Sonos Beam Gen 2 Black
Score: 62/100
Sonos PLAY:1 Multi-Room Digital Music System Bundle
Score: 53/100Rankings
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.
The Sonos PLAY:1 is a compact Wi-Fi speaker offering clear mids and highs, integrating into the Sonos multi-room ecosystem with support for numerous audio formats. Its lack of deep bass, Bluetooth, and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, along with a limited warranty, make it less suitable for bass-heavy or portable use.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
3best | 1 | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.8 kgbest | 6.804 kg |
1 countbest | — | |
1 yearsbest | 0.25 years |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Physical Specs(1) | ||
Weight (kg) | 2.8 kg | 6.804 kg |
Warranty & Support(1) | ||
Warranty Period (years) | 1 years | 0.25 years |
Audio Performance(2) | ||
Channels | 3 | 1 |
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Multichannel PCM, DTS Digital Surround | MP3, iTunes Plus, WMA, AAC, AAC+, Ogg Vorbis, Audible, Apple Lossless, FLAC, WAV, AIFF |
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”
Professional reviewers commend the PLAY:1 for its straightforward setup, clear mids and highs, and solid value, positioning it as a near-perfect entry-level multi-room speaker. The main criticism across reviews is the woofer's inability to handle deep bass at high volumes.
Everyday users consistently praise the speaker's easy installation, reliable app control, and warm vocal reproduction, especially for podcasts and smaller rooms. Recurring complaints focus on bass limitations, lack of Bluetooth, and concerns about discontinued support.
