Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Beam Gen 2 for compact, clear, feature-rich TV sound with strong Sonos expandability. Skip it if you want convincing overhead Atmos or extra HDMI inputs.
Best for
Small to medium rooms, buyers who care about dialogue clarity, and anyone who wants a compact soundbar that can grow into a larger Sonos system over time.
Not for
Shoppers who want true overhead Atmos, lots of HDMI flexibility, or the simplest path to deep bass and full surround in one box for the money.
Verdict
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 earns its reputation by combining standout dialogue clarity, a surprisingly expansive soundfield, strong music performance, and one of the easiest upgrade paths in the Sonos ecosystem. Reviews consistently praise its compact design, solid app-driven feature set, AirPlay and Spotify support, and straightforward setup. The key tradeoff is Dolby Atmos realism: reviewers hear extra space and some height, but not truly convincing overhead effects. Connectivity is also intentionally minimal, with no HDMI passthrough and no Bluetooth. For small to medium rooms, though, the Beam Gen 2 still comes across as a polished, versatile soundbar that gets the fundamentals right.
Scored Features
Pros
-
AirPlay 2 support is consistently confirmed, with reviews describing easy streaming from Apple devices as part of the Beam’s core wireless feature set.
-
Spotify Connect support is repeatedly confirmed and treated as a core convenience feature for direct music playback.
-
Setup simplicity is one of the most consistent positives, with multiple reviewers calling the Beam quick, painless, and straightforward to install.
-
Reviews consistently describe broad codec support, including Dolby formats, PCM variants, and DTS surround decoding, while also noting some format caveats such as no DTS:X.
-
Google Assistant support is consistently confirmed, with reviews framing it as a standard built-in voice option alongside Alexa.
-
HDMI eARC is one of the Beam Gen 2’s core upgrades, and reviews repeatedly tie it to improved format support and better Atmos compatibility than the original Beam.
-
Pairing with other Sonos speakers is described as seamless and easy, with the Beam fitting naturally into wireless surround and multi-speaker systems.
-
Alexa integration is consistently presented as built-in and useful for hands-free control, matching the Beam’s broader smart-speaker role.
-
Multi-speaker use is one of the Beam’s strengths, with reviewers describing Sonos grouping and syncing behavior as easy and dependable.
-
Value is a recurring positive theme, especially for buyers who want premium compact sound, Sonos ecosystem features, and strong performance below flagship pricing.
-
Reviews repeatedly praise the Beam Gen 2’s compact, stylish design, describing it as attractive, discreet, and easy to blend into living-room setups.
-
Reviews emphasize how easily the Beam can anchor a broader Sonos home theater, including rear speakers and subwoofers for a fuller cinema setup.
-
Dialogue is one of the Beam Gen 2’s clearest strengths, with reviewers repeatedly calling vocals and speech unusually crisp, clear, and easy to follow.
-
The Beam is repeatedly credited with surfacing fine musical and cinematic details, from small instrumental textures to added scene detail and nuance.
-
Build impressions are strong, with reviewers highlighting the premium feel and the newer grille’s durability and easier cleaning versus the older fabric finish.
-
Dynamic expression is a clear positive, with reviews noting wider range, strong contrast between quiet and loud moments, and a punchy cinematic presentation.
-
Tonally, the Beam Gen 2 is widely described as balanced or neutral, with enough warmth and composure to work well across movies, TV, and music.
-
For its size, the Beam is widely considered capable of strong output, with enough volume to fill most small or medium spaces comfortably.
-
The built-in far-field microphones are a regular talking point, supporting voice features and audible command pickup without needing external hardware.
-
Privacy controls are present and easy to use, especially through microphone muting and the option to leave voice accounts unlinked.
-
TV-remote control is well supported and frequently described as simple, reducing the need for a dedicated bundled remote.
-
Smart features are a major selling point, with reviewers highlighting voice control, multiroom playback, streaming integrations, and app-based management.
-
Standalone bass is considered respectable, but reviews also repeatedly note easy subwoofer expansion and meaningful bass gains once a Sonos Sub is added.
-
Voice assistants respond reliably in the reviews, with good command pickup and little complaint about responsiveness once configured.
-
Music vocals are typically described as clear, present, and articulate, helping the Beam work well for music as well as TV playback.
-
Voice pickup accuracy is a clear strength, with reviewers saying commands can still be heard across the room or during loud playback.
-
The touch controls receive positive comments for responsiveness and ease of use when adjusting playback and volume directly on the bar.
-
The Beam’s light weight and compact footprint make it easy to place, especially in smaller rooms or with smaller TVs.
-
TV latency is viewed favorably, with reviews mentioning minimized lag, strong sync performance, and fewer lip-sync concerns through the main TV connection.
-
On-device controls are simple but effective, with touch inputs on the bar covering the core playback, volume, and microphone functions.
-
The Sonos S2 app is generally described as polished, stable, and easy to use, though one review says it can feel confusing at first.
-
Across reviews, the Beam is praised for sounding cohesive, with consistent imaging, organic integration, and an enveloping presentation from a single compact enclosure.
-
Stereo and positional imaging are strong for a compact bar, with several reviews praising separation, object placement, and clear left-right spread.
-
Virtual surround is one of the Beam’s real strengths, with reviews describing a roomy, bubble-like presentation that exceeds typical compact-bar expectations.
-
At higher volume, reviews are mostly positive about control and cleanliness, though output is not limitless and some compression or hardness can emerge when pushed.
-
Status feedback is basic but present, with LED indicators used for interaction and microphone state feedback.
-
Trueplay is repeatedly cited as useful room tuning that can improve the Beam’s sound, but several reviews note the feature still depends on iOS devices.
