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Sonos Beam Gen 2

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Sound quality
Connectivity
Compatibility
Design
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38 Verified Hands-On Reviews

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Expert reviews [38]

111
Total expert reviews: 38
  • with a score: 20
  • without a score: 18
Highest score by BGR
600
Average score based on 38 reviews
111
Lowest score by Rtings.com
74

Score distribution:

80-100
60-80
40-60
20-40
0-20
74
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact and versatile 5.0 soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos and has built-in voice assistant capabilities. While it lacks the rumble of a subwoofer, it offers great soundstage and surround performances, making it a premium option for dialogue-centric content and music listening.
+ pros
  • Compact design with built-in voice assistant capabilities.
  • Supports Dolby Atmos content and has better soundstage, center, and surround performances than many other soundbars.
  • Offers a room correction feature called Trueplay, which adjusts its output based on the unique acoustic characteristics of your space.
  • Excellent latency performance and lets you stream content wirelessly via Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay 2.
- cons
  • Lacks rumble in the low-bass, which can be improved by adding a Sonos Sub.
  • Atmos performance is middling and lacks bass for an immersive experience.
  • Limited amount of physical inputs.
  • Compression present at max volume.
80
A small soundbar with a big sound field
The Sonos Beam (2nd Gen) is a powerful and compact soundbar that offers impressive audio performance and easy multi-room integration with other Sonos speakers. With support for Dolby Atmos and voice assistants, it's a compelling package that can be further enhanced with additional speakers and a subwoofer.
+ pros
  • Powerful and feature-filled soundbar with Dolby Atmos support and easy multi-room integration.
  • Clean and simple design with easy setup process and control options.
  • Strong audio performance with appreciable bass and clean sculpting of low- and high-mids.
  • Compact size with big sound field and support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants.
- cons
  • Relatively weak lows without a subwoofer.
  • Requires additional investment in rear speakers and Sonos Sub for optimal performance.
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Expert consensus

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact and stylish soundbar that delivers excellent audio quality for both music and movies, with versatile connectivity options and compatibility with Dolby Atmos, making it a recommended choice for Sonos fans and those seeking high-quality audio enjoyment.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact soundbar that delivers excellent audio quality for both music and movies. It has a wide and immersive soundstage, great bass response, and is compatible with Dolby Atmos. The soundbar offers versatile connectivity options, including built-in WiFi, Ethernet, HDMI ARC/eARC, and Bluetooth v5.

0, and supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect. It is suitable for smaller TVs up to 49 inches and can be integrated into a larger multi-room audio system. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has a sleek and contemporary design, with clean lines and subtle branding, making it a stylish addition to any home.

It is perfect for those who want a stylish and compact soundbar that can be easily integrated into their home decor. While it is considered to be on the more expensive side, the quality justifies the cost. Overall, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is highly regarded by expert reviewers and recommended for those who are Sonos fans or those who are looking for a high-quality speaker for music and AV listening enjoyment.

Sound quality

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 offers excellent sound quality with a wide and immersive soundstage, great bass response, and compatibility with Dolby Atmos, making it a great choice for those who want a compact soundbar with impressive audio for both music and movies.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has excellent sound quality, especially considering its size. It has a wide and immersive soundstage that rivals home theater tower speakers, and its low-end tones are better than expected from such a small soundbar. The bass response is great, but if you want really powerful bass, you may want to consider investing in a subwoofer.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is suitable for mixed usage, reproducing dialogue in movies and TV shows with clarity and presenting vocals and lead instruments in music with detail. It is also compatible with Dolby Atmos, providing a truly cinematic soundstage. While it is suitable for larger rooms, it may lose some of the Dolby Atmos effect in a room with high ceilings.

Overall, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 delivers excellent audio for both music and movies, making it a great choice for those who want a compact soundbar with impressive sound quality.

