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Verdict: Sonos Beam Ultra looks like a compelling compact soundbar for people who want Dolby Atmos, strong music playback and a path into Sonos multi-room audio. Sonos lists it at $699 in the US, and the bar’s nine custom drivers include two dedicated up-firing drivers. But it is not an all-in-one home-theater system: a subwoofer and rear speakers cost extra, and the bar has neither HDMI passthrough nor DTS:X support. Those omissions matter enough that the best choice depends on your TV setup, room and willingness to expand the system.
What is the Sonos Beam Ultra?
Beam Ultra is Sonos’s mid-size soundbar, positioned between the Beam Gen 2 and Arc Ultra. Sonos announced it on September 1, 2026, describing it as a compact 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos bar with nine custom drivers, including two dedicated up-firing drivers. It also has a redesigned center channel and four adjustable levels of AI Speech Enhancement. These are manufacturer specifications, not independent measurements. Sonos’s launch announcement explains the product’s positioning and features.
Its footprint is a central part of the pitch: 29.53 inches wide, 2.56 inches tall and 4.13 inches deep, with a weight of 6.35 lb. The official US product page showed a $699 list price and black and white finishes when accessed on October 2, 2026. Prices and stock can change. Sonos’s US Beam Ultra listing has the current product details.
What comes in the box and what can it connect to?
The listed box contents are the soundbar, power cable, HDMI cable, setup guide and legal and warranty information. The TV connection is HDMI eARC. The product page also lists Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, TV-remote compatibility, Apple AirPlay 2, Trueplay room tuning, touch controls, voice features and a physical microphone switch. TechRadar reports Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3 and USB-C connections; consult the product page and your TV’s specifications for the connection options relevant to your setup.
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- 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.
Sonos says its app guides TV setup and that an existing TV remote works automatically. Trueplay tunes the soundbar to the room. The optional wall mount is separate; Sonos lists an M5 × 0.8 mm, L6.5 mm threaded specification.
How does Beam Ultra sound?
Independent reviews generally describe Beam Ultra as a substantial step up from Beam Gen 2 in scale, weight and immersion. TechRadar praised its expansive sound, bass, dialogue and compact design in a one-week test using a Samsung R95H TV via HDMI, a Panasonic DP-UB820 for Atmos 4K UHD Blu-rays and Tidal Connect over Wi-Fi. Those are the outlet’s listening impressions, not standardized cross-brand measurements.
What Hi-Fi? also judged Beam Ultra a significant upgrade over Beam Gen 2, citing the additional up-firing drivers and a more expansive, weightier and more detailed presentation. Its review praised movie and music performance, while noting that movie dialogue can project less directly than on some rivals. What Hi-Fi? judged Arc Ultra to retain an advantage in authority and sophistication. These are subjective review findings, not guarantees for every room or listener. Read TechRadar’s review and What Hi-Fi?’s review for their testing context and full assessments.
Rank #2
- 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.
Does Beam Ultra support DTS:X or HDMI passthrough?
No on both counts, according to TechRadar’s review: Beam Ultra lacks DTS:X and HDMI passthrough. The bar connects to a TV over HDMI eARC, so buyers who want to route multiple source devices through a soundbar should check alternatives with an HDMI input and passthrough.
Sonos lists DTS Digital Surround among Beam Ultra’s supported formats, but explicitly cautions that this listing does not indicate a licensed decoder. It should not be read as evidence of DTS:X support. Sonos also lists Dolby Atmos, Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Atmos via Dolby TrueHD, Multichannel PCM and Dolby Multichannel PCM. Actual format playback depends on the TV, source device and signal path, so confirm compatibility for your specific gear rather than assuming every format will pass through.
Do you need a subwoofer or rear speakers?
No add-on speakers are included. Beam Ultra is a single soundbar at its $699 US list price; Sonos presents a Sub and compatible surrounds as optional additions. TechRadar names Era 100 as one example of a compatible surround, while Sonos specifically presents Play or Move 2 portable speakers as rear surrounds. Because exact compatibility can depend on model and change over time, check Sonos’s current guidance before buying a specific speaker. Adding a Sub or surrounds can increase the system’s total cost, but no current official US retail listing for those add-on prices was published.
Rank #3
- Take your TV, music, and gaming to the next level with this compact smart soundbar and subwoofer.
- This set is ideal for smaller or medium-sized rooms and low to moderate volume levels.
