✅ *GET IT HERE: **bit.ly/3qJdaFf**, **amzn.to/3tDSxMB**, **bit.ly/3IDoYz0* ★ *QOTD: Was our SONOS review worth the wait & why is the answer YES :)?* ★ *CLICK 🔝 “SHOW MORE” in the description for answers to many of your questions* ★ *RULES: Please be respectful. NO OUTSIDE LINKS, URLs, email addresses, etc.*
Having said in the video that you haven’t heard the Sonos Beam with the sub. I would be really interested to see how the Sonos Beam review would evolve and change with first adding the Sonos Sub and then another adding the Sonos Ones as surrounds (again with and without the sub). You can always return the sub after lol.
Damn, I was hoping it would suck. I’m sorry, but the hysteria surrounding this brand has become really annoying but I guess it’s valid enough now. I’m glad you finally reviewed it but I’m still not putting my money down. Maybe if my mother-in-law wanted better sound than her tv speakers, but even then I’d probably buy her the Klipsch 600 so I could crank it when I go for a family dinner.
Hi Andrew, the one sl's does make quite a difference, and the talk is Sonos are developing a mini sub to work with the beam at have the price of the gen 3
You confirmed that my hearing is good. I really like Sonos products and they are present in almost every room in my house. What I don't like and can't understand is why Sonos never respond back to you and Kristi. What are they afraid of and is their egos that fragile? Critique is good -- especially if you have. a great product already.
I have the Arc for 1 year now. If you buy only the soundbar. Not worth the price. Soundbar and subwoofer. Its ok. You can do beter for the price in my opinion. Full system with the surrounds. Its wow. I recomend it if you whant something simple and easy to use.
We've had the new Beam for about a month, and we love its clarity. We were surprised by the wide sound stage coming out of this small soundbar. A week ago we added two IKEA Symfonisk bookshelf speakers which made our audio experience more immersive. Set up was super easy, by the way. One thing that did not impress me is the bass of the Beam. This unit can't really handle lower vibrations. It literally starts to rattle when going deeper. So, at some point we're adding the new SONOS sub mini. The other thing that's not so fabulous is Dolby Atmos. The effect is vague at best, and there's no dome of sound effect. It's more of a gimmick, to be honest. Overall, this soundbar is a great addition to our living room, and we're happy to have it.
Scenario: Bose: Recently purchased. Setup was fine as far as plugging in, blah blah blah. Turned on, loaded app. App seemed fine. Out of the blue, the speaker turned off(With ARC). After messing with the settings, powering on and off, it finally turned back on and got it up and running again. It then failed again and turned off the next day. I asked myself "Do I want to do this again?" Answer: NO! Result: Returned both the soundbar and the sub. Fresh Start: Purchased the Sonos Beam. App easy setup, updated firmware(via wired connection), set up sub via NFC via the phone, which was nice. Ran the spacial piece. Watched TOP Gun Mav and it was amazing. You could hear the booms, here the speech audio clearly. The way soundbars should be. I have had other surround sound systems in the past, the big issue is music too loud, cannot hear vocals, bass not enough, and more.... Sonos accomplishes everything that is needed for a great movie experience, hands down and for under 1g, its well worth it. Go Sonos for sure. You will be happy.
I had the same issue with a Bose 600 + my Q80 QLED TV (sound keep dropping out, despite playing with all the possible settings on the Bose app). I returned it to Best Buy and will pick up the Sonos Beam Gen 2 (plus geek squad coverage) on Black Friday.
Your reviews are ALWAYS worth the wait! I align with Kristi's „criticism“ here. The expensive Sub is making it difficult for some people. When looking into Soundbars around 2019 the first Gen Beam had the same situation. I really liked the sound of it, but I missed the Bass I wanted from my system. So i picked the Bose pendant back then and got the small Bass Module with it. It was more expensive, than getting the Beam, but made for sense overall for me. Sonos is said to be working on a smaller cyclindrical shaped Sub for around the same price as the Beam itself. This and an optional microphone for Android devices to be able to use TruPlay would make the Beam more interesting to more people.
My thoughts exactly! The big advantage Bose has in the market is that they have different caliber/priced subwoofers. I have the 900 soundbar paired with the 700 sub and surrounds but it was an expensive system. My sister who didn’t have that kind of budget was considering Sonos amongst a few others, but I ultimately recommended she go with Bose because she could get the 500 series soundbar without paying like 50% more than the cost of the bar for a sub with the bass module 500. Glad Sonos will be introducing a more mid range level sub this year.
