Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review: What Have They Done?! 🤯

[@jb7753]

Top review..... was able to pick up the difference on the sound quality during the test, well done getting that through!!!! Keep up the good work.

[@smarthomesounds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@James-dq1uy]

I have a full sonos surround setup for my theatre room. Just picked up this for better sound quality in my living room. Great review!

[@smarthomesounds]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@arebrec]

I can't think how this review could have been done any better...and that is rare for me. Great watch. Just bought one of these by the way. Not delivered yet as DPD suck.

[@juanrios-lm3it]

How i went?

[@DeadMiner911]

Here’s me, working for Sonos, very impressed with the review. Perfect capture of its features and capabilities.

[@Mike-fi3xd]

I just recently picked up the ARC and Sub. I can say without a doubt, the sub adds a lot to the overall audio experience. If the Beam is as close to the ARC as you say, I think most people are going to be happy either way, but if you can, I'd say go the extra mile and add the sub and rears. I recently downsized in homes and am coming from a standard 5.1 surround sound that cost about 10 times what I've paid for the SONOS and I can honestly say you will be happy with new SONOS products... I am shocked at how well they perform.

[@elektricdrop]

We got the ARC, but went to a friend who had the Beam and I was really impressed with how good the Beam was and thought it was nearly as good. The price point of the Beam is much more competitive, I think the Arc is a bit expensive for what it is.

[@ryanmcdonnell9865]

Highly recommend pairing the new Beam with the 2 Sonos SL as surround speakers, it sounds EPIC when they are all firing

[@derekaw]

and the sonos woofer

[@xAfroMetalHead1990x]

Too bad it costs damn near 1800 bucks to do that

[@Sandrinarhonda]

@@xAfroMetalHead1990x honestly LMAOOOO I would get the Ray for the bedroom and the beam for the living room

[@kevindizon]

@@xAfroMetalHead1990x You don't have to buy them all at the same time. Sound bar, then sub, then surround speakers.

[@stephanos2758]

@@xAfroMetalHead1990x you don't have to purchase them all together.. that's the beauty of sonos. soundbar first, subw second and then fill your room with surround speakers

[@ianhowlett9906]

Really balanced, honest review. Thank you!

[@antbrooks1625]

Now this right here is a textbook example of a great tech review.

[@Davey_01]

I bought one and I am blown away! I connected my Sonos play one speakers as surrounds and with DTS surround it is amazing. For its size I am amazed with the sound that comes out of it. Can’t wait for a sub mini. To anyone thinking of getting one, do.. I love it! Thanks for the brilliant reviews 👍🏻

[@clemleg123]

Sorry for the stupid question but isn't atmos meant to remove the need for surround speakers?

[@mattvmani]

Just want to second this. I don’t have the surrounds yet but just bought the sub for tomorrow! I have had the Bose 700 before and a fancy LG atmos set and the clarity out of the Beam 2 is simply a cut above. I see people harping Bose is better and while Bose for their 500 bar can generate an overall warmer bass in the mid and lower range the rest of the sound gets muddied in there. I have a hearing loss equal in both ears and that clarity (not talking treble but ability to distinguish all the sounds) is critical for me . Otherwise I have to turn the entire thing up on the Bose which just makes everything too loud. Our LG sounds mini to this and it was their $700+ first atmos set. We don’t have the room for the arc nor did I want something that big on the wall. The beam 2 is just excellent.

[@vincevirtua]

I'm mildly frustrated having bought the Arc only a couple months ago purely for the Atmos sound. I'd have made do with a Beam otherwise for its more compact form. The Arc is nice sounding, though.

[@lorenzohardy5212]

The arc is next level

[@paulgal]

Arc will be so much better I bought this and I’m returning it very underwhelming.

[@Hyper1555]

@@lorenzohardy5212 amazed me for a soundbar!

[@ChirantanMandal]

Very comprehensive. It would be nice to see a frequency reproduction graph so that we can understand the sound reproduction levels across different frequency ranges. Thanks anyways for what was a very well rounded review.