-
The Beam Gen 2 keeps compatibility with older setups through ARC and the bundled optical adapter, though older connections can limit Dolby Atmos playback.
-
EQ options are limited but useful, with bass, treble, loudness, and basic app-based adjustment available rather than deep manual tuning.
-
Low-volume listening benefits from helpful tuning features, especially loudness compensation, and reviewers suggest the Beam remains usable and balanced at moderate levels.
-
One review explicitly notes more sustainable packaging materials, including paper-based packing with no visible foam on the surface.
-
Optical connectivity is supported through an included adapter, but reviews clearly warn that using optical rules out full Atmos performance.
-
Wired connections are intentionally minimal but functional, typically centering on HDMI, Ethernet, and optical via adapter rather than a broader port array.
Cons
-
The Beam creates more perceived height than a standard bar, but reviews still characterize its vertical soundstage as limited compared with true upfiring designs.
-
Atmos height performance is a mixed strength: reviewers hear extra spaciousness and some height cues, but most stop short of calling the overhead effect convincing.
-
Reviews are consistently negative about passthrough for gaming setups because there is no spare HDMI input for directly connecting consoles or source devices.
-
Video passthrough support is absent, and multiple reviews frame that omission as one of the Beam Gen 2’s clearest connectivity compromises.
-
Multiple reviews explicitly state that Bluetooth is not supported, so codec support is effectively absent on this soundbar.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Sound Bars, this product is above average in Smart assistant integration (Alexa, AirPlay compatibility, Spotify Connect reliability, below average in Bluetooth codec support, Video passthrough support.
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth codec support | 1.0 | 3.0 | -2.0 |
| Smart assistant integration (Alexa | 4.8 | 3.1 | +1.7 |
| Video passthrough support | 1.5 | 2.9 | -1.4 |
| AirPlay compatibility | 5.0 | 3.9 | +1.2 |
| Spotify Connect reliability | 5.0 | 3.9 | +1.1 |
| Voice assistant responsiveness | 4.5 | 3.5 | +1.0 |
| Smart features | 4.5 | 3.6 | +0.9 |
| AI Room Calibration | 4.1 | 3.2 | +0.9 |
FAQ
Does Sonos Beam Gen 2 deliver real overhead Dolby Atmos effects?
Not really. Reviews consistently hear a wider, more immersive presentation and some height cues, but most stop short of calling the overhead effect truly convincing.
Do I need eARC for Dolby Atmos on the Beam Gen 2?
Usually yes for the fullest Atmos support. Several reviews say eARC is the key connection for higher-bandwidth Atmos formats, while optical rules Atmos out and older TVs may be limited.
Can the Beam Gen 2 work with older TVs?
Yes, to a point. Reviews note ARC and the included HDMI-to-optical adapter help with older sets, but using optical or older TV connections can reduce format support.
Does the Beam Gen 2 have Bluetooth?
No. Multiple reviews explicitly say Bluetooth is not supported, so wireless playback is centered on Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and the Sonos ecosystem.
Can I upgrade it later with a subwoofer or rear speakers?
Yes. That is one of its biggest strengths in the reviews, which repeatedly describe easy pairing with Sonos subs and rear speakers for a more complete home-theater setup.
Expert Reviews We Analyzed
Video Reviews
Article Reviews
Consider This Instead
If you want better Video passthrough support
Choose Samsung HW-Q990D Soundbar. It scores 4.8 vs 1.5 for Video passthrough support, with a 4.4 overall score.
If you want better Dolby Atmos height effects
Choose JBL Bar 1300X Soundbar. It scores 4.8 vs 3.0 for Dolby Atmos height effects, with a 4.2 overall score.
If you want better Wired input
Choose Bluesound Pulse Cinema Soundbar. It scores 4.8 vs 3.8 for Wired input, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Soundstage height
Choose Sonos Arc Soundbar. It scores 4.4 vs 3.4 for Soundstage height, with a 4.0 overall score.
Overall Top Sound Bars Alternatives
Choose the HW-Q990F for blockbuster-style, room-filling Atmos from an easy four-piece kit; Skip it if you are chasing the best dialogue and music refinement for the money or...
Pros: Audio format support, Cohesive presentation, AirPlay compatibility, Latency with TV (lip sync), HDMI 2.1 gaming, Video passthrough support, Chromecast compatibility
Cons: none
Choose the HW-Q990D if you want a huge Dolby Atmos bubble plus HDMI 2.1 passthrough for PS5/Xbox. Skip it if you don’t need those gaming ports and would...
Pros: Multi-speaker pairing reliability, Audio format support, Loudness / maximum volume, Video passthrough support, Surround sound simulation, HDMI ARC), Cohesive presentation
Cons: Status indicators
Choose the JBL Bar 500MK2 for big bass, clear dialogue, and convincing surround without rear speakers; Skip if you want dramatic true height effects or need HDMI 2.1/4K120...
Pros: Spotify Connect reliability, Frequency response balance, Loudness / maximum volume, HDMI ARC), AirPlay compatibility, Chromecast compatibility, Wired input availability
Cons: Smart assistant integration (Alexa
Choose it for huge, immersive movie sound and unusually flexible wireless rears. Skip it if music fidelity or HDMI 2.1 gaming matters more than bass-heavy home theater punch.
Pros: Loudness / maximum volume, Detail retrieval, Audio format support, AirPlay compatibility, Chromecast compatibility, HDMI ARC), Dynamic headroom
Cons: HDMI 2.1 gaming, Cabinet construction / bracing, EQ customization, Latency with TV (lip sync), Gaming HDMI passthrough, Bluetooth connection stability