@Marco.B Is this information from the Arc Ultra User Guide correct?

 

To my knowledge, yes.

 

So why is it being promoted as 9.1.4? Even The Verge reported this:

“With that array of speakers, Sonos says the new soundbar is capable of delivering 9.1.4 output all on its own.”

Was this screen shot removed down the user guide? Doesn’t look like it is there anymore, unless someone can provide the direct link, and/or the page it is on in the guide?

@Marco.B Is this information from the Arc Ultra User Guide correct?

 

To my knowledge, yes.

 

So why is it being promoted as 9.1.4? Even The Verge reported this:

“With that array of speakers, Sonos says the new soundbar is capable of delivering 9.1.4 output all on its own.”

Was this screen shot removed down the user guide? Doesn’t look like it is there anymore, unless someone can provide the direct link, and/or the page it is on in the guide?

No support for DTS-X again at this price point. I’m sure it would be great but with a growing 4k collection some with DTS-X it would be hard to go with Sonos again with the obvious monkey in the room as well.

https://www.sonos.com/en-us/blog/introducing-arc-ultra
 

This is thanks in part to Dolby Atmos technologyand its ability to create an immersive, multidimensional soundstage. But it also owes to the unique design of Arc Ultra, which can render a 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos experience (nine ear-level channels, one subwoofer, and four height channels) without any additional speakers — a huge improvement from Arc’s already-impressive 5.0.2 experience. Add Arc Ultra to a setup that also features a pair of Sonos Era 300 rear speakers and our new subwoofer Sub 4, and you have the ultimate in Dolby Atmos surround sound.

—-

the blog post clearly implies that it is 9.1.4 at all times, regardless of it being paired with rears or a sub…? lol  

—

what is also not clear, is for Dual Sub support, can you have a 4th/3rd gen sub paired with a 2nd/1st gen? It seems to be written in a way that only two 4th gen’s, two 3rd gen’s, or a 4th and 3rd gen will work for dual subs, and you can’t use a 2nd or 1st gen in the dual subs mix at all. The Arc lets you use a 3rd gen with either a 2nd or 1st gen sub for dual sub support. 

Hard to say if Spence is taking a long rope or if one is being given to him.

I haven’t see less user enthusiasm for new Sonos products as far back as I can recall.

Assuming what look like the typical exaggerated claims for improvement that all home audio makers hawk are true, the thing first has to work as reliably as mine does just now.

When the Arc Ultra is bonded with a sub, what will the “Sound Motion woofer” be doing?   Will it be repurposed to higher frequencies in the center channel, will it be silent, will it continue to play the low frequencies, or something I haven’t thought of?

Sound motion obviously I hear it’s a big deal.  I wonder if it sounds as good as True Cinema on Sonos Ace  

Will the new soundbar connect to an existing SonosNet?  Not everyone wants to put in place a new WiFi system in their house when their SonosNet network is working just fine…

Hi @Ggscott 

No - although Arc Ultra can be connected to ethernet, it will not broadcast SonosNet, nor will it connect to SonosNet broadcasted from another device. It is much like Era models in this respect.

I hope this helps.

TrueCinema on the Ace is now 3 months past the announced goal of late July, we may never know how good it is or isn't.

Another unfulfilled promise of Sound Motion isn't worth $1000 at this point.

@Corry P @Marco.B 

Can we get some official clarity on the 9.1.4 without rears and subs?  And if it isn’t 9.1.4 without rears and subs, what is it officially as a stand alone sound bar?
 

Can we also get some official clarity on dual sub support using one 1st/2nd gen sub with a 3rd or 4th gen sub. Or does it only work with 3rd and 4th gen subs.

Sonos Reveals Arc Ultra, The New Soundbar Featuring Sound Motion™

Today we are announcing the introduction of Sonos Arc Ultra, a new premium soundbar that also debuts the brand’s revolutionary transducer technology called Sound Motion™. A significant breakthrough in audio engineering, Sound Motion™ drastically reduces the size of the transducer while supercharging the bass, opening a new chapter in sound innovation where bigger, better sound can be delivered from smaller products. Arc Ultra delivers up to double the bass of its predecessor, with an unprecedented 9.1.4 spatial audio experience in a sleek, sophisticated  design. 

We are also introducing Sonos Sub 4, the next generation of our iconic subwoofer with a refreshed design and internals that elevate your favorite movies, hit shows and more with rumbling bass. 

Arc Ultra: Breakthrough Sound for Your Home Theater

Built with first-of-its-kind technology and deep industry collaborations, Arc Ultra provides boosted bass, spine-tingling spatial audio with support for Dolby Atmos, and advanced Speech Enhancement for even more levels of control — all in a sleek package that blends into your space and complements large TVs. 

