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Indian Express
4 days ago
- Indian Express
I tried the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4, and here's why they are the peak of acoustic engineering
I still remember visiting one of my dad's friends when I was a kid. He had a big bungalow, and I was awestruck by his high-end, elaborate home theater setup. This was in the late '90s. Back then, setups like that were everywhere, even in high-street retail shops in Delhi. Cut to 2025: neither do we have big bungalows anymore, nor do we see home theater systems that require massive space. Today, with compact apartments and space being a luxury in metro cities, Sonos' Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4 seem like the ideal surround sound system for anyone looking to recreate a home theater experience in a modern living space. The Arc Ultra is Sonos' flagship soundbar and serves as a complete audio setup on its own. While the Sub 4 subwoofer is technically optional, the two work together to deliver a truly immersive home theater experience. I had the chance to review both over the course of a few weeks and here's what I found. What: Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4| Price: Rs 99,999 and Rs 84,999 I always tell my readers to visualise how speakers and soundbars will look and feel in their own homes, even while experiencing them at a store. After all, the demo units you see in stores are placed in controlled environments, which makes a big difference. The Arc Ultra carries Sonos' signature design language through and through. At first glance, it's almost indistinguishable from the original Arc I reviewed last year. The only notable differences are its larger size and the rectangular rear section that houses the ports. Compared to the original, the Arc Ultra is noticeably wider and heavier. That said, the soundbar is beautiful to look at…very minimalist, yet premium, much like an Apple product. You can place it on a TV stand or mount it on a wall, but since I had a reasonably large space, I preferred to keep it on a TV stand. Like all Sonos speakers, the Arc Ultra comes in classic black or white. It features a solid, premium build, with a grille on the front and top that covers a total of 14 drivers, including seven tweeters, six midrange drivers, and a new 'Sound Motion' woofer for bass. The rear houses the ports along with a set of physical controls, including Sonos' latest touch interface for play/pause, track skipping, voice activation, and a granular volume slider that mirrors the one in the app. The Arc Ultra supports all major Dolby audio formats, including lossless Dolby Atmos, and also offers DTS surround support, though notably, there's no support for DTS:X, the 3D Atmos rival. Additionally, you get an Ethernet port for network stability and a single HDMI eARC port (sorry, no extra HDMI input). While the single input might seem limiting, most people today use an external hub or rely on their TV, Apple TV, or PS5 for connectivity. The lack of a remote might not sit well with some users, but since it's Sonos, that's part of the trade-off. On the plus side, Bluetooth support is finally here, along with compatibility for Wi-Fi 6 and Apple AirPlay 2, allowing for multi-room audio setups. It's also compatible with the Sonos Ace headphones which, by the way, are my favorite pair of headphones. For me, the biggest difference between the original Arc and the Arc Ultra is that the latter produces noticeably richer, fuller bass. I used the Arc Ultra to stream content from Netflix, JioHotstar, and YouTube, and also listened to music on Apple Music. You may or may not check its specs but trust me, they don't matter when you are in front of the TV, watching something, and hearing the Arc Ultra in action for the first time. That experience itself is on another level. No matter where your couch is in the room, the sound reaches every corner, and not once did I feel that dialogue articulation dropped. I put the Arc Ultra through various tests, including watching Dolby Atmos content and it was impressive. You can feel the action, thunder, explosions, and cars zooming past as if you are sitting in a movie theater. The Arc Ultra is a major upgrade over the original Arc. It not only delivers an impressive soundstage but also brings out more nuanced and subtle audio details without losing the important ones something movie aficionados definitely don't want to miss. If you ask me, the Arc Ultra doesn't try to mimic actual ceiling speakers like those in a traditional home theater setup. Instead, it creates an intense, immersive environment that pulls you into the content and delivers the best experience one could ask for in a living room. I think it's the peak of acoustic engineering that makes the Arc Ultra so effective at what it does. This holds true especially when listening to dialogue: it maintains the original experience and stays true to the creator's intent. The