Compare Sonos Arc Soundbar vs Sonos Beam (Gen 1)

Trueplay room calibration was praised for improving or tailoring sound, but its Apple-only limitation frustrated Android users.

TruePlay and room correction are repeatedly described as useful room-tuning features, but several reviewers note that the best calibration is limited to Apple/iOS devices.

AirPlay was viewed positively as a handy wireless music option, especially for Apple users.

AirPlay 2 support is consistently treated as a major platform advantage, especially for Apple users and multi-room playback.

App reliability and usability were mixed: some found Sonos polished and easy to navigate, while others disliked the layout or had reconnection trouble.

The app is praised as intuitive and simple in several reviews, but setup retries, harder-to-find settings, and slow speaker reassignment make reliability more mixed.

Audio format support was mixed: Dolby Atmos support impressed reviewers, but DTS:X, hi-res, and TV passthrough limitations were repeated caveats.

Format support is a clear limitation: reviewers mention Dolby Digital, Stereo PCM, and later DTS compatibility, but repeatedly flag missing DTS/Atmos support for the original Beam.

Backwards compatibility was a drawback because some older Sonos devices are not compatible with the S2-based Arc setup.

Backwards compatibility is mostly handled through the optical adapter path for older TVs that lack HDMI ARC.

Bluetooth support is a major omission: multiple reviews explicitly state that the Beam lacks Bluetooth and relies on Wi-Fi, AirPlay, or the Sonos app.

Bluetooth-related feedback was negative because reviewers complained about the original Arc’s lack of conventional Bluetooth support.

Cohesive presentation was mixed: standalone home-cinema cohesion impressed some reviewers, while one found music less authentically cohesive than stereo speakers.

The Beam is repeatedly described as balanced and cohesive, with a sound presentation that feels larger and more polished than its compact size suggests.

Top touch controls are viewed positively, with reviewers describing them as useful, familiar, and easy to use for quick playback or volume changes.

Design and aesthetics were praised for a classy, unobtrusive, blend-in look, though the Arc’s size still requires space.

Reviewers strongly agree that the Beam is compact, understated, and attractive enough to fit into small rooms and modern TV setups.

Build quality impressions were mixed: one reviewer praised the form-function blend, while another complained that the plastic body attracts dust.

Build quality is generally strong, with reviewers calling the Beam well made, robust, and carefully designed despite some fabric-grille caveats.

Detail retrieval was widely praised, with reviewers highlighting separation, crispness, clarity, and fine detail in music and movies.

Detail retrieval is a strength in TV effects and music, though one comparison says the Gen 1 can skim over some complex sounds versus Gen 2.

Dialogue clarity was usually strong and helped by Speech Enhancement, though one direct comparison placed it behind some rivals for immediate clarity.

Dialogue clarity is one of the Beam’s strongest areas, supported by a dedicated center channel and speech enhancement features.

High-volume composure was generally praised, with distortion described as limited to pushed bass and volume settings or absent in stress-free loud playback.

Most reviewers report little distortion at high volume, though PCMag heard bass distortion at maximum volume and another reviewer advised avoiding maximum output.

Dolby Atmos height effects were among the Arc’s strongest attributes, with reviewers praising overhead realism, height presence, and immersive Atmos delivery.

The original Beam lacks Dolby Atmos, and multiple reviewers call that the key feature gap versus newer or competing soundbars.

Dynamic headroom was strong overall, with reviewers praising power, subtlety, and big dynamic shifts, though one found the Arc less quick than some rivals.

The Beam earns praise for scale, dynamics, detail, and punch, especially considering its size and price.

EQ controls were viewed as useful for bass, treble, and loudness adjustments, though not a replacement for every hardware limitation.

EQ customization is useful but basic, generally limited to bass, treble, balance, Loudness, Night Sound, and Speech Enhancement rather than full frequency control.

The Arc was widely described as balanced, smooth, and controlled, though a few reviews wanted more low-end weight from the standalone bar.

Frequency balance is broadly positive, with reviewers praising clear, balanced mids and highs while noting limited deep bass.

Gaming HDMI passthrough was a weakness because the single HDMI connection and lack of passthrough can complicate consoles and streaming boxes.

Google Assistant support received a positive hands-on assessment when used as the Arc’s selected assistant.

Google Assistant support is a genuine advantage, although reviewers note users must choose between Google Assistant and Alexa rather than run both at once.

HDMI ARC/eARC was valued for getting the best surround experience, but reviewers warned that TV passthrough support can complicate Atmos setup.

HDMI ARC is a major usability win, enabling TV audio, remote control, and some voice-based TV commands when the TV supports it.

Home theater integration was a major strength, especially the ability to expand with Sonos surrounds, Sub, and multi-room setups.

Home theater integration is strong through Sonos Sub and rear-speaker expansion, but the full surround setup becomes expensive.

Inter-speaker connectivity was praised as easy and impactful when adding or connecting Sonos components.

The Beam connects well with other Sonos speakers for surround or multi-room use, often without speaker wire.

Lip-sync risk was raised as a potential downside when a TV lacks proper passthrough support.

Reviewers mention ARC and dialog-sync tools for keeping audio, picture, remote, and voice timing aligned.

Reviewers consistently described the Arc as loud, powerful, and room-filling, with enough scale for larger spaces and home theater use.

