Where they actually differ
The most decisive specs, ranked by how much they matter — before the full spec table.
| Spec | Samsung - HW-S800D | Sonos - Arc Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Subwoofer included | true | false |
| eARC | false | true |
| Total power | 330 W | 0 W |
Between the HW-S800D and Arc Ultra, the HW-S800D comes out ahead in subwoofer included / total power, while the Arc Ultra wins on earc. Overall, the HW-S800D scores 75.4 and the Arc Ultra scores 68.3 on our Mars Score.
Which should you buy?
The HW-S800D edges ahead on the Mars Score (75.4 vs 68.3), but the 7.1-point gap is small enough that the right pick comes down to which spec advantages matter to you.
Pick the HW-S800D if you care most about subwoofer included / total power. The biggest gaps in its favor are subwoofer included, total power. The single most decisive one: Has Subwoofer included.
Pick the Arc Ultra if you care most about earc. Its strongest claims are earc. The single most decisive one: Has eARC.
Both ship with comparable dolby atmos, so those specs do not separate the two — focus on the differences below.
Bottom line: the HW-S800D is the safer default. The other model is the right choice only when its specific advantages line up with your priorities.
Which should you buy: Samsung - HW-S800D or Sonos - Arc Ultra?
Samsung - HW-S800D leads the current Mars Score by 7.1 points.The more useful decision is the trade-off behind that result: compare total power, subwoofer included against the way you will actually use the product.
Choose Samsung - HW-S800D if…
Samsung - HW-S800D has the measurable edge on subwoofer included, total w.
Choose Sonos - Arc Ultra if…
Sonos - Arc Ultra has the measurable edge on has earc.
This is a structured comparison of the published catalog values. It is not a claim of identical real-world performance across every workload; use the linked spec drill-downs and methodology page to inspect the inputs.
Why Samsung - HW-S800D wins
- ▲Has Subwoofer included.
- ▲Total power: 330 W vs 0 W.
Why Sonos - Arc Ultra wins
- ▲Has eARC.
Spec comparison
Audio
| Spec | Samsung - HW-S800D | Sonos - Arc Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | 3.1.2 | 9.1.4 |
| Total power | 330 Wlead | 0 W |
| Dolby Atmosⓘ | true | true |
| DTS:X | false | false |
Connectivity
| Spec | Samsung - HW-S800D | Sonos - Arc Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| HDMI inputs | 0 | 1lead |
| eARCⓘ | false | truelead |
| Subwoofer included | truelead | false |