Compare Ultimea Nova S50 Soundbar vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

TruePlay room calibration is effective and often improves clarity or room fit, but the iOS-only limitation keeps it from being universally accessible.

AirPlay 2 support is repeatedly confirmed and treated as a convenient way to stream from Apple devices.

Amplification is not deeply quantified, but reviews confirm Class-D amplification and the same driver/amplifier platform as the original Beam.

The Sonos app is generally praised as stable, simple, and polished, although one reviewer found the many options confusing at first.

Reviews agree the Nova S50 handles Dolby Atmos and Dolby Digital signals properly for a budget bar, but several reviewers stress that it delivers virtual rather than true Atmos because the 2.1 layout lacks real height drivers.

Audio format support is broad, covering Dolby Atmos, eARC-capable formats, PCM variants, DTS Digital Surround, and music format support, with DTS:X as a caveat.

Backwards compatibility is decent through the optical adapter and Dolby Digital fallback, though older connections limit Atmos.

Bluetooth support is a clear weakness because reviewers repeatedly state the Beam Gen 2 lacks Bluetooth compatibility.

Cabinet construction is described positively through the durable, tear-resistant polycarbonate grille, though detailed internal bracing evidence is limited.

At its best, the Nova S50 stays surprisingly composed for such a tiny soundbar, but the overall presentation can fall apart on more demanding material when bass blooms or treble turns sharp.

Cohesion is strong, with reviewers noting consistent soundfield handoff, balanced tonality, and virtues that transfer from movies to music.

Touch controls receive positive comments for working well and feeling intuitive.

The ultra-slim, very compact footprint is one of the product's biggest advantages and makes it easy to place under smaller TVs. Some reviewers still felt the plastics and finish looked cheap up close.

Design and aesthetics are a consistent highlight, with reviewers praising the compact, stylish, clean Sonos look.

Build quality is strong, with a durable polycarbonate grille, premium-feeling construction, and easier cleaning than the first-generation fabric grille.

Fine ambient cues and basic definition are acceptable for casual TV use, but treble nuance and low-level texture are limited, especially with music and complex movie mixes.

Detail retrieval is a strength, with reviewers noting fine transients, vocal nuance, and sound effects that stand out clearly.

Dialogue is generally clearer than TV speakers and can sound nicely centered, but clarity is inconsistent. Some reviews heard haziness, clipping, or dialogue getting masked by effects and bassier passages.

Dialogue clarity is one of the strongest points across reviews, with clear center-channel reproduction and useful speech enhancement for TV and movies.

This is mixed across sources. Some reviewers reported clipping, crackle, and pinched treble even around medium levels, while others found the bar unexpectedly clean and controlled near maximum volume.

High-volume behavior is mostly controlled, with several reviewers noting clean playback, but one test found compression and distortion can appear when pushed well above typical listening levels.

Dolby Atmos is valuable and often immersive for the Beam's size, but reviewers agree the virtual height effect is subtle and not true overhead Atmos.

Nearly every reviewer was surprised by how much output the Nova S50 can produce for its size. It has enough headroom for small and medium rooms, though hard-hitting content exposes its limits.

Dynamic headroom is strong for the size, with reviewers praising wider dynamic range and jump-worthy swings, though not unlimited output.

The three sound presets and bass adjustment add useful flexibility, but the tuning is uneven. Most reviewers preferred Movie mode, while Music and sometimes Game mode were described as much less convincing.

EQ customization is useful but basic, usually limited to bass, treble, loudness, night mode, and speech enhancement rather than a full equalizer.

Frequency balance is the core weakness. Bass can sound bloated or crackly, treble can turn thin or pinched, and the bar usually sounds most tolerable only after conservative bass settings and the right preset.

Reviewers describe the tonal balance as neutral, controlled, and full for the size, with satisfying low mids and bass that do not overwhelm voices.

Gaming-related HDMI passthrough is weak because reviewers repeatedly note the lack of spare HDMI inputs or direct passthrough.

Google Assistant support is present alongside Alexa, making Google voice control part of the Beam Gen 2 smart feature set.

HDMI 2.1-related gaming support is mixed: eARC brings modern bandwidth, but gaming passthrough and direct console input support are missing.

eARC and ARC are consistently praised. They make setup easy, allow TV-linked power and volume control, and are one of the strongest convenience features on this model.

HDMI ARC/eARC support is a major upgrade, enabling higher-bandwidth audio and simpler TV connection.

The Nova S50 fits neatly into cramped living rooms, bedrooms, and apartment setups, and it clearly upgrades TV sound. Buyers building a more serious cinema system will still outgrow it quickly.

Home theater integration is strong inside the Sonos ecosystem, with easy options to add subs and surrounds, though that ecosystem can become expensive.

The passive wired subwoofer is simple to connect and avoids wireless syncing headaches, but the cable limits placement freedom and can make the setup feel less tidy.

Inter-speaker connectivity is a major Sonos advantage, with easy syncing, surround expansion, and wireless integration with other Sonos products.

Lip-sync and TV latency evidence is positive, with HDMI eARC and Wi-Fi radio improvements noted as helping minimize lag and sync problems.

Loudness is a standout strength. Reviewers repeatedly said the Nova S50 plays much louder than its tiny size suggests and can fill a small or medium room more easily than expected.

