When it comes to upgrading your TV sound, Sonos offers two compelling but very different options. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 ($352.70) and Sonos Arc Ultra ($999) both deliver impressive audio, but they're designed for different spaces and users. Let's break down exactly how to choose between them.
Today's soundbars do much more than just make your TV louder. They create immersive sound experiences, stream music, and integrate with smart homes. The key technology driving this evolution is Dolby Atmos, which adds height channels to create a three-dimensional sound bubble around you. Think of it like being in the middle of the action rather than just having sound in front of you.
Room size is probably the most important factor in choosing between these soundbars. The Beam Gen 2 measures just 25.6 inches wide, making it perfect for apartments, bedrooms, or modest living rooms. It's also ideal for TVs between 43 and 55 inches.
The Arc Ultra is significantly larger at 46.2 inches wide. This extra size isn't just about looks - it houses more speakers and creates a wider soundstage (the perceived width of the sound). It pairs best with TVs 55 inches or larger and really shines in rooms over 300 square feet.
The Beam Gen 2, released in 2021, represented a significant upgrade over the original Beam. It added virtual Dolby Atmos support through sophisticated digital processing that simulates height channels. While it can't match dedicated up-firing speakers, it creates a surprisingly convincing sense of space above you.
The Arc Ultra, released more recently, takes a different approach with dedicated up-firing drivers - actual speakers pointed toward your ceiling that bounce sound down to create genuine height effects. This creates a more authentic Dolby Atmos experience, particularly noticeable during scenes with overhead sounds like helicopter flybys or rainstorms.
Both soundbars handle music beautifully, but in different ways. The Beam Gen 2's more compact driver array creates a focused, intimate presentation that works especially well for vocal-heavy music and acoustic performances.
The Arc Ultra's additional speakers and built-in bass capabilities give it an advantage with bass-heavy music and orchestral pieces that benefit from a wider soundstage. However, some users find they need to adjust the treble settings to tame occasional brightness in the upper frequencies.
Both soundbars offer identical smart features:
The main connectivity difference is that the Arc Ultra includes enhanced eARC support for higher-quality audio formats. This matters if you're serious about home theater and want to play lossless audio formats.
Having spent time with both systems, here's how they perform in everyday use:
The Beam Gen 2 excels at creating a focused sound experience that works brilliantly in smaller spaces. Dialog is consistently clear, and the virtual surround effects are convincing enough that you might forget you don't have rear speakers. Music sounds natural and balanced, though bass-heavy content will remind you of its size limitations.
The Arc Ultra creates a more cinematic experience, with noticeably better separation between sound effects and more precise placement of sounds in space. The built-in bass capabilities mean you don't immediately need a subwoofer, though serious home theater enthusiasts will still want to add one.
The price difference between these soundbars is significant - nearly $650. The Beam Gen 2 delivers remarkable performance for its price point, making it an excellent value for most users. The Arc Ultra's premium price brings genuinely premium performance, but the value equation depends entirely on your room size and how much you care about audio quality.
Consider choosing the Beam Gen 2 if:
The Arc Ultra makes more sense if:
Both soundbars support software updates and integrate with the broader Sonos ecosystem. You can start with either and add surrounds or a subwoofer later. The Arc Ultra offers more room for growth in terms of audio quality, but the Beam Gen 2 remains a capable foundation for a smaller system.
The Beam Gen 2 and Arc Ultra represent different approaches to home audio. The Beam Gen 2 is a marvel of engineering that packs impressive performance into a compact form factor. The Arc Ultra delivers a more premium experience but requires both the space and budget to match.
For most users in average-sized living rooms, the Beam Gen 2 provides the better value. Its performance punches well above its price point, and its size works in more spaces. However, if you have a larger room and want the best possible sound quality, the Arc Ultra's premium performance justifies its premium price.
