What Are the Differences Between the Sonos Beam and the Sonos Arc Ultra?

One of the most common questions we hear during our in-home consultations is, "Should I choose the Sonos Beam or the Sonos Arc Ultra?"

The answer depends on where the soundbar will be used.

The Sonos Arc Ultra is Sonos' flagship soundbar and is our top recommendation for your primary TV viewing room or home theater. It delivers a larger, more immersive soundstage with greater clarity, deeper bass, and enhanced Dolby Atmos performance.

The Sonos Beam, on the other hand, is an excellent choice for secondary TVs in spaces such as a master bedroom, den, kitchen, office, or guest room. In addition to dramatically improving TV audio, the Beam also becomes part of your whole-home Sonos system, allowing you to stream music throughout your home using the Sonos app.

Here are some of the key differences:

• Speaker Drivers: Arc Ultra – 14 drivers (including the new Sound Motion™ woofer); Beam – 5 drivers.

• Tweeters: Arc Ultra – 7 tweeters; Beam – 1 tweeter with 3 passive radiators.

• Wireless Technology: Arc Ultra supports Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3; Beam supports Wi-Fi 4.

• TV Connection: Arc Ultra uses HDMI eARC for the highest-quality audio, while the Beam uses HDMI ARC (and supports eARC when available).

• Recommended TV Size: Arc Ultra is ideal for TVs 50 inches and larger. The Beam is best suited for TVs up to approximately 65 inches.

  
  

Despite these differences, both soundbars include many of the same premium Sonos features:

• Dolby Atmos support

• Adjustable EQ

• Trueplay™ tuning

• Voice control

• Speech Enhancement

• Night Sound

• TV remote compatibility

• Compatibility with Sonos Sub subwoofers and Sonos surround speakers for a complete home theater system.

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The bottom line: If you're looking for the best possible home theater experience in your main viewing room, the Sonos Arc Ultra is the clear choice. For secondary TVs, the Sonos Beam delivers outstanding performance at a lower price while providing all the benefits of the Sonos ecosystem.

If you have questions about which Sonos soundbar is right for your home, call Whitaker Brothers South at 888-775-2673 for a free consultation.