Sonos Beam
Score: 79/100
Bose TV Speaker
Score: 67/100Rankings
The Sonos Beam (Gen 1) is a compact 3-channel soundbar featuring HDMI ARC, built-in Alexa and Google Assistant, night-mode and multi-room Sonos integration, delivering balanced audio for small to medium rooms. Its main limitation is the absence of Dolby Atmos and a dedicated subwoofer, which reduces immersive bass performance. It fits users seeking smart voice control and easy setup in apartments or bedrooms.
The Bose TV Speaker is a compact 3-channel soundbar that excels in delivering clear dialogue and easy HDMI ARC/optical setup. It lacks built-in bass and advanced features like Wi-Fi or Dolby Atmos, making it best for small-room, budget-focused users.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
3best | 3best | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.8 kgbest | 3.72 kg |
— | 9 mbest | |
— | 1 yearsbest | |
65.1 cmbest | 59.38 cm | |
6.8 cmbest | 5.61 cm | |
10 cm | 10.21 cmbest |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Design(4) | ||
Soundbar Weight (kg) | 2.8 kg | 3.72 kg |
Soundbar Width (cm) | 65.1 cm | 59.38 cm |
Soundbar Height (cm) | 6.8 cm | 5.61 cm |
Soundbar Depth (cm) | 10 cm | 10.21 cm |
Products in the top-left offer the best value (high score, low price).
Professional reviewers commend the Sonos Beam Gen 1 for its impressive audio detail, musicality, and straightforward setup, noting that it delivers a weighty performance in a compact form. However, they also acknowledge its shortcomings, particularly the missing Dolby Atmos support and the less durable fabric grille, suggesting that the Gen 2 model is a better choice for those seeking the latest surround technologies.
Everyday users overwhelmingly appreciate the Beam's rich sound, easy voice-control integration, and hassle-free HDMI ARC installation, especially in apartments and bedrooms. Recurring themes include satisfaction with multi-room functionality and the helpful Night Sound mode, while complaints focus on limited bass without a subwoofer and the absence of Atmos for modern content.
Professional reviewers praise the Bose TV Speaker for its ultra-slim profile, straightforward HDMI ARC/optical setup, and strong dialogue enhancement, positioning it as the top budget soundbar for 2025. They acknowledge its expandability with a wired subwoofer but note the lack of built-in bass, Wi-Fi, and Dolby Atmos as clear limitations compared to higher-end Bose models.
Everyday users consistently highlight the ease of Bluetooth pairing and the clear speech improvement for everyday viewing, while repeatedly mentioning confusion over listed dimensions and a desire for deeper bass. Overall sentiment is positive for basic TV audio upgrades but tempered by expectations for more robust low-frequency performance.
“Best budget sound bar for 2025”
“Easy pairing and music streaming via Bluetooth from phones”