[@jdb6284]

our upstairs tv recently moved for... reasons.. and now that it's crammed in my gaming room/home office, i really needed different speakers as it's now a lot more in use. Was gonna order a beam and to my surpise there's now a gen 2. Preordered it straight away. If it's anywhere near my Arc on the living room tv, i'll be more than pleased.

[@paulgal]

It’s not it’s terrible

[@Echoes1910]

Really helpful and well presented review. I’ve just ordered the Gen 2 as a Christmas treat for myself. For my budget the Sonos was the standout choice. I look forward to receiving it.

[@colors6692]

How is it going after 8 months with the Beam?

[@NFTwizardz]

@@colors6692 also like to know this lol how are you liking them? My gen 2 beam and 2 SL are coming this week.

[@rootedrotor525]

@@NFTwizardz And how do you like it?

[@NFTwizardz]

@Rooted Rotor I love my setup, for a small apartment and being a complete junkie for tech is still amazes me daily!

[@grizzlytasbear9716]

I remember the first time I experienced one of these I was high as a kite didn't know the brand until that day had me looking all around the room for raindrops and other sounds was an experience.

[@magicsmoke6000]

I've watch few of your reviews and liking them very much. Well done, subscribed!

[@smarthomesounds]

Much appreciated 👍

[@procrastinatingperfectioni278]

I had and got rid of the first gen beam. There was so many issues with mine I had to. I work away a lot so because I'm only home a couple of weekends a month I don't have WIFI instead using my phone for internet tasks. Unfortunately this means I can't stream to the beam, get updates etc. Why does a modern soundbar not have bluetooth! Also another big problem was the sound it was so average both with the volume for my room, not an especially big room, and expectation of hyped sound that didn't live up to it. It is better than TV speakers but not by a huge amount. And I also had problems with the arc hdmi not turning and also no sound being output so I had to actually go back to the TV sound. However when I go back to my old receiver with its hdmi I don't have these problems. Sonos do have one positive and that's the ease of use through its app. But other than that I would not recommend their gen 1 beam which has some of its negatives on the new gen 2. Also very overpriced in comparison to its opposition which have much better sound.

[@davidrinaldis2351]

One thing I see missing in almost all reviews (for various products) is the size and shape of the AC power brick. Many of these products have adapters that will never fit in recessed receptacles.

[@smarthomesounds]

Good question, we do highlight if there are large power bricks, but one is not required for this product as it’s all internal. Hope this helps.

[@robbaillie118]

The power cord plugs directly into the soundbar - no external brick power supply for these Sonos products.

[@mylovehandles]

If you have high ceiling or a Fan then I would suggest to go for Bean Gen 2 with rear SLs otherwise Arc with SLs.

[@FranticFountain28]

This is one of the best tech reviews I’ve ever watched. Great work! 👏

[@jjg19631]

Quick question… What is the influence of the performance if the beam is positioned in a cabinet, slightly in the rear and partly blocked by two slim ‘pilars’.

[@darrengofton7564]

Adding the Beam 2 to a 55” LG C1…cannot wait! 🙌🏼

[@G_Money_]

how are you liking it? I just bought the beam 2 at Bestbuy for my 77" LG C1

[@darrengofton7564]

@@G_Money_ I absolutely love it, mind you I have also added the Sub Gen 3 and 2 Sonos One’s as rears. I had a Onxyo 5:1 set up and I missed the BASS! It sounds absolutely incredible now 👌🏼

[@darrengofton7564]

@@G_Money_ I’m still waiting for my 55” LG C1, long story! So I haven’t been able to try Dolby Atmos yet so please let me know your thoughts! 👍🏼

[@G_Money_]

I would like to say thank you on your advice. Yesterday I went to Bestbuy and purchased 2 sonos one sl and gen 3 subs. Mann, it sounds incredible.

[@darrengofton7564]

@@G_Money_ awesome! 🙌🏼

[@vipul8859]

Such an informative and comprehensive review. thanks a ton.

[@oobenoob]

This was a very detailed and thorough and well presented review.

