Sonos Beam (Gen 2) soundbar review: Dolby Atmos at a compact price

Data sheet Design Configuration Application Audio Price and availability ConclusionCommentsSee the product sheetAvailable for €499

After a rather convincing first generation with its more compact format than its usual soundbar, we tested the Sonos Beam 2 which takes up the successful recipe of the first version and adds some small notable improvements, in particular Dolby Atmos. What to seduce buyers and bring them into the Sonos fold?

The Sonos Beam soundbar (Gen 2) // Source: Sonos

After trying out the massive PlayBar and PlayBase, Sonos launched a compact, yet powerful soundbar three years ago with the Sonos Beam. For those looking for high-end audio quality, the sound specialist then drew the Sonos Arc ready for Dolby Atmos and enveloping 3D sound, broadcast throughout the room without necessarily over-equipping.

But now, the Arc is no longer the only one to be able to boast of Dolby Atmos. The Beam (2nd generation) is also entitled to it. A major novelty that adds to the small soundbar format, the price of which is rising again, but remains half the price of the Sonos Arc. A hell of a bet...

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)Data sheet

This test was carried out using a device lent by the brand.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)Almost unchanged design, but more premium

We take almost the same one and we start again. At first glance, the Sonos Beam 2 looks like the first Sonos Beam of the name. Almost the same dimensions (651 x 100 x 69 mm against 68.5 mm in height previously), the same elongated design rounded at the ends and the same rather dense weight (2.8 kg). But the Beam 2 has the same look.

The Sonos Beam 2 (above) has the same size as its predecessor // Source: FRANDROID — Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

This time, Sonos had the good idea to abandon its fabric covering to go and steal its acoustic polycarbonate grille from the Sonos Arc with the flocked logo on the front. It's much less messy and easier to clean, especially if you take it in white like us.

With its new style, the Sonos Beam is also more elegant and, if you have Sonos One speakers to complete a possible Home Cinema, it will be a much better match.

On the slightly curved surface of the top, there are tactile buttons to play and pause, raise or lower the volume, mute or mute the microphone. An LED lights up white to help you with setup or to indicate that your voice assistant is active. At the back, there are minimal connectors (Ethernet, HDMI, power supply) as well as the configuration button.

The back of the Sonos Beam (top) and the Sonos Beam 2nd gen (bottom) // Source: FRANDROID – Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

Sonos has finally matched the supplied HDMI and power cables to the color of the soundbar. In our case, they are therefore white and this is the best effect, compared to the previous black cables which denoted a little. It's very simple, but it gives an even more premium effect to the already very good overall finish.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)A multi-possibility configuration

To install the Sonos Beam, you therefore have a power supply cable, the possibility of connecting your soundbar to Ethernet or Wifi. This is one of Sonos' trademarks: with the exception of the Roam and Move portable speakers, Bluetooth is never relevant in terms of the connections offered. And that does not change on this 2nd generation.

The HDMI cable will allow you to connect the Beam to your television or any other intermediary. We also regret that there is only one HDMI port on the soundbar, in case you wanted to connect other devices directly to the Beam. Everything finally goes through the screen to which it is connected and on which, in fact, it condemns an HDMI port.

How to treat postpartum depression naturopathically: diet, herbs, lifestyle, supplements, massage with aromatherapy… https://t.co/N6ArthSEPI

— Erica Svea Eckstrand, Naturopathic Medical Intern Thu Feb 08 19:21:35 +0000 2018

The touch controls of the Sonos Beam 2 bar are above // ​​Source: FRANDROID – Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

And if you have an eARC socket on your TV, you will be able to benefit even more from the advances of this new HDMI eARC compatible soundbar and allows you to support new audio formats.

The Sonos Beam also works with AirPlay 2 so you can stream your content from your iPhone. Nothing could be easier, because the speaker appears in the list of available devices on your Apple devices.

The Sonos Beam 2 finally has matching cables // Source: FRANDROID – Melinda DAVAN-SOULAS

Like any Sonos product, you can obviously add it to a multiroom system to start listening to content on your Beam, then continue on another speaker in another room or make it work together with other compatible devices to broadcast the same title or the same program throughout the house.

