Sonos Beam Gen 2 White
Score: 67/100
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 soundbar offering Dolby Atmos and integrated voice assistants, delivering immersive audio for small to medium rooms while fitting seamlessly into the Sonos ecosystem. Its lack of DTS support, thin bass, and reliance on HDMI eARC for Atmos are its main drawbacks.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
— | 60 wattsbest | |
— | 45 Hzbest | |
— | 20,000 Hzbest | |
5best | 2 | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.88 kg | 2.85 kgbest |
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) | 2.88 kg | 2.85 kg |
Audio Performance(1) | ||
Channels | 5 | 2 |
Design & Build(1) | ||
Finish | Matte white | Black |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers consistently rate the Beam (Gen 2) as the top choice for small rooms, praising its Dolby Atmos performance, compact form factor and deep integration with Alexa, Google Assistant and AirPlay 2, while noting its lack of DTS support, modest bass and the need for an eARC-compatible TV to unlock Atmos.
Everyday users love the Beam for its clear dialogue, easy setup and immersive Atmos feel in modest spaces, but many express frustration over the absence of Android Trueplay, thin bass and occasional voice-assistant lag.
“Crystal clear dialogue”
“Surprisingly immersive”
“Easy to set up and use”
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.
