Soundbars / Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sonos Arc Ultra
Bose Smart Soundbar vs Sonos Arc Ultra
Sonos Arc Ultra
The best one-box Atmos bar — real bass, no sub needed, but no HDMI input.
Wins overall by 1.0 points
Quick Verdict
The Sonos Arc Ultra takes this by a clear 1.0 points. The best one-box Atmos bar — real bass, no sub needed, but no HDMI input. The Bose Smart Soundbar only makes sense if it wins on a category you care about more than the total.
The Bose Smart Soundbar and Sonos Arc Ultra are both current-generation soundbar models, and the Bose Smart Soundbar is $550 cheaper than the Sonos Arc Ultra ($549 vs $1,099). On Bass, the Sonos Arc Ultra leads (8.5 vs 5.5/10) — low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer. On Surround & Height, the Sonos Arc Ultra leads (9.0 vs 7.0/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. On Sound Quality, the Sonos Arc Ultra leads (9.2 vs 7.5/10) — overall tonal balance, clarity and detail. Overall, the Sonos Arc Ultra scores 8.4/10 across our 8 scoring categories versus 7.4/10 for the Bose Smart Soundbar. Below, we break down the full spec sheet, category-by-category scores, and exactly who should buy which one.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Spec | Bose Smart Soundbar | Sonos Arc Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $549.00 | $1099.00 |
| Release Year | 2024 | 2024 |
| Channels | 3.0.2 as measured independently; Bose publishes only a transducer count, not a channel spec | 9.1.4 (14 drivers: 9 tweeters, 6 mid-woofers, plus the Sound Motion woofer) |
| Total Power (W) | Bose does not publish power ratings for any soundbar | Sonos does not publish power ratings |
| Subwoofer | Optional add-on — Bose Bass Module 500 or 700; there is no built-in subwoofer | Built in (Sound Motion woofer); Sonos Sub 4 or Sub Mini optional |
| Rear Speakers | Optional add-on — Bose Surround Speakers, or Bose Ultra Open Earbuds | Optional add-on — Sonos Era 300 or Era 100 pair as wireless surrounds |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| DTS:X | No | No |
| HDMI Ports (ports) | 1 | 1 |
| HDMI Passthrough | None — eARC output only | None — there is no HDMI input at all, only eARC out |
| eARC | Yes | Yes |
| Wi-Fi & Streaming | Yes — AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in and Spotify Connect all supported | Wi-Fi 6 with AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect; Chromecast is not supported |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
| Voice Assistant | Amazon Alexa built in; also works with Google Home | Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa built in |
| Warranty | 12 months | 12 months |
| Colors | Black | Black, White |
Category Scores
Sound Quality
The Sonos Arc Ultra leads clearly here, 9.2 against 7.5 — a 1.7-point margin on overall tonal balance, clarity and detail. If that is what you are buying for, the Bose Smart Soundbar does not close the gap elsewhere.
Bass
The Sonos Arc Ultra leads clearly here, 8.5 against 5.5 — a 3.0-point margin on low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer. If that is what you are buying for, the Bose Smart Soundbar does not close the gap elsewhere.
Dialogue Clarity
The Bose Smart Soundbar and Sonos Arc Ultra are level here, at 8.5/10 each. how well speech cuts through a busy soundtrack is not what separates these two — look to the categories where the scores diverge.
Surround & Height
The Sonos Arc Ultra leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.0 — a 2.0-point margin on dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio. If that is what you are buying for, the Bose Smart Soundbar does not close the gap elsewhere.
Connectivity
The Bose Smart Soundbar leads clearly here, 9.0 against 7.5 — a 1.5-point margin on HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support. If that is what you are buying for, the Sonos Arc Ultra does not close the gap elsewhere.
Features
The Sonos Arc Ultra leads clearly here, 8.5 against 8.0 — a 0.5-point margin on room calibration, TV-brand integration, app control and expandability. If that is what you are buying for, the Bose Smart Soundbar does not close the gap elsewhere.
Design & Build
The Sonos Arc Ultra leads clearly here, 9.0 against 8.0 — a 1.0-point margin on finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room. If that is what you are buying for, the Bose Smart Soundbar does not close the gap elsewhere.
Value
The Sonos Arc Ultra leads clearly here, 7.0 against 6.0 — a 1.0-point margin on performance and features relative to price. If that is what you are buying for, the Bose Smart Soundbar does not close the gap elsewhere.
