Sonos has introduced its latest flagship home theatre duo—the Arc Ultra soundbar and Sub Gen 4 wireless subwoofer—in India. Priced at ₹99,999 and ₹84,999 respectively, this premium pair promises an elevated audio experience for movies, music, and everything in between. We tested the set over a few weeks, and here’s how it fared.
What Is Good?
- Unique and premium design for both soundbar and subwoofer
- Pristine, immersive audio quality with rich bass and crystal-clear vocals
- Easy setup and app-based controls
- Dolby Atmos support creates a convincing height illusion
What Is Bad?
- No HDMI passthrough limits flexibility
- Expensive
- Surround sound requires additional speakers
Build and Design
The Sonos Arc Ultra is a stunner—long, cylindrical, and premium in finish. We tested the White variant, which looks great under a 55-inch TV, though its proportions feel more in sync with a 65-inch setup. Touch controls sit discreetly on top, and connectivity ports are tucked into a rectangular cutout at the rear, making it easier to wall-mount or access them. A big letdown: there’s no HDMI passthrough.
The Sub Gen 4, meanwhile, breaks design conventions. It’s rectangular with a hollow center that houses the drivers and can be placed either vertically or horizontally, depending on your space. It connects wirelessly to the bar and, unlike most subwoofers, actually draws attention in a good way—more modern sculpture than a hidden box.
Setup and Features
Setting up the Arc Ultra is a breeze using the Sonos app—plug in the soundbar and sub, connect via HDMI eARC, and you’re ready to go. The app becomes your universal remote, with volume control, EQ adjustments, and the all-important Trueplay tuning, which uses your phone’s mic to optimize sound for your room layout. There’s no physical remote, but with ARC integration, your TV remote handles the essentials seamlessly.
Sound Quality
The audio experience is nothing short of spectacular. Vocals are incredibly clear, with superb instrument separation. You can almost feel the textures—whether it’s a hushed conversation or an orchestral swell. The Sub Gen 4 delivers deep, controlled bass that adds punch without distortion; we found boosting it to +3 made music and action sequences even more engaging.
Dolby Atmos content shines, especially on Apple TV. There’s a convincing illusion of height and good front-channel separation. That said, without dedicated rear speakers, the surround effect isn’t full 360°. Still, for a single-bar setup, this gets impressively close.
Verdict
There’s something magical about the Sonos Arc Ultra + Sub Gen 4—especially when you stop overthinking, sink into the sound, and just let it take over. From late-night movies to morning playlists, it elevates everything. Yes, it’s pricey (₹1.8L+ for the combo), and the Samsung Q990D does offer more in-the-box at a lower cost. But in terms of clarity, precision, and tonal balance, this is audio nirvana. Saying goodbye at the end of the review period? That hurt more than expected.
