Home Bluetooth Speakers Ultimea Aura A40 Review: Surround Sound On A Budget

Ultimea Aura A40 Review: Surround Sound On A Budget

by Stuart Charles Black
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Big thank you to Ultimea for sending the Aura A40 to review!

Full disclosure: This is a paid review but I made it clear to them that I do not guarantee positive reviews or recommendations – I make in-depth, honest evaluations based on my impressions and the ultimate value that the product may or may not provide. 

That said, Ultimea offers lifetime customer support, free shipping, a Two-Year Warranty, and 30-Day Returns & Exchanges.

Greetings mate and Welcome aboard!

Stuart Charles here, HomeStudioBasics.com helping YOU make sound decisions, so…

Let’s review Ultimea’s Aura A40 Virtual 7.1 Surround Sound System and determine whether it’s worth purchasing.

We’ll discuss build, sound, features, and more.

When you finish reading this review, you’ll know if it’s right for you. If it isn’t, I’ll point you in the direction of something that is.

Deal?

Cool.

Let’s dive in.

All specs, box contents, and pricing towards the end!

To start, the Aura A40, in addition to being 7.1 surround, also employs Bluetooth 5.3; all without the need for complex wiring.

If you’re like me and live in an apartment, the A40 is ideal because you don’t have to run wires under the carpet and the unit doesn’t require a receiver.

Setting Up

First, connect the main soundbar to an outlet using the included power adapter.

Then run an optical cable from the back of your source (I’m using a PS4) into the back of the A40’s main Soundbar using the optical input (optical cable included). An auxiliary input is also provided, but unfortunately, there’s no HDMI slot.

Don’t forget to connect another wire from the Soundbar to the Subwoofer.

Finally, the 2 rear surround speakers plug into each other and the main one connects to another outlet. From here, the device automatically pairs everything upon initial startup.

All of the cables you’ll need are provided in the package, and setup takes about 5 minutes. There’s also a wall mounting kit if you’re so inclined, and they even give you a remote.

AAA BaTtErIeS nOt iNcLuDeD.

Ultimea Aura A40 Review

Build & Packaging

Ultimea Aura A40 Review

Ultimea Aura A40 ReviewThe build of the A40 is decent, but I’m not doing backflips or anything.

The main soundbar is actually quite robust, but the 4 surround speakers are light and small. The subwoofer also feels a bit underwhelming, but overall, I can’t complain too much when considering the price. 

Connections all seem solid, and the utilitarian aesthetic of the unit will fit nicely into most setups.

Back Panel

Sound

If you’re on a budget, this system is a decent value but don’t think the sound is going to amaze you or anything. Songs I know like the back of my hand, and ones that are recorded well, simply lack the refinement of more expensive monitors like my Yamaha HS7.

Perhaps that’s a bit unfair, but the sound of the Aura is still pretty tinny, boxy, and metallic. The bass isn’t too bad and doesn’t bleed terribly, but it’s still a bit flabby and loose for my liking. It’s just not up to snuff, but TV shows like The Chosen, as well as movies in general, will serve as your bread and butter.

Because the bass only reaches down to around 65Hz, you’ll need the sub all the way up and I also maxed out the surround button to +6. The added bass helps offset the tinny nature of the sound and gives it some much-needed meat.

Ultimea Aura A40 Review

Ultimea Aura A40 ReviewWith these settings activated, the A40 provides an OK output and there’s plenty of headroom. So it does feel like a real surround sound setup provided you’re situated in the right spot and have the speakers in good positions.

Experiment and play around with it, but I found that pointing the rear speakers in a triangle works best. I’m still trying different angles and heights for the 2 front speakers.

The remote also affords you an array of options: bass, mid-range, and treble can all be adjusted, and there are preset options for movie, music, voice, sport, game, and night mode.

That said, the real mass appeal with these is most certainly versatility and convenience, as you can literally get up and running in minutes with a console or your phone via Bluetooth.

Additionally, the Smart App Control provides a 10-Band EQ and 121 Preset EQ Matrices, meaning you can pretty much sculpt the sound exactly how you like it.

Again, for a bachelor in an apartment, this setup is pretty ideal and something I’ve been wanting to try for quite a long time as I’m aiming to avoid complex wiring in a space that I don’t intend on buying outright. It also works well in smaller homes, townhouses, etc. where space is somewhat limited. In other words, please don’t rely on this to fill up a huge room because you’ll likely be disappointed.

Setting up a traditional home theater involves cutting, stripping, and running speaker wire in tight areas and while I’m familiar with all of that, the Aura A40 makes a lot more sense for my situation.

Final Verdict

Ultimea Aura A40 Review

Ultimea Aura A40 Review

Overall, the Aura A40 is a budget-conscious option for those with space/setup limitations, but the sound leaves a lot to be desired.

In other words, the more I listen to them, the worse they sound. And that’s never a good thing. For just a hair over a Benjamin, I guess I’m not supposed to complain too much, but I’d rather try some of their other systems and see if I can’t find something with better sound quality than this.

Ultimea Aura A40

Price: Check Amazon! | Check Ultimea!

In The Box

Ultimea Aura A40 Review

Subwoofer x1

Soundbar x1

Surround Speaker x4

Soundbar Power Adapter x1

Surround Speaker Power Adapter x1

Surround Cable (6m) x1

Digital Optical Cable x1

Fount Left Surround Cable (2m) x1

Fount Right Surround Cable (2m) x 1

Remote Control x1

Wall Mounting Kit x8

Wall Bracket x4

Mounting Screws x4

User Manual x1

Ultimea Aura A40 Review

Ultimea Aura A40 ReviewUltimea Aura A40 ReviewUltimea Aura A40 ReviewSpecifications

  • Speaker Channels: 7.1
  • Total Number of Speakers: 8
  • Drivers: Mainbar: 2″ x 3, Surround: 2″ x 4, Sub: 4″ x 1
  • Remote Control Type: IR Signal
  • Listening Modes (EQ): Movie, Music, Voice, Sport, Game, Night
  • Frequency Range: 65Hz – 18kHz
  • Max Sound Pressure Level: >98dB
  • Signal-to-Noise Ratio: ≥75dB
  • Distortion: <1%

Connectivity

  • Optical: x1
  • Aux: x1
  • USB: x1
  • Bluetooth: BT5.3
  • Wired Surround Speaker: x4
  • Power Supply: 24V 3A

Size and Weight

  • Soundbar Dimensions: Mainbar: 400 (W) × 90 (D) × 70 (H), Surround: 82 (W) × 81 (D) × 88 (H), Sub: 140 (W) × 195 (D) × 220 (H)
  • Soundbar Weight: 10.6lbs(4.8kg) 
  • Packaging Dimensions: 12.9 x 17.3 x 7 in, 327 (W) x 439 (H) x 177 (D) mm 
  • Total Weight: 12.6lbs(5.7kg) 

Well, that’s about it for today my friend! I hope you’ve enjoyed this Ultimea Aura A40 Review and came away with some valuable insight.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

If you love what I do here and want to support the blog and channel in a more personal way, check me out on Patreon and discover all the value I have to offer you.

Is this product worth an investment? I would love to hear from you. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

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