What is Sonos Sound Motion technology?
The Sound Motion technology in the Sonos Arc Ultra soundbar significantly enhances sound quality. Here’s how it works.
Last month, Sonos unveiled its new premium soundbar in a challenging year for the company. The launch of the Arc Ultra, priced at $999, was initially delayed due to the need to address significant issues with its app that arose after a failed update in the spring. With the arrival of this soundbar, Sonos has implemented its Sound Motion technology for the first time, which provides improved bass performance using more compact components. This new transducer allowed the company to make enhancements to the Arc Ultra compared to the original model, indicating that it is not merely an increase in low tones.
The story of Sound Motion begins with Sonos's acquisition of Mayht, an audio company based in the Netherlands, in April 2022 for approximately $100 million. Sonos announced that Mayht had developed a groundbreaking approach to audio transducers, re-engineering this key component of speakers to be smaller and lighter without compromising sound quality.
According to Mattias Scheek, CEO of Mayht, the company began working on its technology in 2016 and focused on advocating for and licensing its invention instead of manufacturing the transducers. The initial potential applications for this technology included soundbars, compact subwoofers, and smaller smart speakers, forming the foundation of Sonos’s Sound Motion.
The first use of Mayht's technology is in the Arc Ultra soundbar. Sound Motion includes a flat transducer with the motors located on the sides and the diaphragm in the center, allowing for a greater range of movement and, according to Sonos's calculations, producing double the bass of the original Arc. The soundbar features four lightweight motors that displace more air, contributing to an enhanced presence of low tones.
By replacing one large motor with four compact units, the Sound Motion transducer ends up being up to three times smaller compared to a conventional transducer while maintaining the same bass output. These motors, featuring an innovative design, utilize dual magnets that provide greater power, offering more flexibility in product design.
Chris Davies, Vice President of Audio at Sonos, explained that this new technology allows for greater miniaturization without sacrificing performance. Despite having double the bass output, the Arc Ultra maintains nearly identical dimensions to its predecessor, as the compact design of the transducer allows for notable bass production with a smaller volume.
Sound Motion is positioned on one side of the bar, while the amplification electronics occupy the opposite side, creating an immersive sound experience. According to some users' experiences, although the bass output is perceived from one side, when seated at an appropriate distance, the low sounds blend seamlessly.
The design flexibility provided by Sound Motion has also allowed for significant improvements in the overall audio performance of the Arc Ultra. This goes beyond merely increasing the bass; Sonos has reconfigured the architecture of the mid and high ranges, using various driver sizes to enhance sound dispersion in the room.
With a focus on dialogue clarity, Sonos has introduced features that allow users to adjust sound clarity at three levels, thus providing more precise audio performance than ever.
As for the future of Sound Motion technology, Sonos has clear plans. It is uncommon to invest such a significant amount in technology for use in a single product. The company plans to introduce more innovative products that incorporate Sound Motion, adapting to different sound profiles and design needs.
This ability of a single component to produce powerful bass could be highly beneficial for Sonos's more compact speakers, which have so far struggled to deliver deep low-end performance, despite their clarity and detail in sound. The inclusion of a Sound Motion transducer could greatly enhance fidelity in products like the Era 100 and Move 2, as well as make the smaller soundbar, Ray, more appealing for tight spaces without the need for an additional subwoofer.
