YouTube - Archway Tech
- Review score
- 4.0
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Soundbar Review
Bottom Line
Choose the Sonos Beam Gen 2 for compact, stylish TV sound with excellent dialogue, easy setup, and upgradeable Sonos surround. Skip it if you need true overhead Atmos, built-in Bluetooth, HDMI passthrough, or deep subwoofer bass without add-ons.
Best for
Best for small to medium rooms, smaller TVs, apartments, and Sonos users who want clear dialogue, compact styling, easy setup, and the option to add surrounds or a Sub later.
Not for
Not for buyers who want true overhead Atmos, Bluetooth playback, multiple HDMI inputs or passthrough, deep standalone bass, or a low-cost full surround package.
Verdict
Across the review set, the Beam Gen 2 earns its reputation as a compact soundbar that sounds bigger, clearer, and more spacious than its size suggests. Dialogue clarity, tonal balance, setup simplicity, app control, and Sonos ecosystem expansion are the strongest recurring positives. The tradeoff is that its Dolby Atmos is largely virtual: reviewers often enjoyed the added width and immersion, but many found overhead height effects subtle or unconvincing compared with bars using upfiring drivers. Bass is punchy enough for small to medium rooms, yet deep rumble usually depends on adding a Sub. The limited port selection, no HDMI passthrough, no Bluetooth, and iOS-only TruePlay caveat keep it from being a universal fit.
Feature Scorecards
Summary
41 reviewed features- Very positive 4.5-5.0 44% 18 features
- Positive 3.5-4.4 44% 18 features
- Neutral 2.5-3.4 7% 3 features
- Negative 1.5-2.4 5% 2 features
- Very negative below 1.5 0% 0 features
Pros
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Touch controls were praised as responsive and intuitive, though most reviewers expected users to rely more on app or TV remote control.
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One detailed review praised driver handoff and coherence, describing a seamless presentation across the soundfield.
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One review strongly praised Sonos multi-speaker syncing, describing add-on speakers as simple to connect and keep in sync.
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TV connection stability was praised in one review, which reported no missed beats during streaming tests.
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Voice recognition accuracy was praised in one review, where far-field microphones heard commands from across a large room.
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Setup was one of the clearest strengths, repeatedly described as quick, painless, simple, or only a few minutes long.
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Dynamic headroom was strong for the size, with reviewers praising wide dynamic range, punch, and convincing jumps in intensity.
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Lip-sync and TV latency were praised, with reviews noting minimal lag, flawless syncing, or excellent measured performance.
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Dialogue clarity was one of the strongest points across reviews, with repeated praise for clear, accurate, and easy-to-follow speech.
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Reviewers consistently described the tonal balance as clear, robust, refined, and larger than expected for the Beam’s size.
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The Beam’s compact, stylish look was a major strength, with reviewers praising its clean appearance and room-friendly footprint.
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Detail retrieval was repeatedly praised, with reviewers calling out nuance, timbre, transients, and small sound effects.
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HDMI ARC/eARC was strongly praised for richer format support, easier setup, and reduced sync issues with TVs and game consoles.
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Inter-speaker connectivity was a Sonos strength, with reviewers praising easy syncing, grouping, and wireless expansion.
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Vocal reproduction was praised in music and TV contexts, with reviewers noting clearer, more natural voices than expected from a compact soundbar.
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Microphone quality was praised for clarity and far-field voice use, supporting both voice assistants and Sonos control.
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On-device controls were praised in one review for working well directly on the unit.
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One reviewer praised Sonos for using sustainable packaging without surface foam.
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Surround simulation was widely liked for width and immersion, though it still falls short of discrete rear-speaker systems.
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Home theater integration was a major Sonos advantage, especially the ability to add a Sub, surrounds, or other Sonos speakers over time.
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The Sonos app was mostly praised as stable, polished, and easy to use, with one reviewer noting it can feel confusing at first.
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Build quality was praised for the durable polycarbonate grille, premium feel, and improved ease of cleaning versus fabric.
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Smart features were considered broad and useful, combining ecosystem streaming, voice support, app control, and expandable home-audio options.
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Remote usability was strong when using a TV or Apple TV remote, but the lack of a dedicated remote was still a minor drawback.
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Voice assistant responsiveness was generally praised, with reviewers saying commands worked reliably even in active listening environments.
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Most reviewers judged the Beam Gen 2 as strong value for a compact Sonos soundbar, though some disliked the upgrade cost or add-on expense.
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Most reviewers found the Beam composed at normal-to-loud levels, with only one noting compression or distortion when pushed above roughly 80 dB.
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TruePlay room calibration was often praised for improving clarity and spatial performance, but Android exclusion remained a common caveat.
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Audio format support was treated as a meaningful upgrade, especially for Atmos, eARC-era formats, and expanded surround decoding.
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Night mode was praised in one review for reducing sudden loud effects and making late-night viewing easier.
