For years, the Sonos Beam has been a favourite for anyone who wants better TV sound without a large bar under the screen. Now Sonos has built on that idea with the Beam Ultra, a £699 soundbar that launched in September 2026. It looks familiar, but almost everything inside it has changed.
What’s new?
The headline change is sound that genuinely comes from above. Dolby Atmos is the format that gives films and music a sense of height, so a helicopter can seem to pass overhead. The previous Beam simulated that effect with clever processing. The Beam Ultra has two speakers on its top surface that bounce sound off your ceiling.
There are now nine drivers in total, up from five in the Beam (Gen 2). Sonos describes the result as 7.1.2 surround sound. In plain English, that means sound across the front and sides, a dedicated bass channel, and two channels of height, all from one bar.
Hearing every word
If you often reach for the subtitles, this may be the feature that matters most. Sonos has redesigned the centre channel, the part of a soundbar that handles voices. A new AI Speech Enhancement setting detects speech and lifts it above the rest of the soundtrack, with four levels to choose from in the Sonos app.
A Night Sound mode is also on hand for late viewing, when you want to hear the detail without waking the household.
What the reviewers say
Early reviews have been very positive. What Hi-Fi? awarded five out of five for both sound and design, and praised it for films and music alike. TechRadar made it an Editor’s Choice, while T3 gave it a Platinum Award.
Music deserves a mention, as soundbars don’t always handle it well. Reviewers found vocals clear and the overall sound open and engaging, so this is a bar to enjoy long after the film has finished.
Will it suit your room?
The Beam Ultra measures about 75cm wide, 7cm high and 11cm deep, and comes in black or white. It is around 10cm wider than the previous Beam, so it is worth measuring if your TV cabinet is a snug fit.
It can sit on a shelf or be wall-mounted, although mounts for older Beams won’t fit. If it has to sit beneath a shelf or inside a cabinet, a setting in the Sonos app adjusts the height effects to suit. Sonos’s Trueplay feature also tunes the sound to your room.
Setting it up is simple. A single HDMI cable connects it to your TV, and your existing TV remote will control the volume.
Part of a bigger system
The Beam Ultra sounds full on its own, and it can also grow over time. You can add a Sonos Sub for deeper bass, or a pair of Era 100 or Era 300 speakers behind the sofa for true surround sound. As with all Sonos products, it also joins any Sonos speakers you have elsewhere in the house.
For quiet evenings, TV Audio Swap sends the sound to Sonos headphones, including the new Ace Ultra. Up to two pairs can listen at once.
Worth knowing before you buy
No product suits everyone, and there are a few points to consider:
- One HDMI connection. The bar has a single HDMI port and connects directly to your TV, so your other devices need to plug into the TV instead.
- No DTS:X. The bar plays Dolby Atmos but not DTS:X, a rival format found on some 4K Blu-ray discs.
- Some features are still to come. Sonos has promised new voice control features, including Alexa+, but they weren’t available when reviewers tested it.
- The ceiling matters. Upward-firing speakers work by reflecting sound, so room height and ceiling type can affect the result.
How it compares
| Beam (Gen 2) | Beam Ultra | Arc Ultra | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK launch price | £449 | £699 | £999 |
| Dolby Atmos height | Simulated | Up-firing speakers | Up-firing speakers |
| Best for | Simple, affordable TV upgrade | Immersive sound in a compact bar | The largest Sonos soundbar experience |
The Beam (Gen 2) remains on sale and is still a very capable choice, particularly in smaller rooms. The Beam Ultra is for anyone who wants the full effect of Dolby Atmos without making room for a larger bar.
Hear the difference
The right soundbar depends on your room, your TV and how you like to watch. As an independent Bath retailer specialising in tailored home entertainment, Moss of Bath can help you decide whether the Beam Ultra is right for your home, and take care of the installation too. Call in to see us on St James Parade, or get in touch 01225 331441 or sales@mossofbath.co.uk
