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Sonos Beam Ultra review: The compact Dolby Atmos powerhouse we’ve been waiting for

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Sonos Beam Ultra review: The compact Dolby Atmos powerhouse we’ve been waiting for

Price: 3.5/5
Sound quality: 4.5/5
Design: 5/5
Features: 5/5
Overall score: 4.5
Best for: Dolby Atmos in mid-size spaces

I’ve spent years championing the original Sonos Beam and Beam Gen 2 as the best soundbars for anyone living in the “real world,” a.k.a. living arrangements where cavernous ceilings and elaborate home theaters aren’t the norm.

But as much as I loved the Beam Gen 2, the lack of physical height channels was noticeable despite impressive software-simulated Dolby Atmos for a soundbar of its size. The newer Sonos Beam Ultra ($699) addresses that shortcoming with 7.2.1 Atmos powered by dedicated upward-firing drivers and a completely redesigned acoustic system. It also arrives alongside Sonos 27, the company's next-generation OS, which introduces smarter controls, AI-powered features and new ways to connect speakers throughout the home.

And somehow, Sonos has squeezed all of that audio hardware into a soundbar barely wider than its predecessor. On paper, it's the upgrade I've been waiting for. But what surprised me most, as you’ll read in this Sonos Beam Ultra review, was just how much bigger it sounds.

The Beam Ultra brings some meaningful improvements over its predecessor, but it's the combination of immersive sound, effortless setup and Sonos' increasingly versatile ecosystem that makes it such a compelling upgrade.

The acoustic jump between the Sonos Beam Ultra vs. Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is night and day. Where the Beam Gen 2 relied on a single center tweeter, four mid-woofers and three passive radiators, the Beam Ultra packs nine Class-D amplifiers powering five tweeters (including two angled upward into directional horns) and four woofers.


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