new dynamic Speech Enhancement tool with four different levels (Low, medium, high and max) to choose from also helps the Arc Ultra shines. I also spent a lot of time listening to music on the Arc Ultra. The audio sounds rich and clean, with excellent stereo imaging and track separation. The big difference between listening to music on the Arc Ultra versus other speakers (including my Apple HomePod) is that it truly sets the mood, especially when you are playing a track like One Night Love Affair by Bryan Adams. That said, audiophiles still prioritise perfect stereo separation, and the Arc Ultra may not reach that level. But for casual listening, it's more than good enough. Don't expect the Arc Ultra to deliver earth-shattering bass or overly dramatic effects, but every time I watched a movie, I found myself appreciating those Sound Motion woofers. They are super flat and compact, yet capable of deep excursion for maximum air displacement. That's Sonos for you. As I mentioned earlier, the Arc Ultra is a complete soundbar on its own: you don't need to add another speaker or a set of speakers to get that home theater feel in your living room. But the advantage with Sonos is that you can always add more speakers to enhance the experience even further. It's optional, of course, but if you can afford to invest in additional speakers, even without having a large space, it's always nice to have that extra depth and immersion. That's when you realise how much value the Sub 4 subwoofer brings, despite its price. While the Arc Ultra's Sound Motion technology is very effective, especially in producing better bass: it primarily operates in the upper bass and lower midrange region, around 250Hz and above. Simply put, the Sub 4 adds that extra muscle, delivering low-frequency reproduction that the Arc Ultra alone can't quite reach. It's also smaller and it doesn't take up much space. You can even slide it flat, if you want. Sonos has faced criticism for its app in the past, but things seem to be improving. I launched the app on my iPhone 16 Pro, and setting up the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 was a seamless process. As part of the setup, I connected the soundbar to my network and added it to my existing Sonos system. While the app's layout is still somewhat unintuitive, it's easy to control the speaker and explore its features. The app includes an EQ, but it's fairly basic: only allowing you to adjust bass and treble levels. However, it does let you set up Sonos' Trueplay technology, which uses built-in microphones to tune the audio to the specific acoustics of your room. The Arc Ultra also supports Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa, both of which can be configured directly within the app. The Arc Ultra is the best soundbar Sonos has ever made and possibly one of the best soundbars currently on the market. I genuinely feel that way. It sounds magnificent and stands strong on its own without needing any additional speakers, not even the Sub 4. However, if you can afford the Sub 4, go for it. The integration between the subwoofer and the soundbar is seamless, and together they create an experience that only Sonos can deliver. It's an expensive soundbar: the Arc Ultra alone costs around Rs 1,00,000, and the Sub 4 adds another Rs 84,999. That's definitely pricey, but you are buying into the Sonos ecosystem for a reason. That level of experience doesn't come cheap and carries a premium price tag, for good reason. Anuj Bhatia is a personal technology writer at who has been covering smartphones, personal computers, gaming, apps, and lifestyle tech actively since 2011. He specialises in writing longer-form feature articles and explainers on trending tech topics. His unique interests encompass delving into vintage tech, retro gaming and composing in-depth narratives on the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture. He covers major international tech conferences and product launches from the world's biggest and most valuable tech brands including Apple, Google and others. At the same time, he also extensively covers indie, home-grown tech startups. Prior to joining The Indian Express in late 2016, he served as a senior tech writer at My Mobile magazine and previously held roles as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. Anuj holds a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University. You can find Anuj on Linkedin. Email: ... Read More
Mint
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 review: Precision, power, and a feel-first experience
