Sonos Beam
Score: 79/100
Polk Audio Signa S4
Score: 84/100Rankings
The Polk Signa S4 is a slim 3.1.2-channel soundbar with Dolby Atmos and a powerful wireless subwoofer, delivering strong bass and clear dialogue. Its lack of a standard HDMI input and occasional Bluetooth hiccups limit connectivity flexibility. Ideal for budget-conscious TV owners seeking immersive sound in small to medium rooms.
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.
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
3best | — | |
— | 410 Wbest | |
— | 15 cmbest | |
| ↓ lower better | 2.8 kgbest | 4 kg |
— | 3 yearsbest | |
65.1 cm | 104.6 cmbest | |
6.8 cmbest | 6.1 cm | |
10 cmbest | 9.4 cm |
Click an attribute name to sort · Green = best, red = worst (relative to this comparison)
| Attribute | | |
|---|---|---|
Audio(3) | ||
Audio Channels | 3 | 3.1.2 |
Dolby Atmos Support | false | true |
Wireless Subwoofer | false | true |
Design(4) | ||
Soundbar Weight (kg) | 2.8 kg | 4.0 kg |
Soundbar Width (cm) | 65.1 cm | 104.6 cm |
Soundbar Height (cm) | 6.8 cm | 6.1 cm |
Soundbar Depth (cm) | 10 cm | 9.4 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 commend the Signa S4 for its impressive bass output, clear dialogue thanks to VoiceAdjust, and effective Atmos height effects, noting it offers strong value in the entry-level Atmos segment. However, they criticize the missing standard HDMI input and the need for careful bass balancing.
Everyday users love the easy wireless sub setup, the room-shaking bass, and the clear speech reproduction, especially for movies and sports. Common complaints revolve around the sub's heft, occasional Bluetooth hiccups, and the inability to connect multiple HDMI sources, with some noting the bass can dominate mids if not tuned.
“huge soundstage”
“powerful bass that rumbles behind couch”
