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This comparison is about the original Sonos Arc, not the separate Arc Ultra model.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Sonos Beam Gen 2 - Black - Soundbar with Dolby Atmos | $359.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
|
Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar with Dolby Atmos - Black | $899.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
|
Sonos Ray - Compact Soundbar for TV and Music - Black | $219.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Sonos Beam Gen 2 - White - Soundbar with Dolby Atmos | $359.00 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar + Sub 4 subwoofer - Black | $1,648.00 | Buy on Amazon |
Beam Ultra vs. original Arc at a glance
| Factor | Sonos Beam Ultra | Original Sonos Arc |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (height × width × depth) | 65 × 750 × 105 mm, according to Sonos’s product page | 87 × 1,141.7 × 115.7 mm, according to Sonos’s 2020 fact sheet |
| Published audio hardware | Nine Class-D amplifiers, five tweeters and four woofers, according to Sonos | Eleven Class-D amplifiers, eight elliptical woofers and three angled silk-dome tweeters, according to Sonos’s 2020 fact sheet |
| Dolby Atmos from a TV | Supported with an HDMI ARC or eARC connection, subject to the TV, source, service and program | Supported with an HDMI ARC or eARC connection, subject to the TV, source, service and program |
| Current US price | US$699 was shown on the US product listing reviewed; check current local price and stock | Current price and availability not established by the cited Sonos materials |
| Mounting | Separate Beam Ultra wall mount; not compatible with mounts for Beam Gen 2, Arc or Arc Ultra | Sonos’s 2020 fact sheet describes optional expansion with Sub and a pair of One SL surrounds; current mount details are not established there |
The dimensions and hardware are manufacturer specifications, not a controlled listening comparison. Sonos’s original Arc fact sheet does not give the same channel-count notation as the Beam Ultra retail listing, so the published figures do not support a direct channel-number comparison.
Which soundbar is more likely to fit your room?
Choose Beam Ultra when width or clearance is limited
At 750 mm wide, the Beam Ultra is the more practical starting point for a narrow console or a setup where you want a less prominent bar. Its 65 mm height and 105 mm depth may also help in a shallow TV area, but measure the actual space: dimensions alone do not show whether a bar will block a screen, remote sensor or cabinet door.
#1 Best Overall
- 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.
For placement below the TV, Sonos’s Beam Ultra guide recommends at least 10 cm between the top of the bar and the TV. It also recommends at least 2.5 cm of clearance on each side and 10 cm of open space above for optimal overhead sound. Use a stable horizontal surface, and avoid placing it inside a cabinet or in a corner. If there is less than 10 cm above the bar, the guide points to a Simulated Overhead Sound setting.
Choose original Arc only if you can accommodate its longer body
The original Arc is 1,141.7 mm wide, 87 mm high and 115.7 mm deep. Measure the usable console surface or wall area rather than relying on the TV’s screen size as a proxy. Sonos describes the Arc as an elongated soundbar with a curved grille; its larger format may suit a broad TV area, but the available sources do not establish a minimum room size or a room-size threshold at which it is preferable.
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
Neither a wider soundbar nor a larger room alone proves which model will sound better. The cited Sonos materials provide specifications and positioning, not independent comparative listening results.
Will either model deliver Dolby Atmos with your TV?
Both models are listed by Sonos as supporting Dolby Atmos in a home-theater setup. For Atmos from a TV, Sonos says to connect the soundbar to the TV’s HDMI ARC or eARC port. HDMI eARC is required for lossless Dolby TrueHD Atmos; most Atmos carried in Dolby Digital Plus can play over HDMI ARC.
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- Experience clearer, more powerful sound than ever before possible by a small standalone soundbar.
- Dynamic sound that enhances the drama and creates a surprisingly wide soundstage.
- Zero-stress setup with only two cables and help from the Sonos app.
- Stream all your content from your favorite services over WiFi using the Sonos app, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and more.
Having the right port does not guarantee that every show or movie will arrive in Atmos. The TV, any physical source device, streaming service, subscription tier and individual program can all affect whether an Atmos signal is available. Check those pieces of your setup before choosing a soundbar specifically for Atmos.
If your TV has only optical audio
The Beam Ultra guide allows an optical connection using a separately sold Sonos Optical Audio Adapter. Treat this as a connection fallback, not a way to get TV Atmos: Sonos’s Atmos guidance specifies HDMI ARC or eARC. The cited setup guidance does not establish optical as an Atmos connection for the original Arc either.
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.
What do the published audio specifications tell you?
Sonos lists nine amplifiers, five tweeters and four woofers for Beam Ultra. Its original Arc fact sheet lists eleven amplifiers, eight elliptical woofers and three angled silk-dome tweeters. Sonos’s US Beam Ultra retail listing also describes it as 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos, while the cited Arc fact sheet does not state the same channel notation.
These figures describe different published hardware specifications; they are not a standardized measure of sound quality. They cannot establish a winner for dialogue, bass, music or overhead effects. The sources used here do not include a controlled comparison, so base the decision on fit, your TV connection and the setup you want to build.
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- Surround yourself in the story: Go deeper into every scene with spatial audio. Dolby Atmos and the upward-firing drivers work in concert to immerse you in a multidimensional soundstage. You’ll hear planes as if they’re flying overhead, sense footsteps moving across the room, and feel the music swell all around you.
- 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. 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.
Are wall mounting and extra speakers part of the decision?
Both products can be part of a larger Sonos home-theater setup, but add-ons are optional choices that bring additional cost and space requirements. Sonos’s Arc fact sheet describes using the original Arc alone or expanding it with a Sub and a pair of One SL surrounds. Sonos’s Beam Ultra product page also describes optional Sub and surround additions; they are not prerequisites for using the bar.
If wall-mounting the Beam Ultra, buy the mount made for that model. Sonos says it is incompatible with mounts for Beam Gen 2, Arc and Arc Ultra. That incompatibility matters when reusing hardware from another Sonos soundbar.
How to make the choice
- Measure the installation space. Check usable width, height and depth, plus the Beam Ultra guide’s recommended clearances if placing it below a TV. Confirm the bar will not obscure the screen or sensor.
- Check the TV connection. For Atmos from the TV, confirm it has HDMI ARC or eARC and consider how your source device and streaming service deliver audio. Choose optical only if you accept that Sonos’s Atmos guidance calls for ARC or eARC.
- Decide whether you want expansion. Compare the space and added cost of optional Sub or surround speakers with the simpler soundbar-only setup. Do not treat them as required purchases.
- Check the exact model and local listing. Make sure a listing says original Arc if that is the model you intend to compare; Arc Ultra is separate. Prices and availability vary by market and can change.
For a limited-width console, the Beam Ultra is the straightforward fit to investigate first. If your space accommodates the original Arc, weigh its larger format against the same TV-connection requirements; the available manufacturer documentation does not establish a sound-quality winner or a room-size cutoff.
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.
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