Maximum volume is strong for a compact bar and enough for most living rooms, though some reviewers say it cannot match larger soundbars or party speakers.

Low-volume features were praised for improving late-night listening by reducing bass, stabilizing output, and keeping dialogue clearer.

Low-volume features such as Night Sound and Speech Enhancement are useful, but one reviewer questioned whether very low-volume listening is a meaningful upgrade.

The Arc’s microphone hardware was positively described through its far-field mic array for voice pickup.

The microphone array is consistently described as capable for voice commands and assistant use, with multiple reviews noting good pickup across rooms or over playback.

Sonos multi-speaker pairing was praised as reliable and easy, especially for users building or expanding a whole-home Sonos system.

Multi-speaker pairing is a Sonos strength, especially for adding rears or filling a home with music, though some source-dependent surround effects are subtle.

Omnidirectional-style immersion was praised in one review that described sound arriving from every direction.

On-device controls are minimal but useful, with touch controls for volume, playback, track skipping, and microphone mute.

Optical support was treated as a fallback with a major tradeoff because it limits Dolby Atmos usefulness.

Optical support is available through an adapter, which helps older TVs even though HDMI ARC is the preferred connection.

Privacy controls are basic but present: reviewers repeatedly note that the Beam’s microphones can be muted.

Remote usability was mixed-positive: existing TV remotes usually work well, but some reviewers disliked the lack of a dedicated physical remote.

Remote usability is mostly good because existing TV remotes can control volume, but the Beam does not include its own dedicated remote.

Setup simplicity was a clear strength, with reviewers repeatedly calling installation quick, guided, and easy.

Setup is usually easy through HDMI ARC and the Sonos app, but non-ARC TVs and some individual app setup flows caused friction.

Alexa and smart assistant integration was praised for convenient hands-free control of volume, playback, and smart-home devices.

Smart assistant integration is a headline feature, with Alexa and Google Assistant built in and Siri/AirPlay paths for Apple users, but not all assistants can run simultaneously.

Smart features were a strength, with reviewers praising Sonos smarts, streaming breadth, and the app as a central media hub.

Smart features are broad, spanning voice assistants, streaming services, app control, smart-home control, and Sonos multi-room behavior.

Soundstage height was praised for convincing vertical presence and sounds that moved above the listener.

Soundstage height is present in a limited non-Atmos sense, with reviewers hearing a taller presentation but not true overhead effects.

Spotify voice playback was described as working beautifully with the Arc’s voice assistant setup.

Spotify control is supported through Alexa, Sonos, or the Spotify app, though one reviewer noted playlist discovery limits.

Status indicators were praised for being subtle and not overly bright.

Status indicators are simple but useful, with LED feedback for power, connection, microphone, and voice status.

Stereo imaging was mixed: reviewers praised width and speaker-like imaging with surrounds, but some found music less direct or less precise than stereo speakers.

Stereo imaging and width are standout strengths for the size, with reviewers noting smooth pans, wide left-right projection, and a broad soundstage.

Opinions on the Sub were context-dependent: several reviewers said the Arc works well alone, but bass-focused listeners and movie fans benefit noticeably from adding a Sub.

The Beam supports adding a Sonos Sub, but it ships without one and several reviewers wanted more low-end rumble from the bar alone.

Surround simulation was a major strength, with reviewers praising the Arc’s virtual 3D field, room-filling movie sound, and immersive presentation while noting it is not true in-ceiling Atmos.

Standalone surround is spacious but not true surround; adding Sonos rears can improve immersion substantially.

Value opinions were mixed: many reviewers called the Arc worth it or excellent value, while others stressed the premium price and extra cost of a full system.

Value is widely positive for a compact smart Sonos soundbar, although the cost rises sharply when adding Sub and rear speakers.

Video passthrough support was a consistent weakness because reviewers criticized the absence of HDMI input/passthrough.

Video passthrough support is weak because the Beam uses a single ARC-style connection and expects source devices to connect through the TV.

Voice assistant responsiveness was rated highly, with reviewers saying assistants worked well and commands were picked up even during loud playback.

Voice assistant responsiveness is usually good, with reviewers reporting effective Alexa or assistant control for music, volume, and smart-home tasks.

Vocal clarity in music and general playback drew strong praise, with reviewers calling vocals and higher frequencies very impressive.

Voice and vocal clarity are praised for both TV speech and music vocals, aided by the center tweeter and speech features.

Voice recognition was praised for continuing to work while content was playing.

Voice recognition is generally strong thanks to far-field microphones, but one review notes Alexa did not hear every command.

Despite its size, the Arc was described as easy to move and reposition.

Weight and size convenience are strong advantages; reviewers repeatedly stress that the Beam is small, light, and easy to place.

Wi-Fi reliability was mixed, with one reviewer reporting app reconnection struggles and another finding the Wi-Fi-based system more reliable than competing soundbars.

Wi-Fi streaming reliability is mostly strong, with reviewers praising networked streaming and one review explicitly reporting no dropouts or interruptions.

Wired input flexibility was criticized because the Arc’s physical connection options are limited.

Wired input is functional for TV use through HDMI ARC, optical adapter, and Ethernet, but limited by the absence of aux, Bluetooth, and multiple HDMI inputs.