Short answer: Pick a Somfy Sonesse 50 120V AC motor by control first: a 4-wire Standard for a wired switch, an RTS version for remotes, or an RS485 version for an SDN building network. Then match torque to the shade (6, 10, 15 or 35 Nm), match the head (star or round) to your bracket, and choose ULTRA if quiet operation is the priority.
Sonesse 50 is Somfy's 120V line for larger interior roller shades, solar screens and projection screens. The versions share one 50 mm motor body and the same 1.85 in (47 mm) minimum tube inside diameter, so one tube and one crown and drive set can carry any of them. The differences sit in four places: the control path, the torque, the head shape and the noise level. Get those four right and the order is done.
Start with the control path: wired, RTS or RS485
The control decision rules out more part numbers than any other, so make it first.
- Standard 4-wire (wired). No radio inside. An installer wires the motor to a wall switch or a Somfy motor controller. The Somfy Sonesse 506S2 Standard 120V 4-Wire Motor (1001814) is the entry point of the line.
- RTS. A 433.420 MHz Somfy RTS receiver sits inside the motor head, so it pairs with Situo, Telis and DecoFlex controls and with TaHoma for app and voice control. The Somfy Sonesse 506S2 RTS 120V Motor (1001809) is the most common pick for a single remote-controlled shade.
- RS485 (SDN). A wired, two-way motor for the Somfy Digital Network. Commercial and multi-family projects use it to report shade position back to a control or building management system.
- ULTRA. ULTRA appears inside each of the groups above as a quieter motor family, covered in its own section below.
RTS needs only line power at the bracket. RS485 needs line power plus a data cable run to each motor, and a programmer commissions the network after install. The Somfy control systems comparison covers that trade in more depth.
Sonesse 50 versions side by side
The table lists the 120V AC Sonesse 50 and Sonesse ULTRA 50 motors we stock, with live store prices as of November 2026.
| Motor (Somfy ref) | Control | Torque / speed | Head | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonesse 506S2 Standard (1001814) | Wired 4-wire | 6 Nm (53 in-lb) / 32 rpm | Star | $287.42 |
| Sonesse 50 510S2 Standard (1001813) | Wired 4-wire | 10 Nm (89 in-lb) / 32 rpm | Star | $330.00 |
| Sonesse 506S2 RTS (1001809) | RTS | 6 Nm (53 in-lb) / 32 rpm | Star | $372.93 |
| Sonesse 506S2 RTS RH (1001806) | RTS | 6 Nm (53 in-lb) / 32 rpm | Round | $395.00 |
| Sonesse 510S2 RTS (1001807) | RTS | 10 Nm (89 in-lb) / 32 rpm | See product page | $435.00 |
| Sonesse 50 510S2 RS485 SDN (1002287) | RS485 | 10 Nm (89 in-lb) | See product page | $564.34 |
| Sonesse 50 535A2 RS485 SDN (1002288) | RS485 | 35 Nm (310 in-lb) / 20 rpm | See product page | $568.00 |
| Sonesse ULTRA 506A2 (1002558) | Wired 4-wire | 6 Nm (53 in-lb) / 24 rpm | Star | $330.47 |
| Sonesse ULTRA 506A2 RTS (1002562) | RTS | 6 Nm (53 in-lb) / 24 rpm | See product page | $421.81 |
| Sonesse ULTRA 50 506A2 RH RTS (1002564) | RTS | 6 Nm (53 in-lb) / 24 rpm | Round | $405.00 |
Prices move with Somfy's list, so confirm on the product page before you budget a job. The full range, including the 15 Nm 515S2 RS485 and the round-head wired motors, lives in our Somfy Sonesse 50 and ULTRA 50 motors collection.
Reading the model code to size torque
Somfy writes the torque into the name. In 506S2, the 5 marks the 50 mm platform and the 06 means 6 Nm. A 510S2 gives 10 Nm, a 515S2 gives 15 Nm and a 535A2 gives 35 Nm. The letter after the digits tracks the speed band, so S motors run at 32 rpm and the A motors listed here run at 24 or 20 rpm. Our guide to Somfy motor model codes decodes the rest of the label.
Torque has to cover the full weight of the fabric, the hem bar and the tube, measured at the tube radius. A 6 Nm motor suits most residential shades on a 2 in tube. Wide solar screens, heavy blackout fabric and long spans step up to 10 Nm. The 15 and 35 Nm RS485 motors serve large commercial shades and projection screens. Size the job with the calculator logic in how to size a Somfy shade motor before you pick a number, and leave headroom rather than ordering at the limit.
Star head or round head: the bracket question
The head is the end of the motor that locks into the bracket, and it decides which bracket you buy. Order the wrong pairing and the motor will not seat.
