is designed to enhance dialogue clarity. Coupled with Sonos’ new Speech Enhancement feature, which lets users adjust the clarity of dialogue based on their preferences, the Arc Ultra caters specifically to users who prioritize clear vocal reproduction during TV shows and movies.
Beyond these improvements, the Arc Ultra supports various connectivity options, including Bluetooth and Apple’s AirPlay 2, and it comes equipped with voice control features that can be accessed through Amazon Alexa or Sonos’ own voice assistant. The soundbar also features 15 Class-D amplifiers, six midwoofers, and 2GB of RAM, ensuring that it can handle even the most demanding audio environments with ease.
Paired with the Arc Ultra or other Sonos speakers, the Sub 4 is the latest iteration of Sonos’ subwoofer series. The fourth-generation device retains the familiar square design but has been overhauled with improved internal components. It features dual 8-inch woofers positioned inward to create a force-canceling effect, which Sonos claims significantly reduces distortion. This feature allows the Sub 4 to deliver clean, powerful bass that can reach as low as 25Hz.
The Sub 4 also sees improvements in connectivity, with new Wi-Fi radios that promise more reliable wireless performance when integrated into a Sonos home theater setup. Users concerned about energy efficiency will appreciate the Sub 4’s power-saving mode, which reduces energy consumption by 50% when the device is idle.
For those looking to enhance their bass experience even further, the Sub 4 can be paired with another Sub 4 unit, creating a more powerful bass system. Users with older Sonos subwoofers aren’t left out either—the Sub 4 is backward-compatible and can work alongside previous generations of the Sonos Sub. This flexibility allows users to upgrade their system incrementally, without needing to replace all their existing hardware.
While the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 introduce exciting hardware advancements, Sonos is still working to regain the trust of its user base after a problematic software update earlier this year. The update, which introduced the new Sonos app, was met with widespread criticism due to various technical glitches and the removal of several key features.
Though Sonos has since committed to improving the app, including offering detailed roadmaps for updates, the backlash has somewhat overshadowed the company's latest product launches. That said, both the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 will rely on this app for setup and sound customization, meaning users will still need to engage with it to get the most out of their new devices.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to resolve the most critical app issues and most requested legacy features. We have reached a level of quality that gives us the confidence to launch our extraordinary new products,” said Patrick Spence. “As we laid out in our commitments we will continue to improve the software regularly, and are determined to make the Sonos experience better than it's ever been.”
Both the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 are now available for pre-order at Dreamedia, with prices set at $999 and $799, respectively.
