Sonos Arc Ultra vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Critics score the Sonos Arc Ultra 88 and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 85 out of 100, from 21 and 12 professional reviews. 8 outlets reviewed both: 5 scored the Sonos Arc Ultra higher and 3 gave both the same score. On average those critics put the Sonos Arc Ultra 6 points ahead.
Image: SonosSonos Arc Ultra
Praised for: sound quality (19 of 21), ease of use (5 of 21), connectivity (3 of 21)
Criticised for: price (14 of 21), controls and app (6 of 21)
The catch: Expensive, and no HDMI passthrough.
All 21 reviews of the Sonos Arc Ultra →
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Image: SonosSonos Beam (Gen 2)
Praised for: sound quality (11 of 12), ease of use (5 of 12)
Criticised for: price (4 of 12)
The catch: Its virtual Atmos doesn't convince everyone.
All 12 reviews of the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) →
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Critics who reviewed both
The fairest comparison: the same reviewer, the same standards| Outlet | Sonos Arc Ultra | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expert Reviews | 95 | 80 | +15 |
| Tom's Guide | 95 | 80 | +15 |
| SlashGear | 90 | 83est. | +7 |
| CNN Underscored | 89est. | 85est. | +4 |
| Engadget | 87 | 83est. | +4 |
| CNET | 81 | 81 | same |
| TechRadar | 80 | 80 | same |
| Trusted Reviews | 89est. | 89est. | same |
Scores converted to 0–100. Difference is the Sonos Arc Ultra minus the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). Outlined tiles are estimated from the verdict. Each score links to the review.
Compare either one with another soundbar → · All soundbars ranked →
Common questions
Which is better, the Sonos Arc Ultra or the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)?
Critics rate the Sonos Arc Ultra higher: 88 against 85. 8 outlets reviewed both: 5 scored the Sonos Arc Ultra higher and 3 gave both the same score. On average those critics put the Sonos Arc Ultra 6 points ahead.
Do critics agree about the Sonos Arc Ultra and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)?
The Sonos Arc Ultra: broad agreement, scores from 80 to 95. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2): critics agree, scores from 80 to 90.