This is the Ultimate RM22,000 Dolby Atmos 9.2.4 Sonos setup, and in this article, I’ll answer:
- ✅ What happens if you simply switch from the Sonos Arc to the new Sonos Arc Ultra?
- ✅ How do you achieve this Dolby Atmos 9.2.4 Sonos setup at home?
- ✅ Answer Google’s frequently asked questions on the Sonos Arc Ultra and the new Sonos Sub Gen 4
- ✅ And finally, to answer if this Sonos Arc Ultra is really worth it?
#1. Physical Difference: Arc vs Arc Ultra
What is the physical difference between the previous Sonos Arc and the new Sonos Arc Ultra?
Well, the Sonos Arc Ultra is 18% smaller by volume than the Arc, but it weighs less at 5.9 kgs compared to 6.3 kgs.
It also comes with a new back control bar. Right in the middle, you have the controls to play or pause your music. You can change tracks by tapping left or right.
Towards the right, you can easily adjust the volume by just swiping right or left at the bar slider over there, just like how some of you might swipe left on your dating apps.
There’s also a dedicated voice services button towards the left, and that lets you enable or disable the voice control features.
At the back of the soundbar, there’s the power port and the microphone switch that lets you disable all the mics when needed.
There’s the Ethernet port here too, but now there is a Bluetooth button near the HDMI eARC port. Yes, this has Bluetooth 5.3 connection compared to the previous Sonos Arc.
Here’s a size comparison with the Sonos Arc in every angle for you to see.
#2. Connectivity Options?
Besides Bluetooth, are there other different direct connections via Wi-Fi to connect with the Sonos Arc Ultra?
You can use Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Tidal Connect, Sonos Voice Control, and Amazon Alexa.
Oh, by the way, as for Google Assistant, there’s still no news yet, so for now, there’s no Google Assistant or even Chromecast support.
#3. Additional Speakers on Arc Ultra?
Are there added speakers on the Sonos Arc Ultra?
The answer is yes, of course. The Sonos Arc Ultra has 14 speaker drivers instead of just 11 on the previous Sonos Arc. Meanwhile, the Arc Ultra also has additional tweeters, and there’s a new Sound Motion woofer for enhanced sound quality and a more immersive experience.
So, this means that the highs and the bass are better, louder, and the overall sound stage is also wider as well. This is all tested with the same volume level of 65 and compared side by side.
#4. What Dolby Atmos Version will it be?
My current setup is 1x Sonos Arc, 1x Sonos Sub, and 2x Sonos Era 300. So, if I have that setup, what happens if I switch from the Sonos Arc to the Sonos Arc Ultra? What will the Dolby Atmos version be?
Because of the added speakers on the Sonos Arc Ultra, the Dolby Atmos version jumps from version 7.1.4 to 9.1.4. This is because while the midbass drivers have reduced from 8 to 6 speakers, the ones on the Arc Ultra are beamforming speakers. Now, this means that it projects the sound in front, to the side, and also to the ceiling.
Also, with the fact that it has 7 tweeters compared to just 3, which produce tweeter waveguides that play detailed sound around the room.
Then, there’s also the midbass woofer on the Arc Ultra and 15 Class-D amplifiers powering the whole entire driver, two of which are controlled by the Sound Motion woofer as mentioned earlier, compared to just 11 on the previous Sonos Arc. This Sound Motion uses a transducer technology for overall better lower frequency.
#5. Sonos Ace Audio Swap on Arc Ultra?
Can you do the audio swap feature with these Sonos Ace wireless headphones on this new Sonos Arc Ultra?
Yes, you can. Now, in case you’re not familiar with this particular feature, it’s where audio can be swapped directly between the Sonos Arc Ultra to these Sonos Ace by pressing and holding this particular content key button on the headphones, and boom, your sound transfers instantly, just like teleportation, but for audio.
#6. Wall Mount: Arc vs Arc Ultra
If my Sonos Arc Ultra is mounted on the wall, can I switch it to the Sonos Arc Ultra? Can I use the same wall mount?
Yes, you can.
#7. Sub Gen 4: What’s New?
What’s new on this Sonos Sub Gen 4?
Well, this new Sonos Sub Gen 4 has a matte finish, an improved processor and chip. While the speakers have the same amount as the previous Sub Gen 3, the previous Sub Gen 3 is heavier at 13.15kg compared to just 11.79kg on this new Sub Gen 4.
#8. Sub Gen 4: Compatibility?
Can the Sub Gen 4 be added to my existing Sonos Sub?
Well, as long as you have the Sonos Sub Gen 3, then you can. But if you have the first or the second generation, unfortunately, you can’t.
#9. Should I Use Trueplay Again?
Should I use Trueplay for the Sonos Arc Ultra and this new Gen 4 Sonos Sub?
Yes, that is still very highly recommended, as I demonstrated in my previous video, so make sure to do that.
There is an Android version which is called Quick Tuning, which I have to be honest, doesn’t do as good of a job compared to Trueplay. So, I would just recommend borrowing a friend’s iPhone or iPad and tuning your setup with Trueplay, as that is a more precise method.
Sound Test & Reactions
But speaking of which, let’s go into the official store here in Malaysia, the Sonos Concept Store by TC Acoustic.
I’ve invited some very great friends over there to listen to the difference between the Sonos Arc and the Sonos Arc Ultra, and also for them to listen to the similar Sonos 9.2.4 for Dolby Atmos setup that I have here at home as well.
Together with other features like the audio swap with the Sonos Ace, because real-world reactions speak louder than my expectation.
Check out all their reactions on my YouTube video!
Changes to My Setup
Before I got this particular Dolby Atmos 9.2.4, my previous Sonos setup, if you missed my previous video, was version 7.1.4. That setup had 1x Sonos Arc as the soundbar, 1x Sonos Sub Gen 3, and 2x Sonos Era 300 as the rear speakers.
So, what I did was to swap the Arc with this brand new Sonos Arc Ultra, and I also added a new Sub Gen 4, and with that, it has upgraded the whole entire setup to a massive 9.2.4 Dolby Atmos setup.
#10. Sonos Arc Ultra: Worth It?
And this brings us to the final 10th frequently asked question:
Whether or not this Sonos Arc Ultra is worth it?
Well, if you already have the Sonos Arc and if you’re satisfied with what it currently does for you, then I would say just keep it with you. Probably invest in rear speakers to upgrade your Dolby version, either with the Era 100 or even, for my case, the Era 300 at the back.
But if you don’t have the space for rear speakers and just want to step up your current setup, then yes, because there is a significant difference in sound quality, not only for my test but for others who were there listening as well.
Remember, you’re stepping up the number of channels, the bass, especially with the speech enhancement too, as it is about 40% better overall performance, and that is actually quite good.
But if you have the previous Sonos Playbar or even the Sonos Beam, if that’s the case, then that is a huge YES because the immersive and the broader soundstage is definitely night and day!
