The Sonos Arc Ultra is the next evolution of Sonos’ highly popular Arc soundbar, delivering cinema-quality audio to your home. With 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos support and Sound Motion technology, this soundbar offers deeper bass, clearer dialogue, and an expansive 3D audio experience. The Sonos Sub Gen 4 continues the brand’s legacy of producing deep, distortion-free bass, but with a slimmer design and enhanced performance for modern home setups. Together, they create a powerful duo for those seeking premium audio performance.
Sonos Arc Ultra vs. Sonos Arc: What’s New?
The Sonos Arc Ultra builds upon the Arc’s strong foundation but introduces key improvements. While both soundbars feature similar sleek, cylindrical designs, the Arc Ultra adds two more upward-firing speakers, offering a more immersive audio experience. Thanks to Sonos’ Sound Motion technology, the Ultra delivers double the bass accuracy of the original Arc, creating rich sound from smaller components.
One notable enhancement is in speech clarity. The Arc Ultra improves on the Arc’s Speech Enhancement feature by allowing users to control the dialogue clarity level, making it easier to adjust to personal preferences. In terms of connectivity, the Arc Ultra also introduces Bluetooth, a feature missing from the Arc, allowing for more versatile audio streaming.
In terms of design, the Arc Ultra offers a subtle refinement with a new matte finish in black or white, compared to the Arc’s glossy exterior. While both soundbars are excellent choices, the Arc Ultra offers superior sound with its 9.1.4 spatial audio compared to the Arc’s 5.1.2 setup, making it ideal for audiophiles who want the best performance available
Sonos Sub Gen 4 vs. Sub Gen 3: The Key Differences
With the release of the Sonos Sub Gen 4, Sonos has officially replaced the Sub Gen 3, which is no longer available. The Sub Gen 4 retains the signature bass quality of the Sub Gen 3 but adds several key upgrades. It features increased memory and processing power, which allows it to communicate more effectively with other Sonos components, delivering more precise bass with less distortion.
Visually, the Sub Gen 4 has moved to a matte finish, offering a more refined look that fits seamlessly into any home setup. Functionally, its updated internal design allows for more efficient sound reproduction, providing a deeper sense of immersion. Additionally, Sonos has improved the device’s sustainability by using more eco-friendly materials, ensuring it is future-proof for years of software updates
The Verdict: Should You Upgrade?
For those who already own the Sonos Arc, the Arc Ultra offers a more immersive sound experience with additional features like Bluetooth and customizable Speech Enhancement. These improvements, combined with a sleeker design and advanced Sound Motion technology, make it a worthy upgrade for those seeking top-tier performance.
Meanwhile, the Sonos Sub Gen 4 builds on the strengths of its predecessor but introduces enhanced memory, better processing, and a matte finish, making it a strong choice for those looking to deepen their home theater’s bass output. With the Sub Gen 3 now discontinued, the Sub Gen 4 is the natural choice for Sonos enthusiasts.
Try and Compare both in-store
Hearing is believing, and these two much-anticipated products make no exception. There is no better way to evaluate and judge a product than by trying it for yourself, and being able to compare it to similar products in a controlled environment. Fillion offers just that, along with a team of experts to answer all of your questions and help with your different considerations - both before, and after your purchase.
