The Sony Bravia Theatre Quad is an interesting piece of tech as it aims to solve a problem that soundbars usually address over wired audio setups, but it refuses to be one. If you hate the look of black plastic tubes under your TV but want sound that crushes a traditional soundbar, this is currently a good option, albeit at a hefty price.
The “Quad” consists of four identical, flat, fabric-covered square speakers that accompany a small control box. They look less like audio equipment and more like art frames or chic acoustic panels, though we must admit the stands break the illusion somewhat.
The magic here is in the installation. You place two in the front and two in the back. Because they are wireless (they only need a power outlet), you don’t have to run speaker wire across your living room floor, which is attractive to most people in the household who don’t want audio equipment in the living room. You can wall-mount them or put them on the included stands. Once they are set up, they are meant to blend into the background visually while dominating the room acoustically. While they don’t look as visually pleasing as Sonos products, they do achieve this objective.
The Sound: The “Bubble” Effect
The killer feature here is Sony’s 360 Spatial Sound Mapping. Because the speakers are physically separated (unlike a soundbar, where all drivers are in one spot), the Quad creates a “phantom” dome of sound, which is very easy to set up using the App on Android and iOS devices.
When you watch a movie like Dune or Blade Runner 2049, the separation is genuine. You don’t just hear sound bouncing off walls; you hear distinct audio objects floating in the space between you and the TV. It creates a ‘sound bubble’ that is significantly wider and more immersive than most typical sound bars can emulate. It’s a very similar experience with the Sonos Arc Ultra, though it’s much easier to set up, and the App actually works smoothly. We didn’t experience any dropouts or issues during our testing.
The “Phantom Centre” channel (where voices sound like they are coming from the screen even though there is no centre speaker) is surprisingly convincing. It supports Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, and most other sound codec’s, which is perfect if you collect physical media like 4K UHDs. Note that the Sonos Arc only supports standard DTS.
The Weakness
The bass. Out of the box, the four speakers handle mid-bass well (explosions have texture), but they lack the deep, chest-thumping rumble a sub would provide. For a system at this price point (approx. £1,799), it is a pretty big flaw that it doesn’t come with a Sub. To get the whole experience, you essentially have to buy the optional SA-SW3 or SW5 subwoofer, which drives the price up even further. For example, priced at £1,399.00, you could get the Sonos Arc Ultra and Sub Gen 4. It’s not a deal breaker, of course, but it’s something to consider if you want a more cinematic feel.
Sony Theatre Quad vs. Sonos Arc Ultra
If you are torn between these two, you are likely looking for a premium, low-clutter setup. Here is how they stack up.
1: Immersion & Soundstage
Sony Theatre Quad: There is no replacement for displacement. Because the Quad has four physical speakers placed around you, the surround sound is real, not virtual. The soundstage is just larger with this setup, and it’s more forgiving of the type of room you have. The Arc Ultra will excel in a typical boxed room, where it can easily bounce sound, but if you have a front room that lacks symmetry, it can really nerf the system. The Quad will always come out on top in this scenario.
Sonos Arc Ultra: The Arc Ultra is an engineering marvel for how it generates a sound stage using “Sound Motion” technology and side-firing drivers to bounce sound around the room. It creates a convincing wide stage, but it is still projecting sound from the front. The Quad envelops you; the Arc Ultra performs for you.
2: Dialogue Clarity
Sonos Arc Ultra: Sonos has doubled down on dialogue with the Ultra. The dedicated centre-channel architecture delivers razor-sharp voices, even during loud action scenes.
Sony Theatre Quad: The Quad uses a “Phantom Center,” mixing the left and right speakers to simulate dialogue coming from the TV. It is very good, but occasionally, if you are sitting off-axis (not directly in the sweet spot), voices can feel slightly diffused compared to the pinpoint focus of the Sonos. Note: If you have a compatible Sony Bravia TV, you can use “Acoustic Centre Sync” to use the TV speakers as the centre channel to mitigate this. We couldn’t test this feature to verify how much of a difference it would make.
3: Bass Performance (Standalone)
Sonos Arc Ultra: The new “Sound Motion” woofer technology in the Ultra is very good. For a single bar, it produces tight, punchy bass that defies its size. You can get away without a subwoofer here if you live in an apartment or terraced housing.
Sony Theatre Quad: As mentioned above, the Quad feels incomplete without a sub. It creates a beautiful, airy sound, but it lacks the weight of the Arc Ultra when used as a standalone system.
4: Aesthetics & Spousal Approval Factor
Sony Theatre Quad: For the person who wants audio to be invisible. If you wall-mount these, they look like decor. However, you do need to find four power outlets in the corners of your room. This can be a challenge to keep tidy.
Sonos Arc Ultra: It is a soundbar. A very pretty, sleek soundbar, but it still sits on your media console. However, it is just one object to place, making it a much simpler “plug and play” solution. The app can cause frustration at times, though.
What should you buy?
Buy the Sony Theatre Quad if: You want a home-theatre surround-sound experience but refuse to run wires or buy a bulky receiver. You have a flexible budget (to buy the subwoofer) and want easy immersion without the headache of an annoying setup process. It is the more practical choice for most living rooms.
Buy the Sonos Arc Ultra if: You want the best possible performance from a single device at a decent price point. You prioritise crystal-clear dialogue, or you are already deep into the Sonos multi-room ecosystem.
For the latest gaming news, follow GameWatcher on BlueSky, check out our videos on YouTube. We sometimes include affiliate links in our posts, which grants us a small commission, thank you. Please support independent Games Media. ❤️
