Sonos Announces Arc Ultra Soundbar with AirPlay 2
Sound experts Sonos have announced a new addition to its lineup of connected smart speakers, with the Arc Ultra. Available for pre-order at US$999, the new Arc Ultra rightfully boasts some impressive specifications, not least among them AirPlay 2, which is of interest to Apple Home users. It offers spatial audio via the company’s own Sound Motion* technology, which “delivers deeper, richer bass and helps unlock the all-new acoustic architecture, which features three more drivers than Arc”. Dolby Atmos is also offered in this new soundbar, to create an even more immersive sound experience.
Other features include support for WiFi, Bluetooth, and TruePlay, which is the company’s own attempt at allowing the speaker to calibrate its output according to the acoustics of your room, which is something introduced with the original Apple HomePod. HDMI eARC compatibility is also a given (when you take into account the price), which allows integration with your TV and other connected devices, like amplifiers etc. This also allows it to be controlled via your TV’s remote.
Whilst the original Sonos Arc – which is still available at a discounted price of US$799 – offers many of the same features, the Arc Ultra offers fourteen drivers compared to the Arc’s eleven. Sound Motion technology is missing in the older model as well. The Ultra has also upped the game with an advanced version of its speech enhancement technology, and now offers TruePlay for both iOS and Android, whilst the Arc only offers iOS support.
For those that have cash to burn and want the ultimate (ultra?) sound experience, the Arc Ultra is designed to work with Sonos’ new Sub 4 to provide the deepest of bass, courtesy of the dual custom woofers, and a pair of Era 300 premium smart speakers. The latter also offers AirPlay 2, Dolby Atmos, and TruePlay functionality. Combined, the trio of speakers comes to a whopping US$2426, although you’re saying US$270 compared to buying these items individually.
the Sonos Arc Ultra comes in black or white, and is available for preorder from the Sonos store.
