Harman Kardon's Dolby Atmos Soundbar: Sonos Arc Ultra Meets Unmatched Features

Harman Kardon Unveils New Enchant 1100 Soundbar at Audio Advice Live 2025

At the recent Audio Advice Live 2025 event in Raleigh, North Carolina, Harman's expansive booth showcased a wide range of products from its various brands, including JBL, JBL Synthesis, Arcam, and Harman Kardon. Among the highlights was the newly launched Harman Kardon Enchant 1100, a high-end soundbar designed to deliver an immersive audio experience for home theaters and multi-room music systems.

The Enchant 1100 is a flagship model featuring 11 drivers and a 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos configuration. Priced at $999 (approximately £750 / AU$1,500), it competes directly with other premium soundbars like the Sonos Arc Ultra. The Enchant 1100 is positioned as a central component of a comprehensive home entertainment system, capable of integrating seamlessly into both home theater setups and multi-room audio environments.

One of the standout features of the Enchant 1100 is its ability to expand with additional components. Users can add an Enchant Sub wireless subwoofer for $449 (around £340 / AU$700) and Enchant Speaker wireless surround speakers for $349 (around £260 / AU$540 each). These additions elevate the system to a 7.1.4-channel Dolby Atmos setup, enhancing the overall listening experience with more depth and spatial clarity.

The Enchant 1100 also supports integration with other Enchant Speakers placed throughout the home, allowing users to create a fully connected multi-room music system. This functionality is managed through the Harman Kardon One app, which enables Wi-Fi streaming from popular services like Spotify and Tidal. The app supports up to four zones and eight devices, offering flexibility for users who want to manage different areas of their home with ease.

In addition to the Enchant 1100, Harman Kardon is also offering the Enchant 900, a smaller model with nine drivers that shares many of the same features as its larger counterpart. The Enchant 900 is designed for a 5.1.2-channel Dolby Atmos setup, making it a more compact option for those with space constraints.

All Enchant models are set to ship in October 2025, giving consumers time to prepare for their arrival.

DTS:X and Enhanced Connectivity

One key advantage of the Enchant 1100 over the Sonos Arc Ultra is its support for the DTS:X immersive audio format. While the Sonos Arc Ultra lacks this feature, the Enchant 1100 includes both Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, providing a broader range of audio experiences for users. This is particularly appealing for those who enjoy content that utilizes DTS:X, such as certain movies and music tracks.

Another area where the Enchant 1100 outperforms the Sonos Arc Ultra is in connectivity options. The Enchant 1100 features an HDMI eARC port, an HDMI pass-through input with Dolby Vision support, and an optical digital input. In contrast, the Sonos Arc Ultra only offers a single HDMI eARC port, limiting its compatibility with certain devices.

Although the Harman Kardon One app was not fully tested during the demo, it is expected to offer a more user-friendly interface compared to the Sonos app, which has faced criticism for its bugs and performance issues. The app allows users to adjust sound settings, perform automatic calibration, and control the entire system, making it a valuable tool for optimizing audio quality.

Despite the noise from multiple demos in Harman’s booth, the Enchant 1100 delivered a powerful and dynamic sound that brought action movies to life. The system’s loud and punchy audio performance suggests it could be a strong contender in the high-end soundbar market.

Comparison with Other Models

The Enchant Speaker, priced at $349, offers a more affordable alternative to the Sonos Era 300, which costs $449. Both models feature upfiring drivers and can be used as surround speakers or standalone stereo units. The Enchant Speaker’s lower price point makes it an attractive option for users looking to build a versatile home theater or multi-room audio system.

For those interested in exploring more options, there are several other top-rated Dolby Atmos soundbars available across different budgets. Additionally, KEF has introduced a new Dolby Atmos soundbar that offers impressive performance and design, while a massive 100-inch subwoofer serves as a reminder of just how powerful some home audio systems can be.

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