Star-head Sonesse 50 motors mount in the Somfy LT50 Star Head Motor Bracket (9410651), which Somfy rates to 50 Nm. Round-head motors carry RH in the Somfy name and mount in the Somfy LT50 Universal Motor Bracket (9410665), rated to 25 Nm and 126 lb. Somfy lists that bracket against the round-head refs 1001805, 1001806, 1001810, 1002560 and 1002564.
On a replacement, look at the old bracket before you order. A round socket points to an RH motor. A star-shaped socket points to a star head. If the bracket is buried in a cassette, the Somfy reference on the motor label settles it.
Sonesse ULTRA 50 when quiet is the spec
Sonesse ULTRA is Somfy's quietest 50 mm family. The ULTRA 506A2 runs at 38 dB, against about 45 dB for the 506S2 and 47.2 dB for the 510S2. It turns slower, at 24 rpm, which suits bedrooms, media rooms and boardrooms where the motor runs while people talk.
ULTRA keeps the same 1.85 in minimum tube inside diameter and the same LT50 crowns, drives and brackets, so it drops into a standard Sonesse 50 layout. The Somfy Sonesse Ultra 506A2 RTS 120V Motor (1002562) pairs with RTS remotes. The Somfy Sonesse Ultra 50 506A2 120V 4-Wire Motor (1002558) serves wired jobs. For a closer look at the ULTRA range, read Sonesse ULTRA 30 and 50 compared.
Tube, crown, drive and controls to order with it
A motor alone will not turn a shade. Each Sonesse 50 needs a crown that fits the inside of the tube and a drive that fits the tube profile. For a 2.5 in round tube, the Somfy LT50 2.5 in Round Crown and Drive Set (9012231) covers both in one part. Other tube profiles take their own crown and drive, and the crowns, drives and brackets guide matches them.
RTS motors need at least one RTS control. The Somfy Situo 5 Channel RTS Pure Remote (1870575) runs up to five shades or groups from one handset. RS485 motors need commissioning, and the Somfy USB to RS485 Adaptor for SDN (9015260) connects a laptop to the network to set limits and addresses.
Ordering checklist for a Sonesse 50
- Confirm the tube inside diameter is at least 1.85 in (47 mm). Smaller tubes need a Sonesse 40 or Sonesse 30, covered in Sonesse 28 vs 30 vs 40 vs 50.
- Choose the control path: wired 4-wire, RTS or RS485.
- Size torque from the shade weight and width: 6, 10, 15 or 35 Nm.
- Match the head to the bracket: star head with 9410651, round head (RH) with 9410665.
- Pick ULTRA if the room needs the 38 dB motor.
- Add the crown and drive for your tube profile, plus a remote or commissioning tool.
Each Sonesse 50 carries Somfy's 5-year warranty. For help matching a label or a bracket, call 859-414-6872, 8:00 AM to 7:30 PM ET.
Sonesse 50 motor FAQ
What is the difference between Sonesse 506S2 and 510S2?
Torque. The 506S2 delivers 6 Nm (53 in-lb) and the 510S2 delivers 10 Nm (89 in-lb), and both turn at 32 rpm on the same 50 mm body. Pick the 510S2 for wide or heavy shades, such as long solar screens or blackout fabric on a large tube, and the 506S2 for typical residential roller shades.
Does a Sonesse 50 RTS motor need a separate receiver?
No. The RTS versions carry a built-in 433.420 MHz receiver, so they pair straight to Somfy RTS remotes, wall switches and TaHoma. The Standard 4-wire and RS485 versions have no radio. A Standard motor runs from a wired switch or controller, and an RS485 motor runs from the Somfy Digital Network.
What does RH mean on a Sonesse 50 motor?
RH marks the round-head versions, such as the 506S2 RTS RH (1001806) and the ULTRA 50 506A2 RH RTS (1002564). A round head mounts in the LT50 Universal Motor Bracket (9410665). Motors without RH in the name that carry a star head mount in the LT50 Star Head Motor Bracket (9410651).
Is the Sonesse ULTRA 50 worth the extra cost?
For quiet rooms, yes. The ULTRA 506A2 runs at 38 dB, against about 45 dB for the standard 506S2, at 24 rpm with 6 Nm of torque. It uses the same tube, crowns, drives and brackets, so it costs nothing extra in hardware. Bedrooms, theaters and conference rooms are the usual places it earns its price.
Sources: Somfy Pro e-catalog entries for Sonesse 506S2 RTS (1001809), Sonesse 506S2 (1001814), Sonesse ULTRA 506A2 RS485 (1002566) and the LT50 Universal Motor Bracket (9410665); somfysystems.com product page for Sonesse 506S2 RTS RH (1001806).
Shade Motors Direct is an authorized source for genuine Somfy motorized window shade, blind, and drapery parts.
