ULTIMEA Skywave X100 Review: 9.1.6 Dolby Atmos with Four Wireless Surrounds
The ULTIMEA Skywave X100 is an ambitious 9.1.6-channel home-theater system built around a modular soundbar, four discrete wireless surround speakers, six up-firing channels and a 10-inch wireless subwoofer. Tech Steve found the surround effects prominent, dialogue crisp and the bass response powerful. Extensive channel-level controls help tailor the system to a room, while the single HDMI 2.1 input can accommodate one high-bandwidth gaming source. The main tradeoffs are the number of required power outlets, reliance on manual adjustment rather than verified automatic room correction and only one HDMI input.
Video summary
Tech Steve unboxes and assembles the three-piece Skywave X100 soundbar, examines its four wireless surround speakers and weighs the 10-inch subwoofer at 33.3 pounds. He measures the assembled bar at approximately 43.5 inches wide and demonstrates an HDMI eARC setup with the surrounds positioned beside and behind the seating area. During movie demonstrations, he reports prominent surround activity, clear dialogue and strong bass. He also walks through the app's EQ, bass, treble, source and individual speaker-level controls. A PS5 connected through the soundbar displayed 4K at up to 120Hz, along with HDR and VRR support in the console's connected-device information.
Tech Steve Takeaway
Buy the Skywave X100 if you want physical side, rear and height speakers without moving to a traditional AV receiver system. Its strong dialogue, substantial subwoofer and adjustable surround levels suit movies and gaming, but plan for five nearby AC connections and careful manual speaker balancing.
Sound quality
Tech Steve found the four surround speakers especially prominent and said they created an immersive television experience. Dialogue was described as crisp and clear, while the 10-inch subwoofer produced powerful bass. The system's physical side, rear and up-firing speakers create a more speaker-driven sound field than soundbars that rely primarily on virtualization. Height performance will still depend on placement and a ceiling that reflects the up-firing channels effectively.
Connectivity and features
The companion app was quick to discover the system and provides volume, source, EQ, bass, treble and individual channel-level controls. Users can adjust the center, surround and up-firing channels to suit the seating position. The app also supports firmware updates, subwoofer phase adjustment and custom sound-stage settings. Bluetooth 6.0, Auracast Receive Mode and USB playback for MP3 and FLAC files are included.
Design and configuration
The Skywave X100 reviewed here is the single-subwoofer 9.1.6 model U622B. It uses a 43.39-inch modular soundbar, four surround speakers and one 10-inch subwoofer. The separately sold Skywave X100 Dual is a different 9.2.6 system with two subwoofers and should not be confused with this model.
What we like
- Four discrete wireless surround speakers provide physical side and rear channels instead of relying entirely on virtual surround processing.
- Six up-firing channels are distributed across the soundbar and surrounds for broader Dolby Atmos height coverage.
- The 10-inch wireless subwoofer delivered the strong bass response Tech Steve expected from a home-theater system.
- Individual center, surround and height-level controls make it possible to balance the system for the seating position.
- One HDMI 2.1 input supports manufacturer-claimed 4K/120Hz and 8K/60Hz passthrough.
What to consider
- Only one HDMI input is available for a console, disc player or streaming device.
- The four surround speakers and subwoofer each require AC power despite using wireless signal connections.
- No automatic microphone-based room-calibration system is verified, so channel balancing is manual.
- Optical input does not carry Dolby Atmos.
- Up-firing Atmos performance depends on ceiling shape, reflectivity and speaker placement.
Tech Steve verdict
The ULTIMEA Skywave X100 is best for shoppers who want a large, enveloping Dolby Atmos system with four physical surround speakers but do not want to assemble a receiver-and-speaker package. Its strongest advantages are clear dialogue, forceful bass, six up-firing channels, DTS:X support and unusually granular channel controls. Gamers also get one HDMI 2.1 passthrough input with claimed 4K/120Hz capability. The tradeoffs are practical: every surround requires an outlet, the subwoofer needs another outlet, automatic room correction is not verified and there is only one HDMI input. Choose it for an immersive movie or gaming room where the speakers can be positioned and powered correctly; choose a simpler soundbar if minimizing wiring and setup is more important than physical surround coverage.
Exclusive technology
NeuraCore
ULTIMEA's multichannel audio-processing platform, used for channel separation and spatial mapping across the system's speakers.
CineMesh True Wireless
A dual-5GHz wireless link connecting the soundbar, surrounds and subwoofer. ULTIMEA claims latency below 20 milliseconds.
Gravus Ultra-Linear Bass Technology
ULTIMEA's bass-processing and subwoofer design intended to reproduce low-frequency effects with controlled transient output.
GaN Amplification
Gallium-nitride amplification used in the subwoofer to provide higher power density and efficiency in a compact amplifier stage.
Xupmix
An optional upmixing mode that processes supported source audio for multichannel playback. It can be enabled or disabled from the remote or app, although Dolby Atmos input locks it on.
Auracast Receive Mode
Allows the soundbar to join an available Bluetooth Auracast broadcast.
Tuned by THX
The system carries THX tuning, and the app provides a THX EQ option for compatible PCM and Dolby Atmos operating modes.
Specifications
Audio
Connectivity
Design & Installation
General
Smart Features
Express your opinion
Share your experience, questions or buying advice with the Tech Steve community.
Log in or create a free account to share your opinion and star rating.
Be the first to rate this product.