Sonos has taken it on the chin lately. Admittedly, some of it is well deserved. From the unforced error of fixing an app that wasn’t broken to a solidly tone-deaf response, it’s been hard to root for these guys lately.
That being said, I’m still a big fan of the Sonos hardware ecosystem and have covered most new product launches for the last decade. I heard the Arc soundbar was due for an upgrade with the new Arc Ultra along with its companion bass buddy, the Sub 4 (an upgrade from the Sub 3). Both of these previous generations were released in June 2020 while COVID-19 raged. What would four years of innovation look like? I planned to find out.
Unboxing
The Arc Ultra and Sub 4 each arrived in sustainable packaging with easy to open latches on the Arc Ultra with the Sub 4 cocooned in dark foam. I lifted off the lid and each sat there wrapped in a velvet bag designed to keep the scratch fairy away for a few minutes.
I set everything out on the floor and immediately noticed the matte black finish of the Sub 4 and the sleeker, smaller Arc Ultra. I’m always amazed at how a newer version of something instantly relegates the incumbent to senior citizen status.
Installation
I already had an Arc and Sub installation in place and was curious how easy the swap would be. I disconnected the old gear and swapped in the new. It couldn’t have been easier. The power supply and HDMI cables are in the exact same spot. Same for the power supply on the Sub 4.
Once I had everything installed and powered up, I fired up my phone and opened up the Sonos app. No sooner had the software loaded, a pop up flashed on the screen, having detected the Arc Ultra. I tapped it and was whisked into a series of steps indicating it was pairing and updating its firmware.
Next, it asked which room I wanted to place it in. The same process played out for the Sub 4, except that its method of identification involved using NFC with my phone for activation. These audio and NFC pairings are a welcome change from having to type in long strings of characters or futz around with Wi-Fi network settings.
After I had both Arc Ultra and Sub 4 installed, I ran Sonos’ Trueplay audio calibration software. There are “quick” and “advanced” Trueplay options. I didn’t think spending a few extra minutes for multiple years of better sound was too much of an inconvenience, so I opted for the “advanced.” I flipped my phone upside down and began walking around the room, waving my phone like a shaman “saging” the room to exorcise evil spirits. After a few minutes, the software prompted me to flip my phone back and announced installation was now 100% complete.
I quickly checked my phone and noticed an email reading, “Get started with Arc Ultra” from Sonos sitting in my inbox. If they’d been doing this the whole time, then I missed it. Kudos to Sonos for this dynamic element, delivering the right info at exactly the right time.
I started putting the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 through their paces. I began with a Dolby Atmos audio test. The sounds appeared lifelike and omnidirectional with a well-defined, undistorted low end. I started playing music afterwards, running through favorites like “Sailing to Philadelphia” by Mark Knopfler, “Pneuma” by Tool, and “Fascination Street” by The Cure. The audio pumping from its 14 drivers (three more than original Arc) sounded crisp and full. The newer hardware supports a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience vs. the previously supported 5.1.2.
Final Report
The Sonos Arc Ultra retails for $999 while the Sub 4 runs $799. This amount of killer sound for less than $1,800 is an amazing bargain when you consider that there are plenty of competitor solutions selling with much higher price tags. Sonos has found its mojo again with this latest release, and I can’t wait to see what 2025 brings.
