INTRODUCTION
Soundbars can be brilliant, but they can also become frustrating very quickly. Most people do not want to build a full AV receiver setup, run speaker wire across the living room, mount speakers everywhere, and spend a weekend turning the TV area into a cinema installation project. They just want clearer dialogue, bigger film sound, proper bass, and a more immersive experience without the complexity.
That is exactly where systems like the ULTIMEA Skywave X60 become interesting.
This is not just a simple soundbar. The Skywave X60 is a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos sound system with a main soundbar, two rear surround speakers, an 8-inch wireless subwoofer, up-firing height channels, app control, HDMI eARC, Bluetooth, optical and USB connectivity, and a claimed 840W peak output. ULTIMEA positions it as a proper surround sound package rather than a basic TV audio upgrade.
At around £579 on the supplied Amazon UK listing at the time of the script, it sits in a serious part of the market. This is not a cheap impulse upgrade. It is competing in the space where buyers may also be considering systems from Samsung, LG, Sony, JBL or Sonos. So the Skywave X60 needs to do more than sound louder than your TV. It needs to feel convincing, reliable and genuinely cinematic.
After living with it, the biggest takeaway is that the X60 absolutely delivers scale. Films feel bigger, games feel more atmospheric, and the rear speakers make a far more noticeable difference than a standard soundbar pretending to create virtual surround. It is not perfect, and it does need some tuning to sound its best, but once set up properly, this is a genuinely capable all-in-one Atmos system.
QUICK SUMMARY
The ULTIMEA Skywave X60 is a powerful 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar system aimed at people who want a more cinematic TV experience without moving into a full receiver-based home cinema setup. It comes with a main bar, two rear speakers and a large 8-inch subwoofer, giving it a level of scale and surround presence that typical one-box soundbars simply cannot match.
Its biggest strengths are room-filling volume, strong bass, real rear surround effects, useful app-based EQ control and a surprisingly convincing sense of immersion with the right content. The rear speakers make a bigger practical difference than the height effects, but the Atmos layer does add extra atmosphere in a suitable room.
The main drawbacks are that the subwoofer can be a little too enthusiastic out of the box, dialogue sometimes benefits from EQ adjustment or voice mode, and the “wireless” rear speakers still require power cables. It is also not the most refined soundbar at this price, but it is a massive upgrade over TV speakers and basic soundbars.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX
The Skywave X60 package feels much closer to a compact home cinema kit than a simple soundbar accessory. Based on the supplied script and ULTIMEA’s official kit information, the package includes:
- ULTIMEA Skywave X60 main soundbar
- Wireless subwoofer
- Two rear surround speakers
- Soundbar power adaptor
- Subwoofer power cord
- Two surround speaker power adaptors
- HDMI cable
- Digital optical cable
- Remote control
- Wall brackets
- Bracket screws
- Wall anchors
- User paperwork and setup documentation
ULTIMEA’s official listing also highlights the system as a 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos package with 12 total speakers, an 8-inch subwoofer and smart app control.
The important thing to understand straight away is that this is not a completely cable-free system. The rear speakers are wireless in the sense that they do not need speaker cables running back to the main soundbar, but they still need power. That means you will need sockets near the rear speaker positions, or at least a neat way of routing power.
DESIGN & BUILD QUALITY
The Skywave X60 looks and feels more premium than a basic budget soundbar. The main bar has a clean, understated design that should sit comfortably under most TVs without looking too aggressive or distracting. It is not covered in unnecessary gaming-style lighting or overly flashy detailing, which is a good thing for a living-room product.
The system is physically substantial. The Amazon UK listing gives the main bar dimensions as roughly 40D x 9W x 7H cm, though that listing format appears simplified and may not fully represent the complete system footprint. It also lists the item weight at 18.9kg, which gives a fair sense of how much hardware is included overall.
The rear speakers are compact enough to position behind a sofa or on stands, while the subwoofer is large enough to feel like a proper part of the system rather than a token bass box. The 8-inch driver is a major reason this system sounds bigger than cheaper soundbar packages.
Build quality is better than expected for the price. The main bar does not feel flimsy, the subwoofer has a purposeful presence, and the rear speakers help the whole package feel like a complete surround setup rather than a soundbar with optional add-ons.
