Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Sonos Arc Ultra (#2, best premium) vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (#4): in our Soundbars scoring the Sonos Arc Ultra totals 8.5/10 and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 8/10. At $1,099 versus $479.99, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) costs $619.01 less.
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TopsFive comparison scores
Side by side
| Sonos Arc Ultra | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1099 | $479.99 |
| Channels | 9.1.4ch (single bar, no external subwoofer included) | 5.0ch (virtualized Dolby Atmos, no discrete height channels) |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes (native, hardware height channels) | Virtualized only (software-processed, no upward-firing drivers) |
| Subwoofer | Not included (Sub 4 / Sub Mini sold separately) | Not included (Sub Mini / Sub sold separately) |
| HDMI eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wireless Streaming | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 (no Bluetooth) | Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2 (no Bluetooth) |
| Voice Assistant | Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control built-in | Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control built-in |
| Width | 45 inches | 25.6 inches |
How they differ in real use
Built from our best soundbars scoring, each product's published specifications, and verified owner feedback — not hands-on testing.
Both the Sonos Arc Ultra and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) made our Top 5 Soundbars, at #2 (best premium) and #4. Comes close to the Samsung's home-theater impact from a single bar via its new Sound Motion woofer technology and a 9.1.4 driver array with real height channels, and it integrates more elegantly into a whole-home Sonos system. It loses out to the Q990F because it ships without any subwoofer or rear speakers, and Wi-Fi-only connectivity rules out non-networked setups. RTINGS' pick among Sonos options for smaller rooms: a compact 25.6-inch bar with virtualized Atmos and Trueplay room correction that sounds spacious for its size. It falls behind the MagniFi Mini AX here mainly on bass — there's no included subwoofer and no discrete height drivers, so overhead effects are entirely software-processed.
We score soundbars on Sound Quality (35%), Surround/Atmos Performance (25%), Connectivity & Smart Features (15%), Ease of Setup (10%) and Value (15%). On that basis the Sonos Arc Ultra totals 8.5 out of 10 and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 8. The widest gap is Surround/Atmos Performance, where the Sonos Arc Ultra scores 9 against 7 for the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — height channels and spatial audio. Sound Quality also separates them: 9.5 for the Sonos Arc Ultra versus 8.5 for the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) claws back ground on Value, Connectivity & Smart Features and Ease of Setup.
On paper, the specifications that actually differ: Channels — 9.1.4ch (single bar, no external subwoofer included) on the Sonos Arc Ultra versus 5.0ch (virtualized Dolby Atmos, no discrete height channels) on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2); Dolby Atmos — Yes (native, hardware height channels) on the Sonos Arc Ultra versus Virtualized only (software-processed, no upward-firing drivers) on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2); Subwoofer — Not included (Sub 4 / Sub Mini sold separately) on the Sonos Arc Ultra versus Not included (Sub Mini / Sub sold separately) on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2); Width — 45 inches on the Sonos Arc Ultra versus 25.6 inches on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). They match on HDMI eARC, Wireless Streaming and Voice Assistant.
Pricing as of July 10, 2026: $1,099 for the Sonos Arc Ultra and $479.99 for the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), a $619.01 difference in the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)'s favor. Owners praise the Sonos Arc Ultra for new Sound Motion woofer technology delivers noticeably deeper bass than the original Arc without a separate subwoofer for most rooms and 9.1.4-channel array with dedicated upward-firing drivers for real Dolby Atmos height cues, not just virtualization; the most common complaint is no Bluetooth or analog input of any kind — it is Wi-Fi only, which can be inflexible for non-networked TVs or older AV setups. Owners praise the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) for compact 25.6-inch width fits smaller TVs and shelves where larger bars won't and virtualized Dolby Atmos and Trueplay room-correction tuning sound impressively spacious for its size; the most common complaint is no discrete height channels — Atmos is entirely software-virtualized, so overhead effects are less precise than the Samsung or Arc Ultra.
Sonos Arc Ultra
- New Sound Motion woofer technology delivers noticeably deeper bass than the original Arc without a separate subwoofer for most rooms
- 9.1.4-channel array with dedicated upward-firing drivers for real Dolby Atmos height cues, not just virtualization
- Deep integration with the Sonos app and ecosystem (Era speakers, Sub, other Sonos gear)
- Sonos Voice Control and Alexa built in for hands-free control
- No Bluetooth or analog input of any kind — it is Wi-Fi only, which can be inflexible for non-networked TVs or older AV setups
- A full surround setup (rear speakers plus a Sub) pushes total system cost well past $1,500
- Trueplay room tuning requires the Sonos app's built-in microphone rather than an included calibration mic
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Compact 25.6-inch width fits smaller TVs and shelves where larger bars won't
- Virtualized Dolby Atmos and Trueplay room-correction tuning sound impressively spacious for its size
- Shares the same simple Sonos app setup and multi-room ecosystem as the Arc Ultra at a fraction of the price
- Doubles as a capable stand-alone speaker for music streaming
- No discrete height channels — Atmos is entirely software-virtualized, so overhead effects are less precise than the Samsung or Arc Ultra
- No subwoofer included, and bass output is the weakest of the three Atmos-capable bars on this list
- Wi-Fi only, no Bluetooth — the same connectivity limitation as the rest of the Sonos lineup
Which should you buy?
The Sonos Arc Ultra is the better fit for sonos multi-room households and buyers who want the best single-bar Atmos sound without a subwoofer taking up floor space — it is the higher-scoring pick here, chiefly for Surround/Atmos Performance and Sound Quality. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the better fit for small to mid-size rooms and secondary TVs and sonos multi-room households on a tighter budget, and the stronger choice if Value and Connectivity & Smart Features matter more to you than the overall score. If the $619.01 saving matters more than Surround/Atmos Performance, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the better value. The Sonos Arc Ultra is a poor fit for non-Wi-Fi or non-networked TV setups; the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a poor fit for large living rooms needing to fill space with bass.
Choose the Sonos Arc Ultra if
- Sonos multi-room households
- Buyers who want the best single-bar Atmos sound without a subwoofer taking up floor space
- iPhone/iPad households (for Trueplay tuning)
Skip it if
- Non-Wi-Fi or non-networked TV setups
- Bluetooth-only source devices
Choose the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if
- Small to mid-size rooms and secondary TVs
- Sonos multi-room households on a tighter budget
- Buyers who also want a good-sounding music speaker
Skip it if
- Large living rooms needing to fill space with bass
- Buyers wanting discrete height channels
Common questions
Is the Sonos Arc Ultra better than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)?
In our Soundbars ranking the Sonos Arc Ultra scores higher overall, 8.5 to 8, with the biggest advantage in Surround/Atmos Performance. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is stronger on Value and Connectivity & Smart Features, so it is the better pick if those matter most to you.
How much more does the Sonos Arc Ultra cost than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)?
$619.01 more as of July 10, 2026: $1,099 for the Sonos Arc Ultra against $479.99 for the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). Prices move, so the merchant page shows the current figure. What the extra buys is mostly Surround/Atmos Performance — 9 versus 7 in our scoring.
What is the main difference between the Sonos Arc Ultra and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)?
The headline spec difference is Channels: 9.1.4ch (single bar, no external subwoofer included) on the Sonos Arc Ultra versus 5.0ch (virtualized Dolby Atmos, no discrete height channels) on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). In use, the gap that matters most is Surround/Atmos Performance (9 vs 7 in our scoring): height channels and spatial audio.