Sonos Arc Ultra Review: Revolutionizing Home Audio with Unparalleled Sound

The Story of Sonos: Will New Beginnings Be Enough for the Brand?

It seems like Sonos needed to get its act together earlier this year. With so many loyal customers complaining about the new app and decreased system performance, many took to calling for CEO Patrick Spence to step down. But instead, we saw a series of sorry-not-sorry moments when Sonos finally took concrete steps to address these woes.

The Arc Ultra Soundsbar: A Breath of Fresh Air

But can Sonos bounce back this year? Well, as it turns out, a new product might be enough to give the company that much-needed second chance.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is a $999 home theater soundbar designed for immersive audio experiences. Does it live up to this promise? In our first impressions, we’ve only had a few hours’ worth of testing, we can confidently say it stands out from the crowd!

The Good:

• More immersive audio than the original Arc with improved bass response
• Bluetooth audio support has added a new layer of complexity to the Arc Ultra’s setup process
• You can now pair multiple ERA 300 speakers as left and right channels, thanks to the new rear connections

The Bad:

• Some buggy issues with the new mobile app still linger, according to users
• Surprisingly, the ERA 300 rear speakers, often used as surrounds, didn’t work with the original Arc Ultra
• Sonos still hasn’t announced its plans for DTS:X support

Agreement Required:

Would you like to set your new Sonos speaker as your default audio device with Alexa? That’ll only require you to agree with Amazon’s Alexa terms, of course!

What Lies Ahead for Sonos?

As much of a step in the right direction as the Arc Ultra is, we know some users might still hold onto their doubts. How exactly will Sonos address such concerns? We have all eyes on the brand following the recent rumors about trading desks and a new smart TV operating system!

Sonos has taken one decisive step forward, and to be honest, the $999 price tag for this solid product is worth the experience. But it won’t be enough to shake away the lingering trust issues once and for all.

Have you tried the Arc Ultra? Share your experiences by leaving a comment!

Chris Welch / The Verge