The only real design caveat is cable management. Because the rear speakers require power, setup is still cleaner than a traditional wired surround system, but not completely invisible. Buyers expecting true battery-powered rears may be disappointed.
SETUP & INSTALLATION
Setup is straightforward, especially if your TV supports HDMI eARC. That is the connection route I would recommend because it gives you the best chance of getting Dolby Atmos working properly while also allowing TV remote volume control.
The system supports HDMI eARC, optical, Bluetooth and USB connectivity. Amazon’s product specification also lists HDMI eARC, optical, Bluetooth and USB as supported connection options.
The basic setup process is simple:
Place the main soundbar under your TV, connect it via HDMI eARC, position the subwoofer somewhere sensible in the room, place the rear speakers behind your seating position, power everything on, and let the system connect.
In the supplied experience, pairing was not a major headache. Once everything was powered up, the system worked without needing a long troubleshooting session. That matters because many people buying this kind of product are specifically trying to avoid AV receiver complexity.
Placement does matter, though. The rear speakers should ideally sit behind you, slightly wider than your seating position, and at roughly ear height if possible. The subwoofer can be placed more flexibly, but corner placement may make the bass sound too heavy depending on your room.
For the Atmos effect, the room itself is extremely important. The Skywave X60 uses up-firing drivers to bounce sound off the ceiling. This works best in rooms with a flat, reasonably low ceiling. If your ceiling is very high, angled, beamed or heavily textured, height effects may be less convincing.
FEATURES & PERFORMANCE
7.1.4 Dolby Atmos Setup
The headline feature is the 7.1.4 channel configuration. ULTIMEA describes the Skywave X60 as a professional-grade 7.1.4 wireless surround sound system with Dolby Atmos support, 12 speakers and 840W peak power.
That sounds impressive, but the real question is how much of it translates into actual living-room performance.
The answer is mostly positive, with some realistic caveats.
This system does create a much bigger and more enveloping soundstage than a basic soundbar. With good Atmos content, you get more width, more rear activity and a stronger sense of the room filling with sound. Rain ambience, crowd noise, passing effects, environmental detail and action scenes all gain extra space.
However, it is important not to expect the same result as having physical speakers mounted in the ceiling. Up-firing Atmos is room-dependent. When it works, it adds a convincing height impression. When the room is less suitable, the effect becomes more subtle.
The most important part of the experience is actually the rear speakers. They create real separation behind you, which makes films and games feel far more convincing than virtual surround processing alone.
Rear Speakers
The rear speakers are what make the Skywave X60 feel like a proper system.
Plenty of soundbars claim surround sound, but without physical rear channels, the result is often limited. The X60’s rear speakers allow effects to move behind you properly, which makes a massive difference in films, games and Atmos mixes.
In action films, background effects feel more spatial. In horror films, subtle sounds behind the listener become far more effective. In games, environmental audio feels wider and more engaging. Even regular TV benefits because the system creates a broader, fuller presentation.
These rear speakers are the reason the X60 feels like more than just a louder TV speaker. They give the system genuine surround presence.
Again, they are not completely wire-free. They still need power. But compared with traditional speaker cable runs, the setup remains much easier to live with.
Subwoofer Performance
The subwoofer is another major strength.
The Skywave X60 uses an 8-inch subwoofer, and ULTIMEA’s EU listing says it extends down to 28Hz. The Amazon UK listing also references 28Hz frequency response.
In practice, the sub has proper punch. Action films gain rumble, explosions feel more physical, and music has more weight than you get from most slim soundbars. If you are coming from TV speakers or a smaller 2.1 soundbar, the difference will be dramatic.
That said, the subwoofer may need adjustment. Out of the box, it can sound a bit too eager depending on room size and placement. In smaller rooms, or if the sub is placed near a corner, bass can start to overpower dialogue or make certain scenes feel slightly bloated.
Turning the sub level down slightly made the whole system sound more balanced in the supplied experience. That is not necessarily a flaw, but it is something buyers should expect. This is not a system you should judge purely on factory settings.
Once dialled in, the bass becomes one of the X60’s biggest strengths. It adds cinematic weight without needing a huge separate home cinema subwoofer.
