Son-Vidéo.com Unveils 9 September 2026 Hi-Fi Products From €229 to €6,000

Q: Why does a premium 2026 Dolby Atmos soundbar completely abandon essential features like DTS:X and HDMI passthrough?

It is mainly a design choice, not an oversight: Sonos is prioritizing simplicity, compact size and its own streaming-centered ecosystem over maximum format and connection flexibility. The Beam Ultra is built as a one-cable soundbar. Sonos continues to use a single HDMI eARC connection, with no extra HDMI input for video passthrough. That keeps setup easy, reduces hardware complexity and helps preserve the small 75 cm chassis while Sonos adds nine drivers, including up-firing speakers for “true” 7.1.2 Dolby Atmos. Sonos has long favored this minimalist approach across its soundbar range, even on premium models. The DTS:X omission appears to be a product-positioning and usage decision. Sonos is clearly betting that most Beam Ultra buyers stream from TV apps and major platforms, where Dolby Atmos is far more common than DTS:X. In that context, Sonos has chosen to improve dialogue clarity, room tuning, wireless features and surround expandability rather than pay for and integrate every home-cinema codec. Sonos executive Brandon Holley has said the company still discusses DTS:X and other codecs, suggesting the door is not closed. That said, the criticism is valid. At €699, rivals in the same class often include both DTS:X and HDMI passthrough, which can matter for Blu-ray users and gamers who need more HDMI 2.1 ports. Reviews and hands-on reports consistently praise the Beam Ultra’s sound, but they also note that these missing features make it less versatile than some competitors.

3 articles · Updated · blog.son-video.com · Sep 9

Nine new products headline Son-Vidéo.com’s September 2026 lineup, spanning soundbars, projectors, headphones, speakers, AV receivers, TVs, turntables and amplifiers, with prices ranging from €229 to €6,000.
Home-theater launches center on newer video and surround features: Sonos’ €699 Beam Ultra adds Dolby Atmos and AI dialogue enhancement, Xgimi’s €999 Elfin Flip Laser 4K packs triple-laser projection and 1 ms gaming latency, and Sony’s Bravia 6 OLED starts at €1,199.
Audio-focused additions push both portability and premium performance, from Marshall’s €229 Stockwell III with 40-plus hours of battery life to Meze’s €6,000 ARTA planar headphones and Naim’s €3,999 Uniti Star Lite streaming amplifier.
Several releases also lean on heritage branding and compact design, including Marantz’s 10.9 cm-tall Cinema 70S Series 2 receiver, Technics’ limited-edition SL-1200 M7G turntable and Klipsch’s Rebellion bookshelf speakers.
The broad September slate underscores a market pitch built around easier setup, stronger streaming support and gaming-ready specs across both mainstream and high-end home entertainment gear.