Sonos Beam Gen 2 Black
Score: 81/100
Sony HT-S400
Score: 49/100Rankings
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact 3-channel soundbar that adds Dolby Atmos, eARC and smart-home features, delivering clear dialogue and solid overall sound for small to medium rooms, though it lacks Bluetooth and deep bass.
The Sony HT-S400 is a compact 2.1-channel soundbar with a powerful 330 W output and virtual surround technology. It offers HDMI ARC, Bluetooth 5.0 and a wireless subwoofer, making it a strong upgrade over built-in TV speakers.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
— | 330 Wbest | |
3best | 2.1 | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.8 kg | 2.4 kgbest |
12 monthsbest | 12 monthsbest | |
| ↓ lower better | — | 0.5 Wbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Audio Performance(3) | ||
Audio Channels | 3 | 2.1 |
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Multichannel PCM, DTS Digital Surround | Dolby Digital, Dolby Dual Mono, LPCM 2ch, SBC |
Sound Modes | Speech Enhancement, Night Sound, Trueplay | Sound Field, Voice Mode, Night Mode |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Soundbar Weight (kg) | 2.8 kg | 2.4 kg |
Mounting Type | Wall-mount | Wall-mountable |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers praise the Beam (Gen 2) for its premium sound quality, clear dialogue, and effective Dolby Atmos implementation, while noting the absence of Bluetooth, limited Android Trueplay, and lack of DTS:X support.
Everyday users love the Beam's clear dialogue, easy HDMI ARC setup, reliable Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2 streaming, and sleek design, but complain about missing Bluetooth, Android Trueplay limitations, and modest bass.
Professional reviewers commend the HT-S400 for delivering cinema-like sound and strong bass at a budget-friendly price, highlighting its virtual surround technology and clear dialogue reproduction. However, they point out the lack of auxiliary inputs and the absence of premium surround formats as notable drawbacks for audiophiles.
Everyday users overwhelmingly praise the soundbar for its dialogue clarity, punchy bass, and straightforward HDMI ARC setup. Common complaints revolve around missing USB/AUX inputs, limited surround depth, and the subwoofer's size in tight spaces.
“Love the Sonos Beam... Great quality sound in a small package... I have them on both my big screen TVs.”
“Expensive but worth it”
“Clear dialogue, especially in movies and TV shows”