There's something nerve-wracking about trying a premium audio setup for the first time, especially when it costs nearly ₹ 2 lakh. You wonder if it'll live up to the reputation. Whether it's all brand and no bite. Or worse, if you'll walk away wondering what all the fuss was about. But once the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 settled into my space, it didn't take long before that anxiety gave way to something much more compelling—comfort. This wasn't just a sound upgrade. It was a reintroduction to the content I already loved. Sonos doesn't believe in clutter, neither in sound nor in packaging. The unboxing was clean and intentional, with just what I needed and nothing more. Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Sub 4 review But here's the thing: My first playthrough using only Bluetooth left me underwhelmed. Volume had to be cranked past 30 just to feel anything remotely cinematic. The moment I connected the Arc through HDMI eARC, everything changed. Audio suddenly had weight. Dialogue carried presence. Then came the Sub 4. That's when the room transformed. The Sonos app handled setup like a quiet professional, clean interface, seamless pairing, no hoops to jump through. Adding Trueplay tuning did sharpen things slightly. Nothing dramatic, but enough to notice. Both the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 feel like they're carved out of intention. In white, they somehow managed to complement my black TV and brown wooden cabinet without trying too hard. Minimal, but not sterile. And yes, they're heavy. Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Sub 4 review Genuinely heavy. This isn't a setup for those who like rearranging their rooms every weekend. But it's the kind of heft that feels earned. No rattling plastic. Just cold, clean confidence. Touch controls and LED cues were intuitive during setup, but once the app took over, I rarely went back. It felt right that way. Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Sub 4 review I put the system through a mixed playlist of real life like OTT dramas, fast-paced action films, cricket matches, music videos, even a few janky smartphone videos. Across everything, the system showed up. Voice-focused modes made news and daily soaps genuinely listenable without maxing volume. Background music stayed where it belonged—in the background—while dialogue stayed front and centre. No subtitles. No guessing. Interestingly, my house is home to a few very vocal pet birds. They chirp throughout the day, and yet the Sonos setup seemed to account for them, not by adjusting volume, but by subtly shaping the soundstage so that important audio didn't get lost in the ambient noise. It didn't overpower the birds or silence them, it just made room for everything. Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Sub 4 review I even tried taking a couple of work meetings on this setup. I know, overkill. And while there was a minor sync lag between audio and video on one occasion, the voices felt so natural it almost felt like the person was in the room with me. For casual video calls? A bit much. But as an experiment? Surprisingly immersive. I relied almost entirely on the Sonos app. It felt native, not like a second remote. I didn't use voice assistants much, but if you're already plugged into that ecosystem, integration is baked in. It won't take effort. At lower volumes, most systems tend to go flat or timid. Not this one. Even at 20–25, the Arc Ultra delivered clarity—real clarity. And once the Sub 4 joined the party, everything became physical. But not aggressive. The bass doesn't shake your furniture, it fills the air. During a casually recorded home video, I caught subtle sounds like someone breathing off-screen, insects chirping faintly, that most systems would completely swallow. Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Sub 4 review It's immersive, yes. But more importantly, it's detailed. You're not just hearing more, you're hearing better. The Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 combo is a serious investment. At nearly ₹ 2 lakh, this isn't a casual upgrade. It's a system meant for those who truly care about sound and want to feel every detail, not just hear it. If you're someone who lives for great audio and is ready to commit to a long-term setup, this can genuinely recreate a theatre-like feel at home. But there are caveats. The setup is heavy, not something you'd want to move around often. And a practical note for Indian buyers: the plugs aren't suited to Indian switchboards out of the box. You'll need a separate universal adapter to get started, which feels like a small miss in an otherwise premium experience. Sonos Arc Ultra and Sonos Sub 4 review Still, for listeners who treat sound like a sensory experience, this duo delivers on its promise. It's not just powerful, it's precise, emotionally resonant, and surprisingly intimate. The price stings, yes. But if you're buying with your ears—and a little bit of your heart—you won't regret it. Pros Cons Seamless setup via HDMI eARC and the app Steep pricing Deep, clear, room-filling audio at even low volumes Heavy—definitely not meant to move around frequently Sub 4 delivers physical bass without being overwhelming Audiophiles. Home theatre buffs. Those who want their sound system to be the experience—not just support it.
