Soundbars can be hugely helpful for people with limited space and the cord-clutter conscious, two camps I fall into. Before testing the Sonos Beam Gen 2, my soundbar experience was limited to just-OK budget-friendly models.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is not that. It offers a quality, user-friendly audio experience with room to grow (by adding extra speakers and home entertainment gear) or enjoy on its own.
My Favorite Things
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Fast, intuitive setup
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Pairs quickly over AirPlay 2
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Voice assistant-compatible
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Compact, attractive design
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Add Apple Music or Spotify to app
Key Features and Findings
A full-blown surround sound system isn’t as important to me as a quality device that sounds great and fits my space.
This second-generation Sonos Beam builds upon the popularity of the original Beam with some key enhancements, including a faster chip for delivering even more immersive sound, Dolby Atmos, and HDMI eARC support in an attractive, compact build.
It might be relatively small, but the Beam Gen 2 is capable of big sound, even delivering as close to a surround sound experience as you can get with a single audio component.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a space-conscious shopper’s dream, small enough to fit under the average smart TV.
Lifewire / Yoona Wagener
Setup: Like all Sonos products, the Beam Gen 2 requires the Sonos app for setup. While layered, I found the process very smooth, with step-by-step guidance every step of the way.
There’s a lot of power within the app, including sound customization and the option to connect other audio streaming services.
But you can’t get started with anything before creating a Sonos account and allowing access to a lot of device specifics, including precise location, network, Bluetooth, NFC, and microphone permissions.
I didn’t love this aspect of the setup and user experience since it’s a lot of information to hand over right out of the gate.
But the payoff was near instant pairing with my soundbar and hiccup-free operation, which is the reason for all that access.
Connectivity: I hooked up the Beam Gen 2 to a TV connected to an Apple TV, and the process couldn’t have been more seamless. With a few taps, the Beam had connected to the Apple TV (including the remote) and was available as an audio source via HDMI eArc.
Another handy feature that makes this soundbar a winner for Apple users is AirPlay compatibility.
AirPlay streaming from my iPhone or MacBook as the audio source added extra listening flexibility. I could switch from my AirPods and continue listening to playlists or podcasts on the soundbar without missing a beat.
If hands-free control is more your thing, this smart soundbar also works with Sonos Voice Control, Alexa, and Google Assistant. And Siri’s available to lend a hand if you’re connected via AirPlay.
Audio Quality: I was curious about whether this soundbar could create a three-dimensional spatial audio experience, and I’d say it delivers.
Everything sounded great immediately, especially music, and even better after setting up Trueplay (more on that later).
Without any adjustments the most striking thing was the lack of dramatic swells and lulls. Everything sounded even yet three-dimensional and nuanced.
The soundbar I had been using suffers from the issue of intensely loud action and music and inaudible dialogue.
The Sonos Beam transmits dialogue with exceptional clarity, even at low volumes and in Night Mode, which makes following conversation effortless and enjoying (but not feeling overwhelmed by) louder scenes easy too.
Customization: The app is very key to the Sonos listening experience, from remote control to playing with all manner of sound and home audio settings.
If you have multiple Sonos devices, selecting one from the list and expanding the settings menu opens up options for various controls like Night Sound, Speech Enhancement, and even correcting the delay between audio and speaking.
You also get options to adjust the EQ for bass and treble and turn on Spatial Audio, limit volume, and set alarms.
What really leveled up the sound is TruePlay tuning, which involves using your smartphone’s microphone to “listen” to your space and calibrate the soundbar according to the acoustics of the room.
The process is a little funny to carry out and kind of feels like waving a phone around like a wand. But the result was pretty stellar.
If you have Sonos Ace headphones or want an excuse to get a pair, here’s one: You can send audio from the soundbar to up to two Ace headsets and enjoy spatial audio and automatic head tracking while watching a movie solo or with a friend.
Sonos Radio: Another key component to the Sonos app is Sonos Radio, a free library of audio content exclusive to Sonos devices.
With a free account you can enjoy what’s curated for you on the main page, connect other preferred services, like Spotify or Apple Music, and add thousands of live radio stations.
The free tier allows searching for and saving favorite stations and collections, but it has limitations.
If you want lossless audio or the power to skip tracks, access all stations, and listen without ads, you can try a Sonos Radio HD subscription for 30 days.
Design: The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a sleek-looking product—from the packaging to the matte finish, touch controls, and compact but substantial build.
The one thing that I was excited about is the low height of the soundbar, which easily fits below a standard TV on a media console, if you’re not wall-mounting this soundbar.
However, Sonos does recommend placing it at least 2 inches from the TV to avoid any signal interference.
The rounded edges also give it a more modern feel, and the touch controls and LED indicator are practical, attractive touches too.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 includes an HDMI and Ehternet port.
Lifewire / Yoona Wagener
Important Specs to Know
Dimensions
2.6″H x 25.6″ W x 3.9″ D
Weight
6.3 lbs.
Connectivity
2.4GHz, Ethernet, AirPlay 2, Alexa, Google Assistant, Sonos Voice Control
Voltage
100-240V 50/60Hz internal power supply
Processor
Quad Core1.4 GHz A-53
Ports
HDMI, Ethernet
Audio Formats
Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, Dolby Multichannel PCM, DTS Digital Surround
Adjustable EQ
Yes
Tweeters
1
Amplifiers
5 Class-D
Midwoofers
4
Passive Radiators
3
Microphones
Far-Field array
The Sonos app houses Sonos Radio and numerous audio customization options.
Lifewire / Yoona Wagener
The Bottom Line
If you’re limited on space but also want as close to surround sound as possible, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a worthy purchase.
It’s excellent for general TV and movie viewing, especially with Trueplay calibration, and it’s especially appealing for listening to tunes in the Sonos app, whether through the brand’s dedicated Sonos Radio service or your preferred one from the many available options.
The bonus of the Beam Gen 2 and all Sonos audio equipment is the compatibility and expansion possibilities. If you want to add additional bookshelf speakers or a subwoofer, that won’t be a problem.
For immersive sound in one relatively compact device, the Beam Gen 2 is a home entertainment upgrade that stands well on its own.
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