You GOT to test the Sub now too. I thought it was totally bonkers to spend that much money on a sub but it changes everything! It sends all low tones to the sub in a dedicated 5ghz network and free up the speakers on the sound bar for even more mid range sound. It’s SONOS highest ranked speaker by customer satisfaction. Also placement isn’t an issue since you trueplay it too it can be placed virtually wherever in a room, even under a sofa or bed. And it’s totally vibration free! Truly amazing piece of engineering…
Had Beam gen 2 for about 2 months now and find I am enjoying shows and movies 10x more. No issues at all. I was worries about the bass but its actually so strong in my basement set up I have to turn volume down! Worth every penny.
Sounds like Kristi is talking about the Five. It’s a really great little speaker. I think the advantage with Sonos is never fully experienced with a single speaker because part of the price is the ability to expand wirelessly. So for me, what started with a soundbar, went through the roof (as far as enjoyment) when I added the subs. Then as I added Fives and Ones around the house and created separate rooms (that can be grouped) the VALUE of each one to me increased greatly. The ability to bring the whole house into the TV audio (great for games or parties) or ability to bring the TV 5.1 audio into whatever I’m streaming (music or podcast) is AWESOME. And one Sub on the same floor enhances ALL of the speakers. It feels like a $150 speaker (in another room) sounds much fuller in the frequency response. So your comment on joining the Sonos ecosystem makes a lot of sense.
I bought the Sonos Beam with a gen 3sub, and 2 SLs, for about $1400. I’ve enjoyed it so far! For those who want a no nonsense 5.1 setup, I think Sonos does a great job of providing that kinda of experience. I think it’s important for buyers to understand their needs and thoroughly research Options that meet those specs.
This review was absolutely worth the wait. Kristi’s section always adds a ton of value to the channel, especially loved her insights on dialogue clarity and Trueplay here. I share her experience with my own Sonos One, Trueplay made a huge difference in soundstage and balance for me.
Seems Sonos listened to this review. It can now be paired with the cheaper sub mini which plays very nicely with the beam (but for only 400 bucks) and they've added DTS X support.
I ended up picking up a Sonos sub gen2 from Sonos. They sell refurbished or factory blem on their website. Almost 150 to 200 off retail. It completely changes the sound and atmosphere. It’s my number one must have upgrade for Sonos sound bars.
Awesome Review Andrew! It’s an impressive bar for the size. Looking to forward to hearing your thoughts on the ARC when you can get your hands on one 😊
I have the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and a pair of Sonos One SL speakers and quite frankly, there is more than enough bass to go around without a sub and I have full surround.
I have an ARC soundbar in my basement, Sonos I SL in my living room. Three weeks ago bought the Beam for my family room, returned it because the Bose 900 went on sale so I bought it, I was really disappointed with the 900 after three days later I sent back to Bose and rebought the Beam😊 I’m really happy with it.
I'm surprised this is such a positive review. I'm interested to learn how the Beam compares to the four Sony surround speakers you reviewed a couple of months ago. Many thanks.
The recent 14.6 update has given the Beam gen 2 a height channel, you can now crank it up to +10. Have you noticed any difference the atmos performance after the update?
I use the Beam with two IKEA Symfonisk bookshelf speakers for the surrounds in the small sitting room in the master suite. The symfonisk are an incredible deal as surrounds.
I have the beam in my bedroom and I also think the bass is completely fine for that environment. If I had it in my main listening area, I would want the sub though (I have the arc w/ surrounds and sub in my living room). The room correction is pretty impressive with all the sonos products I have tried. It easy to toggle on and off, so it kind of fun to do that when listening to see how much it’s fixing the room. I’m glad you were able to review one of their products, as most “hi-fi reviewers” just pass on them as not being a real speaker.
I bought the Arc alone and was really, really unimpressed. And this was me coming from an old Samsung sound bar with a wireless sub. Then I added the Sonos sub and things got much better. But even after Trueplay room tuning, it felt like something was missing. I later learned I wasn’t running the Arc in 5.1 - I had to change a non-intuitive setting on my TV. And then it finally sounded like I expected. The system is MUCH better after Truplay tuning, so if you don’t have an iPhone (Android isn’t currently supported), borrow one. Finally, because we have a large living room and an open-concept home, I felt like the Arc and sub could use a bit more support, so I added the Sonos One SL surrounds. Finally, the system sounds perfect. It’s even better because of the Sonos app, which allows you to adjust the surround volume and mode (full stereo or ambient mix), which is essential - from shows that support Atmos to Dolby Digital 5.1 to basic stereo, the mix can change drastically in the surrounds and adjustment really comes in handy, especially when it’s all done in a well-designed phone app.
Obviously this was prior to the mini sub but the beam with the mini sub is under $900 and definitely worth it. And in regard to the sub gen3 it actually would be perfect for a bedroom as it can be laid down and placed under the bed. As it is designed to stand or lay. That would make the bass I’m sure while being in the bed and watching a movie be amazing.
