Sonos Beam Ultra Gets a Strong First Listening Impression

Sonos unveiled the $699 Beam Ultra soundbar and the $449 Ace Ultra headphones at its open house event, along with several app updates.

A private demonstration offered a better setting to assess the Beam Ultra than the event’s show floor. The 7.1.2 soundbar sat about six feet from the press as Sonos played Dolby Atmos content, including Widow’s Bay. The demonstration highlighted enhanced bass, improved vocal clarity and Atmos performance, while smaller details such as walkie-talkie chatter, sound effects and the swelling score remained audible.

The Beam Ultra uses side- and top-firing drivers. Sonos also wirelessly paired two Play portable speakers and placed them behind listeners as rear channels during a scene from Sinners, including “I Lied To You.” The added speakers appeared to help the soundbar deliver fuller, more directional audio than the Beam Gen 2, which virtualizes its spatial audio effect.

The demonstration included extra speakers and Sonos subwoofers, although the team said they were not used. The Beam Ultra sits between the $499 Sonos Beam Gen 2, currently $399, and the $1,099 Sonos Arc Ultra, currently $899. It launches September 29th, with preorders available now from Best Buy, B&H Photo, Sonos and Amazon. A full review from John Higgins is forthcoming.