Sonos
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact
86
/ 100
From $499
VS
Sonos Arc Ultra wins by 6
Sonos
Sonos Arc Ultra
9.1.4 Atmos · Sound Motion woofers · eARC
92
/ 100
From $999
Specdex verdict
Sonos Arc Ultra takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) lands at 86 and Sonos Arc Ultra at 92. That puts Sonos Arc Ultra ahead by 6 points — a decisive margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if…
- ✓Atmos in a compact bar
- ✓Trueplay room correction
- ✓Expandable with Sub + rears
Pick Sonos Arc Ultra if…
- ✓Massive bass without a sub
- ✓9.1.4 channel processing
- ✓Easy TrueCinema tuning
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 86
vs 92 Sonos Arc Ultra
Score breakdown
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
86 sound 86
features 88
design 92
ease 90
Sonos Arc Ultra
92 sound 94
features 90
design 92
ease 90
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | Sonos Arc Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | 5.0 (virtual Atmos) | 9.1.4 |
| Connectivity | eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0 | eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0 |
| Drivers | — | 14 + Sound Motion woofers |
| Atmos | — | Dolby Atmos |
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Pros
- +Atmos in a compact bar
- +Trueplay room correction
- +Expandable with Sub + rears
Cons
- −No upward drivers (virtual Atmos)
- −No DTS
- −App glitches
Sonos Arc Ultra
Pros
- +Massive bass without a sub
- +9.1.4 channel processing
- +Easy TrueCinema tuning
Cons
- −No DTS:X
- −App glitches
- −Expensive
FAQ: Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Sonos Arc Ultra
Which is better, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Sonos Arc Ultra? +
Sonos Arc Ultra scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sonos Beam (Gen 2) worth the price? +
At $499, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in design.
Is Sonos Arc Ultra worth the price? +
At $999, Sonos Arc Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in sound.
Does Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Sonos Arc Ultra last longer? +
Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.