Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The Arc Ultra is Sonos’s flagship, with 14 drivers, Sound Motion bass and 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos for large rooms. The Beam (Gen 2) costs less than half as much and simulates Atmos height. The new Beam Ultra sits in between.
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Quick answer
Choose Sonos Arc Ultra ($1,099) if you have a large room or a TV 50 inches or larger, you want true Dolby Atmos height or you want Sonos’s best soundbar. Choose Sonos Beam (Gen 2) ($499) if you have a smaller room, you want Sonos sound for $499 or you may add a Sub or rear speakers later.
Last updated Prices checked Oct 2026
Check Sonos Arc Ultra price (opens in a new tab)Check Sonos Beam (Gen 2) price (opens in a new tab)
Key facts at a glance
| Sonos Arc Ultra | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,099 | $499 |
| Drivers | 14, including upward-firing tweeters and a Sound Motion woofer | — |
| Dolby Atmos height | Real upward-firing drivers; 9.1.4 | Simulated with processing |
| Recommended TV size | 50 inches and over (Sonos) | Up to 65 inches (Sonos) |
| Best for (Sonos) | Large rooms | Everyday listening |
Get the Arc Ultra ($1,099) for a large room or a TV 50 inches or bigger. Sonos calls it the best-performing soundbar in its lineup. Get the Beam (Gen 2) ($499) for a smaller room on a budget. What Hi-Fi?[6] calls it the benchmark for entry-level Dolby Atmos soundbars. If you want real upward-firing height channels without the Arc’s price, consider the Beam Ultra ($699).
Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2): side-by-side
| Arc Ultra | Beam (Gen 2) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,099 | $499 |
| Drivers | 14, including upward-firing tweeters and a Sound Motion woofer | — |
| Dolby Atmos height | Real upward-firing drivers; 9.1.4 | Simulated with processing |
| Recommended TV size | 50 inches and over (Sonos) | Up to 65 inches (Sonos) |
| Best for (Sonos) | Large rooms | Everyday listening |
| Connections | HDMI eARC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirPlay 2 | — |
| Step-up alternative | — | Beam Ultra, $699: nine drivers incl. two up-firing, 7.1.2 |
How much do they cost?
Sonos Arc Ultra plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Arc Ultra | $1,099 | Launched at $999 (Engadget) |
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) plans
| Option | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Beam (Gen 2) | $499 | What Hi-Fi? lists an older $449 price |
| Beam (Gen 2), Sonos refurbished | $399 | — |
| Beam Ultra | $699 | New in 2026; 7.1.2 Atmos with up-firing drivers |
What are the pros and cons?
Sonos Arc Ultra: pros
- Best-performing soundbar in Sonos’s lineup
- Real 9.1.4 Dolby Atmos with 14 drivers
- Bluetooth plus Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2
- AI Speech Enhancement and Trueplay
Sonos Arc Ultra: cons
- $1,099, up $100 from launch
- Large; built for TVs 50 inches and up
Sonos Beam (Gen 2): pros
- Less than half the price
- Compact, for TVs up to 65 inches
- What Hi-Fi?’s benchmark for entry-level Atmos
Sonos Beam (Gen 2): cons
- Simulated rather than true Atmos height
- Price has risen from $449 to $499
Which should you choose: Sonos Arc Ultra or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)?
The Arc Ultra is the soundbar to get for a big room and a big TV. Engadget[5] recommends jumping straight to it if you have a large room or an enormous TV. For smaller rooms, the Beam (Gen 2) delivers award-winning sound for $499, though its Atmos height is simulated. If you want real height channels in a compact bar, Engadget says the new $699 Beam Ultra is it’s best suited to small and mid-sized rooms.
Choose Sonos Arc Ultra if…
- You have a large room or a TV 50 inches or larger
- You want true Dolby Atmos height
- You want Sonos’s best soundbar
Choose Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if…
- You have a smaller room
- You want Sonos sound for $499
- You may add a Sub or rear speakers later
Prices in 2026
Real vs simulated height
The Arc Ultra uses 14 Sonos-engineered drivers, including upward-firing tweeters for dedicated height channels, and Sound Motion technology for 9.1.4 spatial audio. Sonos’s soundbar guide says the Beam (Gen 2) doesn’t have upward-firing drivers. Instead, it uses processing to create simulated height channels. The Beam Ultra adds real upward-firing drivers: FlatpanelsHD[4] reports nine drivers, including two up-firing units, for 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos.
Where the Beam Ultra fits
Sonos kept the Beam (Gen 2) on sale after launching the Beam Ultra, which began shipping September 29. Engadget[5] says it’s best suited to small and mid-sized rooms. Both Beams are rated for TVs up to 65 inches. What Hi-Fi?[6] recommends both Beams and calls the Arc Ultra the best-performing of the group.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Sonos Arc Ultra worth it over the Beam?
Does the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) have Dolby Atmos?
How much is the Sonos Arc Ultra?
Sources
Pricing and plan details were checked on the official pages below as of Oct 2026. Vendors change prices, credits and plan names often, and some show regional pricing at checkout, so confirm on the vendor’s site before you buy.
- Sonos: Arc Ultra (sonos.com)
- Sonos: Shop (Beam (Gen 2), Beam Ultra and refurbished prices) (sonos.com)
- Sonos: Guide to Sonos soundbars (sonos.com)
- FlatpanelsHD: Sonos launches Beam Ultra (September 2, 2026) (flatpanelshd.com)
- Engadget: Sonos Beam Ultra review (September 22, 2026) (engadget.com)
- What Hi-Fi?: Which Sonos soundbar is best for your living room? (whathifi.com)
Related
Best Soundbars of 2026
Wirecutter’s top soundbar is the Vizio Elevate 7.1.4 Pro at about $450. The TCL S55H is the best cheap soundbar at about $110, and Samsung’s Q990H is the surround-sound upgrade.
comparisonSonos vs Bose Soundbars: Arc Ultra vs Lifestyle Ultra
Buy the Sonos Arc Ultra if sound quality and room to grow matter most. Buy the Bose Lifestyle Ultra only if you stream with Google Cast and want one simple upgrade path.