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Set up the Arc Ultra in the Sonos app, connect it to your TV’s HDMI ARC or eARC port, and play a title that offers Dolby Atmos. Then verify the incoming format in the app. Atmos depends on the entire chain—TV, source, streaming plan, and title—not just the soundbar.
Set up the Arc Ultra and connect it to your TV
- Add the soundbar in the Sonos app. Install and open the Sonos app on an iOS or Android device, then follow its instructions to add the Arc Ultra to a new or existing Sonos system. The soundbar must be set up in the app before it can play TV audio. See Sonos’s Arc Ultra setup instructions.
- Connect HDMI to the correct TV port. Use the included HDMI cable to connect the Arc Ultra to the TV port labeled HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC, and follow the app’s connection prompts. A standard HDMI input is not the TV audio-return connection; optical is not the Atmos connection path described by Sonos.
- Set the TV and source to pass audio through. On the TV and any external playback device, choose an audio output setting that passes a supported surround format over HDMI. Menu names vary by manufacturer and model, so consult the device manual if needed. Both the TV and source must support an appropriate format, and the TV must pass it through rather than convert it to a format without Atmos.
- Play an Atmos-enabled title. Choose a film or show specifically offered in Dolby Atmos by the service you are using. Atmos availability can depend on your subscription tier, region, and the individual title; a service’s Atmos support does not mean all its content has an Atmos track.
For model-specific requirements, see Sonos’s Dolby Atmos TV playback guidance.
Choose ARC or eARC based on the audio format
| TV connection | Atmos format it can carry | When it fits |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI ARC | Dolby Digital Plus Atmos | Suitable for Atmos delivered in Dolby Digital Plus. |
| HDMI eARC | Dolby Digital Plus Atmos and lossless Dolby TrueHD Atmos | Required for lossless TrueHD Atmos and other high-bandwidth formats that Sonos marks as eARC-only. |
ARC and eARC are not interchangeable when the goal is lossless TrueHD Atmos: that format requires eARC. Some devices deliver Atmos using Dolby MAT, so a device’s brand or the connector alone does not establish the format reaching the soundbar. Check the incoming format in the Sonos app. See Sonos’s supported home theater audio formats.
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While the Atmos title is playing, look for the Atmos badge on the Sonos app’s Now Playing screen, or check the TV audio format in the app’s Settings. These indicators show what the Arc Ultra is receiving from the TV, rather than merely confirming that the soundbar can decode Atmos.
#1 Best Overall
- All-new acoustic architecture with Sound Motion technology fills every inch of the room and precisely place sounds all around you
- Unparalleled 9.1.4 spatial audio experience with Dolby Atmos
- Ultra-clear dialogue plus Speech Enhancement, powered by AI, detects the human voice to clarify every word
- Elegant design looks great in your home and won’t distract from your entertainment
- Control with your TV remote, the Sonos app, the touch controls, Sonos Voice Control, and Amazon Alexa
If the app shows Stereo/PCM, Dolby Digital, or Dolby Digital Plus without Atmos, the TV is sending a non-Atmos format at that moment. Continue with the checks below to locate where the Atmos signal is being lost.
Troubleshoot when Atmos does not appear
- Check the HDMI connection: Make sure the cable runs from the Arc Ultra to the TV’s labeled ARC or eARC port, not a regular HDMI input.
- Check the exact TV and source models: Confirm they support Atmos and that the TV passes Atmos through HDMI. Some TVs do not pass it from an external source and may re-encode audio as Dolby Digital 5.1.
- Check the output setting on both devices: Set the TV and external source to a supported surround-audio passthrough mode. The label and available options depend on the model.
- Check the plan, region, and title: Confirm that the specific title offers Atmos where you are watching and that your service tier includes it.
- Read the app’s format indicator again: Use the reported TV audio format to tell whether the soundbar is receiving Atmos or another format. If it still reports non-Atmos audio, the issue is somewhere in the TV, source, or content path rather than proof that the Arc Ultra lacks Atmos support.
Source-device support can vary by generation and revision. Sonos names Amazon Fire TV Cube as an example of an Atmos-capable source and notes that older Fire TV generations may not support Atmos; verify the precise model rather than assuming all devices in a product family behave alike.
Rank #2
- All-new acoustic architecture with Sound Motion technology fills every inch of the room and precisely place sounds all around you
- Unparalleled 9.1.4 spatial audio experience with Dolby Atmos
- Ultra-clear dialogue plus Speech Enhancement, powered by AI, detects the human voice to clarify every word
- Elegant design looks great in your home and won’t distract from your entertainment
- Control with your TV remote, the Sonos app, the touch controls, Sonos Voice Control, and Amazon Alexa
Atmos music is a separate playback path
TV Atmos and spatial-audio music are separate features. Sonos lists Amazon Music, Apple Music, and TIDAL for spatial audio on supported products. For TIDAL Atmos music with an Arc Ultra, Sonos specifies a compatible TV and supported streaming device; the setup and requirements are described in its spatial-audio music guidance.
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Quick Recap
Best Value
- Crafted in partnership with Sonos, this soundbar mount is exclusively custom-built to guarantee an optimal Sonos Arc sound bar performance. Our engineers designed this premium mount with the utmost attention to detail and the highest quality material to complement the Sonos Arc premium audio experience.
- The SANUS soundbar mount designed for the Sonos Arc soundbar is height adjustable to easily fit a wide range of TV sizes from 50” – 90”. The easy release latch allows you to effortlessly adjust the height to fit your personal listening preferences. This Sonos Arc Mount is also depth adjustable to ensure easy access to the soundbar I/O button & keep power ports, mics, and Atmos drivers unobstructed.
- When attached to a full-motion tv mount, the sound moves in symbiosis with your tv mount. Furthermore, the universal compatibility allows this SANUS soundbar mount to work not only with SANUS TV mounts but also other TV mounts brands, VESA Patterns, and for many 50"-90" TVs. This means you can use this SANUS Soundbar Mount to create a seamless look between your TV and your Sonos Arc regardless of the TV mount or TV brand.
- Easy 3 Step installation, no drilling required. Everything you need to install this Sonos Arc Sound Bar mount is included in the package. Rest assured knowing every SANUS Product is safety tested & quality built.
Rank #4
- Enrich your entertainment experience with vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, and a panoramic soundstage.
- Experience a 3D surround sound effect with Dolby Atmos.
- Stream music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks from all your favorite services when the TV is off.
- Control with the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and your voice.
- Effortless setup with only two cables and smart Trueplay tuning.
Rank #3
- The ultimate Dolby Atmos experience: The lateral and overhead channels in Arc Ultra and both Era 300 speakers immerse you an an all-encompassing spatial audio soundstage. You’ll hear planes as if they’re flying above, sense footsteps moving across the room, and feel like you're inside your music.
- Feel the bass: Experience every rumble, roar, and beat you've been missing with clean, pulse-pounding bass. Sub 4 takes over the lowest frequencies so paired speakers are free to focus on midrange and high frequencies so everything sounds even clearer.
- Wonderfully wireless: Place Sub 4 anywhere in the room, even under your sofa. It connects to the soundbar over WiFi, so you can create the setup that works best for your space.
- Perfectly tuned for the room: Using the microphones in your iOS device, Trueplay tuning technology analyzes the unique acoustics of your space and optimizes the EQ. So all your content sounds just the way it should.
- Breeze through setup: Simply plug in the power cable, connect your phone or tablet to WiFi, and open the Sonos app. It will guide you through connecting the soundbar to your TV and syncing your TV remote for streamlined control.
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