The mid-range Sonos Beam’s ultra-wide soundstage, crystal-clear dialogues, remarkably low latency, and seamless accessibility through IR remote and app make it ideal for music-listening and dialogue-focused and casual movies. However, its constrained bass, subpar surround, and zero EQ presets could disappoint cinephiles seeking serious immersion.
The Sonos Beam is a mid-range 3.0 soundbar that hit the market in 2018, delivering deep bass for TVs. It has a remarkably compact design, standing out amongst the highest-rated speakers on the market today.
It punches above its weight with the room correction feature, optimizing the sound reproduction based on the room’s acoustic qualities. With built-in Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and the companion mobile app, this system is easy to control remotely.
It also offers Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay for streaming. It has an incredibly low latency over all ports, eliminating any lags between audio and video feeds during movie dialogue scenes. Connectivity options include HDMI ARC, optical, and Ethernet.
This system gets remarkably loud, achieving a top SPL of 94.1 dB. However, like most 3.0 soundbars, it downmixes surround sound to stereo, and it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, so it has a poor 3D soundstage for movies.
It also lacks a dedicated subwoofer, so it doesn’t produce the deep, extended low bass that many movie and music lovers crave. Continue reading to see how the Sonos Beam compares with the finest soundbars on the market today.
Best For
PC
Consensus
our Verdict
The Sonos Beam soundbar lacks Bluetooth connectivity and Full HDMI In but features a dependable HDMI ARC port and an Optical Audio Adapter (useful for TVs with only optical output).
Audio is disturbance-free and tested latency is impressive (-14ms through ARC and 0ms through Optical).
Thanks to its side-firing speakers and center channel, the soundstage feels ultra-wide. Dialogues are clear because of the reasonably balanced sound, but it lacks satisfying thump, and the surround performance is hardly immersive for movies.
Although there’s no remote, you can seamlessly sync your TV’s IR remote with the soundbar, and despite the soundbar’s plasticky exterior, it feels durable.
Input commands are responsive, but customizable EQ presets are missing. Lastly, the Sonos 2 app offers streamlined control access to the soundbar through your smart device.
Reason to Buy
Great sound quality
The Sonos Beam is great for dialogue-oriented content, like TV shows, because of its reasonably neutral sound signature, while the slightly overemphasized treble enhances high-pitched vocals. Moreover, thanks to its side-firing speakers and center channel, the stereo soundstage feels ultra-wide.
Excellent voice clarity
Voice clarity is excellent thanks to the well-balanced mids. The dedicated center channel makes dialogues feel like they’re emerging from specific points, enhancing the immersion.
Outstanding smart features
The Sonos 2 app offers streamlined control access to the soundbar through your smart device. And it’s equipped with Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free management.
Satisfactory connectivity options and low latency
It features a high-speed HDMI eARC with a latency of -14 ms, which is among the best tested. Although there’s no Optical port, it includes an Optical Audio Adapter that connects through eARC, making it perfect for older TVs with just an Optical output. The 0 ms latency through Optical is again one of our lowest tested.
Reason to Avoid
Subpar surround performance and missing Atmos
Surround performance isn’t immersive because this is a 3.0 setup that downmixes surround sound to stereo. Sounds feel like they’re coming from in front of you rather than all around you. Plus, if you’re into action movies, the absence of Atmos will make the experience less engaging.
No thumpy bass range
Without a subwoofer, the audio lacks a satisfying thump. Although you can adjust it with the bass adjustment feature, it will still lack deep rumbles.
No Full HDMI and EQ presets
The soundbar can’t be used as a central hub for connecting various devices without a Full HDMI In. Moreover, the lack of EQ presets makes adjusting the sound profile inconvenient.
Sonos Beam Specs
Bluetooth Enabled
No
Depth
3.9"
Dialogue Enhancement Feature
Yes
Energy Star Certified
No
Equalizer Settings
n/a
HDMI ARC
Yes
Height
2.7"
Number of Audio Channels
3
Subwoofer
No
Voice Assistant
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
Wall Mountable
Yes
Weight
6.3 lbs
Width
25.6"
Wireless Connectivity
HDMI
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Yes
Works With
Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant
All Specs
Test Results
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The Sonos Beam is a mid-range 3.0 soundbar that hit the market in 2018, delivering deep bass for TVs. It has a remarkably compact design,…
The Sonos Beam is a mid-range 3.0 soundbar that hit the market in 2018, delivering deep bass for TVs. It has a remarkably compact design, standing out amongst the highest-rated speakers on the market today.
It punches above its weight with the room correction feature, optimizing the sound reproduction based on the room’s acoustic qualities. With built-in Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and the companion mobile app, this system is easy to control remotely.
It also offers Wi-Fi and Apple AirPlay for streaming. It has an incredibly low latency over all ports, eliminating any lags between audio and video feeds during movie dialogue scenes. Connectivity options include HDMI ARC, optical, and Ethernet.
This system gets remarkably loud, achieving a top SPL of 94.1 dB. However, like most 3.0 soundbars, it downmixes surround sound to stereo, and it doesn’t support Dolby Atmos, so it has a poor 3D soundstage for movies.
It also lacks a dedicated subwoofer, so it doesn’t produce the deep, extended low bass that many movie and music lovers crave. Continue reading to see how the Sonos Beam compares with the finest soundbars on the market today.
With the 5.0 setup, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 provides a better surround soundstage than the Sonos Beam. It also supports Dolby Atmos, unlike the…
With the 5.0 setup, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 provides a better surround soundstage than the Sonos Beam. It also supports Dolby Atmos, unlike the Sonos Beam. That said, the Sonos Beam achieves a 94.1 dB maximum SPL, getting much louder than the Sonos Beam Gen 2, which only manages a maximum SPL of 89.4 dB. Check out our Sonos Beam Gen 2 review to learn more.
While the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 can connect wirelessly to devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the Sonos Beam doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity. It also has…
While the Bose Smart Soundbar 700 can connect wirelessly to devices via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, the Sonos Beam doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity. It also has a higher 95.9 dB maximum SPL, getting louder than the 94.1 dB SPL of the Sonos Beam.
With built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, the Sonos Beam is smarter than the Sony HT-G700, which doesn’t have built-in voice assistants. It also has…
With built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, the Sonos Beam is smarter than the Sony HT-G700, which doesn’t have built-in voice assistants. It also has a wider stereo soundstage and a room correction feature, unlike the Sony HT-G700. However, the Sony HT-G700 offers a better surround soundstage and supports Dolby Atmos, unlike the Sonos Beam.