To configure the Sonos Beam, you have to rely on the Sonos application (S2). It is through her that everything will happen. As always with the American brand, it's quite fluid and intuitive, each step perfectly marked out, and even more so if you're on iOS. Because the Sonos Beam has added NFC technology (already seen in the configuration of the Sonos Roam).

Sonos S2

Apple and Sonos have long since established a partnership that greatly facilitates configuration with an iPhone that is recognized in NFC and can thus automatically transfer its settings to the device, especially for the wifi connection. Just approach it to the soundbar and find the right area. It's a pity that there is no precise zone indication and you have to feel your way a little before making the connection on the top. Thereafter, the whole process is perfectly explained to complete the configuration. For Android users, it's a little less simple. But, rest assured, nothing insurmountable or too complicated.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)The little extras of the application

As often, the Sonos S2 app is a real asset for users of Sonos products. So, of course, the range, like Apple, tends to live in a vacuum and offers very little or no opening to the outside. But what it does, it does well and with consumer welfare in mind to make it simple to do.

Thus, the application offers to add a voice assistant to your Sonos Beam, as on many brand products. You still have the choice between Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa. You can also adjust the sound (surround, equalizer, limitation, etc.), adjust the parameters related to your TV (automatic playback, synchronization, sound delay, etc.).

It will then be possible to use Trueplay, the Sonos technology for calibrating sound according to the layout of the room. It's about using your smartphone while moving around the room to detect the location of the walls that will reverberate the sound, the corners, the height of the ceiling so that the sound better knows how to distribute itself.

You should know that Sonos does not provide a remote control with its soundbar. You therefore have the tactile buttons on the top, but also the possibility of calibrating your usual TV or box remote control so that it supports the sound of the Beam on your screen.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)Audio: Dolby Atmos finally

This is the focal point of this soundbar and the heart of its new version. Of course, saying that about such a product may seem quite banal. Yet this is where Sonos has focused its efforts. The Beam was already an excellent device, offering powerful sound in a compact format. The second generation rises in rank. It adopts more immersive sound technology without radically changing.

There are five speakers on the 2nd generation Beam (compared to 11 on the Sonos Arc and 3 on the previous generation). The Sonos Beam already offered powerful sound without forcing. The newcomer does the same with a still enveloping sound including bass that is present, but not too marked, which allows you to avoid adding a dedicated subwoofer.

The improvements are also due to the presence of a faster processor which will coordinate the loudspeakers much more efficiently, in particular the two new ones dedicated to ambience and pitch information "which apply psychoacoustic techniques based on time and frequency ". In summary, this serves to separate ear level and overhead audio when watching a movie.

Source: Sonos

Once connected to your TV, the Beam replaces the built-in speakers that go silent. The voices are detailed and well in relief, the sound very clear and immersive. The addition of Dolby Atmos also makes it possible to bring verticality. This is especially visible in video games or in action movies with a lot of activity (car chase, battle sounds, etc.). It is the strength of Dolby Atmos to offer a sound that is intended to be 3D.

If you owned a Beam 1, we won't lie to each other, you won't be amazed by the difference, especially if you added Sonos One type speakers to the back of your sofa to accompany it. Everything already offered a very high quality Home Cinema.

Alone, the Beam 2 nevertheless presents a sound that perfectly fills the room in every corner. If you don't have additional equipment, it does the job perfectly. Too bad, on the other hand, not to find any trace of compatibility with the DTS which would have made a good complement. Sonos has however announced that it will arrive by the end of 2021, but it will not be DTS:X. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD compatible.

By the end of the year, Sonos will add Amazon Music UHD audio for listening to lossless music (24-bit/48 kHz), as well as Dolby Atmos Music. This is another immersive audio format. Amazon Music Ultra HD will be available on all products using the Sonos S2 app. Dolby Atmos Music will be reserved for Arc and Beam (Gen 2) bars.

Source: FRANDROID

As a reminder, all Sonos speakers and soundbars also benefit from in-house services such as access to more than 80,000 radio stations around the world, Sonos radios with specific programming, Sonos Radio HD and its lossless content. You can also enjoy your Spotify or Apple Music services (subscription not included).

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)Pricing and availability

The Sonos Beam will be available in white or black at a price of 499 euros.