Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review: The best-sounding soundbar for small TVs
Our Verdict
The Sonos Beam (Gen ii) soundbar delivers sophisticated audio in a small package. A bounty of smart features and listening options make the new Beam an attractive follow-upwardly to the original.
For
- Impressive sound for its size
- 3D audio with support for Dolby Atmos
- Reliable TruePlay tuning
- Best selection for 55-inch and smaller TVs
Against
- More expensive than Beam (Gen one)
- Some new formats not bachelor at launch
Tom's Guide Verdict
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) soundbar delivers sophisticated sound in a minor package. A bounty of smart features and listening options make the new Beam an attractive follow-up to the original.
Pros
- +
Impressive sound for its size
- +
3D audio with support for Dolby Atmos
- +
Reliable TruePlay tuning
- +
Best option for 55-inch and smaller TVs
Cons
- -
More expensive than Beam (Gen 1)
- -
Some new formats non available at launch
- -
Sonos Axle (Gen two) specs
Size: 25.6 x 2.3 x iii.nine inches
Weight: six.2 pounds
Speakers: iv drivers, one tweeter
Ports: HDMI eARC, Ethernet
Sound formats: Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus
Colors: Black, White
Voice assistants: Alexa, Google Assistant
Connectivity: 802.11b/g/n/ac, 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) soundbar is the latest dwelling-theater production promising the company'due south signature audio quality for high-allegiance formats and perfectly-tuned entertainment experiences.
And so does it deliver? Refreshing the original Sonos Beam (Gen 1), one of the all-time soundbars on the market, the Sonos Axle (Gen ii) is a smart speaker, music thespian and Dolby Atmos sound purveyor all-in-i.
In that location are no changes to the audio internals, but an upgraded CPU, tweaked profiles, more than audio formats and HDMI eARC support are welcome improvements. The Beam (Gen 2) is compact and still rather affordable; though at $449, it is $50 more than the first-generation model.
While the booming Sonos Arc remains the brand's peak selection for the best TVs with big screens in big spaces, it'south only fair that flat dwellers or those with smaller sets deserve a stellar Sonos soundbar, as well.
I actually replaced the Arc in my 1,000-foursquare pes apartment for this Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review, and I don't think I'll become dorsum. The Beam (Gen 2) is simply a better fit.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) toll and availability
The Sonos Beam (Gen ii) costs $449 and is available as of Oct. 5, 2021. You tin pre-lodge the new soundbar now if you desire to get your hands on it as soon as it starts shipping.
We wouldn't consider the Beam (Gen 2) 1 of the best inexpensive soundbars, but it's half the price of the Sonos Arc, which recently saw a price hike from $799 to $899. Considering Sonos has discontinued the Sonos Playbar, the Arc and Beam are the visitor'southward remaining two soundbar offerings.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review: Design
The Sonos Axle (Gen ii) blueprint is somewhat of a alloy of the Sonos Arc and the original Sonos Beam. While information technology maintains the elongated-pill shape and slightly concave peak of the first Beam, information technology gets the Arc's perforated polycarbonate grille. According to Sonos, the new grille should make the Beam (Gen 2) easier to clean and more durable over time.
The Sonos Axle (Gen two) is much smaller than the Arc, measuring 25.vi 10 2.3 x 3.ix inches instead of 45 x 4.v x 3.4 inches. This makes information technology more suitable for smaller entertainment spaces. It fits my 55-inch Samsung Q80T QLED TV much meliorate than the Arc ever did — I'd say the Beam (Gen 2) is well-proportioned for any of the best 55-inch TVs, all-time 50-inch TVs or smaller.
Capacitive volume and pause/play controls are on the summit side of the Axle (Gen ii), while on the back in that location'southward a concave port array with options for Ethernet and HDMI ARC/eARC connections. When you pair the Beam to your TV via HDMI eARC, y'all tin benefit from high-definition audio formats during pic-watching and gaming. Note some other soundbars take added HDMI, USB or three.5mm aux ports.
