Sonos Arc Ultra vs KEF XIO Soundbar Comparison

Sonos Arc Ultra vs KEF XIO

Sonos Arc Ultra

9.1.2-channel | $1,099

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KEF XIO

5.1.2-channel | $2,500

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Sonos Arc Ultra vs KEF XIO: the short answer

We can compare 13 features from the published specs. The Sonos Arc Ultra is ahead on 3, the KEF XIO on 3, and 7 are ties.

Reasons to choose Sonos Arc Ultra over KEF XIO

Channel layout: 9.1.2 vs 5.1.2
Rear speakers: Optional vs None
Voice assistant: Alexa built-in vs No

Reasons to choose KEF XIO over Sonos Arc Ultra

DTS:X: Yes vs No
Streaming: Wi-Fi + AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect vs Wi-Fi + AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect
Height: 2.88 in vs 3.13 in

Side-by-Side Comparison

	Sonos Arc Ultra	KEF XIO
Channel layout Counts speaker channels the bar actually has. More ear-level and height channels means a wider, taller sound field.	9.1.2	5.1.2
Height channels Drivers aimed at the ceiling, which is what makes Dolby Atmos sound overhead rather than just wide.	2	2
Dolby Atmos	Yes	Yes
DTS:X	No	Yes
HDMI to the TV eARC carries lossless Dolby TrueHD and Atmos from the TV; plain ARC compresses them.	eARC	eARC
HDMI inputs A spare HDMI port for a games console or disc player.	0	0
Subwoofer Included beats optional beats none: a separate subwoofer is where deep bass comes from.	Optional	Optional
Rear speakers Real rear speakers put effects behind you; without them surround is simulated from the front.	Optional	None
Room correction	Yes	Yes
Streaming	Wi-Fi + AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect	Wi-Fi + AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect
Voice assistant Built in, rather than through a separate smart speaker.	Alexa built-in	No
Dialogue enhancement	Yes	Yes
Height Lower is less likely to block the bottom of the TV picture.	3.13 in	2.88 in
Width / suits TVs from Neither is better: match the bar to your TV. See the size simulator below.	46.44 in / 55-inch	47.63 in / 55-inch
Drivers in the bar	14	12
Weight	13 lbs	23.1 lbs
List price	$1,099	$2,500

Green marks the better figure where one is better. Dashes are specs the maker does not publish.

Size: Both Soundbars in Front of a TV

Drawn to scale. The solid bar is the Sonos Arc Ultra, the dashed outline the KEF XIO. Pick your TV size and how it stands to see whether either would cover the picture.

Full Specifications

Sonos Arc Ultra Specifications

Sound
Channels	9.1.2
Dolby Atmos	Yes
DTS:X	No
Drivers	Tweeters: Soft-Dome (7); Midrange: Cone (6); Woofers: Cone (1); Enclosure: Sealed
Subwoofer	Optional
Rear speakers	Optional
Virtual surround	Surround mode
Dialogue enhancement	Yes
Night mode	Yes
Room correction	Yes
Connections
HDMI to TV	eARC
HDMI inputs	0
Optical inputs	No
Analogue input	No
USB	No
Subwoofer output	Wireless
HDMI CEC	Yes
Streaming and Control
Wi-Fi	802.11ax
Bluetooth	Yes
Streaming	AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn, Apple Music
Voice control	Alexa built-in
App	Mobile, Web, Computer
Learns TV remote	Yes
Physical
Dimensions (W x H x D)	46.44 x 3.13 x 4.31 in / 1180 x 80 x 110 mm
Weight	13 lbs / 5.9 kg
Wall mounting	Yes (bracket sold separately)
Warranty	1 Year parts, 1 Year labour
List price	$1,099

Power is the maker's total across all drivers and is not comparable to an amplifier's per-channel rating.

KEF XIO Specifications

Sound
Channels	5.1.2
Dolby Atmos	Yes
DTS:X	Yes
Drivers	Tweeters: 2" Uni-Q MX (6); Midrange: 2" Full-Range (2); Woofers: 2"x 6" Bass (4); Enclosure: Sealed
Frequency response	34-20K Hz
Subwoofer	Optional
Rear speakers	None
Virtual surround	Music Integrity Engine (MIE)
Dialogue enhancement	Yes
Night mode	Yes
Room correction	Yes
Connections
HDMI to TV	eARC
HDMI inputs	0
HDMI version	2.1
Optical inputs	Yes
Analogue input	No
USB	USB-C
Subwoofer output	Mono-RCA, Wireless
HDMI CEC	Yes
Streaming and Control
Wi-Fi	802.11ax
Bluetooth	Yes
Streaming	AirPlay 2, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, TIDAL, Amazon Music, Pandora, SiriusXM, TuneIn
Voice control	No
App	Apple iOS, Android
Remote included	Yes
Learns TV remote	No
Physical
Dimensions (W x H x D)	47.63 x 2.88 x 6.5 in / 1210 x 73 x 165 mm
Weight	23.1 lbs / 10.48 kg
Wall mounting	Yes (bracket included)
Warranty	5 Years parts, 5 Years labour
List price	$2,500

Power is the maker's total across all drivers and is not comparable to an amplifier's per-channel rating.

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