Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar with Sub Gen 4 for Immersive Home Audio Experience

I used to be absolutely smitten with Sonos, and last year—on the 24th, to be exact—I got a little carried away and splurged on an entire setup. To be honest, I do have some buyer’s remorse now—not because the sound quality is anything less than stellar, but because it’s just so pricey. It’s undeniably convenient for watching TV or YouTube, but in an apartment with only one living room, it overlaps quite a bit with my existing Yamaha and KEF system.

This money could’ve been better spent on something that would bring more joy to the people around me. Life hasn’t exactly been a bed of roses lately, which is why I’m sharing this reflection a little late.

The Arc Ultra scores an impressive 8.5/10 for sound quality, surpassing the era300. However, it does carry over a few traits from its predecessor, like slightly muddled vocal imaging. Other than that, there’s really nothing to gripe about.

Many people are debating whether to pair their setup with a Sub—a subwoofer, that is. Here's my take: if budget isn’t an issue and you’re into movies or hip-hop with deep bass frequencies, go for it. But if your viewing habits lean more toward art films, variety shows, or regular TV programs, you can skip it without hesitation. Don’t let salespeople sway you with talk of discounts when adding a sub—it’s not worth it if you don’t truly need it. [doge]

Here’s a crucial tip: you absolutely must use the app for sound calibration. Let me repeat that—use the app for sound calibration! The quick tune feature is more than sufficient; it focuses primarily on your usual listening spot, so just move around the sofa area. There’s no need to wander all over the living room or bedroom, as doing so might compromise the quality of your normal listening position.

If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment. Let’s chat!