Campaign ME
25-06-2025
- Business
- Campaign ME
Sonos debuts in KSA with immersive activation by StickyGinger
Sonos has officially entered the Saudi Arabian market with a brand-led experiential activation, conceptualised and executed by independent communications agency StickyGinger. The campaign introduced the global audio brand to a new audience during the SLS Expo in Riyadh, combining influencer engagement, media relations and hands-on tech storytelling to deliver a high-impact market entry. For its first appearance in the Kingdom, Sonos tasked StickyGinger to design and lead the brand experience. The launch included a curated programme of media interviews, influencer walkthroughs, and tailored demonstrations, featuring products such as the Arc Ultra, Sub 4, and Era 300. Inside the exhibition space, StickyGinger transformed the Sonos booth into an interactive zone, highlighting the brand's multi-room audio capabilities and immersive sound quality. A total of 26 media and influencer demos were conducted on-site, creating authentic engagement opportunities with a mix of tech reviewers, lifestyle content creators and journalists. According to the agency, the launch generated over 17 million impressions across digital and social media platforms, helping to establish Sonos as a premium entrant in the Kingdom's growing consumer tech and lifestyle segment. Commenting on the agency's broader approach, Heba Hemdan, Head of PR at StickyGinger, noted: 'Sonos was about making noise in a new market… Different briefs, one belief: great storytelling starts with experience.' StickyGinger's campaign integrated its core disciplines– creative, PR, influencer, social, and activation – into a unified strategy focused on real-time interaction and local resonance. With this launch, Sonos positions itself as a tech-forward brand ready to serve the evolving expectations of Saudi consumers, while StickyGinger continues to expand its footprint in delivering culturally relevant, full-service campaigns across the region.
India Today
17-06-2025
- India Today
Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 review: A match made in home theatre heaven
The word 'ultra' stands for something that goes way beyond what many perceive as usual or ordinary. Regardless of whether you use it as a prefix or a suffix, it is widely understood, what we're dealing with is something extraordinary. Especially in consumer tech circles – where it gets thrown around a lot these days – the word ultra represents the latest and absolute greatest thing a brand can here's the thing: sometimes, it can get tricky. What if someone made an ultra-capable thing, but did not call it ultra? Marketing would say they missed an opportunity. But what if that thing was so far ahead of its time, it didn't matter what they called it? What's in a name, right? But here's another thing: what if the same company goes and launches a follow-up model? Only this time, it names it could say that this brand – which is called Sonos – chooses its words with extreme caution. You could also say it has a crack marketing team, which decided to hold off 'overselling' its product – the Sonos Arc – with fancy naming knowing full well, its engineers could pull off something even more impressive, something truly worthy of the title ultra, even if it takes another five years to get unbelievable as it might seem, it is business as usual at Sonos, where a lot of these decisions are in fact being taken by the very people who are making these products. So, despite what you may hear about it – based on recent events – this is a company with a great culture. We don't know where it will go from here, but that is a subject for another day and another discussion. For now, what's fascinating to me is how on earth Sonos managed to make an already ultra-class product, even more ultra. We'll try and find out in this India Today Tech review of the Sonos Arc Ultra premium soundbar, and its companion piece (but completely optional), the Sonos Sub 4 Arc Ultra and Sub 4: Design and buildSonos, like Apple, is known – and revered – for minimalist design. Everything from the box to its contents and the device inside mirror the sentiment as if it were a ground rule. The Arc Ultra and Sub 4 are no exception. Unboxing is an experience and Sonos wants you to feel and enjoy it. Strange that a piece of tech brings joy like this, but in a world that is full of complexities, anything that makes your life simple is priceless. But I Arc Ultra retains the sleek, elongated, and gracefully curved silhouette that made its predecessor – Sonos Arc – an instant design icon. Available in stand-alone white and black, it is designed to sit elegantly beneath large televisions, or you can mount it on your wall. Either way, it has a general propensity to blend well with the dcor if you have a large room setup. I won't go into the specifics, but