[@davidpeganyee]

I consume a lot of KZbin content and honestly this was a very impressive review. You covered all of the most interesting and logical questions an audio file would want to hear about. Do you have my subscription and thank you for the great content. I will do everything to share your work, thank you!

[@smarthomesounds]

Hi David, thanks so much for the fantastic feedback! We work hard on our content so it’s great to hear you enjoyed it. Thanks for the sub and welcome to the community!

[@WM-gr4qi]

Grateful MP3s, huh?

[@mishmishb]

Really really great and in-depth review, good stuff!

[@cryptochrome_original]

Does it make sense to use one of these in a gaming setup, e. g. where you sit really close to it? I figure it can't really do it's "sound field" magic when sitting too close? Any thoughts?

[@josephpatterson911]

Should be using a headset for gaming anyway

[@erikbernard5549]

You da man! Keep going, this channel has wheels brother!

[@dis6900]

Just picked one of these up and I'm shocked by the sound. I returned the Sennheiser Ambeo Plus because it was super glitchy and a tad overrated sound wise. As a bedroom soundbar, the Sonos is awesome. I'd like to pick up the subwoofer next but $430 is a little steep. Great review too!

[@martinsrensen4395]

Thanks for the review. I will use my system for 60% music and 40% tv/movie. Will I be better off with the ARC or Beam + 2 ones? I have a bigger living room and leaning towards the beam + 2 ones as I expect the separation of the speakers will create a bigger stereo image when setup for music. I might at some point consider adding the sub as well. Cheers

[@MarissaWilkins]

I’d vote for Beam and 2 ones to get the surround sound. It’s totally immersive for music listening too. The sub was one of the best investments I personally made to my system on Black Friday deals last year. Best!

[@martinsrensen4395]

@@MarissaWilkins thank you for the recommendation.

[@Ajith984]

Do we get the Bass effect without a subwoofer? or should I go for a Polk Signa S4

[@paulharvey7223]

Sounds very impressive! I have a gen 1 (purchased from Smart home Sounds!) but the increased vocal clarity and Atmos on the gen 2 sounds like it will be just what we need and I’m seriously thinking of purchasing one 😀👍🏻

[@smarthomesounds]

It’s tempting, and if you watch a lot of Atmos content it may be worth the upgrade.

[@davoncci]

Do you need a Subwoofer? Do you think I'd get a great experience without a Subwoofer?

[@brunojr9]

@@davoncci if you have a small room you can easily just spend the money on rear speakers, if you have a medium to big room buy one.

[@AlexManMe]

@@smarthomesounds would I get anything out of it if I have rear speakers already?

[@nielsboth4032]

And did you get the gen 2? And if so, is it worth it?

[@TomO-rw2xd]

I’ve just bought the Beam gen 2 with x2 one sl’s from you guys. Can’t wait to get set up!

[@TheTeek]

Thought this was a dedicated review chanel. But you also sell these products. Really great review. One question.. if you don't want a Sonos SB... what is the best alternative

[@lornemalvo9269]

Just paired this up with my LG C1 48 and Series X. Very happy with this setup in my small area in my spare room for gaming.

[@Yllib999]

i have the c1 65 and xbox series x is the beam gen 2 worth the upgrade from tv audio

[@adambuffrey7966]

Great review, I've also pre ordered this from you guys & am looking forward to trying this out, sounds really great it has exceeded your expectations!

[@Birmingham_racing]

How is it?

[@jimmynich4791]

How is the dolby atmos?

[@sugbarnis]

Would you say it is better to have it on the TV bench or wall mounted? Would it sound equally good?

[@DrAlexLarry]

I have old non-eARC Philips TV, which works great, how could I use it with Sonos and Atmos sources? Should I look for an HDMI splitter or so?

[@tmed827]

Great review- really appreciate the content. I currently have the Gen 1. I use it mostly for music and live concerts on blu ray or dvd. Would it be money well spent to upgrade to Gen 2.?

