Sonos Beam (Gen 2) All-in-One
SoundbarProduct Gallery
Product Overview
Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact all-in-one soundbar. While it is significantly smaller and lighter than the Sonos Arc, which is a bigger all-in-one soundbar released a year ago, it is not priced much lower, begging the question whether it can produce sound that justifies its price from such a compact and lightweight chassis.
This is a question that may pop into the minds of Sonos buyers from time to time, and Sonos has always managed to convince a significant proportion of them affirmatively.
In this case, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 uses the same quad-core 1.4GHz chip found in the Arc for digital sound processing. While the soundbar has only a single, centered tweeter with found mid-woofers, Sonos is able to leverage digital mapping to create a virtual surround sound experience.
As usual, the Beam Gen 2 comes with the smart speaker functions that many Sonos buyers have come to expect, as it is the case with ease-of-use.
Ratings
What we found
Pros
- Great sound for the size
- Dolby Atmos support
- Easy integration with other Sonos speakers
Cons
- Nothing in particular
What external reviewers found
External score 82%
Pros
- Great audio reproduction
- Great for action films and sci-fi
- Impressive sound quality
- Impressive motion handling
- Sleek design
Cons
- Lacks low bass
- No Dolby Vision support
- No Dolby Atmos support
- No HDMI 2.1 support
- No DTS:X support
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Price Comparison
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Specifications
Related Products
External Reviews
digitaltrends[1]
Reviewer score 86% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Sonos Beam has always punched well above its weight class when it comes to its ability to fill a room with great sound. With the addition of virtualized surround sound, it's an even more formidable addition to your TV. The Beam still lacks the deep low-end rumble of soundbars that come with their own subwoofers.
Pros
- Dolby Atmos support
- Virtualized surround sound
- Supports up-firing and ceiling-based height channels
Cons
- No Dolby Vision support
pcmag[2]
Reviewer score 80% (normalized by Neofiliac)The second-generation Sonos Beam doesn't sound wildly different than its predecessor. It produces a big sound field that belies its small size, with strong low- and high-mids for punchy, forceful audio. It supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants, and it integrates with existing multi-room Sonos systems.
Pros
- Large front-facing sound field
- Dolby Atmos support
- Supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants
Cons
- No built-in subwoofer
rtings[3]
Reviewer score 59% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is good for dialogue-centric content like TV shows. Its discrete center channel helps to more accurately localize voices within the soundstage. With its Trueplay room correction feature on, voices are reproduced pretty clearly, though they can be slightly muddied at times. There are some bass and treble adjustments to help you customize its sound.
Pros
- Wide, immersive soundstage
- Supports Dolby Atmos content
- Great audio reproduction
Cons
- Lacks low bass
- Doesn't get very loud
t3[4]
Reviewer score 91% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact, beautifully built and nicely finished soundbar. It doesn't give you full-on Dolby Atmos, you have to spend a lot more for that, and go a lot bigger, usually. But if ‘all' you want is big, bold and well-realised movie sound from a compact soundbar, the Sonos will make you happy. The Sonos S2 control app remains the gold standard where these things are concerned.
Pros
- Big, bold and well-realised movie sound
- Dolby Atmos support
Cons
- No HDMI passthrough
techhive[5]
Reviewer score 74% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Sonos Beam has a surprisingly wide soundstage and passive radiators that punch well above their weight. The Beam's virtualized Dolby Atmos height effects are on a par with what I've heard from similar Atmos soundbars that lack upfiring drivers. If you're looking for a compact soundbar that won't break the bank, the Beam makes a great choice.
Pros
- Gorgeous, expansive soundstage
- Dolby Atmos height effects
- Sleek design
Cons
- No upfiring drivers
- No DTS:X support
techradar[6]
Reviewer score 85% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivers powerful audio performance, and is more than capable of filling your living room with sound. HDMI eARC compatibility will bring a ‘richer, more immersive, and higher definition sound experience’ The S2 app also makes it easy to stream music, allowing you to add the music streaming platforms of your choice.
Pros
- Powerful audio performance
- Supports Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2 with compatible iOS devices
Cons
- No Dolby Atmos support
- No HDMI 2.1 support
theverge[7]
Reviewer score 85% (normalized by Neofiliac)The second-generation Sonos Beam has Dolby Atmos, but it doesn't sound like it's coming from above. The soundbar supports Apple's AirPlay 2, so you can play music, podcasts, or other audio to it from an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. It's still totally competent as a music speaker, though not as well-matched for that as something like the Sonos Five.
Pros
- Improved virtualization
- Dolby Atmos support
- Sleek design
Cons
- No DTS decoding
tomsguide[8]
Reviewer score 90% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is nearly identical to the first-generation Beam on the inside. It features one tweeter, three passive radiators and four elliptical midwoofers. Users will also benefit from 3D audio with support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus and most home-theater sound formats.
Pros
- Sleek, compact design
- Dolby Atmos, Dolby Vision Plus and DTS Digital Surround Sound
- Supports Alexa and Google Assistant
Cons
- No Auto TruePlay
trustedreviews[9]
Reviewer score 78% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) sounds exceptionally good, especially considering its relatively small size. There are some limitations, although these can be fixed by adding extra Sonos components into the mix for surround sound and bass. Poise and balance are excellent throughout. It’s great for action films and sci-fi, delivering the effects as they were supposed to be heard.
Pros
- Impressive sound quality
- Great for action films and sci-fi
Cons
- Lip-sync issues
- No Dolby Atmos
whathifi[10]
Reviewer score 92% (normalized by Neofiliac)The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is the best Dolby Atmos soundbar at this price. It can be used on 65-inch screens, as well as a more modest 43-incher. There's remarkable consistency across the complete soundfield. Despite the lack of upward drivers, there's a remarkably real sense of the engine idling away in the low shots.
Pros
- Sleek, compact design
- Dolby Atmos and HDR10+ support
- Impressive motion handling
Cons
- No upward drivers
- No Dolby Vision
Also Check
References
- ^ Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review: Improved immersion with Dolby Atmos. [digitaltrends].
- ^ Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review. [pcmag].
- ^ Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Soundbar Review. [rtings].
- ^ Sonos Beam (2nd Gen) review: impressive Dolby Atmos from a cheap soundbar. [t3].
- ^ Sonos Beam (2nd gen) review: The Sonos Arc’s smaller sibling now does Dolby Atmos, too. [techhive].
- ^ Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review. [techradar].
- ^ Sonos Beam (second-gen) review: Atmos(t) a minor upgrade. [theverge].
- ^ Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review: The best-sounding soundbar for small TVs. [tomsguide].
- ^ Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review. [trustedreviews].
- ^ Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dolby Atmos soundbar review. [whathifi].
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