Nothing cures a droop like an enormous win. That’s precisely what Sonos wanted from the brand new Arc Ultra. Built on the bones of the already nice Sonos Arc (9/10, WIRED Recommends), the Ultra is slimmer, clearer, bassier, and extra immersive for simply $100 extra, and it’s the first product launched in what Sonos claims is a bug-free app-mosphere.
Software bugs have plagued the Sonos app for the reason that firm revamped it alongside the discharge of its first headphones, the Ace (8/10, WIRED Recommends), earlier this yr. This is the bug that retains on giving. In my assessment interval I discovered one other situation the place the bar disappeared from the app after linking the brand new Sub 4 and a pair of Era 300 audio system (9/10, WIRED Recommends) in a encompass system.
Thankfully, the woes lastly appear to be resolved. After a easy energy cycle, I’ve skilled over every week of error-free operation which, when mixed with a scarcity of comparable stories on-line, leads me to cautiously name my troubles settled. The Ultra is now steady and responsive for me, whereas its sonic expertise place it among the many best soundbars I’ve examined all yr.
Subtly Slimmed Down
Sonos has all the time offered a luxe unboxing expertise, and the Arc Ultra abides. Minimalist packaging offers method to a glossy, perforated matte tube of hulking proportions that appears strikingly acquainted to the unique Arc.
There are some telltale tweaks, together with a shorter 3-inch peak to sit down extra comfortably under TVs, and a wider stance that stretches to over 46 inches throughout. A plate on the bottom hosts venting for the amplifiers and Sonos’ newest contact controls, together with play/pause, tune skip, voice management, and a granular quantity slider to match the in-app model. Like all Sonos audio system, the Ultra is available in conventional black or white.
Photograph: Ryan Waniata
Within the cylindrical shell are 14 individually powered drivers (three greater than the Arc), together with seven tweeters, six midrange drivers, and a brand new “Sound Motion” woofer for bass. You’ll get help for all main Dolby audio codecs, together with lossless Dolby Atmos, and help for DTS encompass (Sonos says it’s not a “licensed decoder”), however no DTS:X, the 3D Atmos rival.
