Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Get the Sonos Beam. Unless your TV is 55 inches or bigger and you want Atmos you can really hear overhead — then the Arc Ultra is worth the extra.
Sonos Arc Ultra
The best single soundbar: crisp dialogue, surprising bass and convincing Atmos from one box. No HDMI inputs and no DTS:X.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
A compact bar with clear voices and a wide sound, sized for TVs up to 55 inches. Its Atmos height is virtual.
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Both have very clear dialogue and one HDMI port, and join other Sonos speakers. The Arc Ultra adds deep bass and Atmos that rises above the screen, but the Beam sounds far bigger than it looks for less than half the price.
- —Your TV is 55 inches or bigger.
- —You want overhead effects you can really hear.
- —You want deep bass without a sub.
- —Your TV is 55 inches or smaller.
- —Clear voices and good music matter most.
- —You'd rather keep the difference.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Very clear dialogue
- +Deep bass with no separate sub
- +Wide, high Atmos from one bar
- −One HDMI eARC port and no HDMI inputs, so consoles must plug into the TV.
- −No DTS:X, only basic DTS.
- −No remote in the box, and no Google Assistant.
- −The Sonos app has had bugs since its 2024 redesign.
- +Small, with a surprisingly big sound
- +Very clear dialogue
- +Alexa and Google Assistant built in
- −Atmos height is virtual, so effects stay mostly in front.
- −Light on the deepest bass without a Sonos sub.
- −One HDMI port, no Bluetooth, and no remote in the box.
- −Some owners report distorted surround sound over HDMI, or sound dropping out with some TVs.
Ready to choose?
- Is the Arc Ultra worth it?
- Is the Sonos Beam worth it?
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How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.