Dolby Atmos Height Effects
The Atmos performance is good, but it needs context.
The Skywave X60 uses up-firing drivers in the main soundbar to create height effects by reflecting sound off the ceiling. ULTIMEA’s official listing specifically highlights two up-firing speakers in the main bar.
In the right room, this adds an extra layer to the sound. You get more of a bubble around the listening position, especially with properly mixed Atmos content. Rain, aircraft, overhead movement and environmental ambience feel more spacious.
However, it is not magic. If you have a tall or awkward ceiling, the height effect will be less obvious. If your room is small with a flat ceiling, the result is more convincing.
The best way to describe the Atmos performance is this: it works, and it improves the experience, but it is not the single biggest reason to buy the system. The rear speakers and subwoofer have a more immediate impact.
Dialogue Clarity
Dialogue performance is generally good, but not flawless.
On most TV shows, YouTube content and standard streaming, voices come through clearly. The centre presentation is solid, and speech has more body than it would through a TV’s built-in speakers.
However, in films with heavy music, large effects and dense surround mixes, dialogue can sometimes benefit from adjustment. Using voice mode or tweaking the EQ helps bring speech forward.
This is not unusual for cinema-focused soundbars. Many systems with big bass and immersive processing need some tuning to balance voices properly. But at this price, it is worth mentioning because some premium competitors handle dialogue more confidently without user adjustment.
The good news is that the app gives you enough control to correct it.
App Control & EQ
The app is genuinely useful rather than just a gimmick.
ULTIMEA highlights smart app control as one of the Skywave X60’s key features. In real use, this matters because the system benefits from tuning. You can adjust EQ, change presets and shape the sound to suit your room and preference.
The supplied experience found the best balance by slightly reducing bass, improving dialogue clarity and creating a more controlled overall sound. That kind of adjustment can make a noticeable difference.
This is important: if you buy the X60 and never touch the settings, you may not hear it at its best. Spend a few minutes with the app, adjust the sub level, try the voice mode, and fine-tune the EQ. The system becomes much more convincing once it is properly set up for your room.
Volume & Room-Filling Sound
The X60 gets loud easily. You do not need to push the volume aggressively to fill a normal living room.
ULTIMEA lists the system at 840W peak power, which is not always a perfect indicator of real-world sound quality, but the system does have the scale to back up its positioning.
At normal listening levels, it does not sound strained. Films feel bigger, music has more body, and games gain a more cinematic edge. This is exactly the kind of jump people hope for when upgrading from TV speakers.
REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCE
Day to day, the Skywave X60 feels like a major upgrade if you are coming from built-in TV audio or a basic soundbar.
Normal TV sounds fuller. Films feel more dramatic. Games become more atmospheric. Sports broadcasts gain more crowd scale. Music playback is enjoyable, although this is clearly more of a film and TV system than a dedicated hi-fi music setup.
The biggest practical strength is how much system you get without needing a receiver. You get a main bar, rear speakers and subwoofer in one package, with HDMI eARC and app control keeping the experience fairly simple.
The biggest practical limitation is that it still requires thoughtful setup. Rear speaker placement matters. Subwoofer placement matters. Atmos performance depends on the ceiling. EQ adjustment helps. This is not a tiny plug-and-forget bar that sounds perfect in every room straight out of the box.
But that is also why it feels more capable. It gives you enough hardware to create a genuinely immersive experience, and enough control to tune it properly.
PROS
- Proper 7.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar package
- Includes real rear surround speakers
- 8-inch subwoofer delivers strong bass
- Big, room-filling cinematic sound
- HDMI eARC support
- Useful app control and EQ adjustment
- Rear speakers create convincing surround effects
- Good upgrade for films, games and TV
- Strong volume without sounding strained
- More immersive than a basic one-box soundbar
- Good value compared with many premium surround packages
CONS
- Rear speakers still need power cables
- Subwoofer can be too strong out of the box
- Dialogue sometimes needs EQ or voice mode adjustment
- Atmos height effects depend heavily on room shape
- Not as refined as some premium Samsung, LG or Sonos systems
- Requires some setup and tuning to sound its best
- Large package with multiple power supplies
- Not ideal for users wanting the simplest possible soundbar
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