Sonos Arc Ultra Soundbar

The combination of the Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar with a pair of Era 300 speakers creates a top-tier, 7.1.4-channel home cinema system that provides an exceptionally immersive Dolby Atmos experience. The Arc Ultra serves as the front stage, delivering enhanced dialogue and punchy, Sound Motion™-powered bass, while the Era 300s function as rears, adding dedicated upward and side-firing drivers for a 3D bubble of sound. 

1. Components & Performance

Sonos Arc Ultra (Soundbar): The flagship soundbar uses 14 drivers and "Sound Motion" technology, which provides deeper, more powerful bass (double that of the original Arc) and a wider, more accurate soundstage.

Sonos Era 300 (Rear Pair): These speakers are designed for spatial audio, including Dolby Atmos. When paired with the Arc Ultra, they act as dedicated surround and rear-height channels.

Combined Experience: The setup produces a 7.1.4-channel surround sound system. The Era 300s are particularly good at handling the overhead effects in movies. 

2. Key Features of the Combined System

Dolby Atmos Immersion: The Era 300s work with the Arc Ultra to create a complete, three-dimensional audio experience.

Advanced Speech Enhancement: The Arc Ultra allows for different levels of dialog enhancement, making voices clearer.

Trueplay Tuning: The system can be tuned using the Sonos app to match the specific acoustics of your room, which is crucial for optimal Atmos performance.

Bluetooth Connectivity: The Arc Ultra supports Bluetooth, allowing for easier streaming, a feature that was missing on the original Arc. 

3. Setup & Placement Tips

Surround Orientation: Unlike traditional rear speakers, the Era 300s should face straight forward (parallel to the TV wall) rather than being angled toward the listening position to maximize their side-firing drivers.

Room Considerations: The Era 300s need some space around them to work effectively (at least 2 feet above, 8 inches on sides).

Connection: Connect the Arc Ultra to your TV's eARC port for the best, uncompressed audio quality.

Alternative Add-on: While the Arc Ultra offers impressive bass on its own, adding a Sub 4 provides even deeper, more dramatic low-end. 

4. Comparison to Other Setups

vs. Arc + Era 300: The Arc Ultra + Era 300 setup is a significant step up from the original Arc. It offers better bass integration, clearer vocals, and improved spatial accuracy, resulting in a ~30-40% better sound performance.

vs. Full 7.1.4 System: The combination with Era 300s delivers the "ultimate" immersive sound, often preferred over adding a sub if you cannot have a separate subwoofer unit.