Described by Sonos as a significant breakthrough in audio engineering, Sound Motion drastically reduces the size of the transducers, while supercharging the bass response, opening a new chapter in performance, with bigger, better sound delivered from smaller products. The Sonos engineering team as been consistently announcing important breakthroughs in speaker technology, including a number of important transducer patents. The available Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar images reveal the use of an improved slim bass driver with a four-motor, dual-membrane system (Sound Motion woofer) that is evocative of the Heartmotion technology platform that Sonos obtained with the Mayht acquisition in April 2022.
And apart from the Sound Motion flat, compact woofer, the soundbar features seven precisely angled silk-dome tweeters, two of which fire upward, creating dedicated height channels for spatial audio. Finally six midwoofers ensure playback of mid-range frequencies, and the whole system is powered by fifteen Class-D digital amplifiers perfectly tuned to the soundbar's unique acoustic architecture.
Sonos characterizes this flagship soundbar, as being able to deliver “clearer dialogue, deeper bass, and more detailed sound – all in an unbelievably sleek, sophisticated design that’s perfect for large TVs.” Sonos also describes the new Sound Motion transducer technology as “revolutionary” and “one of the most significant breakthroughs in audio engineering in nearly 100 years.
As Sonos details, thanks to the Sound Motion woofer, the new Arc Ultra soundbar delivers up to double the bass of its predecessor, and, with three more drivers than the previous Arc, it is capable of correctly translating a full 9.1.4 spatial audio experience in a single frontal array design. In combination with the updated Sonos Sub 4, the next generation of the company’s iconic subwoofer with a refreshed design and internals, the Arc Ultra soundbar creates a full-featured, high-impact home cinema system.
Sub 4 is Sonos’ most advanced subwoofer to date, with increased processing power, memory, and new Wi-Fi radios that support a stronger wireless connection to other Sonos speakers. Both Sub 4 woofers face inward to create a force-canceling effect that neutralizes distortion. The iconic design with an updated matte finish in Black and White, now allows the subwoofer to easily stand upright, lay on its side, or be tucked under the couch. The Sonos Sub 4 also comes in a more sustainable form through dematerialization efforts, with an updated enclosure, faceplate and cable cover to reduce unnecessary waste. The subwoofer also uses halogen-free PCBs and boasts a nearly 50% reduction in idle power consumption compared to previous generations.
The combined Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4 subwoofer can be further optimized with Trueplay, Sonos’ software that measures the acoustics of the room and then fine-tunes the EQ using the app, compatible with iOS and Android devices. The Arc Ultra soundbar also allows users to choose a preferred level of dialogue clarity, and switching on Night Sound to reduce the intensity of loud sounds and enhance quieter sounds, all in the Sonos app.
“For decades, Sonos has revolutionized home theater and music experiences with products that look as great as they sound. Driven by our hunger for innovation, we created Sound Motion to break the boundaries of what’s possible by a single speaker, bringing this industry-first transducer technology to home theater where demand for extraordinary sound is equal to designs that fit modern living spaces,” says Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos. “Arc Ultra is a reimagination of our best-selling soundbar, leveraging this incredible innovation to deliver an unprecedented sound experience from a sleeker design.”
Sonos also continues rapid improvement of its new app, which originally generated the strongest crisis Sonos has seen in its history. With a software update alongside the launch of Arc Ultra and Sub 4, the new app’s performance is expected to surpass the performance of the previous app across important metrics, including those essential to new purchasers — system identification, the set up of new devices, and the ability to group Sonos devices together. For current Sonos customers, the update will reintroduce 90 percent of the new app’s missing features, with further additions on the way as Sonos maintains its ongoing cadence of updates. Details about this intense update program are available in Sonos’ support page.
“We’ve worked tirelessly to resolve the most critical app issues and most requested legacy features. We have reached a level of quality that gives us the confidence to launch our extraordinary new products,” adds Spence. “As we laid out in our commitments we will continue to improve the software regularly, and are determined to make the Sonos experience better than it's ever been.”
Breakthrough Home Theater
With the first-of-its-kind technology, the new Arc Ultra soundbar offers a new spatial audio experience with Dolby Atmos, with a massive sound stage that is able to expand to the whole room. The all-new 14 driver architecture, including the Sound Motion woofer and a cluster of tweeters with waveguides on both ends was further optimized for home cinema in collaboration with veteran movie producers and creators Chris Jenkins and Onnalee Blank to fine-tune the response for Dolby Atmos content playback.
The Arc Ultra is also 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 listeners.
Theater-quality sound is also ensured with a simple HDMI eARC connection, plus complete control via 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. And with Bluetooth line-in, the Arc Ultra also offers more ways to stream content.
The new product also shows commitment to sustainability, 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.
Users will be able to pair a Sub 4 with the Arc Ultra, Arc or Beam sounders for deeper lows, pair two subwoofers together for maximum bass, and even configure Era 100 or Era 300 speakers as surrounds for a complete home theater experience. The Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub 4 subwoofer will be available October 29, 2024 for $999 and $799 USD respectively.
www.sonos.com