[@ajcph]

Question. Since you can the google assistant hands free on the Sonos gen 2, won’t it be confusing when you connect it to the A80j or A90j since these 2 Sony models also have a hands free google assistant feature? It’s like talking to 2 assistants at the same time.

[@AlexeyBoyko]

Thank you for the review! Is there any difference in a sound clarity between Arc and Beam-2, as the Arc has 3 tweeters vs one in the Beam gen.2?

[@smarthomesounds]

Hi there, great question! Yes, there is still a noticeable difference in the clarity in the Arc over the Gen 2 Beam as those additional tweeters can provide more layering and detail. However, the Gen 2 Beam definitely closes the gap between the Gen 1 and the Arc for sure. Hope that helps!

[@piyushisalive]

Great review, answering almost all of obvious questions. Fantastic job, as always guys. You are the best in Sonos business.

[@deanmiller6177]

The Beam 2 has better bass though and can stand alone without a subwoofer where as the Arc needs the sub.

[@teezee1000]

I pre-ordered this baby with a 15% discount cant wait to hear it!

[@paulgal]

Where did u get the 15 per cent discount ?

[@teezee1000]

@@paulgal from my job

[@jasonclark5290]

Thanks for the great review. Have never had a surround sound system for TV and have a Beam gen2, 2xOneSL for rears and the sub mini en route to my house right now. From the sounds of your review, I’m gonna be doing pretty well.

[@smarthomesounds]

Thanks! Enjoy your new setup 😊

[@blackcatmagic4090]

Been using a pair of 2nd gen ones for a year for streaming music and have recently updated my tv and added a 2nd gen beam. Music just got better and I am loving 4.1 surround and have got back into watching films. Do I need a sub? Or will that just annoy the neighbours 🤔

[@sergey4162]

You do, believe me. As for myself, I cannot imagine watching movies without a deep bass.

[@dlite1972]

Fantastic review. Thank you 👍🏻

[@PeterCianci]

Well done! You helped me make the right decision!

[@paulrichardson7628]

I've pre-ordered thru you guys and have ebayed my Gen 1 :-) I experienced lip sync issues with the Gen 1, especially in 4K HDR. I'm hoping the new processor will now cope with this. Should I use the HDMI that comes with or invest in a more expensive one?

[@smarthomesounds]

Hi Paul, thanks very much for your pre-order! In most cases, lip sync issues are fixable with a bit of adjustment of the settings of all the devices involved. I would highly recommend using the HDMI cable that comes with the Beam as you won't experience any significant improvements by upgrading the cable. We're all on track for delivery on release day so look out for your notification on Monday! Thanks again.

[@ronedwards8239]

@@smarthomesounds Adjusting the lip sync issues on the first gen was like chasing your tail. And dialogue was not near as good as the hype. This sounds like a big improvement. Maybe 🤔

[@chriswood1149]

The Gen1 had issues of lip sync with SkyQ boxes that you were unable to fix due to the video arriving before the audio (changing audio delay actually makes it worse). Be interesting to see if there are still issues with this Gen2

[@daelra]

Nope. Still had lip sync issues on my Beam as you describe and I don't even have a SkyQ box. As you say, the audio is already delayed so delaying it even more makes things worse.

[@micahpop6656]

The same problem exists with the Gen2. Simple connect hdmi arc to 2022 Samsung Qled tv, but sound from Beam lags behind the video despite all efforts. Im about to return the Beam to store.

[@vivekmohan2585]

Hi, that was very informative. Pardon me for the lack of knowledge regarding the settings on TV. Recently I bought a Sonos bean gen2 and it’s been connected to my Hisense TV via hdmi arc (my tv lacks eARC). The tv shows 3 digital audio out settings; PCM, RAW & Dolby Digital. My doubt is that which one should I choose among RAW & Dolby digital, because sometimes Raw sounds louder when I watch Netflix contents and DD sounds louder when I watch videos or movies on my usb. Please guide me to put the correct audio setting on my tv so that I can get the best from the Sonos beam gen2.