Reviewers say the Beam Gen 2 plays bigger than its size, with enough output for small and medium rooms, though it is not as loud as the larger Arc and can be swallowed by very large spaces.

Low-volume listening is not flawless. One full review specifically noted pinched treble even at low levels, suggesting the bar can sound edgy before volume is pushed.

Low-volume performance is helped by loudness processing and Night Sound, which keep bass and quieter listening usable.

The far-field microphone array is generally praised for clarity and voice-control pickup.

Multi-speaker pairing is viewed positively, with Sonos speakers syncing wirelessly and expanding the system without complex cabling.

The bar includes usable side-mounted controls, which help for quick adjustments. Still, most reviewers interacted with it primarily through the remote rather than the buttons on the unit.

On-device controls are useful and intuitive, with top touch controls for playback, volume, and microphone management.

Optical input is included and meaningfully broadens compatibility with older TVs and sources. Reviews did not report a clear sound-quality advantage over HDMI, but the connection itself is a useful fallback.

Optical support exists through an adapter, but reviewers caution that using optical removes Dolby Atmos capability.

Privacy controls are a positive, with microphone muting and optional assistant setup mentioned as ways to reduce listening concerns.

Remote usability is better than expected for the price, with tactile or ergonomic buttons and straightforward source switching. The only notable complaint was that one reviewer found the play and pause behavior confusing or nonfunctional.

Remote usability is mixed: there is no included remote, but TV remotes and app control usually handle volume and playback smoothly.

Setup simplicity is a clear strength. Multiple reviewers said the system took only a minute or two to connect and start using, especially over HDMI eARC or ARC.

Setup is consistently described as easy, quick, and app-guided, often taking only a few minutes.

Smart assistant integration is strong, with Sonos Voice, Alexa, and Google Assistant support noted in review evidence.

Smart functionality is minimal. Beyond Bluetooth, basic EQ modes, and simple status controls, the reviews describe no app ecosystem, no Wi-Fi platform, and no advanced voice or streaming features.

Smart features are broad and well-integrated, covering app control, streaming services, voice assistants, and Sonos ecosystem functions.

Virtual height effects exceed expectations for the price, and some content produces a convincing sense of sound lifting and moving around the room. Even so, reviewers repeatedly note that this is not true height-channel Atmos.

Soundstage height is the Beam's main Atmos limitation: it can sound taller than before but rarely convinces reviewers that audio comes from overhead.

Spotify Connect is consistently listed among the Beam Gen 2's streaming strengths, with no reviewer reporting a reliability problem.

The front LEDs clearly show source, volume, and mute status and can be useful in everyday use. They are not perfect, though, because brightness and the auto-mute behavior can be mildly annoying.

Status indicators are basic but useful, with reviewers noting the top LED indicator and microphone status light.

Stereo placement is better than expected for a tiny 2.1 system, with some convincing left-right motion and centered vocals or dialogue. It still cannot match the precision of larger multi-speaker soundbars.

The Beam creates impressive width for a compact bar, but true stereo separation remains limited because music still comes from a single soundbar cabinet.

The included passive subwoofer adds real punch and helps the Nova S50 sound bigger than it looks. Its tuning is not especially tight, however, and several reviewers said bass can become too heavy, boomy, or crackly.

Bass is respectable for the standalone bar, and reviewers repeatedly note that adding a Sonos Sub or Sub Mini can improve depth and immersion.

Virtual surround is one of the Nova S50's most impressive traits for the money. Several reviewers found the effect surprisingly immersive, though it remains a simulation rather than genuine multi-channel surround.

The Beam Gen 2 delivers a wide, immersive virtual surround field, but it still trails systems with discrete rear speakers for realism and rear placement.

Sustainability evidence is limited but positive, with one reviewer praising the foam-free packaging.

Value is the strongest consensus positive. Across reviews, the Nova S50 is repeatedly framed as an unusually cheap, worthwhile upgrade over TV speakers, especially for buyers who prioritize size and price first.

Value is generally strong for a compact Sonos soundbar under $500, though reviewers are less enthusiastic as an upgrade from the original Beam or compared with full systems.

Video passthrough is a repeated weakness, with no spare HDMI input or direct source passthrough.

Voice assistant responsiveness is rated positively, with reviewers noting reliable or sharp-eared command pickup even during loud content.

Voices and vocals are serviceable for casual use, but not refined. Higher voices and sibilants can sound thin, harsh, or slightly muffled depending on the content and EQ mode.

Vocals are consistently described as clear, natural, and forward, helping both music and TV voices stay intelligible.

Voice recognition is strong in the limited evidence available, with far-field microphones hearing commands from across the room.

Its very small, lightweight build makes it easy to place on tight stands, fit into bedrooms, and move around compact setups. Convenience of size is one of the product's biggest advantages.

The Beam Gen 2 is repeatedly praised for compact size, low height, and suitability for small rooms or smaller TV cabinets.

Wi-Fi streaming is central to the Beam experience, with reviewers describing network streaming and Sonos ecosystem playback as a strength compared with Bluetooth-only setups.

Wired connectivity is generous for such a cheap soundbar. Reviewers repeatedly highlighted HDMI eARC or ARC, optical, AUX, USB, and the subwoofer connection as practical strengths.

Wired inputs are simple and limited, centered on HDMI/eARC plus Ethernet and adapter-based optical support.