The Sonos Axle (Gen two) besides comes in two color options, like the balance of Sonos' products of the last few years. If you've coordinated your Sonos Motion, Sonos Roam or Sonos 1 colors, you can proceed the pattern up for your new soundbar.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review: Sound quality and compatible formats
The Sonos Axle (Gen two) is nearly identical to the beginning-generation Beam on the inside. It features one tweeter, three passive radiators and four elliptical midwoofers, 2 of those forward-firing and the other two angled to either side. But an upgraded CPU improves the soundbar's meridian and surround abilities, fifty-fifty with the same speaker hardware.
Sonos says the Beam (Gen 2) has been retuned, creating a crisper key channel that prioritizes vocal clarity and vocal dialog. Users will also benefit from 3D sound with support for Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital Plus and about leading dwelling-theater audio formats.
Once the new soundbar was tuned to my living space, I tested the Beam's abilities with a multifariousness of music, show and movie formats. I turned on Whiplash and felt each percussion scene as though I was sitting in Shaffer Conservatory watching a manic Miles Teller live.
The Beam (Gen 2) delivers some of the depth and pinnacle perhaps absent in the first-generation model. But I will say that when viewing the aforementioned scenes using a Sonos Arc, I could have been on stage with the studio band thanks to the larger soundbar's xi drivers compared to the Beam's four.
The Beam also doesn't get nearly as loud every bit the Arc, which I actually appreciated because I couldn't utilise the Arc to its full capacity in my New York City flat. The Beam'south tempered book alleviates some of my self-inflicted stress nearly being a courteous neighbor.
That'southward not to say this pocket-size speaker doesn't pack a punch. Kayne Westward and Jay-Z'due south "No Church in the Wild'' infectiously thumped simply like it should, causing my compact living room to vibrate and complementing the song's cinematic style. It's decided — I'll be using the Beam (Gen 2) to DJ side by side fourth dimension I accept some friends over.
Sonos Axle (Gen two) review: Smart features and streaming services
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) will initiate setup easily in the Sonos S2 app, thanks to its added NFC chip. With the always-reliable TruePlay tuning feature, y'all'll also exist prompted to curate sound to your space and optimal couch position.
The new Axle doesn't have Auto TruePlay (that'south only constitute on the company's portable speakers), so you'll demand to walk around your living room, or wherever y'all've hooked up the Beam (Gen 2), with your phone upside down for a infinitesimal.
When you're watching a blockbuster motion picture, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) works as a regular music speaker. In other situations, you can either AirPlay from the music apps on your iPhone or use the Sonos S2 app to add and control your music and podcast services.
Sonos even offers its ain online radio service with guest hosts and curated content. Sonos Radio recently added 20 new stations, too. In other software updates, back up for Amazon Music Ultra Hard disk is coming to all S2 compatible Sonos speakers before the cease of this twelvemonth. Sonos should also add support for decoding DTS Digital Surround Sound afterwards this year.
Like most of Sonos's other devices, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) supports Alexa and Google Assistant. It can act like many of the best Alexa speakers or all-time Google Home speakers, letting you command your smart-dwelling devices, get answers to queries or simply change the soundtrack hands-free.
Sonos Beam (Gen ii) review: Verdict
Creating the ultimate domicile-theater experience has become a top consumer priority in the past yr and half. While the Sonos Arc stood out in 2020, not everyone can fit (or beget) the massive soundbar. With its smaller footprint and smart features, the $449 Sonos Axle (Gen 2) could be an attractive option for urban dwellers or for those who merely desire a soundbar for their mid-size TVs.
We practise wish the company had kept the Beam price under $400. I can imagine some scenarios where the soundbar will really be more expensive than the TV. Withal, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) has everything you lot could desire from a soundbar, from audio prowess to thorough smart-speaker functionality.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/sonos-beam-gen-2
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