The Sonos Beam Ultra proves you don’t need a huge soundbar for Dolby Atmos

Sonos has a new soundbar, and you might have trouble spotting what’s changed just by looking at it. Launched alongside the new Sonos Ace Ultra headphones, the Beam Ultra keeps the relatively compact footprint that made the Beam an appealing option for people who don’t want a giant speaker beneath their TV. Inside, though, this is a considerably more ambitious soundbar.

The biggest upgrade is Dolby Atmos. Sonos has packed the Beam Ultra with nine custom drivers, including two dedicated upward-firing drivers, allowing it to deliver a true 7.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos setup. That’s a substantial jump for a soundbar this size and should give movies and TV shows much more room to stretch out around you. Sonos says it has also improved the low end, with the Beam Ultra producing warmer bass than before. Of course, you can still pair it with a Sonos Sub if you want considerably more rumble.

Movie night just got easier on your ears

Anyone who has ever turned up a movie just to understand what someone whispered, only to be blasted by the next action scene, will probably appreciate another Beam Ultra upgrade. Sonos has redesigned the center channel to make voices easier to hear, while its AI-powered Speech Enhancement now offers four different levels of adjustment. Instead of simply switching dialogue enhancement on or off, you can decide how much help you actually need.

Night Sound is also here for those late-night Netflix sessions when you’d rather not test your relationship with the neighbors. Trueplay can tune the Beam Ultra to the room it’s in, while connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and HDMI eARC.

It can become a much bigger system later

The Beam Ultra doesn’t have to remain a standalone soundbar, either. As you’d expect from Sonos, it can be paired with a Sub and rear speakers to build out a more substantial home theater setup. There’s an interesting change to those rear speakers as well. Compatible Sonos portable speakers can now be used as surrounds, potentially making it easier to expand your setup without buying speakers that spend their entire lives sitting behind the couch.

All of this ties into Sonos 27, the company’s newly updated audio platform, which is designed to make its various speakers and headphones work more closely together. That includes the new Ace Ultra, which can connect directly to the Sonos system and move whatever you’re listening to between compatible speakers and the headphones. The Sonos Beam Ultra is priced at $699. Preorders open September 1 through Sonos and select retailers, with general availability beginning September 29. At $699, the Beam Ultra isn’t cheap, but it packs a lot of home theater hardware into a soundbar that won’t take over your TV setup.