• Theater Sound in Your Living Room: Arc Ultra delivers a massive sound stage that precisely places every detail of sound in your room to envelop you in content. The all-new architecture features 14 Sonos-engineered drivers, including a Sound Motion™ woofer and a cluster of tweeters with waveguides on both ends to deliver a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience. Tune with Trueplay™ to pinpoint the best sound for your space, now available for both iOS and Android.
• Never Miss a Word or Whisper: With a new center channel architecture, Arc Ultra maximizes vocal clarity so it’s easier to follow dialogue. An all-new advanced Speech Enhancement feature lets you choose your preferred level of dialogue clarity in the Sonos app.
• Cinematic Collaborations: Arc Ultra is the product of deepened Sonos Soundboard relationships. We worked with veteran movie producers and creators like Chris Jenkins and Onnalee Blank to fine-tune Dolby Atmos content and assemble a studio-worthy experience that rivals professional sound systems. 
• Design Worthy of Your Home: Arc Ultra is thoughtfully crafted with a distinctive curved profile, matte finish, and a slimmer appearance that looks elegant when mounted and doesn’t obstruct TV bezels when placed on a credenza. Its wrap-around grille extends around the back of the speaker so sound can travel in every direction to completely surround you.
• Seamless Setup and Control: Unlock theater-quality sound in a matter of minutes with a simple HDMI eARC connection and effortlessly control with your TV remote, the Sonos app, Sonos Voice Control, or Amazon Alexa. Touch controls are cleverly housed in a dedicated ledge behind the soundbar to prevent visual distraction. With Bluetooth line-in, Arc Ultra also gives you more ways to stream - whether binging a podcast or setting a playlist before guests arrive.
• Committed to Sustainability: Arc Ultra was designed responsibly with improved serviceability by using more screws and fewer adhesives, halogen-free PCB materials, less silicon material, and a reduced idle power consumption by as much as 20% as a standalone player compared to Arc. Its packaging is 100% recyclable and also 18% smaller in volume, making it more efficient to ship.

Sub 4: Our Most Immersive Subwoofer, Revamped

Sub 4 is the next generation subwoofer producing bass you can feel, transforming your home theater experience to draw you closer to the content you love.

• Pulse-Pounding Sound: Feel every beat, roar or rumble in your chest with dual custom woofers that generate deep, dynamic low frequencies to enhance your entertainment. No buzz or rattle either — both Sub 4 woofers face inward to create a force-canceling effect that neutralizes distortion.
• Rebuilt, Inside and Out: Sonos’ most advanced subwoofer to date, Sub 4 includes increased processing power and memory, as well as new WiFi radios for better connectivity so you never miss a beat. 
• Same Iconic Design: Sub 4 sports an elegant sculptural shape maintaining much of its predecessor’s aesthetic, with an updated matte finish in Black and White and a profile that’s easy to stand upright, lay on its side, or tuck under the couch. Sub 4 also comes in a more sustainable form through dematerialization efforts and a nearly 50% reduction in idle power consumption.
• Breathtaking Home Theater: Add more drama to your movies and shows when you pair Sub 4 with Arc Ultra, Arc or Beam for deeper lows. Pair two subwoofers together for maximum bass that supercharges every scene and song — Sub 4 is compatible with previous generations of Sub.

Although I really love the Atmos experience and the easy setup with a TV and it‘s streaming apps, I really have an issue with the lack of decent dts support. I get that it plays no role in streaming but am I really the only one who has a lot of the 11cm shiny silver discs left or still buys them?

• some 4K releases have a dts x oder dts HD Master Audio track
• Some good movies from the past just never made it to any of the streaming services. At least not here in Germany. Remember „A life less ordinary“ or „Feeling Minnesota“? Or is my taste just weird?

And dts is stil big on discs. So what can I expect from the new Arc ultra? The same „small“ solution with somewhat dts compatibility if my TV supports the passthrough? I mean it’s way better than a PCM 2 channel downmix, but real HD master 7.1 or x support would be nice. How much are these licences? Any chance we get them with a firmware update?

Although I really love the Atmos experience and the easy setup with a TV and it‘s streaming apps, I really have an issue with the lack of decent dts support. I get that it plays no role in streaming but am I really the only one who has a lot of the 11cm shiny silver discs left or still buys them?

• some 4K releases have a dts x oder dts HD Master Audio track
• Some good movies from the past just never made it to any of the streaming services. At least not here in Germany. Remember „A life less ordinary“ or „Feeling Minnesota“? Or is my taste just weird?

And dts is stil big on discs. So what can I expect from the new Arc ultra? The same „small“ solution with somewhat dts compatibility if my TV supports the passthrough? I mean it’s way better than a PCM 2 channel downmix, but real HD master 7.1 or x support would be nice. How much are these licences? Any chance we get them with a firmware update?