Who should consider the Sonos Beam Gen 2?
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is one of the most appealing compact soundbar options for buyers who want immersive, room-filling Dolby Atmos sound but don’t want to clutter their living area or home office. The size makes it an easy fit beneath most TVs, especially those in apartments, bedrooms, or dens where space is at a premium. If dialogue clarity and an unobtrusive, modern look are priorities, this model stands out in its price bracket.
What does the Sonos Beam Gen 2 do well and where does it fall short?
- Audio quality: Delivers clear dialogue and impactful bass for its size, making movie nights, streaming TV, and music playback consistently engaging. While you do get Dolby Atmos, the effect relies on virtual height channels—there aren’t physical upward-firing speakers, so it’s more atmospheric than truly overhead.
- Smart features: Syncs with the Sonos app, supports easy multi-room audio, and is ready for wireless music streaming via Wi-Fi. It’s a breeze to install and operate.
- Customization and expandability: You can easily adjust the EQ in the app or expand your setup by adding Sonos rear satellites or a subwoofer later if your needs grow.
- Limitations: For larger rooms, or if you want true, physical height channels for the most cinematic Atmos effects, you may find the Beam Gen 2 lacking. Hardcore home cinema users and audiophiles may want a beefier model or a discrete speaker system. At louder volumes in expansive spaces, it can’t match the presence of a larger premium soundbar or full surround system.
How does it compare to alternatives?
Within its size and price range, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a top choice for balance of sound, features, and aesthetics. Comparable models include the Bose Smart Soundbar 600 and the Samsung HW-S60B. The Bose is similarly compact and supports Dolby Atmos with good clarity, but integration with additional speakers is less seamless than Sonos. The Samsung offers competitive sound, but tends to be a bit less refined in midrange clarity.
If you care most about bass or absolute volume for larger rooms, a bigger soundbar or a system with a dedicated subwoofer (like the Sonos Arc, or Samsung HW-Q700C) may serve you better—though expect to pay significantly more and sacrifice some of the Beam’s minimal footprint.
Key takeaway: Soundbar value and decision guide
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is an excellent pick for those seeking an easy-to-place, modern soundbar that delivers much fuller sound and dialogue clarity than most TVs can muster. It’s particularly strong for small to mid-sized rooms and for buyers who want day-to-day simplicity plus long-term expandability. If you want the full overhead Dolby Atmos effect or are outfitting a large home theater, you’ll need to step up to a larger system. For everyone else, the combination of sound quality, design, and software makes this a highly practical upgrade.