Sonos Beam Gen 2 Black
Score: 62/100
Marshall Acton III
Score: 78/100Rankings
The Acton III is a compact, AC-powered Bluetooth speaker that delivers 60 W RMS of rich stereo sound with premium analog controls and modern Bluetooth 5.2 features. Its iconic design and eco-friendly build make it a stylish centerpiece for small-to-medium rooms, though it lacks battery power and advanced smart-home connectivity.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact 3-channel smart soundbar that adds Dolby Atmos, eARC, and robust voice-assistant integration, making it ideal for small-to-medium rooms and existing Sonos setups. While it delivers clear dialogue and immersive sound, it lacks Bluetooth, Android Trueplay, and deep bass without an additional subwoofer.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
— | 60 wattsbest | |
— | 45 Hzbest | |
— | 20,000 Hzbest | |
3best | 2 | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.8 kgbest | 2.85 kg |
1 countbest | — | |
1 yearsbest | 1 yearsbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Physical Specs(1) | ||
Weight (kg) | 2.8 kg | 2.85 kg |
Audio Performance(1) | ||
Channels | 3 | 2 |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the Beam's premium sound quality, clear dialogue, and effective Dolby Atmos implementation, 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 sleek design, though they complain about missing Bluetooth, Android Trueplay limitations, occasional eARC issues, and modest bass without a subwoofer.
“Love the Sonos Beam... Great quality sound in a small package... I have them on both my big screen TVs.”
“Expensive but worth it”
“Sounds amazing for its size - fills my 700 sq ft apartment effortlessly.”
Professional reviewers praise the Acton III for delivering bold, room-filling sound in a small footprint, highlighting its powerful 60 W RMS output, wider soundstage from outward-angled tweeters, and modern Bluetooth 5.2 features like LE Audio and placement correction. They note the premium build and iconic design as strong points, while pointing out the lack of RCA inputs and smart-assistant support as the main drawbacks.
Everyday users consistently commend the speaker's impressive sound quality, stylish look, and tactile brass controls, often mentioning the convenience of Bluetooth multipoint and the helpful app. Common complaints revolve around the absence of a battery, occasional Bluetooth drop-outs, and the desire for more wired input options.
