Sonos Launches New $999 Arc Ultra Soundbar and $799 Sub 4

[MacRumors]

Sonos today announced the launch of two new products, the Arc Ultra Soundbar and the Sonos Sub 4. The Sonos Arc Ultra is a new high-end soundbar that's priced at $999, while the $799 Sub 4 is the newest Sonos subwoofer with improved design and internals.

The Arc Ultra offers up to double the bass of its predecessor, thanks to new transducer technology called Sound Motion. Sound Motion cuts down on the size of the transducer while also improving bass, for better sound from smaller devices. There are 14 Sonos-engineered drivers, the Sound Motion woofer, and a cluster of tweeters with waveguides to provide a 9.1.4 spatial audio experience.

New center channel architecture maximizes vocal clarity to make it easier to follow dialogue, and there is a Speech Enhancement feature for customization. Trueplay can be used to customize audio to a specific space.

Compared to the prior version of the Sonos Arc, the Arc Ultra has a curved design, matte finish, and slimmer build that doesn't obstruct TV bezels. There are touch controls behind the soundbar and an easy setup process through HDMI eARC.

The Sub 4 has a similar design to the Sub 3, but there is a new matte finish and a profile that allows it to stand upright, be placed on its side, or tucked under furniture. Sonos upped the processing power and memory of the Sub 4, and added new Wi-Fi radios for improved connectivity. Sonos says Sub 4 was created with inward-facing woofers to neutralize distortion, and the new model is compatible with the Arc Ultra, Arc, or Beam, as well as older versions of the Sub.

These are the first two products that Sonos has introduced since its ill-received app overhaul in May. Sonos opted to delay launching new devices earlier in 2024 in order to make improvements to the Sonos app, which have included bug fixes and feature additions to match the functionality of the original Sonos app. Sonos had delayed new product launches, but CEO Patrick Spence said that the company now feels the app has been improved enough to introduce new devices.

"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," said Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos. "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."

Earlier this month, Sonos recommitted to software quality and customer experience, promising to focus more on customer experience while also testing future app changes with customers before rolling them out.

Alongside the new devices, Sonos plans to roll out a new app update that will "surpass the performance of the previous app" across metrics like system identification, new device setup, and grouping multiple Sonos devices together. Sonos claims that the update will "reintroduce 90 percent of the new app's missing features."

The Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub 4 will be available from the Sonos website on October 29.

Article Link: Sonos Launches New $999 Arc Ultra Soundbar and $799 Sub 4

 

[abatabia]

Now I have a Ray in my kitchen and I really like it but no way would I spend a grand on a single soundbar. Just me.

 

[Chiromac81]

Seriously?!? The nerve. So this is-let me get this straight-3 products launched before even fully fixing their own operating software that they broke spectacularly?!? WTF Sonos-are you expecting people to buy MORE products when you sabotaged the existing ones and still haven't fully fixed after 6 months???

My god...

 

[nickawhite]

App is still awful. So much for the promise to focus exclusively on that and not release new hardware until customers were satisfied...

 

[danny1305]

Here come all the comments about the software that works perfectly fine lol

 

[SVTmaniac]

Fix your app before launching overpriced products. My Sub 3 is already perfect.

 

[StudioMacs]

Here come all the comments about the software that works perfectly fine lol

Sonos themselves disagree with you: https://www.businesswire.com/news/h...-Quality-and-Customer-Experience-Commitments/

 

[nutritious]

Now I have a Ray in my kitchen and I really like it but no way would I spend a grand on a single soundbar. Just me.

here's the truth, companies are finding moving to the luxury segment gives them more margins so they are all trying to do that. the price increase that come from moving to the luxury segment is not proportional to the extra production cost. my view is customers need to rebel against all these price increases. the whole luxury segment is about manipulating people's desires to seem 'successful.' Even bang and olufsen released $1500 bluetooth headphones without any major improvement with the idea that it is just a 'luxury' product, which means you buy this to communicate to the world you can afford 1500 headphones. but all this shows in reality, if one is thinking with a critical mind, bang and olufsen is employing evil marketing tactics to play on the insecurities of people and the person was dumb enough to fall for it and waste 1500 on something he really doesn't need.

 

[mw360]

Recently I accidentally turned up the volume scary high on my Sonos speakers because the control is so laggy. Then the volume slider completely disappeared from the app so I couldn't turn it down again.

Good to know the management thinks the app is fixed though. I guess that means their bonuses will flow just in time to buy a new yacht for Christmas.

 

[nt5672]

Waiting for the Ubiquity sound bar.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

These guys have blown it. 🚮

 

[xyz01]

Now I have a Ray in my kitchen and I really like it but no way would I spend a grand on a single soundbar. Just me.

