True Score Methodology v1.0

Sonos Beam Gen 2 Review

Name: Sonos Beam Gen 2
Brand: Sonos

August 21, 2023

True Score

84

Absolutely Fresh

86

17

Experts

86

5.38k

Consumers

Expert Rankings

(

17

)

With a decent 5.0 configuration, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivers decent Dolby Atmos and surround soundstage that will appeal to people who love movies, TV shows, and music enthusiasts. However, the bass is not very deep.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Compact Smart Sound Bar with Dolby Atmos (Black)

$476.27

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Table of Contents

The Snapshot
What Is Not On the Box
Product Comparison
All Stores
Score Card
Expert Score Breakdown
Learn More About Soundbar

The Snapshot

our Verdict

Product editors love the smart features and Dolby Atmos performance of the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), endorsing it for TV shows and casual music and movie playback. Critics from Android Central were delighted by its Dolby Surround soundstage during their testing, saying it gives pretty immersive content. Experts from PCMag love its neutral sound profile and bass and treble sliders, which makes adjusting the music profile is. However, this system doesn’t have a dedicated subwoofer, so the bass is not deep enough for some music and movie enthusiasts. On the flip side, it has a very low audio latency, so it will…

Product editors love the smart features and Dolby Atmos performance of the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), endorsing it for TV shows and casual music and movie playback. Critics from Android Central were delighted by its Dolby Surround soundstage during their testing, saying it gives pretty immersive content.

Experts from PCMag love its neutral sound profile and bass and treble sliders, which makes adjusting the music profile is. However, this system doesn’t have a dedicated subwoofer, so the bass is not deep enough for some music and movie enthusiasts.

On the flip side, it has a very low audio latency, so it will cater to people who love TV dialogue. A room correction feature adjusts the settings automatically. This system also has built-in Alexa and built-in Google Assistant and comes with a mobile app for effortless management.

It has built-in Apple Airplay and Wi-Fi, but lacks support for Bluetooth.

if you need a more affordable 2.0 Soundbar, check out our Roku Streambar review.

True Score

84

Reasons to Buy

Decent Dolby Atmos and surround soundstage makes for great movie watching
Bass and treble sliders and room correction feature enable hassle-free customization
Built-in Alexa and Google Assistant and mobile app enable is a control
Super -ow audio latency is great for TV shows
Well-balanced sound profile and bass and treble adjustments

Reasons to Avoid

Doesn't have extended low bass
System doesn't get so loud
Lacks Bluetooth streaming
Doesn't have a graphic equalizer

Specifications

Depth
–
Dialogue Enhancement Feature
–
HDMI ARC
–
Height
–
Subwoofer
–
Surround Sound Supported
–
Voice Assistant
–
Wall Mountable
–
Weight
–
Width
–
Wireless Connectivity
Wi-Fi
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
–
Works With
–

What Is Not On the Box

What the brand doesn’t always tell you…

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a mid-range 5.0 soundbar that made its debut in 2022, offering Dolby Atmos and smart features for home theaters. It has advanced features similar to the highest-rated speakers today.

This model has built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant and iOS and Android mobile apps, providing smart controls. With an optical in, HDMI ARC, and Ethernet ports, it connects easily to a wide variety of TVs. Super-low audio latency provides flawless dialogue.

Wireless connectivity options include Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay, although it sadly does not have built-in Bluetooth. Although this unit has a good stereo soundstage and boasts a decent surround and Dolby Atmos performance, it doesn’t perform as well as higher-end models with satellite speakers.

It also lacks a dedicated subwoofer, so the bass is not very deep. With a top 89.4 dB SPL, it doesn’t get very loud. Learn more about the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) below and see how it stacks up against the most popular soundbars in the industry today.

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Product Comparison

	Sonos Beam Gen 2 Review	Sonos Arc With Sub One Sl Speakers Review
True Score	84	85
Market Context	–	With a 5.0.2 setup, the Sonos Arc With Sub + One SL Speakers provides better Atmos performance than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). It also produces deeper extended low bass than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). That said, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is more compact. Check out our Sonos Arc With Sub + One SL Speakers review to learn more. Read more ↓	Featuring a 5.0 configuration, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) provides a better Dolby and surround soundstage than the 3.0 Sonos Beam review. However, the Sonos Beam has a slightly higher at 9.4 dB maximum SPL, getting louder than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), which achieves a maximum SPL of 89.4 dB. Learn more about the 3.0 device in our Sonos Beam review now. Read more ↓	With the 5.0 setup, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) has a better surround soundstage than the Bose Smart Soundbar 300, which has a 3.0 setup. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) also supports Dolby Atmos, unlike the Bose Smart Soundbar 300. That said, the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 supports Bluetooth, unlike the Beam. Read more ↓
Voice Assistant
Surround Sound Supported
Wireless Connectivity
Bluetooth Enabled
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Dig Deeper	–	Read Review →

All Stores

$476.27
Availability
In Stock
Free Shipping
No
See Deal
$499.00
Availability
In Stock
Free Shipping
No
See Deal

Score Card

E

Expert Score

86

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

86

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

84

Any product with a True Score above 80 is a Absolutely Fresh

Expert Score Breakdown

Publications with higher Trust Scores are given more weight

A
Trust Score
74
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is satisfactory for mixed usage. This 5.0 setup offers a… read more
D
Trust Score
90
A step up from the previous model, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) adds an extra… read more
D
Trust Score
80
The second-generation Sonos Beam soundbar adds Dolby Atmos support and two more audio processing channels,… read more
D
Trust Score
80
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) soundbar delivers sophisticated sound in a small package. A bounty… read more
D
Trust Score
81
All-in-one system offers astoundingly wide sound, Choice of Alexa or Google Assistant onboard, One of… read more
D
Trust Score
NR
What’s even better, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 can be expanded into a more complete… read more