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Sonos Beam Ultra

Sonos Beam Ultra

By Sonos · Soundbars · Desk & Streaming Setup · More from Sonos

  • Nine drivers with true 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos
  • Upward-firing drivers for overhead sound
  • Single HDMI eARC input
  • WiFi, Bluetooth and Apple AirPlay 2
  • AI Speech Enhancement with four levels, Night Sound

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Problems, parts and running costs

Summary

Sonos Beam Ultra is a compact 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos soundbar for small and mid-size rooms and TVs up to 65 in, with two up-firing tweeters, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3. Check your ceiling before you buy: the overhead effects need a flat, clear surface, and the single HDMI eARC port is the only TV input.

Strengths

  • True 7.1.2 layout with two physical up-firing tweeters, not the virtualized height of Beam (Gen 2).
  • Engadget scored it 9/10 and called it basically a mini Arc, with convincing overhead effects.
  • Full Sonos multiroom integration with AirPlay 2, WiFi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3.
  • AI Speech Enhancement has four levels for clearer dialogue, and Night Sound tames loud scenes.
  • A matched pair of Sonos Play or Move 2 units can work as rear surrounds.
  • Owners report more spacious sound and better dialogue and bass than older Beams.

Weaknesses

  • The $699 price draws the most criticism; some owners say it is not mid-range at that figure.
  • Dolby Atmos needs a flat, clear ceiling, and wall-mounting can block the up-firing drivers.
  • The US spec sheet lists Sonos Voice Control only, with no Alexa or Google.
  • One HDMI eARC port is the only TV input, and an optical connection loses Dolby Atmos.
  • One owner found music tinny next to Era 100 speakers and was mildly disappointed.
  • No instrumented RTINGS test, Wirecutter pick or PCMag/CNET exact-model review was found.

Verified specifications

Channelstrue 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos (seven ear-level channels, one bass, two height).
Amplifiersnine Class-D digital amplifiers tuned to the acoustic architecture.
Tweetersfive — one forward-firing center, two side-firing horn-loaded, two upward-firing horn-loaded.
Woofersfour low-profile woofers.
Microphonesfar-field array with beamforming and multichannel echo cancellation; hardware mic switch on the back.
SpeechAI Speech Enhancement with four selectable levels.
Audio formatsDolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus, Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby TrueHD, Multichannel PCM and DTS Digital Surround.
NetworkingWiFi 6 (802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax), 2.4 and 5 GHz; Bluetooth 5.3; Apple AirPlay 2.
TV connectionone HDMI eARC/ARC port; optical needs the sold-separately Sonos Optical Audio Adapter and loses Dolby Atmos.
VoiceSonos Voice Control only on the US spec sheet.
Power100-240V 50/60 Hz internal supply.
Dimensions2.56 × 29.53 × 4.13 in (65 × 750 × 105 mm); 6.35 lbs (2.88 kg).
In the boxsoundbar, power cable (6 ft / 2 m), HDMI cable (4.9 ft / 1.5 m), setup guide and legal/warranty info.
Warrantyone year in the US, two years in Europe.
Recycled materials48% recycled plastic; FSC-certified packaging.
Full research notes and sources

Which model this is

This page covers the Sonos Beam Ultra, the 2026 successor to Beam (Gen 2), sold in matte black and matte white. Sonos introduced it on September 1, 2026, with general availability September 29, 2026. Don’t confuse it with Beam (Gen 2) at $499, which virtualizes height and has no Bluetooth, or the Arc Ultra at $1,099 with a 9.1.4 layout.

The US Amazon listing is ASIN B0HBRH363Z.

Connectivity and setup

One HDMI eARC port is the only TV input. The included cable is 4.9 ft (1.5 m); an optical connection needs the Sonos Optical Audio Adapter, sold separately, and drops Dolby Atmos. Sonos’s own staff say that if you need the optical adapter you are not getting the most out of Beam Ultra and Beam (Gen 2) would save money. Bluetooth 5.3, WiFi 6 and AirPlay 2 handle streaming, and the USB-C port carries line-in or ethernet only through sold-separately Sonos adapters.

Overhead sound and the ceiling

The two up-firing tweeters sit in a directional horn and produce the height channels, and Sonos recommends Overhead Sound Mode when there is less than 4 in (10 cm) clearance above the bar. Engadget and Son-Vidéo both report convincing overhead effects on Atmos content; Son-Vidéo found the simulated-overhead fallback less impressive. Wall-mounting can interfere with the up-firing drivers, so a clear, flat ceiling matters more than the price tag.

Voice assistants

The US tech specs list Sonos Voice Control as the only assistant, and Sonos’s own footnote says voice service availability varies by country and language.

Sound quality and owner reports

Engadget praised distinct multi-car rumble and gunfire on Mad Max: Fury Road and positional precision in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, plus strong music playback. Owners on r/sonos call it spacious, with improved dialogue and bass over older Beams, and like it paired with Play units as rears. Others are less convinced: one owner with two Era 100 speakers found music tinny, another was mildly disappointed, and one says it kinda nerfed a Sub 3 in a full setup.

Sonos lists the Beam Ultra at $699, between Beam (Gen 2) at $499 and Arc Ultra at $1,099. Engadget’s lead con is the price and notes $699 approaches the original Arc’s $799, while recommending the Vizio 7.1.4 Elevate at $448 as the value alternative. Beyond the bar, the optical adapter, wall mount, line-in adapter and combo adapter are all sold separately.

Repairs and warranty

Sonos’s US terms give a one-year warranty from the original purchase date, and the legal booklet lists two years for Europe; the box includes the warranty information, and Sonos US offers an Extend protection plan at checkout. Sonos does not publish repair documentation for Beam Ultra yet, and the product launched September 29, 2026, so multi-year reliability data does not exist.

Is it worth it?

At $699 the Beam Ultra is a coherent choice for Sonos owners and small or mid-size rooms with flat ceilings: it undercuts the Arc Ultra’s $1,099 and adds physical Atmos drivers, Speech Enhancement, Bluetooth and WiFi 6. Without a flat ceiling, an eARC TV or interest in the Sonos ecosystem, competing systems with included satellites and a sub cost less.

Sources

Manufacturer:

Independent reviews:

Owner reports:

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