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Connectivity

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 offers a range of connectivity options, including built-in WiFi, Ethernet, HDMI ARC/eARC, and Bluetooth v5.0, making it a versatile option for creating a surround sound setup with other Sonos speakers.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 offers a variety of connectivity options, including built-in WiFi, Ethernet, HDMI ARC/eARC, and Bluetooth v5. 0. It also supports Apple AirPlay 2 and Spotify Connect, and there will be a forthcoming upgrade to add support for Amazon Music Ultra HD audio. The HDMI port supports eARC, allowing for high-quality audio from compatible devices.

The soundbar can also be adapted using the included HDMI to Optical adapter to connect to devices with an Optical Out port. The onboard WiFi connectivity allows for wireless connection to other Sonos speakers or subs, making a physical surround sound setup possible. However, it should be noted that the Sonos Beam Gen 2 does not have Bluetooth functionality.

Overall, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a great option for those looking for a soundbar with versatile connectivity options and the ability to create a surround sound setup with other Sonos speakers.

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Compatibility

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a versatile soundbar that can be paired with a range of televisions, supports a wide range of streaming services and voice assistants, and is a great option for those looking to upgrade their TV's sound.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a versatile soundbar that can be paired with a range of televisions due to its small footprint and ability to upgrade a TV's sound. It is better suited for smaller TVs up to 49 inches, while the Sonos Arc is recommended for larger TVs. The soundbar does not have Bluetooth connectivity for smartphones, but it can be connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet.

It is compatible with a wide range of streaming services, including Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, Tidal, Deezer, Pandora, SoundCloud, Mixcloud, and Last. fm. The Sonos app can integrate with these services, and users can also stream to the Beam Gen 2 from a handheld device using Apple AirPlay 2.

The soundbar supports both Alexa and Google Assistant voice assistants, making it easy to control with voice commands. It is compatible with devices that support the Sonos S2 app, including smartphones, tablets, and computers running iOS 11. 0 or later, Android 7.

0 or later, and macOS 10. 11 or later. It also supports devices that have Bluetooth v5. 0 and WiFi 2. 4GHz (802. 11b/g/n) wireless connectivity. Overall, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a great option for those looking to upgrade their TV's sound and enjoy a wide range of streaming services and voice assistant capabilities.

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Design

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has a sleek and contemporary design with clean lines and subtle branding, making it a stylish addition to any home, and is perfect for those who want a stylish and compact soundbar that can be easily integrated into their home decor.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has a sleek and contemporary design with clean lines and subtle branding, making it a stylish addition to any home. It is available in black and white finishes, which means you can choose the color that fits your decor style the best. The soundbar is short, barely over 25 inches in length, which makes it easy to place on a shelf or mount on the wall without taking up too much space.

The touch controls on top of the soundbar for playback and sound are easy to use and add to the minimalist design. The perforated polycarbonate grille on the front and sides of the soundbar looks aesthetically pleasing and allows audio to pass through unobstructed. The Gen 2 has a similar overall shape and footprint to the original Beam, with plastic caps on the top and bottom, a metal mesh for the speaker, and a polycarbonate grille that is precisely perforated to allow audio to pass through unobstructed.

The design of the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is sleek, classy, and made from premium materials. Overall, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is an elegant and contemporary soundbar that should fit well into any interior design scheme. It is perfect for those who want a stylish and compact soundbar that can be easily integrated into their home decor.

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Features

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a feature-packed soundbar with voice control, virtualized surround sound, Dolby Atmos support, and easy setup, making it ideal for those who want a high-quality audio experience with convenience.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a soundbar that offers a range of features to enhance the audio experience. It has voice control capabilities with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, as well as support for Apple AirPlay 2 and Siri. The soundbar uses psychoacoustic HRTF technology to create virtualized surround sound and offers Dolby Atmos and eARC support.

The EQ settings allow for treble and bass adjustments, but there is no full graphic EQ. The setup process is effortless using the Sonos S2 app, and the soundbar can be integrated into a larger multi-room audio system. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is ideal for those who want a high-quality audio experience with the convenience of voice control and easy setup.

