Updated 18 Oct 2026
Is the Sonos Arc Ultra worth it?
Yes — the best one-box soundbar.
From one bar under the TV you get very clear voices, bass you'd expect to need a subwoofer for, and Atmos effects that spread wide and rise above the screen. It's excellent with music too, works with AirPlay and Bluetooth, and joins other Sonos speakers. It has a single HDMI eARC port with no inputs, plays only basic DTS, and has no remote in the box: you use the TV remote or the app.
96%of 49 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Very clear dialogue
- Deep bass with no separate sub
- Wide, high Atmos from one bar
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What owners say
Owners love the sound, the cinema-like Atmos and how big a step up it is from older soundbars. Complaints are rare.
Good to know
- 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.
From 49 buyer ratings at Currys and Otto (Germany), every complaint read by us, October 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Great, clear soundMentioned a lot
- Pairs well with other Sonos speakers and a subAlso mentioned
- Cinema-like Dolby AtmosAlso mentioned
- A big step up from older soundbarsAlso mentioned
What they complain about
Hardly any: just 2 of 49 owners gave it 3 stars or fewer, and no complaint came up often enough to list.
Get it if…
- You want great sound from one tidy bar.
- Clear dialogue matters most.
- You listen to music too, or already have Sonos speakers.
Skip it if…
- You want real surround: the Samsung HW-Q990F comes with rear speakers.
- You need HDMI inputs for a console or box.
- Your TV is under 50 inches: the bar is 118cm wide.
How we reached this verdict
What Hi-Fi gives it five stars and an Award for deep, controlled bass and impressive overhead effects from a single bar. RTINGS names it the best standalone soundbar for dialogue. Trusted Reviews (4.5/5) and Tom's Guide (5/5) say voices are clearer than on the original Arc, and TechRadar calls it the best one-box Atmos bar for the price. Every review flags the single HDMI port, the missing DTS:X and some app bugs.
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: What Hi-Fi, RTINGS, TechRadar, Trusted Reviews, RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 18 Oct 2026How we decide