Best For
Choose the Bose Smart Soundbar if…
- • Connectivity matters most to you — the Bose Smart Soundbar scores 9.0/10 here (HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support).
- • You want to spend less — it's $550 cheaper.
- • Your main use case is compact.
Choose the Sonos Arc Ultra if…
- • Bass matters most to you — the Sonos Arc Ultra scores 8.5/10 here (low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer).
- • Surround & Height matters most to you — the Sonos Arc Ultra scores 9.0/10 here (dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio).
- • Sound Quality matters most to you — the Sonos Arc Ultra scores 9.2/10 here (overall tonal balance, clarity and detail).
- • Design & Build matters most to you — the Sonos Arc Ultra scores 9.0/10 here (finish, size relative to a TV, and how well it fits a living room).
- • Your main use case is tv-upgrade.
Pros & Cons
Bose Smart Soundbar
Pros
- +Best streaming and smart-home integration in this price band — AirPlay 2, Chromecast and Spotify Connect together
- +A.I. Dialogue Mode is one of the better dialogue enhancers on the market
- +Alexa built in with a mic on the bar itself
- +Compact and well finished
Cons
- −Bass is weak without the separate Bass Module, which costs $500 to $800 more
- −A complete Bose system runs close to $1,400
- −No DTS:X
- −Reviewers describe the Atmos performance as inconsistent
- −Only power and mic-mute buttons on the bar itself
Sonos Arc Ultra
Pros
- +Widely rated the best one-box Atmos bar you can buy
- +The Sound Motion driver produces genuine bass without a separate subwoofer
- +Trueplay room tuning adapts it to your room
- +Superb build and finish
Cons
- −No HDMI input at all, which is a real problem if your TV has only one spare HDMI port
- −No DTS:X or DTS-HD decoding
- −Deliberately brand-agnostic, so no TV-brand features like Q-Symphony
- −Some controls sit on the rear, awkward when wall-mounted
- −List price rose from $999 to $1,099
Shop by Need
FAQs
Is the Bose Smart Soundbar or Sonos Arc Ultra better overall?+
Based on our 8-category scoring, the Sonos Arc Ultra comes out ahead overall. See the full breakdown in the scores section above — the right pick still depends on which categories matter most for your use case.
Which is better for Bass, the Bose Smart Soundbar or the Sonos Arc Ultra?+
The Sonos Arc Ultra scores higher on Bass (8.5/10 vs 5.5/10) — low-end weight and extension, with or without a separate subwoofer.
Which is better for Surround & Height, the Bose Smart Soundbar or the Sonos Arc Ultra?+
The Sonos Arc Ultra scores higher on Surround & Height (9.0/10 vs 7.0/10) — dolby Atmos height effect and how convincingly it places surround audio.
Which is better for Sound Quality, the Bose Smart Soundbar or the Sonos Arc Ultra?+
The Sonos Arc Ultra scores higher on Sound Quality (9.2/10 vs 7.5/10) — overall tonal balance, clarity and detail.
Which is better for Connectivity, the Bose Smart Soundbar or the Sonos Arc Ultra?+
The Bose Smart Soundbar scores higher on Connectivity (9.0/10 vs 7.5/10) — HDMI inputs and passthrough, eARC, Wi-Fi and streaming protocol support.
Is the Bose Smart Soundbar worth the price difference over the Sonos Arc Ultra?+
The Bose Smart Soundbar is the cheaper option at $549 versus $1,099. Whether the pricier model is "worth it" depends on how much you value its lead in Bass.
Which is better suited to my use case?+
The Bose Smart Soundbar is the better fit if you mainly care about compact. The Sonos Arc Ultra is the better fit for tv-upgrade.
What's the warranty on the Bose Smart Soundbar vs the Sonos Arc Ultra?+
The Bose Smart Soundbar ships with a 12-month warranty; the Sonos Arc Ultra ships with a 12-month warranty. Always confirm current terms on the manufacturer's site before buying.
Should I wait for the next model instead of buying either of these?+
If either model is more than two years old, a successor may be close — check the "Latest Model" link on each product page. Otherwise, both are current, well-supported options and there's no strong reason to wait.
Cheaper Option
Yamaha TRUE X BAR 50A (SR-X50A) — $499.95
Premium Option
LG S95AR — $1699.00
Specifications and prices for both products last verified . Scores are calculated from published specifications — see how we compare products.