Written by Mieke
Edited on
20 July 2026
·
10:41
Compare the Sonos Beam Gen2 to the Sonos Arc Ultra
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and the Sonos Arc Ultra are very similar in terms of functions. The biggest differences between the 2 soundbars are the number of built-in speakers and the type of Dolby Atmos. We're happy to explain the differences between the soundbars for you, so you can make the best choice for you.
Sonos Beam Gen2
- Dolby Atmos sends effects via the ceiling to your listening position, which makes the sound extra spacious.
- Adjust the sound of the soundbar to the room via TruePlay on your iOS device.
- Add the soundbar to the Sonos multi-room system and you can stream music throughout the house.
489,-
Sonos Arc Ultra Black
- Thanks to the Sound Motion technology, you can hear a powerful sound from the small speakers.
- You can hear sound from every corner of the room and it feels like you're in the middle of the movie or series thanks to True Dolby Atmos.
- You can understand every word clearly thanks to the voice enhancement.
999,-
Comparison Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and Sonos Arc
| Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | Sonos Arc Ultra | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions (BxHxD in centimeters) | 65.1x6.8x10 | 117.3x7.95x11.05 |
| Number of built-in speakers | 5 amplifiers, 1 tweeter, and 3 passive bass radiators | 14 drivers, 1 Sound Motion woofer, and 7 tweeters |
| Dolby Atmos | Virtual Dolby Atmos | True Dolby Atmos |
| HDMI ARC connector | Yes | Yes |
| Optical connector | Yes | Yes |
| Spotify Connect | Yes | Yes |
| App | Yes | Yes |
| Smart home platform | Sonos Voice Control, Amazon Alexa, and Apple ecosystem | Sonos Voice Control, Amazon Alexa, and Apple ecosystem |
Design
Sonos Beam (Gen 2): compact size
With a width of 65.1cm, the Beam (Gen 2) is a compact soundbar. You can easily place this soundbar in a small room or bedroom. The size of the bar makes it most suitable for 40-inch televisions or smaller, but it doesn't look misplaced under a larger television either.
Sonos Arc Ultra: wide soundbar
The Arc is a lot larger than the Beam. The bar is 117.3cm wide, which means it's most suitable in combination with a 55-inch TV. That way, you're sure the soundbar nicely hangs or stands under your TV.
Sound
Sonos Beam (Gen 2): detailed
With 5 amplifiers, 1 tweeter, and 3 passive bass radiators, the soundbar produces a detailed sound. Within every genre, you can hear clear voices and details. When you play Dolby Atmos content, you can hear the sound all around you. Thanks to this, movies and series sound more realistic.
Sonos Arc Ultra: perfect for surround sound
The Sonos Arc Ultra has 14 drivers with a Sound Motion woofer and 7 tweeters that provide a very detailed sound together. The biggest difference with the Beam (Gen 2) is that the Arc Ultra 2 has upward-facing speakers. Thanks to these upward-facing speakers, the sound of Dolby Atmos content is even more realistic. It feels like you're in the middle of the movie or series.
Smart home platforms
You can use both soundbars with the following smart home platforms: Sonos Voice Control, Amazon Alexa, and your Apple ecosystem. This way, you can control the most important functions directly with your voice and you can stay seated. You can use Sonos Voice Control and Amazon Alexa directly on the soundbar.
Conclusion
When you're looking for a soundbar for a small or medium-sized room, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the right choice. The bar practically has the same functions as the Sonos Arc Ultra, but the compact size allows you to easily place it in the bedroom, for example. Do you want a soundbar in a larger room? Choose the Sonos Arc Ultra. Thanks to the composition of the speakers, this bar produces a powerful sound and Dolby Atmos comes out even better.