In the kitchen it would be overkill, but for the home cinema setup with the large OLED TV it might be a good fit. Obviously, never heard it - but the original Arc sounds pretty good. Much better with a sub, and rear speakers of course. The Ikea Symfoni frames are pretty nice for that task.

 

[rulymammoth]

here's the truth, companies are finding moving to the luxury segment gives them more margins so they are all trying to do that. the price increase that come from moving to the luxury segment is not proportional to the extra production cost. my view is customers need to rebel against all these price increases. the whole luxury segment is about manipulating people's desires to seem 'successful.' Even bang and olufsen released $1500 bluetooth headphones without any major improvement with the idea that it is just a 'luxury' product, which means you buy this to communicate to the world you can afford 1500 headphones. but all this shows in reality, if one is thinking with a critical mind, bang and olufsen is employing evil marketing tactics to play on the insecurities of people and the person was dumb enough to fall for it and waste 1500 on something he really doesn't need.

You've just described most of products companies in the world.

 

[Jcfilm]

Didn’t they literally put out a statement saying they were pausing all new products/launches until the app was fixed?

 

[filibertos]

After destroying their application in the name of greed, Sonos won't ever be getting another dollar from me. They have forever impugned the trust of their most loyal customers with their callous disregard for customer experience.

 

[randyharris]

When I saw the picture and started reading that the ARC Ultra has 4 times the bass as the ARC, and I noticed they have (2) subs, is that really necessary?

 

[Agile55]

In the kitchen it would be overkill, but for the home cinema setup with the large OLED TV it might be a good fit. Obviously, never heard it - but the original Arc sounds pretty good. Much better with a sub, and rear speakers of course. The Ikea Symfoni frames are pretty nice for that task.

Tend to agree w/ an Arc, sub-mini & two Era 300’s in an open floor plan that work for my needs but clearly not an audiophile.

 

[Modano]

After the experience I had trying to get my soundbar, rear channels, and sub working again, I will NEVER give them another dime for any reason whatsoever. The hardware is great but now that it all works with my AppleTV remote, I'll never open the app or update any of this stuff again. They should become a dumb speaker company and leave the app business to the grown ups.

 

[randyharris]

After destroying their application in the name of greed, Sonos won't ever be getting another dollar from me. They have forever impugned the trust of their most loyal customers with their callous disregard for customer experience.

Completely get your point of view, I have been with Sonos since around 2006, so will take the recent hiccup in stride. Still a great system for our home even with the recent software issues.

 

[acblue94]

Seriously?!? The nerve. So this is-let me get this straight-3 products launched before even fully fixing their own operating software that they broke spectacularly?!? WTF Sonos-are you expecting people to buy MORE products when you sabotaged the existing ones and still haven't fully fixed after 6 months???

My god...

My app is perfect. Stop with the general broad statements. So yea, I’ll keep buying from them.

 

[Modano]

When I saw the picture and started reading that the ARC Ultra has 4 times the bass as the ARC, and I noticed they have (2) subs, is that really necessary?

Major improvement actually. You used to need 8 subs scattered around the room to get the same sound, which got pretty expensive and made for a cluttered look.

😉

 

[Rayansb]

Not that they care but I'm done with Sonos after 15 years of patronage.

 

[bodonnell202]

Here come all the comments about the software that works perfectly fine lol

Can definitely say that the app is still pretty buggy and does weird things. Fortunately for me, my home theatre (with a hardwired sound bar) and using Airplay for music things are still working fine. I've spent too much money on Sonos products to replace them all now, but they won't be getting any more of my money until they can actually demonstrate that their new "commitment to quality" is genuine and not just marketing speak.

 

[anakin44011]

Even bang and olufsen released $1500 bluetooth headphones without any major improvement with the idea that it is just a 'luxury' product, which means you buy this to communicate to the world you can afford 1500 headphones. but all this shows in reality, if one is thinking with a critical mind, bang and olufsen is employing evil marketing tactics to play on the insecurities of people and the person was dumb enough to fall for it and waste 1500 on something he really doesn't need.

So...this one time, I went to the bar at this really expensive hotel wearing my $1500 bang and olufsen headphones, just to show everyone there I can afford such premium luxury items...you know, so I could stand out among all the AirPods people...

...and I got solicited by at least half a dozen really good-looking women!

...alas, apparently high-priced prostitutes hang out at really expensive hotels looking for idiots who wish to part with their financial excess. And here, I really thought they were impressed by my manly show of wealth.

...so I sold my $1500 headphones and went back to my AirPods. I feel like such a commoner now.😜

 

[carswell]

Good luck getting it to work with their horrible new app.