The Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual is an expanded 9.2.6-channel soundbar that features four discrete satellites and two subwoofers. It serves as one of the brand's first entries into the premium soundbar arena, complete with DTS and Dolby family format support and high-bandwidth HDMI passthrough. That said, it doesn't have the same expansive Wi-Fi connectivity options or room-correction features of the more established players like LG, Samsung, and Sonos.
Our Verdict
The Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual is very good for mixed usage. While generally overactive, the subwoofers provide plenty of rumble and thump in content from electronic music to action movies. There's also high-bandwidth HDMI In passthrough functionality, so you can passthrough a 4k @ 120 Hz signal from a current-gen console without sacrificing HDR or VRR, even if you're out of input ports on your TV. The bar supports DTS and Dolby family audio formats, too, so you won't need to worry about format compatibility regardless of your preferred streaming services (or if you have a physical media collection).
DTS and Dolby audio format compatibility.
High-bandwidth video passthrough.
Overwhelming bass output.
The Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual is very good for dialogue-heavy TV shows. The bar has a dedicated center channel that reproduces voices as clear and natural, and the bar recruits the subwoofers for sinister monologues from classic villains. That said, the treble roll-off can sometimes reproduce higher-pitched voices as lacking in sparkle. Switching the Xupmix setting on pushes vocals further forward in your mix and also reduces the dynamic contrast between whispered and shouted dialogue, so you may prefer it, depending on whether you're having difficulty understanding voices. There's also a dedicated voice enhancement feature.
DTS and Dolby audio format compatibility.
10-band graphic EQ.
Detailed channel-level adjustment.
Overwhelming bass output.
The Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual is good for music. However, if you're a stereo purist, this soundbar may disappoint, as all stereo content is upmixed to surround and height channels. You'll lose precise sound object positioning, but enjoy a more enveloping experience. The soundbar and satellites reproduce a balanced mid-range, with a bit of treble roll-off that can remove some sparkle from shimmering hi-hats. But the subwoofers can be overactive and muddy up complex orchestrations in classical music. Fortunately, there's a 10-band EQ and a Bass adjustment (which appears to only affect the subwoofer), so you can adjust the tuning.
10-band graphic EQ.
Detailed channel-level adjustment.
Balanced mid-range reproduction.
Overwhelming bass output.
No Wi-Fi playback support.
The Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual is good for movies. The soundbar comes with two subwoofers that offer consistent bass output that's quite powerful. Toppling towers and mecha combat are imbued with plenty of rumble and thump. However, the bass can also overwhelm finer details like shrapnel whizzing by and pneumatics hissing. You have access to a Bass slider in the app and on the remote, which seems to control the subwoofer output, so you can make adjustments if you find the bass too much. The bar also supports DTS and Dolby family audio formats, so you have wide compatibility with physical media collections and a variety of streaming services.
DTS and Dolby audio format compatibility.
10-band graphic EQ.
Detailed channel-level adjustment.
Overwhelming bass output.
Check Price
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual only comes in one color: 'Black.' You can see a photo of the label on the bar, one subwoofer, and one satellite. While not the same product, there's also an Ultimea Skywave X100 with only one subwoofer, which you can expect to perform differently.
If you encounter another variant, please let us know in the comments, and we'll update the review.
Popular Soundbar Comparisons
The Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual is a 9.2.6-channel soundbar with two discrete subwoofers and four satellites. This soundbar aims to take down other flagship soundbars and comes with an unusual number of discrete components. Similarly configured setups like the LG Immersive Quad Suite 7 Pro (with its four satellites) and Nakamichi Shockwafe Wireless (with its dual subwoofers) are typically more expensive. However, the LG can adjust its output based on satellite placement while the Nakamichi has expanded connectivity with two HDMI In ports over the Ultimea's one. While most people will tinker with their soundbar's tuning (especially when spending this much), the Ultimea's subwoofers are overactive out of the box and can muddy up your music and movies. On the other hand, the Samsung HW-Q990H is a better plug-and-play option, and carries the expanded connectivity and room correction of the Nakamichi and LG (though it doesn't adjust output based on speaker placement).
If you're looking for more options or information, check out our recommendations for the best soundbars, the best soundbars for movies, and the best soundbars for Dolby Atmos.
The Sonos Arc Ultra and Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual are radically different soundbar systems. The Ultimea is a fully equipped 9.2.6-channel setup with two subwoofers and four satellites, while the Sonos Arc Ultra is a standalone 5.1.2-channel soundbar. As you'd expect, the more expansive Ultimea reproduces more bass and more convincing surround and height effects. That said, you may prefer the Sonos Arc Ultra if you intend to expand it with satellites or a subwoofer, especially if you already own compatible Sonos speakers.
The Samsung HW-Q990F and Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual are both high-performing soundbar systems. The 9.2.6-channel Ultimea has an extra subwoofer and two additional satellites compared to the Samsung, which allows for more low-end output and discrete localization. That said, the Samsung isn't lacking in bass output and offers a more balanced sound out of the box, and its extra surround channels that use side-firing drivers still provide impressive surround performance. The Samsung also has the edge when it comes to extra features; it has a room correction feature and more HDMI In ports.
The Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual is better than the Ultimea Skywave X70. The X100 Dual comes with an additional subwoofer and two additional satellites. The brand appears to have adjusted the DSP to fix the digital-sounding dialogue for the X100 Dual. That said, the X100 Dual and X70 both suffer from overwhelming bass, which can muddy mixes and mask details. And while the X100 Dual's extra satellites enable better localization and more convincing surround object tracking, it's another question whether you think the extra satellites and subwoofer are worth nearly double the cost compared to the X70.
The LG Immersive Quad Suite 7 Pro and Ultimea Skywave X100 Dual are similar four-satellite soundbar systems. The LG offers room correction and flexible output based on where you place your satellites, giving you more leeway if you have to work around pre-existing furniture or odd room layouts. On the other hand, the Ultimea has a set recommended setup, though you can adjust the various satellites independently from one another, giving you an extra layer of flexibility to customize your sound. That said, the LG's surround channels get much louder, likely due to the larger M7 speakers used as satellites. If you care about video passthrough, the Ultimea is the only product of the two that has an HDMI In option.
Test Results
for pictures & test results
for pictures & test results
for videos & test results
for videos & test results
