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Sonos Beam Gen 2 Review: A Serious Living Room Upgrade

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 represents an evolution of Sonos's acclaimed soundbar line, aiming to enhance the home audio experience through a blend of compact design, smart features, and improved sound technology. This review details the various aspects of the Sonos Beam Gen 2, from its physical design and integrated features to its setup process and audio performance, ultimately assessing its value proposition in the competitive soundbar market. The design of the Sonos Beam Gen 2 largely mirrors its predecessor, maintaining a compact form factor that is 25.6 inches wide, 3.9 inches deep, and 2.3 inches tall, allowing it to fit seamlessly in most living room setups without obstructing TV views. It is available in black and white finishes. A notable design change is the switch from a fabric covering to a polycarbonate grill, which aligns it with the aesthetic of the more premium Sonos Arc and offers easier maintenance. The soundbar features capacitive touch controls for volume, playback, and microphone, alongside an NFC chip for streamlined setup. Connectivity options include an HDMI port for ARC/eARC and an Ethernet port. Although it lacks a built-in optical port, an adapter is provided to ensure compatibility with a broader range of televisions. Feature-wise, the Beam Gen 2 builds upon the original's strengths by incorporating modern smart home integrations. It supports both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, offering users flexibility in voice control. Apple users can leverage AirPlay 2 for audio streaming. The multiroom audio functionality is available through the Sonos app, assuming other Sonos speakers are present in the home. A significant addition is Dolby Atmos support, which provides a more immersive audio experience for compatible content. To fully utilize lossless Dolby Atmos via Dolby TrueHD, a TV with an eARC connection is required. The soundbar also retains Sonos's TruePlay technology, which calibrates the sound output to the specific acoustics of the listening room. The setup process for the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is designed for simplicity, guided by the Sonos app. Users can quickly connect the soundbar to their Wi-Fi network by tapping their phone to the NFC chip. Post-setup, optional steps include integrating voice assistants and activating TruePlay calibration for iPhone users. The Sonos app itself is user-friendly, facilitating speaker grouping, settings adjustments, and volume control. It also supports integration with a wide array of music streaming services, including Apple Music, Spotify, and YouTube Music. In terms of audio performance, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 delivers excellent sound quality. It produces a deep bass response, suitable for both movie effects and music, although users seeking more pronounced bass extension may consider adding a separate subwoofer. The mid-range and high frequencies are clear and detailed, ensuring vocal clarity without harshness. The soundbar creates a wider soundstage than its physical dimensions suggest. The Dolby Atmos implementation, while not leveraging physical upward-firing speakers like the Sonos Arc, uses virtualization to create a sense of overhead sound, offering a more immersive experience compared to traditional 3-channel soundbars. In conclusion, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is presented as a compelling upgrade. While existing Beam owners might not find it essential to upgrade unless Dolby Atmos is a priority, it is highly recommended for those moving beyond basic TV speakers or older, less capable sound systems. It stands out in its price category by offering a comprehensive package of audio quality, smart features, and seamless integration within the Sonos ecosystem, making it a strong contender for a premium living room audio enhancement.

38 months ago

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