[@Davedub1023]

Really informative review, I'm still a little confused about what to choose, I'm planning on purchasing a new TV later this year (oled 55 inch probably sony a80 or a90) and I have a small living room. I'm leaning towards a beam 2 but the temptation for the arc with the upward drivers is also strong.

[@69kentyboy]

I've also been mulling this over during Christmas and i've just this minute pulled the trigger on the Beam 2. Hopefully it'll be good and I wont regret not getting the Arc

[@mattditaranto6038]

@@69kentyboy have you gotten the Beam in yet? Going back and forth between Beam + 2 One’s vs stand-alone Arc

[@brkfstinbed]

@@69kentyboyany regrets with the beam ?

[@69kentyboy]

@@brkfstinbed Yes. Tried 2 and they both had faults. Ended up building a full blown home theatre with a 'proper' amp and speaker set-up

[@Michael-zn2jc]

It sounds surprisingly good for the size.

[@tonychambers1111]

I've just got a gen 2, having previously had a Bose smart 300 soundbar. I have it connected to a Sony TV and have noticed that I get random sound drops, where for less than a second, there's no sound. The only way I've been able to resolve this is to switch every output and app to PCM. Is this something you have come across, and would using PCM limit the ability of the gen 2?

[@racheltee7688]

Hi there, may I know if the issue has been resolved? And if the soundbar 300 is worth getting?

[@tonychambers1111]

@@racheltee7688 since switching to PCM, I no longer get the drops in sound. Still not sure if it affects the overall quality though. As for the 300. It's decent enough but the sound quality of the gen 2 is a lot better.

[@dashingirishlad]

I'm using the Philips Hue sync box in my eArc hdmi point of my Samsung TV. If I plug the soundbar into the back of the Philips sync box and not directly into the eArc port will I still gey Atmos? Thanks

[@chrisroat380]

One thing I would love to know... How much of a step up is this device compared to the Bose Solo 5 Sound bar. I suspect it's a huge upgrade but I would love some confirmation. Thanks

[@gunar.kroeger]

I wanted to connect this to my laptop, but it seems this does not work with normal hdmi and my monitor doesn't have arc. Any suggestions of a similar soundbar with hdmi in and hdmi passthrough?

[@kaboozle]

I just returned my Arc/sub/2 x one sl system because I didn’t feel like the sound quality justifies the €2100 price tag. Maybe I was hasty. In any case, this feels like a case of “too little too late…”.

[@sergey4162]

Could you please tell us what did you get instead? Thank you

[@miketaylor9787]

Thanks for the review I've pre ordered from you guys but would like to know if I can use symfonisk shelf speakers as rears? Cheers

[@smarthomesounds]

Hi Mike, that’s great thanks, and yes the Symfonisk speakers will work great as rears 👍🏻

[@miketaylor9787]

@@smarthomesounds Thanks for the quick reply I'll order some now cheers.

[@zee300010]

So helpful! Thank you!

[@smarthomesounds]

Glad it was helpful!

[@TheHolidayHunter]

great review from a very clear speaker. Thank you

[@smarthomesounds]

Much appreciated!

[@jakesilv]

Great review, you hit on everything I was concerned about.

[@jessnelmes7460]

Editing is 👌

[@ronvandyke2484]

An amazing review from a guy who works at a company that is trying to sell you sound equipment. I’m not saying that makes this review inaccurate, just saying I’m seeing a lot of people saying take my money. He doesn’t really say much about how well it performs. He just talks about the features.

[@steve-ey4ol]

Have been using the new Sonos voice control which works very well no need to have your phone at hand to change controls with voice control I can just say hey Sonos turn night mode on or turn off and so on The new voice control is great with Apple Music just ask to play an album and it just works - just need to add your albums and playlist to Sonos library and insure Apple Music is your default music streaming service within Sonos. Unfortunately BBC sound’s doesn’t work at present - so much better than have Google or Amazon voice controls on.

[@smarthomesounds]

Thanks for the feedback, and yes we are also looking forward to BBC sounds coming to Sonos Voice.