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Smart assistant integration was framed positively for users who want built-in Alexa or Google-style control in the soundbar.
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Maximum volume is generally strong for a compact bar and enough for smaller spaces, though it is not as powerful as larger Sonos options.
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Atmos processing was usually considered impressive for the size, but reviewers also warned it is virtual and not fully convincing overhead.
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Imaging and placement were praised for width and perspective, but music stereo separation remains limited by the single-bar form factor.
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Bass is punchy and satisfying for the size, but reviewers agree deep rumble usually requires adding a Sonos Sub or choosing a larger setup.
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EQ customization is useful but basic; reviewers liked bass/treble adjustment while noting the absence of a full EQ.
Cons
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Soundstage height was the most mixed area: reviewers heard some height, but many said true overhead effects were limited or unconvincing.
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Wired input options were a recurring weakness because reviewers found the physical port selection limited, especially with only one HDMI port.
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Optical input is useful for older TVs, but reviewers noted it blocks Dolby Atmos playback, making it a fallback rather than the best connection.
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Video passthrough was a clear weakness because many reviewers criticized the absence of HDMI passthrough or spare HDMI inputs.
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Reviewers repeatedly treated the lack of Bluetooth as a real limitation, especially for users who want direct, app-free playback from varied devices.
Compared With Category Average
Compared with other Soundbars, this product is above average in TV connection stability, Frequency response balance, Control button responsiveness, below average in Bluetooth connectivity, Wired input, Soundstage height.
Summary
8 compared features- Above average 0.4+ pts higher 63% 5 features
- Same as average within 0.3 pts 0% 0 features
- Below average 0.4+ pts lower 38% 3 features
| Attribute | This product | Category average | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| TV connection stability | 4.8 | 2.6 | +2.2 |
| Bluetooth connectivity | 2.0 | 3.8 | -1.8 |
| Wired input | 2.7 | 4.0 | -1.3 |
| Soundstage height | 2.9 | 3.9 | -1.0 |
| Frequency response balance | 4.6 | 3.9 | +0.7 |
| Control button responsiveness | 4.8 | 3.8 | +1.0 |
| Dolby Atmos height effects | 4.0 | 3.3 | +0.6 |
| AI Room Calibration | 4.2 | 3.5 | +0.6 |
FAQ
Does the Sonos Beam Gen 2 have convincing Dolby Atmos?
Reviewers generally liked its virtual Atmos width and immersion, but many said overhead height effects were subtle or not fully convincing without upfiring drivers.
Is dialogue clear on the Beam Gen 2?
Yes. Dialogue clarity was one of the strongest recurring positives, with reviewers repeatedly describing speech and vocals as clear, accurate, and easy to follow.
Does it need a subwoofer?
Not for many small or medium rooms. Reviewers found the bass punchy for its size, but deep rumble and stronger movie impact usually require adding a Sonos Sub.
Is setup easy?
Yes. Reviews repeatedly described setup as quick, painless, or only a few minutes long, especially through the Sonos app and HDMI connection.
What are the main connectivity drawbacks?
The major drawbacks are no Bluetooth and no HDMI passthrough or spare HDMI input. Several reviewers also noted that optical input blocks Atmos playback.
Is TruePlay worth using?
Reviewers generally said TruePlay improved clarity or room fit, but they criticized its iOS-only limitation because Android users cannot run it.
Sample Expert Reviews We Analyzed
These are a few of the reviews included in our analysis.
Video Reviews
YouTube - Andrew Robinson
- Review score
- 3.9
Article Reviews
engadget.com
- Review score
- 4.3
whathifi.com
- Review score
- 4.6
Compared in Reviews
Products reviewers directly compared with this model, grouped into quick takeaways.
sonos arc
- Better: Atmos performance The Sonos Arc is named as a standalone bar with better Atmos performance, at higher cost and size.
- Worse: dialogue clarity The Beam Gen 2 is said to outclass the Sonos Arc for dialogue clarity.
- Better: upgrade path for original Beam owners The reviewer advises original Beam owners to save for the Sonos Arc instead of upgrading to Beam Gen 2.
Arc
- Better: size, soundstage, and power The Arc is described as broader and better overall, though at a higher price.
Arc Ultra
- Better: best-of-best immersion and performance The Beam remains strong for smaller rooms, but the Arc Ultra is said to offer a better high-end package.
Consider This Instead
If you want better Soundstage height
Choose Sonos Beam (Gen 1). It scores 4.5 vs 2.9 for Soundstage height, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better optical
Choose Samsung HW-B650 Soundbar. It scores 4.5 vs 2.5 for optical, with a 4.0 overall score.
If you want better Dolby Atmos height effects
Choose Sonos Arc Soundbar. It scores 4.9 vs 4.0 for Dolby Atmos height effects, with a 4.1 overall score.
If you want better Video passthrough support
Choose Samsung HW-Q990D Soundbar. It scores 4.4 vs 2.3 for Video passthrough support, with a 4.1 overall score.
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