Sonos Beam Gen 2 Black
Score: 81/100
Vizio 5.1 Soundbar SE
Score: 74/100Rankings
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 VIZIO 5.1 Soundbar SE delivers a full 5.1 surround experience with a wireless subwoofer and rear satellites, offering strong bass and Atmos support, but it lacks an optical input, a physical remote, and true height drivers.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
— | 180 Wbest | |
3 | 5.1best | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.8 kgbest | 7.269 kg |
12 monthsbest | — |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Audio Performance(2) | ||
Audio Channels | 3 | 5.1 |
Supported Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Multichannel PCM, DTS Digital Surround | Dolby Atmos, DTS:X, DTS Virtual:X |
Build & Design(2) | ||
Soundbar Weight (kg) | 2.8 kg | 7.269 kg |
Mounting Type | Wall-mount | Wall mountable, QuickFit |
Connectivity(1) | ||
Optical Input | true | false |
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.
“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 praise the VIZIO 5.1 Soundbar SE for delivering realistic surround thanks to its physical rear satellites and strong bass, while noting the lack of an optical input and that Atmos is simulated rather than driven by up-firing speakers.
Everyday users consistently highlight crisp dialogue, powerful bass, and immersive surround, while expressing frustration over the missing remote, occasional Bluetooth/subwoofer dropouts, and the clunky app interface.