[@vakama94]

hello, since I see that you have an Apple TV on your setup (and I imagine it is the 4K one) how did you set it up? did you connect it to another HDMI port and the Beam Gen 2 to the eARC port? I'm having a little bit of trouble figuring it out and I'd like to do so before I purchase it. Cheers.

[@sergey4162]

I believe this is the way the ARC/eARC works. The audio signal goes to Sonos (or other audio device) from TV, not from a movie player

[@TheCrazyGolfer]

Do you know if this will work with TCL C635? So i can control the sonos volume with the TCL remotes via HDMI earc? And do I also Get dolby atmos?

[@KiwiPokerPlayer]

Can anyone give me some advice? I just bought an LG C1 48". I held off buying a soundbar before listening to the audio quality of the built-in speakers. They seem pretty good but would something like the Beam be a significant upgrade in sound quality?

[@arsenalfan0417]

I have an lg C1 too. Any soundbar will sound better than just your tvs speakers.

[@Uniqdna]

Absolutely an upgrade, most TV speakers have small drivers and typical face down or back toward the rear of the TV making them relatively poor sound quality in comparison to something like the beam

[@niba9707]

I have a choice between 1 Sonos beam 2gen. Or a Sonos beam 1gen + 2 Sonos one. What would be the choice? I would have space for rear speakers.

[@J.Ballest]

Hey, I recently just got 2 sonos one gen 2’s and now I’m thinking about getting the Beam gen 2 also. But do you think it would be better than my JBL 5.1 sound bar?

[@missj7765]

JBL is terrible, I took mine back today and got the gen 2, stay away from JBL

[@cchan6858]

JBL is actually sucks

[@missj7765]

@@cchan6858 it does! I now have a Sonos beam and 2 speakers and I really like it, glad I took it back the same day lol

[@daelra]

Just bought one but sadly, I'm gonna have to send it back. Relying on just iOS devices for calibration is a dealbreaker for me. I'm not expecting them to be able to deal with all the Android permutations but they should provide a dedicated option of their own calibration microphone or something even if it costs extra. If we can't auto-calibrate it properly, then at least give us sliders in the app for balance, center channel and separation. Also, it doesn't play nice with my Chromecast for Google TV, is lacking DTS support and pretty much everything I tried to stream on it (Amazon Prime, BBC iPlayer) got downmixed to stereo. I managed to get things working properly using Kodi but that's only a tiny portion of what I need out of a soundbar. If you have an iPhone, have a modern TV, only watch modern shows in modern formats, then it might be great for you. For me, it's hot garbage.

[@sovo94]

You only need to do it once… just invite a friend over.

[@daelra]

@@sovo94 That's the Sonos equivalent excuse to Apple's 'You're holding it wrong'. Most of my friends live miles away and I would rather buy something else than have to call someone over every time I move the furniture around. Most of my content got downmixed to PCM Stereo and honestly my £30 Sony speakers sound way better than the Sonos in stereo mode. I'm not going to lie, when the Sonos could read 5.1, it sounded great but unfortunately, the vast majority of stuff I wanted to watch ended as PCM Stereo.

[@gerrylecount2030]

Hi ya I’ve got a question with regards to Dolby atmos height channels. My system is Sonos arc, 2 x sub gen3s and 2 era 300s as rears. I really don’t notice the height effect when using my system. I’ve been thinking about replacing the era 300s with a Sonos amp and in ceiling speakers. Pros and con for going this route please? Thanks in advance Gerry

[@Yrksman]

Superb review likely to save me a lot of money. Thanks.

[@seamusmcgowan1]

Trying to figure out how I would set up my LG BX TV, Apple TV 4K 2021 (requires eArc for atmos), and this sonos beam gen2. I am guessing its not possible to do directly since the ATV 4K 2021 only has one hdmi connector and the TV only has one eArc connector and it sounds like both the 2021 ATV and the beam gen 2 require the use of the eArc port.

[@amiryanuv5650]

I got the beam gen 2 and I couldnt get almost any 3d effect or surround the bass almost dont exist I listned to the yamaha yas-209 and there was very big 3d effect was I wrong to buy the sonos beam?

