A soundbar is definitely one of the best options if you’re looking forward to enhancing your home entertainment arrangement. As one of the leading brands of high-quality home audio, Sonos launches its latest offering: the Sonos Arc Ultra. In the mission to raise the bar for setting a new high standard of sound quality, the newly launched soundbar promises much, but how does it compare with its predecessor – the original Sonos Arc? This all-inclusive guide will help break down the differences, thus helping you decide whether or not to update or stick with the classic.
Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Arc: Price
When comparing the Sonos Arc Ultra versus the Sonos Arc, price is one of the prime things that should be put into perspective.
Cost Analysis
The Sonos Arc Ultra costs $999 / £999 / AU$1799, so it will be positioned as a flagship soundbar for the company. This way, it can and does justify the hefty price it comes with in the wake of new features and advanced technologies found in this Ultra model.
On the other side of the coin, the older Sonos Arc came out for $899 / £899 / AU$1,399 when it was first launched, but has since come down in price and can be had for around $719 / £719 in most markets. It must be noted that the old Arc has been classed “discontinued” by Sonos, so used stock will begin to dwindle.
Value for Money
While the Arc Ultra comes loaded with all the latest tech and offers better performance, first and foremost, one needs to consider if these upgrades are worth the higher price tag. If you are not too serious of an auditor or just want to bring an improvement in your audio experience of the TV, then, for instance, the original Arc already renders great quality for less cash. If you’re an audiophile and like home theatres, then you might be worthwhile investing in the Arc Ultra.
Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Arc: Design and Build
Design and building soundbars can have a huge impact on aesthetics and functionality.
Design Aesthetics
Both the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Arc sport Sonos’ unmistakable minimalist design. Available only in traditional black or white, they boast a hard plastic grille that melts seamlessly into the modern interior.
Dimensional Difference
Although Arc Ultra and the original Arc share the curved design, Arc Ultra has a volume that is 18% smaller than that of the Arc. In more details, the weight of the Arc Ultra is 5.9 kg, and that of the original Arc is 6.25 kg. This gives the Arc Ultra not only compact space but easier mounting on walls, thus attractive to any individual seeking clean, clutter-free setup.
Functional Tweaks
But Arc Ultra boasts some notable design adjustments:
- Moved Touch Controls: This shifts the user interface a notch forward; now you don’t have to clutter your couch cushions hunting for the remote to adjust volume or playback.
- Bluetooth Pairing Button: a new feature that lets you quick pair devices without any digging through menus.
Overall, as soundbars, both look sleek and modern, but it is the Arc Ultra’s upgrades that make it so much more user-friendly.
Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Arc: Features and Connectivity
Sonos Arc Ultra has a number of critical features as compared to the original Sonos Arc.
Speaker Configuration
Arrangement of speaker is one of the most advanced upgrades. This Arc Ultra speaker boasts 14 driver speakers in a 9.1.4 channel configuration:
- Seven Tweeters: While it boasts of listening to clear, sharp high,
- Six Midrange Drivers: So that different frequencies yield balanced audio,
- One Woofer: The kind of bass experience offered would be great.
On the other hand, Arc is having 11 drivers in a 5.0.2 configuration with three tweeters and eight mid drivers. Again, both models support Dolby Atmos but with possibly deeper sound immersion due to the extra drivers on the Arc Ultra.
Bass Technology
The Arc Ultra features a proprietary, patented sound motion woofer promising tremendous bass performance without any need for some external subwoofer. Sonos says it is an ability to double the bass on the original Arc. That is remarkably very appealing for maximizing sound quality without clutter.
Software Enhancements
The software features of the Arc Ultra are also quite laudable
- Advanced Speech Enhancement: Is available for the Arc Ultra, which can enhance dialogue clarity using a slider in the Sonos app, far beyond the basic dialogue enhancement provided on the original Arc.
- Trueplay Tuning Android: Trueplay fine-tunes the sound for your space based on the acoustics of the room. When it first launched with the Arc, it was only available on iOS devices. Now, Android users have been added to the access list through Arc Ultra, opening it up further.
Connectivity Options
Both have one HDMI eARC port. The Arc Ultra includes added connectivity via Bluetooth, absent from the original Arc. This feature can be helpful with added convenience when working with other devices, like speakers, allowing the user to stream from a host device aside from the necessary Wi-Fi. Most users will still enjoy steady and good quality streaming over Wi-Fi.
Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Arc: Sound Quality
We are certainly not in the position to test the new Sonos Arc Ultra as we have never been exposed to it. However, the information at hand allows us to make educated guesses.
Original Arc Performance
The original Sonos Arc has received nothing but high praises for its room-filling sound and effective Dolby Atmos performance. For movies, music, and gaming, users have been raving about its ability to deliver an immersive audio experience.
Predictions with the Arc Ultra
The bigger driver arrangement of the Arc Ultra and higher-end bass technology will denote superior quality audio.
- Wider Soundstage: The 9.1.4 channel may provide better spatial accuracy in terms of a wider soundfield, again improving the overall audio quality.
- Superior Subwoofer Performance: The new woofer from Sound Motion will ensure that low-end performance is stronger in potential, and hence, the overall audio quality will also be better.
