Soundbars · owner-verdict comparison

Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Beam Gen 2: what real owners say

Real owners rate these about evenly: 64% of 251 Sonos Arc Ultra owners recommend it, vs 67% of 280 for the Sonos Beam Gen 2.

Verdicts aggregated from Reddit, enthusiast forums, and YouTube owner comments — affiliate reviews excluded. Sample sizes differ; judge accordingly. How we score

Sonos Arc Ultra

64%of 251 owners recommend
64% recommend · 9% neutral · 27% don't
Owners praise
  • Incredible, room-filling sound that blows owners away
  • Stunning immersive setup paired with Era 300 surrounds and a sub
  • Clear, improved dialogue and center channel
Owners complain about
  • Underwhelming for the price, some returned it
Full owner report →

Sonos Beam Gen 2

67%of 280 owners recommend
67% recommend · 18% neutral · 15% don't
Owners praise
  • Punches well above its size and price
  • Huge upgrade over built-in TV speakers
  • Clear, crisp dialogue and vocal reproduction
Owners complain about
  • Lacks bass and underwhelms on its own; really needs a sub and surrounds to shine
Full owner report →

What Sonos Arc Ultra owners say

“I have the sonos arc ultra, Sub 4, and 2 era 300s. No regrets, just pure awesomeness. Adding the 300s was such an improvement. But the ultra itself was no slacker.”
— @ZumbaMaister on YouTube
“the Sonos Arc does not need a subwoofer”
— @MakeSomething on YouTube
“So glad you called out the Sonos 'Progress Bars'. Pet peeve of mine too! 100% they aren't progress bars.”
— @AmazingOrange87 on YouTube

What Sonos Beam Gen 2 owners say

“I’m very happy with my Beam gen2 with 2 One’s as rears. Great sound for my living room!”
— @jeroenpost78 on YouTube
“It’s an amazing soundbar, coming from Sony HT-Z9F soundbar set. Wide soundstage with 5 directions, excellent detail and center channel with really good bass.”
— @StrikerXL_BE on YouTube
“no bluetooth? no thanks”
— @bbbf09 on YouTube