[@nprinslo]

Cracking review as always. You guys are on top of your game 👌💪🇬🇧👍

[@metallicmart]

Great review as always

[@Sadorus]

I have just ordered (Beam Gen 2 + Sub Mini) 4 days ago. I will be using it primarily for gaming on my PS5 and LG C1, does my setup support dolby Atmos? And how do I configure my LG C1 and PS5 settings to play Atmos?

[@sergey4162]

If your TV has eARC support (I believe it does), you’ll have your Atmos. Don’t know of the PS5 thought, never had it.

[@teamvigod]

If I have a Tivo and Roku connected to my tv via HDMI and then connect the TV's eARC to the HDMI on this sonos will it pump the ATMOS into this soundbar from all those sources automatically based on whats playing on my tv? I thought I saw other soundbars requiring each source (i.e. roku, apple tv, tivo) plugged into the soundbar and not the tv and then the soundbar would pump via eARC into the TV. Unless I'm totally misunderstanding the setup. thanks

[@rookiemonster_133m9]

Wonderful addition by Sonos. The beam 2 and the Sub will definitely be a popular choice for years to come ! Kudos to SONOS !!

[@chevron-vw5rn]

do you think this would be a good replacement for my old LG sound system? i currently have the Sony BDV-N9200W and where i love the system i'd like to get a more compact sound bar like this to be more compact for my set up.

[@justsomedude1488]

Aright mate.. I'm about to order one, but I've been reading about a sound delay when using dolby from consoles? I'll be using c1 and series x.. any thoughts?

[@jeremykemp3782]

will this work with my old Samsung uhe f8000? and how do you turn the vocal clarity on?

[@evan]

Great review! You sold me

[@TheFlightLevel]

We have to swing our TV out from the wall when viewing. Can this unit be mounted to the bottom of a TV when the TV is on a swing wall mount?

[@davidegriff487]

I've got a room that is 4 meters x 9 meters. The sofa is in the center of the 9 meters side. The TV is on the opposite wall, 4 meters away from the sofa. I've got two sonos ONE. Which soundbar is the best for this configuration? The beam (gen2) one or the arc one? With the Beam (gen2) is better to have a subwoofer? Thanks a lot for the reply.

[@smarthomesounds]

Hi Davide, it would really depend on your watching habits so if you watch a lot of newer movies and you really enjoy doing this, you'll get more out of the Sonos Arc due to the upwards and sideways firing drivers. Alternatively, if your viewing is more casual but you'd still like Atmos, then the Beam is a great shout. I hope that helps!

[@davidegriff487]

@@smarthomesounds Thanks a lot for the reply. I'm not a "pro" in watching movies :) I random see movies on netflix or amazon video and always listen to sporify with the sonos one. I think the Beam gen2 maybe the best solution. Do you agree?

[@smarthomesounds]

@@davidegriff487 I think that sounds like a good argument for the Beam :)

[@davidegriff487]

@@smarthomesounds thanks a lot !!! I'll save 500 euros :)

[@christophesepulchre]

Thank you for this great and complete review ! The polycarbonate grille alone is a big step up for me ! Not the most important improvement here though 😉

[@edgie701]

Currently got a YAS 306 Yamaha , looking to upgrade , would this make a good upgrade option ?? I find the mids on the Yamaha slightly muddy and not as clear as I'd like ! Can you adjust bass and treble in the app on the Sonos gen 2 ?

[@NoMoreHeroesPunkPostPunk]

Great review! As I’m on a tight budget (but as they say, my eyes are bigger than my belly) .. I’m going for a new TV first, then Arc, then Sub. It’ll take longer, but will be more satisfying in the long run 👍

[@smarthomesounds]

Hi Ken, that’s for the feedback, that will be a great set-up and worth the wait I’m sure 📈

[@ephektz]

The Sub is filled with magic pixies. I have two Fives and a Sub for music listening in my living room, and the Sub punches well above its weight. I’ve been considering getting one of the sound bars and another Sub for the family, as I don’t really do a lot of television.