the soundbar is 117.3 cm in width, 8 cm in height, and 11 cm in depth. It weighs 5.9 kg. So, you can go It is not huge per se, but it is not small, like say, the Ray or Beam, other soundbars that Sonos makes. But – and this is the real kicker – it is noticeably more compact than the Arc, meaning that Sonos was able to shrink a lot of things, add more things, and yet, make a relatively smaller product. A newly included back panel now provides more convenient access to controls and ports. Surely, people who've had no prior access won't be able to relate, which is why, if possible, you should visit a Sonos store near you. The difference – and the spec upgrade – will blow your Sub 4, with its unique central opening, doesn't stray very far from the Sub 3 in look and feel. It is still striking to look at, yet very tasteful and functional. You can put it vertically or horizontally, much like the PlayStation Arc Ultra and Sub 4: SetupThe simplicity extends, or rather, it blends into the setup process as if it were one entity. You start by plugging in the Arc Ultra to power and connecting it to your TV's HDMI eARC port. The Sub 4 needs to be plugged into a separate power outlet wherever you feel it is convenient (you don't need to connect it to the TV or even the soundbar). Once ready, open the Sonos app on your phone or tablet, at which point, it will detect new Sonos devices nearby. Follow the on-screen prompts to add the Arc Ultra to your existing Sonos system or create a new the soundbar is set up, the app will prompt you to add the Sub 4. With a few taps, it pairs wirelessly with the Arc Ultra. The setup is now complete. You can choose to start using it at this point or, enable Trueplay, which is basically Sonos' version of Apple's Colour Balance, but for audio. It basically lets you calibrate the soundbar to the shape and confines of your room so it can deliver – per Sonos – the best possible sound stage and tonal is all technical jargon and there is an off chance, most people would simply skip it much in the same way they do with instruction manuals. But it doesn't take up a lot of your time and doesn't require you to jump through multiple hoops to call it a menial and cumbersome task, so I'd say you should go ahead with it. Watching, or rather listening to your soundbar firing invisible beams of sound in the air like in Sci-Fi movies, was definitely not something that I had signed up for. But I am glad it exists and with Sonos finally opening the platform to Android, more people can access it now. Previously, Trueplay was an Apple-exclusive feature, meaning that only people with iPhones could use Arc Ultra and Sub 4: Sound performanceWe've established that the original Sonos Arc was a strong performer, so, what does the Arc Ultra do, its predecessor couldn't? The devil, apparently, lies in the details. This starts with the hardware set itself. The Arc Ultra simply has more powerful hardware. Despite its tighter dimensions, Sonos was able to put 15 Class-D digital amplifiers and 14 drivers inside it while the Arc had 11 of each. That's four more amps and three additional upwards and sideways-firing drivers. Sonos even says the design was modified internally for better acoustics. What you might be more interested to know is, the Arc Ultra has a 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos surround sound profile. The 5.0.2 Arc, even though it sounded amazing, was technically less immersive even by Sonos's own spec Arc Ultra is also getting the first dibs at its new Sound Motion technology, which is basically a new – and proprietary – type of transducer that takes up less space and yet, theoretically delivers double the bass response. The idea is to let the soundbar itself do more of the heavy lifting even before the subwoofer kicks in. In the real world, what this means is that the Arc Ultra delivers a surprisingly and substantially more robust low-end while freeing up the other drivers to focus on mid-range and high-frequency clarity. Speech enhancement is also getting an upgrade with more fine-tuning options that work silently in the background to enhance dialogue, which is often a pain point for soundbars. Maybe you're getting the sense that this is a very thought-out product, the work of scientists and engineers who worked day in and day out to perfect the internal structuring, so everything has a distinct purpose. Good, we're on the same the Arc Ultra holds its own, pairing it with the Sub 4 – unsurprisingly – unlocks greater immersion (provided you're willing to loosen your wallet). Compared to the Arc Ultra, the upgrades here are less headline-grabbing. In fact, they are incremental at best, but frankly speaking, that is okay. There was nothing wrong with the Sub 3. It is still a compelling system, but the newer generation brings promise of more polish and refinement. Also, from pure marketing