- Use the Sonos app to easily set up your home theater system and sync with your existing TV remote.
- Sub Mini balances out the lowest frequencies so Beam sounds even better.
- When the TV is off, stream music and more over WiFi from hundreds of services using the Sonos app, your voice, and Apple AirPlay 2.
This separation is a meaningful buying distinction: Beam Ultra’s 7.1.2 description refers to the soundbar’s stated driver configuration, not a box containing a subwoofer and rear speakers. If you want those components included from day one, compare the full package price of alternatives rather than comparing soundbar-only prices.
Beam Ultra vs Beam Gen 2 and Arc Ultra
| Choice | What the evidence indicates | Best fit to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Beam Ultra | Sonos specifies 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos, nine custom drivers, two up-firing drivers and a 29.53-inch-wide bar. US list price was $699 on October 2, 2026. A subwoofer and surrounds are extra; it lacks DTS:X and HDMI passthrough. | A compact room or setup where a single bar, Sonos features and Atmos are priorities, and the port and format limits are acceptable. |
| Beam Gen 2 | Recent reviews describe Beam Ultra as a significant upgrade in scale, weight, immersion and detail. A current Beam Gen 2 price is not stated in the cited sources. | Consider it if the lower-tier Beam format is sufficient, but compare current pricing and features directly; the evidence here does not establish a live price comparison. |
| Arc Ultra | What Hi-Fi? says Arc Ultra remains ahead of Beam Ultra in authority and sophistication. A current Arc Ultra price is not stated in the cited sources. | Consider the higher-tier bar if room-filling authority is more important than Beam Ultra’s smaller footprint; evaluate the price and fit for your room. |
There is no universal winner in this range. Room size, bar clearance, appetite for optional speakers and the sources you need to connect can matter more than the model hierarchy.
How to decide whether Beam Ultra is worth it
- It is a stronger match if you want a compact Atmos soundbar, value Sonos streaming or multi-room features, and are comfortable starting with a single bar.
- Compare alternatives first if DTS:X, HDMI passthrough, included rear speakers or an included subwoofer are priorities.
- Listen for dialogue projection if possible. What Hi-Fi? found that movie dialogue can sound less direct than on some rivals, despite the adjustable speech-enhancement modes.
- Check the physical fit. Measure the available width, height and depth under your TV, and leave room for the cable and any placement constraints; the listed bar dimensions are 29.53 × 2.56 × 4.13 inches.
- Budget for the system you intend to own. Compare the $699 US bar price with any optional Sonos components you actually need, rather than treating add-ons as included.
Does Beam Ultra fit under your TV?
The soundbar itself is 29.53 inches wide, 2.56 inches tall and 4.13 inches deep. Measure the clear space beneath the TV and account for the TV stand, screen overhang, cabinet edge and cable routing. If you plan to wall-mount it, the mount is optional; verify its placement against your TV and wall before installation.
Rank #4
- HEAR YOUR TV BETTER: Designed with simplicity in mind, the Bose TV Speaker is an all-in-one soundbar that clarifies speech and is a simple fix for better TV sound
- WIDE, NATURAL SOUND: 2 angled full-range drivers deliver a more realistic, spatial audio experience for overall better TV sound from a small soundbar
- ENHANCED DIALOGUE: This sound bar for smart tv is designed to specifically focus on clarifying and elevating vocals and pronunciation
- BLUETOOTH TV SPEAKER: Pair your device to this Bluetooth soundbar to wirelessly stream your favorite music and podcasts. Connect up to 3 devices through the inputs (HDMI, Optical in, and AUX in); the first powered on device will automatically connect
- SIMPLE SETUP: A single connection from this compact soundbar to the TV via an optical audio cable (included) or an HDMI cable (sold separately) has you up and running in minutes
Sources and review scope
Beam Ultra launched in September 2026, so the independent assessments cited here are early reviews rather than evidence about long-term durability or software stability. TechRadar reported one week of testing in Future Labs; What Hi-Fi? supplied a separate listening review. Sound judgments are attributed to those outlets, while specifications and price are attributed to Sonos. Purchase availability and pricing can change after the October 2, 2026 product-page check.
For the manufacturer’s launch context, see Sonos’s September 1, 2026 announcement. For additional launch coverage and discussion of the feature set, see What Hi-Fi?’s September 1, 2026 report.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
