Polk Audio Tower Speaker
Score: 78/100
Sonos Beam Gen 2 Black
Score: 76/100Rankings
The Monitor XT70 is a high-resolution floor-standing tower speaker offering deep bass, high sensitivity, and support for Dolby Atmos/DTS:X, suited for medium-to-large home-theater rooms where space permits.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact 3-channel smart soundbar that adds Dolby Atmos, eARC and a faster processor to the original Beam, delivering immersive audio and robust smart-home integration. It excels in clarity and voice-assistant features, though its bass is modest and it lacks Bluetooth and DTS:X support.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
35 Hzbest | — | |
40,000 Hzbest | — | |
— | 1best | |
| ↓ lower better | 15.876 kg | 2.88 kgbest |
60 monthsbest | 12 months |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Build & Design(1) | ||
Overall Weight (kg) | 15.876 kg | 2.88 kg |
Warranty & Support(1) | ||
Warranty Period (months) | 60 months | 12 months |
Audio(1) | ||
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Multichannel PCM, DTS Digital Surround |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the XT70 for its balanced, detailed sound signature, impressive bass extension thanks to passive radiators, and its ability to handle high-resolution audio up to 40 kHz, while noting its large footprint as a practical limitation.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the Monitor XT70 for its rich, full-bodied sound, deep cinematic bass, and attractive design, though some note excessive bass in small rooms and occasional shipping damage.
“Rich, full sound”
“Cinematic bass”
“Love the Sonos Beam... Great quality sound in a small package... I have them on both my big screen TVs.”
Professional reviewers praise the Beam (Gen 2) for its premium sound quality, clear dialogue, and effective Dolby Atmos implementation in a compact form factor, highlighting its strong smart-home features and seamless Sonos ecosystem compatibility, while noting drawbacks such as the absence of Bluetooth, limited Android support for Trueplay, and lack of DTS:X support.
Everyday users overwhelmingly appreciate the Beam's clear dialogue, easy HDMI ARC setup, reliable Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2 streaming, and its sleek design, though recurring complaints focus on missing Bluetooth, Android Trueplay limitations, occasional eARC negotiation issues, and modest bass without a subwoofer.