speak, your mind would say, it should work better with the Arc Ultra even if your heart says, there's merit in saving some hard-earned cash. Both are right, which is why it helps to know that the Sub 4 is an optional purchase, not a necessity. You can pick and choose your poison. Whatever works for the Sub 4 has dual 5- x 8-inch elliptical woofers. While they do deliver deep and impactful bass, what stands out more is how they do it with full and total control. Subwoofers often tend to run around like headless chickens but the Sub 4 walks into a room and owns it. Its force-cancelling design, of course, plays a key role in this, its two inward-facing woofers virtually eliminating cabinet vibration, meaning you get pure, unadulterated bass without any annoying distortions, even when you crank up the volume. But truth be told, this was mostly expected. What's surprising is how quickly it can plunge down to something like 25 Hz, letting you feel every explosion, every rumble of thunder, and every beat of a bass drum as if you were right there. Not many subwoofers can brag about a wide soundstage like the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 work like a dynamic duo. They work to each other's strengths. They lift each other up when the going gets rough. More specifically, the Sub 4 takes over the demanding low-frequency duties, allowing the Arc Ultra to focus its substantial power and drivers on rendering the mid-range and high frequencies with even greater precision and openness. The synergy creates a wider, deeper, and more open Arc Ultra and Sub 4: ConnectivityThe Sonos Arc Ultra also brings a much-needed connectivity upgrade. While Wi-Fi 6 lets it stream high-resolution audio, with Bluetooth 5.3 support, you can now also stream directly from mobile devices. It might seem small, but this quality-of-life feature was missing from the original Arc for some curious reason. Then there are the usual suspects: HDMI eARC, AirPlay 2, and voice control, though this is still limited to Amazon Alexa and Sonos's own voice control offering. While not a deal-breaker, the absence of DTS:X support might be a minor concern for a very niche audience with extensive DTS:X media Arc Ultra and Sub 4: Should you buy?The Sonos Arc Ultra at Rs 99,999 and the Sonos Sub 4 at Rs 84,999 offer an amazing home theatre experience. The Arc Ultra is a big step up from the original, with more powerful insides and a fuller Dolby Atmos sound that really pulls you into the content. Even on its own, it delivers impressive if you want the absolute best sound, adding the Sub 4 makes a huge difference. It handles the deep bass perfectly, letting the Arc Ultra focus on clear voices and detailed sounds. Together, they create a wider, richer sound that fills the room. Plus, with Bluetooth and better sound tuning for Android phones, these Sonos products are a smart buy for anyone serious about great home audio despite their premium price tags. It is truly a match made in home theatre heaven.
Mint
14-06-2025
- Mint
Is the Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar worth its price tag?
It might be an expensive proposition, and it's wrapped in an elegant package, but is it a worthy successor to an already great soundbar? Yes, I'm talking about the Sonos Arc Ultra, a true sequel and replacement for the original Arc, which is being phased out. Going forward, the Arc Ultra will be the only option for potential buyers. Why the 'Ultra' tag despite the soundbar looking eerily similar? The company states that the entire interior of the soundbar has been completely revamped. It has undergone extensive acoustic re-engineering to reach its current state. Pair the Sonos Arc Ultra along with their Sub 4, and you've got one spicy combination. Yes, the company may have experienced extensive app troubles, but to overcome the hurdle, this is what was needed. A complete re-engineering and an entirely new way of thinking have brought the American audio maker Sonos back into the fold as one of the leading companies in the industry. Going the 'Ultra' route allowed Sonos to showcase its brilliant audio tuning alongside the brand-new Sound Motion technology to a much broader customer base. It won't be light on the pocket, but then again, it's competing with 'flagship' products in this segment. The whole package The Arc Ultra comes in at ₹99,999, but alongside it, you'll probably want to pick up the Sub 4 subwoofer. That'll set you back by ₹84,999—that's a whopping ₹1,84,998 for the bundle, though in line with the Bose Smart Ultra & Bass Module 700 (approximately ₹1,89,900). There's also Sony, which offers the Bravia Theatre Bar 9 and SA-SW3 subwoofer (approximately ₹1,79,800). The point is that Sonos is in a class where there are few players, even fewer buyers (Indian consumers are heavily price-conscious) and many with decades more experience in producing