WooferGuy is reader-supported. When you buy through an Amazon link on this page we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. It never decides what we recommend. How this works.
Sonos’s new Beam Ultra soundbar went on general sale at the end of September, alongside a big software update called Sonos 27. If you’re eyeing the Beam Ultra, or you already own one, the obvious question for a site like this is: do you need a Sonos sub with it, and which one? Here’s what’s new and our advice.
- Beam Ultra: a mid-size soundbar with nine drivers including two up-firing, true 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos, a redesigned centre channel and “warmer bass” than the Beam. $699.
- Sonos 27: a free update with a new app layout, portable speakers that become surrounds automatically, and early AI-assistant integrations.
- Our view: in a small to medium room, pair it with a Sub Mini; in larger rooms or for big movie nights, the Sub 4.
What’s new in the Beam Ultra
Sonos kept the Beam’s compact size but rebuilt the inside: nine custom drivers, two of them firing upward for Atmos height effects, and a redesigned centre channel for clearer dialogue. There are four levels of AI Speech Enhancement and a Night Sound mode. Connection is via HDMI eARC, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for music. It’s available on Amazon and was announced on 1 September with general availability from 29 September.
Sonos says the Beam Ultra has warmer bass than its predecessor, but a soundbar this size physically can’t move enough air for deep bass. Film effects below roughly 50–60 Hz still need a subwoofer.
Sub Mini or Sub 4?
| Sonos Sub Mini | Sonos Sub 4 | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Small to medium rooms | Medium to large rooms |
| Design | Compact cylinder, force-cancelling drivers | Full-size, force-cancelling drivers |
| Placement | Beside furniture | Upright or flat under a sofa |
| Why choose it | Cheaper, size-matched to Beam | Deeper, louder bass |
- For most Beam Ultra buyers, the Sub Mini is the sensible partner, and Sonos sells a Beam Ultra + Sub Mini bundle.
- If your room is large, open-plan, or you watch a lot of action films, the Sub 4 is the better match. See our Sonos Sub review for how it compares with the older Gen 3.
Remember Sonos soundbars have no standard sub output, so a third-party wired sub won’t connect. Our best subwoofer for Sonos guide covers every option.
What Sonos 27 changes
- Portable surrounds: Move 2 and Sonos Play speakers can automatically switch to surround duty when placed near a compatible soundbar, including the Beam Ultra.
- New app layout: simpler Home, System and Search navigation, pinned rooms, and a two-finger “volume knob” gesture.
- AI integrations: an early-access connector lets outside AI assistants control Sonos, with Sonos’s own voice assistant promised later this fall.
- It’s free for S2 products, though features vary by model.
Nothing in the Sonos 27 release changes how subwoofers work, but the portable-surround trick means a Beam Ultra, a sub and a pair of Move 2s can become a full 5.1 system on movie night.
Setup tips
- Keep the sub in the front half of the room near the soundbar. See placement with a soundbar.
- Run Trueplay again after adding the sub or surrounds.
- If dialogue sounds boomy, lower the sub level a step in the app rather than turning down the whole system.