It is also suitable for those who want to enhance their home theater experience with virtualized surround sound and Dolby Atmos support.

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Brand reputation

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a top-rated audio brand with high praise for its audio quality and smart features, although it is considered expensive and has some limitations in terms of bass and connectivity options.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is highly regarded as one of the top audio brands in the market, with high praise for its audio quality and smart features. While it is considered to be on the more expensive side, many feel that the quality justifies the cost. The product comes with a 1-year limited warranty and customer support is available through their website, live chat, phone, and in-home visits in select areas.

The major complaints or issues with the product include its price, lack of deep bass without an optional subwoofer, subtle virtualized height cues, occasional hissing at high volume, lack of surround activity, and limited connectivity options. However, the overall sound quality is generally praised.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is highly regarded by expert reviewers and ranks #1 out of 182 in the Sound Bars category on ReviewFinder. It is recommended for those who are Sonos fans or those who are looking for a high-quality speaker for music and AV listening enjoyment.

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Position in ranking

We maintain a monthly ranking that sums up expert recommendations for all sound bars.

Rank Change Price Sound Bar
Rtings.com
TechRadar
Tom's Guide
PCMag
What Hi-Fi
TechHive
World Wide Stereo
WIRED
SoundGuys
Digital Trends
1
- $489
Sonos Beam Gen 2
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact and stylish soundbar that delivers excellent audio quality for both music and movies, with versatile connectivity options and compatibility with Dolby Atmos, making it a recommended choice for Sonos fans and those seeking high-quality audio enjoyment.
6
10
-
6
4
4
10
6
2
-
2
- $699
Sonos Arc
The Sonos Arc is a high-end soundbar with impressive sound quality, expansive soundstage, and modern design, ideal for those seeking an immersive surround sound experience for movies and music.
-
9
-
3
5
-
11
9
-
2
3
- $988
Samsung HW-Q990C
The Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar is highly praised for its exceptional sound quality, immersive experience, and extensive connectivity options, making it a top choice for enhancing TV audio and creating a cinematic home theater experience.
-
-
-
5
-
5
-
4
-
1
4
- Check price
Sony HT-A7000
The Sony HT-A7000 is a high-end soundbar with a neutral sound profile, wide and immersive soundstage, comprehensive connectivity options, and advanced features such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, making it a great choice for enhancing the listening experience.
-
7
6
-
1
-
-
8
-
-
Show all rows
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Highest recommended sound bars this month

ReviewFinder ranks based on a combination of customer reviews, expert reviews / mentions and popularity. Expert recommendations carry the highest weight in the ranking. We do not rank based on price, our commission or brand. sound bars below are at the top of our ranking this November.

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Sonos Beam Gen 2 (this item) Sonos Arc Samsung HW-Q990C Sony HT-A7000
Reviews
In comparison:
Sonos Beam Gen 2 rank #1 out of 191.
Go to rankings
7.7
Good
Reviews
In comparison:
Sonos Arc rank #2 out of 191. Very high levels of customer satisfaction.
Go to rankings
9.3
Amazing
Reviews
We don't yet have enough review information for Samsung HW-Q990C
Reviews
In comparison:
Sony HT-A7000 rank #4 out of 191.
Go to rankings
7.8
Good
Price
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact and stylish soundbar that delivers excellent audio quality for both music and movies, with versatile connectivity options and compatibility with Dolby Atmos, making it a recommended choice for Sonos fans and those seeking high-quality audio enjoyment. The Sonos Arc is a high-end soundbar with impressive sound quality, expansive soundstage, and modern design, ideal for those seeking an immersive surround sound experience for movies and music. The Samsung HW-Q990C soundbar is highly praised for its exceptional sound quality, immersive experience, and extensive connectivity options, making it a top choice for enhancing TV audio and creating a cinematic home theater experience. The Sony HT-A7000 is a high-end soundbar with a neutral sound profile, wide and immersive soundstage, comprehensive connectivity options, and advanced features such as Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, making it a great choice for enhancing the listening experience.
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