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Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4 review: Great sound and sleek looks, but it'll cost you
August 1, 2025
Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar + Sub 4 subwoofer
Wi-Fi enabled
The Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 promise premium home theater sound in a slick and simple package, but they don’t come cheap. At nearly two thousand dollars, this combo’s got to impress to justify the price. I spent a week with the setup to see if the performance holds up. So, is it actually worth your money? Let’s find out in this Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4 review.
This article was published on August 1st, 2025, and this is the first version of the article. Updates will follow as the market changes.
What I like about the Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4
The Sonos Arc Ultra rocks the sleek, minimalist aesthetic Sonos is known for, with smooth curves and a low-profile shape that blends into most living rooms. This soundbar includes seven tweeters, six midrange woofers, and a built-in Sound Motion woofer for bass, arranged in a 9.1.4-channel layout. Compared to the original Sonos Arc’s 11-driver setup, the Arc Ultra offers improved spatial performance thanks to those extra drivers.
Despite the streamlined look, the Arc Ultra includes a few physical touch controls on the top for play, pause, volume, and track skipping. The wireless Sub 4 carries the same clean design language, with rounded edges and a solid, weighty build that feels premium. You pair it through the Sonos app during setup using the pairing button on the back, and once it’s connected, you shouldn’t need to touch it again unless you’re resetting or switching systems. It can stand upright or lie flat, giving you flexibility with placement depending on your room.
Regarding connection, the Sonos Arc Ultra connects to your TV using a single HDMI eARC port, which unlocks full Dolby Atmos support. It also supports Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for streaming music from your phone or tablet, but it’s worth noting that there are no additional HDMI inputs or optical ports.
The Arc Ultra sounds great on its own, but adding the Sub 4 really fills things out. I pushed the sub level up while watching action movies like Heat, and the downtown shootout had a real physical edge to it. Rifle cracks hit with impact, and the reverberant tones of LA’s downtown setting could be heard bouncing around the room with good left-to-right separation. That said, it’s easy to overdo it with the low end. At higher sub levels, the bass can start to dominate, so it’s worth dialing it in to suit your space.
Interstellar was another strong example. The docking scene had solid spatial detail, with sound effects moving cleanly across the front stage and the score pushing real weight through the sub, all without masking any dialogue. It didn’t feel like a full surround setup, but it was more immersive than I expected from a single soundbar. Ultimately, the Arc Ultra and Sub 4 don’t try to fake a theater. You just get clean, well-separated audio that draws you in.
What I don’t like about the Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4
There’s a lot to like here, but a few design and performance quirks keep this from being an easy recommendation for everyone.
The Arc Ultra is pretty long at 46″, and while it looks great under a big TV, it might feel oversized if you’re working with a smaller setup or a tighter living room. The Sub 4 adds a ton of bass, but dialing in just right was tricky. Sometimes it’s super rumbly and atmospheric, but then it can fall short when you’re expecting that sharp, punchy impact during an action scene. And of course, the price is a real consideration. For what this setup costs, you could piece together a proper surround sound system with rear channels and more granular control.
It’s totally fair for people to be skeptical, given all the Sonos app issues that have made headlines recently. I have had my share of headaches, too. Getting the Roam 2 to update and sync properly was a frustrating mess. But with the Arc Ultra and Sub 4, everything worked smoothly. Setup was quick, the app stayed stable, and I did not run into any bugs during testing.
Should you buy the Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4?
Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub 4 review: FAQs
Yes. When connected to a TV with HDMI eARC, the Arc Ultra can play Dolby Atmos content in full resolution. However, to take advantage of this, you’ll need a compatible streaming service.
Absolutely. The system performs well on its own and creates a strong front-stage experience, but for authentic surround sound, you’ll want to add Sonos Era 100 or 300 speakers as potential rear speakers.
Potentially, but it depends on how you EQ it. The Sub 4 adds serious low-end, and in smaller spaces, it can feel overwhelming unless you dial the bass back using the app. You have complete control over the sublevel. That said, if you're in an apartment or older building, there's a good chance your downstairs neighbors will hear it.
Some people have run into issues with the app, especially after major updates. I didn’t have any trouble during testing with the Arc Ultra and Sub 4, but I’ve had issues in the past with other Sonos gear like the Roam 2.
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