- Clear Dialogue: The high-quality speech enhancement feature enables the listener to easily hear words in dialogue, thereby increasing entertainment while having movies and TV shows.
The best improvements could make the Arc Ultra a game-changer in soundbars if it lives up to its claims.
What’s New in the Sonos Arc Ultra
So, what does Arc Ultra actually deliver? Here is a shorthand overview of its major features:
Advanced Audio Design
The new product has 14 drivers from the previous 11; the Arc Ultra promises an even more detailed sound.
Better Bass Engineering
The Sound Motion woofer aims to deliver high-quality bass without the requirement for an additional subwoofer in any small room.
Features that are Easy to Use
The speech enhancement feature coupled with Trueplay tuning on Android devices takes it a step further in the improvement of customized user experience.
Bluetooth Connectivity
The integration of Bluetooth connectivity makes it easy for users to quickly connect their devices, hence making the Arc Ultra quite flexible, looking to become very versatile to be able to cater for a range of audio needs.
Comparing Performance: How Do They Stack Up?
Until the final testing results regarding the Sonos Arc Ultra are out, we may compare expected performance metrics based on their spec sheets.
Audio Performance Expectations
The original Sonos Arc has delivered loud, very high-quality sound. Users prefer using this one. The Arc Ultra would probably go further due to more drivers and enhanced features.
Spatial Audio Experience
The Arc Ultra should provide a more authentic listening experience than the soundbar, with much of this particularly suited to movie or video game enthusiasts who consume content Dolby Atmos.
Comparative Listening
If all of these new drivers and advanced bass tech are doing their job, it is very much to be expected that the sound quality between these two will differ quite noticeably when listened to side-by-side.
User Experience: What’s It Like to Use Each?
Both the soundbars mainly focus on user experience, but functionality differs.
Sonos Arc
The initial arc boasts a straightforward setup process and intuitive app interface that helps users easily configure their sound profiles and stream through numerous streaming services.
Sonos Arc Ultra
The Arc Ultra takes this friendly attitude to the next level with the addition of smart features, such as speech enhancement and connectivity with Bluetooth. Overall, the usability of the system will be more personalized and adjusted towards the user’s needs.
Installation: Both Models Ease of Setup
Installing a soundbar can be one cumbersome task, and Sonos has structured the Arc and Arc Ultra for easy setup.
Sonos Arc Setup
The Sonos app may quickly and easily guide you through initial original Arc setup. Its compact design allows the speaker to easily be installed on shelves or mounted on the wall.
Setup the Sonos Arc Ultra
The Arc Ultra promises much the same breezy setup process with added benefits in Bluetooth pairing to quickly connect various devices. This may prove a great advantage to users with a need to switch between multiple audio sources fluidly.
Bluetooth Connectivity: The New Game Changer?
These inclusions of Bluetooth connectivity in the Sonos Arc Ultra deserve a separate, more in-depth discussion.
The Versatility of Bluetooth
For those who still prefer the quality and reliability of wireless, though, Wi-Fi offers numerous connections, so it’s always convenient to stream audio content through smartphones, tablets, and their family members’ other devices. The flexibility allows for audio content to be enjoyed away from the home network.
Real-World Application
Suppose you want to play the music on your phone to kick-start the party. The Bluetooth in Arc Ultra lets you get started with minimal delay without having to dig through the settings of your home Wi-Fi settings. This can be very helpful in situation atmospheres when you want to listen to some sort of music or podcast.
Advanced Speech Enhancement: What You Want to Know
One of the key upgrades in Sonos Arc Ultra is its enhanced speech enhancement.
Understanding Speech Enhancement
This feature is such that it can allow easy manipulation of how clear the dialogue sounds by using a simple slider in the Sonos app. That’s to say you’d be able to make it so that spoken words are clearer without shifting the balance in general.
Benefits for Movie Lovers
This is obviously much clearer dialogue, especially with watching a lot of films or programs on television. You will not need to rewind scenes you’ve just watched in order to catch what was said. This might be particularly useful for viewers who either find a specific audio track difficult to understand, or background noise to be too strong at times.
Which One Should You Choose?
Ultimately, the choice depends on your personal preference and budget, as well as your specific audio requirements.
Select the Sonos Arc Ultra If:
- You are an excellent audiophile or listen at high-end audio performances.
- You have a preference for the latest technology with more drivers and extended features.
- You prefer having wireless connectivity over Bluetooth and better speech options.
Select the Original Sonos Arc If:
- You just need good sound quality with a reduced price.
- You don’t need the latest features or additional drivers.
- You desire a reliable soundbar for casual viewing and listening.
Final Thoughts on the Sonos Arc Ultra and Arc
In conclusion, both Sonos Arc Ultra and the original Sonos Arc sound beautifully with fantastic features without much trouble in their user experience. The Arc Ultra shines with technological enhancements for audio performances to which most consumers are willing to pay more. It does not apply here, though, because the same thing remains great when quality sound is desired but on a budget.
The Sonos Arc Ultra is an exciting development in innovation for the brand in terms of what a soundbar can do and set. Of course, with most choices, it all boils down to fulfilling a certain need and matching a budget: let’s see if it might do the trick for you.