audio products. However, what Sonos nails, right from the start, is the sound quality. It's simply top-notch. Simply put, you're getting a more detailed and immersive surround sound experience along with the Dolby Atmos touch. Immediately after unboxing and plugging in the soundbar and subwoofer, I played the Mission Impossible theme sound. That loud thud, the bass, it just rocked my room. Yes, the doors were quite literally quaking, and there was a rumble all along the floor. This is, in part, thanks to Sound Motion technology, which helped create a smaller subwoofer with equal bass output. A smaller woofer means that there is more space for other drivers. The Arc Ultra has 14 individually powered drivers, three more than the Arc. The drivers include seven tweeters, six midrange drivers and the new 'Sound Motion' woofer. As has always been the case, there is support for lossless Dolby Atmos and DTS surround. What the Arc Ultra does best is replicate a surround sound speaker. It is just one soundbar, but it bounces the sound at varying angles to imitate a surround sound experience. To my surprise, it was pretty good. The Arc Ultra is a little longer than the previous version, the sonos Arc (so make sure the table is long enough to accommodate it), has a smaller profile, and the controls are a bit further back. In fact, the controls are in a dedicated block at the rear of the soundbar. A familiar sound signature It was the opening scene of Mad Max: Fury Road (which I had put on for testing purposes and also cause it's one of my favourite movies of the 21st century), and the soundbar nailed it all: the explosions, the voices, and the bass. The movie took over the entire room, which shook as though I was in the thick of things. This is what Sonos has been good at for many products now, and it's gotten that much better. Sonos has refined the sound even further. There's a very detailed soundstage, and the bass just hits right. Then there is the subwoofer (more on that in a bit) if you want more bass. The Sonos Arc Ultra has been tested for a wide array of genres, and it shows. The instrument separation is excellent. The only downside was that some dialogues felt a little more screechy than they should have. There is a feature called Speech Enhancement, which has three levels of adjustment. I set it to medium, and the dialogues become clearer without overpowering the other sounds. The sound signature is warm, fuzzy, and welcoming. And if you need to amp it up a notch, you can go into the app and adjust the settings. Back to that bass The Arc Ultra, on its own, is a fantastic soundbar. It's comparable to the Sony and Bose models I presented earlier. While those models tend to become fuller and more immersive, the Arc Ultra holds its own. And while the Arc Ultra is fantastic on its own and suitable for most people, the Sub 4 is a superb add-on (albeit pricey). The lows hit hard, and the bass consumed the entire floor. The Sub 4 takes things down a notch (and makes you quiver in your room). The explosions have more depth, and the voices are more pronounced. It truly is a room-shattering add-on. You might just have to tone it down lest the rattling get to you. Where the Arc Ultra falters The one area where the Arc Ultra (and the Sub 4) fall behind the competition is in terms of the app. Sonos has been experiencing app issues, and one hopes a new overhaul is forthcoming soon. It was back in January when Sonos CEO Patrick Spence stepped down after the disastrous app launch. I had problems connecting the Arc Ultra to my app despite both being on the same network. Many times, the Arc Ultra would simply disappear from the app, and thereafter, I'd have to power cycle the device to get it to reappear. It was more frustrating than not. The other problem I had, and this is a general rant about Sonos, is the lack of a remote in the package. For a product of this cost, that's an expensive miss. Would I buy it? The Arc Ultra is an excellent upgrade over the original Arc. But, at this point, there is far more competition than before in this segment. And Sony and Bose prove just how good you have to be to make a dent. The Arc Ultra provides a theatre-like immersive sound experience (with a very good Speech Enhancement feature) and thumping bass that outdoes its rivals. It's a good step forward for the company. Arc users needn't upgrade, but if you're coming in fresh, then be prepared to be bowled over by the Arc Ultra—clearer dialogues, deeper bass, and a more immersive experience equal to a fantastic purchase. I would get the Sub 4 alongside it, but the combination will just clean out your wallet. If you can withstand the app troubles and are a believer in the company and its promise to 'fix them", then you won't be disappointed with the Arc Ultra. But, for a product costing over ₹1,00,000, that's a precious decision to be made.