[@gerdiwelink1744]

Just don't go for Sonos. Soundwise it isnt that good. The better choise for u is to go voor the Klipsch Cinema 600 (or higher, if u want dolby atmos, go for Cinema1200). Soundwise those soundbars are so much better, and budget wise they are cheaper...

[@ephektz]

@@gerdiwelink1744 The biggest advantage of going with Sonos is if you are already considering whole home audio. They aren’t the best sounding, but they sound decent. What they do nail is the technology and integration side, though. To be fair, though, I thought my Sonos system sounded fine until I got my KEF’s.

[@sergey4162]

@@ephektz, could you please name the model of your KEFs?

[@MacYYur4me]

This is the kind of review I expect. No fluff. All great content. If no speaker is firing upward, how do they mange to make it perform that trick?

[@carbonoxx]

virtual means simulated

[@gbfabiani]

If I connect the Beam gen 2 to a Mac where I stream Netflix or play Apple Music, will Dolby Atmos work, or I need a TV +hdmi earc ? And, can I use play:1 as surround speakers, or One will be required for a proper effect ?? thanks !!

[@domdp]

You can only connect this to a TV via a HDMI and need two surrounds to work.

[@premiumman9010]

Can you pair this sound bar with Amazon Echo devices to create a 7.1 surround sound?

[@sarahmangone7785]

I have a VERY OLD Samsung TV. Will this sound bar work. The TV doesn't have the ARC feature and will be plugged with the HDMI cable only, which limits what I can receive, but my question is will it work with the older tv?

[@sergey4162]

You have an option to use optical out if your TV supports it, the Beam is equipped with necessary adapter if I’m not mistaken. Of course you will get no Atmos support in this configuration, only DD.

[@kevinjones2373]

Thanks for the Info on the New Sonos 2 Generation Beam , Great Product! Was trying to hookup my LG OLED TV with the 2nd Gen Beam however I could not get The Play1’s to Receive Surround Sound in my Bedroom Can you give some Ideas on what is the Problem??? Thank You!

[@djscottfrenzy]

great detailed review thanks guys!!!!!

[@smarthomesounds]

Thanks Scott 👍

[@gennamitico]

Did you experience any sound delay? For me it's terrible right now and seems impossible to fix it. With ps5 and dolby codec it's almost impossible to watch/listen because of the delay increasing a lot more. Considering to resend back the product

[@simonloker8334]

Not got the beam yet, but want to use sonos amp with KEF Ci160q in ceiling and a sub not sure which sub,. would like to know is it okay to do that in stead of the sonoa speakers?

[@smarthomesounds]

Hi Simon, yes that is possible. The app will still let you set up the speakers as surrounds to the Beam, no problem at all.

[@coldcasewatchesccw7158]

Any thoughts on using this soundbar in a mostly enclosed shelf. To be clear, it would be a 5” shelf covered on the top and sides but not the front. Please answer the same question for the arc. Thanks so much! Great review.

[@davidthanos]

Do you recommend the beam 2 in a room that is 18 x 10. Right now I have the Samsung q900a

[@o2Monster_X]

Hi Smart Home Sound, great review! However, I would like to ask what your opinion is on, Beam Gen 2 vs Playbase? It wasnt mentioned here. thanks!

[@goodtimehotline69]

I’d like to know this too, considering upgrading my old playbase

[@albert333pool]

I really want this Gen 2 soundbar but Jesus... That Gen 3 sub is $750! 😱

[@Goblue734]

Do you need an HDMI 2.1 cord to take advantage of the Atmos with my LG OLED through EARC? Or will it work with the 2.0 hdmi that comes with it

[@smarthomesounds]

Hi Rob, you will be able to get full Atmos using the supplied HDMI cable. Hope that helps!

[@Goblue734]

@@smarthomesounds Perfect thank you!

[@nathankung9290]

Have the beam gen 2 and 2 x one SL in my apartment. Love the set up, but have one issue... I use Google assistant often to set alarms, but find the alarm time very quite and it is often missed. Is there a way to increase the volume of the alarm?