Remember that room acoustics play a huge role in any speaker's performance. Consider your space carefully, and if possible, try to hear both in person before making a final decision.
| Sonos Beam Gen 2 ($352.70) | Sonos Arc Ultra ($999) |
|---|---|
| Size - Critical for TV matching and room placement | |
| 25.6" wide (ideal for 43-55" TVs) | 46.2" wide (best for 55"+ TVs) |
| Channel Configuration - Determines surround sound capability | |
| 5.0 channels (virtual Atmos) | 9.1.4 channels (true Atmos with up-firing drivers) |
| Room Size Sweet Spot - Essential for optimal performance | |
| Under 300 sq ft (apartments/bedrooms) | Over 300 sq ft (large living rooms) |
| Driver Count - More drivers typically mean better sound separation | |
| 5 drivers (4 woofers, 1 tweeter) | 14 drivers (6 midwoofers, 7 tweeters, 1 motion woofer) |
| Bass Performance - Important for movie impact and music depth | |
| Good but limited (benefits from added Sub) | Very good (built-in enhanced bass, still Sub optional) |
| Dolby Atmos Implementation - Affects immersive sound quality | |
| Virtual (simulated through processing) | Physical (dedicated up-firing speakers) |
| Power Consumption - Consider for long-term energy costs | |
| 25W typical | 65W typical |
| Mounting Depth - Important for wall mounting clearance | |
| 3.9" depth (very flexible placement) | 4.35" depth (needs more clearance) |
| Additional Features - Smart home integration value | |
| Voice control, AirPlay 2, Trueplay tuning | Same features plus enhanced eARC support |
| Value Proposition - Price vs. Performance | |
| Excellent value for small-medium rooms | Premium price justified for larger spaces and serious home theater |
The Sonos Arc Ultra ($999) is superior for dedicated home theater use due to its true Dolby Atmos implementation with physical up-firing speakers and wider soundstage. However, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 ($352.70) is still excellent for smaller home theaters under 300 square feet.
While both can work standalone, the Beam Gen 2 benefits more from adding a subwoofer. The Arc Ultra has better built-in bass capabilities but serious home theater enthusiasts will still want to add a Sub for optimal performance.
The Sonos Arc Ultra provides a more cinematic experience with better sound separation and more precise object placement. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 offers good movie performance for smaller rooms but can't match the Arc Ultra's immersive capabilities.
The Beam Gen 2 is optimal for rooms under 300 square feet, while the Arc Ultra performs best in larger spaces over 300 square feet. Room size should be a primary factor in your decision.
Both soundbars work with modern TVs through HDMI-ARC connections. The Arc Ultra includes enhanced eARC support for higher-quality audio formats, making it more future-proof for serious home theater applications.
Both perform well with music, but serve different preferences. The Beam Gen 2 offers more focused, intimate sound, while the Arc Ultra provides wider soundstage and better bass response for larger rooms.
Neither requires professional installation. Both the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Sonos Arc Ultra feature simple setup processes through the Sonos app, though proper placement is more critical for the Arc Ultra's Atmos effects.
Yes, both soundbars can be wall-mounted. The Beam Gen 2 is lighter and requires less clearance (3.9" depth) compared to the Arc Ultra (4.35" depth).
Both support Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, offering identical smart home integration capabilities.
The Arc Ultra's wider soundstage creates a more immersive sports viewing experience, but the Beam Gen 2 still delivers clear dialogue and crowd atmosphere in smaller rooms.
Both the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Sonos Arc Ultra can be expanded with additional Sonos speakers and subwoofers. The Arc Ultra provides more room for audio quality growth due to its superior processing capabilities.
The Beam Gen 2 offers excellent value at $352.70 for most users, especially in smaller spaces. The Arc Ultra's $999 price tag is justified if you have a larger room and prioritize premium audio performance.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: whathifi.com - en.community.sonos.com - techradar.com - youtube.com - consumerreports.org - bestbuy.com - youtube.com - sonos.com - wave-electronics.com - en.community.sonos.com - epicsystems.tech - tomsguide.com - bestbuy.com - bestbuy.com - shopjetson.com - youtube.com - ign.com - crutchfield.com - dowtechnologies.com - sonos.com - appleinsider.com - pcrichard.com - clefdesol.com - sonos.com - businessinsider.com - audioadvice.com - en.community.sonos.com
