Compare Sony HT-S100F Soundbar vs Sonos Beam (Gen 1)

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

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.

Reviews agree the HT-S100F handles basic TV audio well but has limited format ambition, with explicit mention of missing DTS and no Atmos-grade presentation.

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.

Its HDMI ARC and optical options make it easy to pair with a wide range of TVs, including older sets that lack ARC.

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 was repeatedly described as stable and trouble-free for phone streaming, with no notable dropouts in normal use.

One review found Bluetooth playback still audible from roughly 20 to 30 feet away and even from upstairs, indicating solid range for casual home use. Range impressions were positive, with music remaining usable from farther across the home rather than only at close distance.

The cabinet is described as mostly plastic with mesh grille elements, but reviewers still found it sturdy, solid enough, and nicely finished for the price.

The overall presentation is usually described as clean, balanced, and more layered than TV speakers, even if it is not especially cinematic.

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

The top touch controls work, but one detailed review found them inconsistent enough that the remote became the preferred way to operate the bar.

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

The slim black design is widely liked for blending into TV setups, looking neat under screens, and offering flexible placement or wall mounting.

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

Build quality is considered good for the class: mainly plastic, yet generally sturdy, well-finished, and more premium-feeling than the price suggests.

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

Reviewers noted clear small details such as metallic effects, instrument separation, and cleaner sound cues than built-in TV speakers provide.

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 is one of this bar's strongest traits, with voice-focused modes and naturally crisp speech making TV and dialogue-heavy content easier to follow.

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

It stays composed better than expected at higher volume, though some tinniness can appear and it never sounds as refined as pricier setups.

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

Multiple reviews explicitly note the lack of Dolby Atmos or true height presentation, so this is not a bar for overhead effects.

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

For a compact 2.0 bar, it has respectable punch and can fill a small to average room without falling apart.

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

There are useful preset modes like Auto, Voice, Music, Cinema, Standard, and Night, but no deep manual EQ or separate bass/treble adjustment.

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

The sound signature is generally balanced and clear, with strong upper-mid intelligibility, but bass depth is limited and occasional tinniness shows through.

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

Because it has no HDMI input passthrough, it is not suited to gaming passthrough use cases.

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

There is no evidence of HDMI 2.1 gaming support, and reviews specifically frame connectivity as basic ARC-only TV hookup rather than advanced passthrough.

HDMI ARC is the preferred connection path in the reviews because it is simple, supports TV remote control, and usually works reliably after setup.

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

It works well as a basic TV-speaker upgrade, but reviewers consistently say it is not a serious home-theater centerpiece for cinephiles.

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

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

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

This small soundbar gets louder than many expected and can fill smaller rooms, but it is not a party bar or a powerhouse for huge spaces.

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

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.

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.

Sound remains front-focused rather than room-enveloping, so it does not create a truly all-around presentation.

The soundbar includes on-device touch controls, but usability is only fair because the on-bar inputs are less convenient than the remote.

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

Optical input support is a practical backup for TVs without ARC, though reviewers generally prefer HDMI ARC for better convenience and control.

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.

The included remote is consistently praised for being simple, well laid out, and easy to use, with solid buttons and helpful direct mode access.

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

Setup is one of the clearest strengths: most reviewers describe installation as quick, beginner-friendly, and little more than plugging in power plus one cable. Across reviews, setup is repeatedly described as fast and uncomplicated, especially when using HDMI ARC.

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

Smart assistant support is effectively absent here, with reviews explicitly noting no smart-home integration or assistant ecosystem features.

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.

Feature set is intentionally basic: useful sound modes and Bluetooth are present, but there are few advanced or smart-platform extras.

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

Height is the weakest dimension of the stage, with reviewers describing the sound as limited compared with Atmos-capable or multi-channel bars.

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

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

Basic indicator feedback exists through LEDs and status lights, but the interface is simple rather than especially informative.

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

Stereo separation is decent for a compact 2.0 bar, especially with music and effects, but the image narrows off-axis and cannot match wider multi-speaker systems.

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

Bass is the main compromise: there is no dedicated subwoofer and no external sub connection, so low-end impact is limited even if bass reflex tuning adds some punch.

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

Sony's virtual surround processing adds some width and immersion, but reviews consistently stop short of calling it a real surround replacement.

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

Value is a standout strength, with repeated praise for how much clearer and more enjoyable it is than TV speakers at around the entry-level price tier.

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

There is no real video passthrough story here because the bar is treated as a basic ARC/optical audio endpoint rather than an HDMI switching hub.

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

Voices come through cleanly and crisply, which makes speech-heavy viewing more enjoyable and easier to understand.

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

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

Its slim, compact footprint is frequently praised for fitting easily under TVs or in small rooms without taking over the setup.

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

Wi-Fi streaming features are effectively missing, with reviewers explicitly noting no Wi-Fi music or multi-room capability.

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

Connectivity is basic but useful, with recurring mention of HDMI ARC, optical, USB, and Bluetooth as the main ways to use the bar. Input quality is best over HDMI ARC, while optical remains serviceable but is treated as the lesser connection path when both are available.

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.