Sonos Arc Ultra First Impressions Bigger Bass Noticed

While I do plan to provide a comprehensive review of the Arc Ultra, detailing all the standard information, I want to share my initial impressions after just a few hours of use.

First, a few disclosures.

I rushed through the setup as quickly as possible. I powered it up, connected it to my Sonos system, performed the usual software update, and connected it to my TV via HDMI. I left the equalizer settings unchanged, didn’t adjust the height channel levels, ignored prompts for voice assistant setup, skipped Sonos’ TruePlay room calibration, and refrained from connecting it to my Sonos Sub 3 or Era 300 surrounds.

In fact, I disconnected my original Sonos Arc from the system and restored it to factory settings, so I could objectively compare the sound of both soundbars before making any adjustments.

The difference was striking. The Ultra delivers noticeably clearer and more defined audio compared to the standard Arc. Whether it’s music or movies, there’s a tangible precision in how mid- to high-frequency sounds are articulated both forward and laterally. Dialogue is sharper and more comprehensible, even without activating the Ultra’s speech enhancement mode, which offers three adjustable levels.

But you might be curious about that cutting-edge “Sound Motion” driver featuring four motors, dual diaphragms, and dual amplifiers. Does it really pack a punch when it comes to bass? The answer is yes.

While I haven’t yet put the Ultra through all of my standard Dolby Atmos scenes, I did stream a selection of bass-heavy tracks from my regular playlist, including Billie Eilish’s bad guy, Hans Zimmer’s Warming Up My Instruments, and two recent favorites: Shaboozey’s Bar Song and Bad Bunny’s Tití Me Preguntó.

This new driver delivers powerful bass. It’s remarkable not just for its volume compared to the Arc but also for its clarity. You can genuinely perceive a distinct component producing the bass notes, rather than a series of full-range drivers struggling to manage everything from midrange to the deepest lows.

Is it comparable to a dedicated subwoofer? Not exactly—these speakers likely won’t rattle your windows. However, the Ultra has earned a place among the select soundbars that can perform well enough on their own while still benefiting from the addition of a separate subwoofer.

That’s a wrap on my initial impressions, but there’s more to come. In my full review, I’ll evaluate:

• Stereo and spatial audio rendering
• The Ultra’s claimed 9.1.4 processing capabilities—can a single speaker create that many distinct channels?
• The performance limits of the Sound Motion driver—how deep can the bass go?
• Effectiveness of the speech enhancement mode
• Control options—both physical and voice-based
• Integration with a Sub 3 and Era 300 surrounds
• Sonos app functionality—has it finally improved?

Stay tuned for more updates!