Love the siskel and ebert type bantering between you two. It's awesome cause when you two totally agree on a product it's guaranteed to be great. Thanks to you both for your honest reviews.
I got the Sonos arc + sub + surrounds for $1700 after tax and it’s been amazing. After the price increase, it might be a hard sell at around $2200+ but it’s still an excellent and easy to use set up
Loved this review! I have a full Sonos system with the Beam + Sub + Fives. Yes two pairs of Fives are my surrounds! I generally turn the surrounds down for movies since the Sonos app lets you do so. Then have them turned up for any music and let the Fives shine when I play my music over Tidal, etc. SO HAPPY YOU ARE KEEPING IT!!! As I LOVE my system! Thanks for the review as always!
Andrew thank you as always for amazing reviews love your videos. I will say my Uncle bought Sonos and asked I install. Probably one of the most painful setups I’ve ever had. This technology is NOT designed for anyone older who has an older TV or no mobile phone. Sound was underwhelming and the optical cable really didnt work. Ended up returning and getting zVOX which was much better. If your a young person with top of the line equipment thats fine but just word of caution.
Honestly, I'll take an Harley or/and a Mustang GT over a Tesla any day. Great comparison, Mr. Andrew! No remote and running out of steam at 80 db's plus $750.00 for a dedicated sub. For the same price I bought, years ago, an SVS PB12-NSD which can be paired to anything on hearth and it goes really really low without running out of breath on both music and movies! I'll pass on the Sonos.
I have the arc and the sub and the sonance architextural rears. By far the sub blows me away way more than anything else. Like. SVS ultra blows me away. Absolutely ingenious design prevents floor, room, and box vibrations with an incredibly clear and seamless addition to the system overall.
I second Kristi with my experience. Here my take on Sonos beam gen 2 Pros- Build quality, APP, Bass and sound for its size. Dialogue clarity....Best customer support experience so far Cons- Mids are not balanced. When increased volume,not well balances, dialogue/vocal will take over all other frequencies like low,mid . If i wants to add sub woofer & surround, costs 3 times high and does not justify for Beam output segment. Can improve- Should add Full EQ in APP, Support Andriod. lower cost surround speakers and sub woofer to match beam segment range.Remote.cant keep taking mobile and open app to control all the time.HDMI pass through added adv.Bluetooth support to play music.
Another great review! I’m a longterm sonos user (9 years). So I wasn’t waiting for a review. But I am always looking forward to your next videos. This is a testament to the quality of your work. Thank you both for your hard work and dedication. This is another great video. ❤️
Actually, the route we finally went? We grabbed the Arc along with the one sl's. Then, we grabbed the amp. It allowed me to use my own subs!! Sonos is brilliant! They charged me $700.00 bucks, to access my own subs!!
Great review. I purchased one of these as soon as it was introduced, primarily because I was looking for dialogue enhancement ( my 60 year old ears are a little fried from too many rock concerts over the last 40 odd years !). I’ve been pleased with it and although, as you say, the enhancement mode is subtle, the Sonos has made a huge difference to me over the native audio from my LG TV. I did initially try a cheaper Sony bar but was disappointed with it and decided to bite the bullet and go for the Sonos, I’m happy with that decision.
Literally bought one last week and I have never been happier. What you said about not needing the sub in smaller rooms? Literally took the words out of my mouth. I was just telling my partner the other day that the bass is more than sufficient for me in my small apartment. One thing to note is that they’re apparently working on a smaller, cheaper sub to pair with the Beam so that might interesting to look out for. On the exclusion of Bluetooth, it’s really down to Bluetooth’s limitations. Calls and notifications can interrupt a Bluetooth connection which sucks for everyone listening. It also doesn’t have the flexibility to support true multiroom audio. Sonos also clearly has a special place in the hearts for Apple so AirPlay (which uses wifi) is the preferred mobile streaming solution. Going into it, I was already aware of how much people love the app. I think it’s super clean and user friendly but I never find myself needing or using it beyond the initial setup. I just use my TV remote and that works perfect. For Apple Music, I just AirPlay and I find that more convenient than using the app. Overall, I’m really happy with the Beam Gen 2. I plan on adding two Ones for surrounds and that should complete the system for me.
Be nice to see you take the Beam back and get the ARC instead. I currently run the ARC with two subs and the two SL surround speakers. I can play DTS format discs but certainly Atmos sounds better in this set up as the Sonos does not do full DTS. I like that I have the one sub hidden under the couch and have been impressed with the sound quality. Yes it is not perfect and lacks height sounds etc... but compared to my old 7.2 system with a receiver and everything there is not a ton of difference sonically though the old system was not set up with height channels either I guess it makes the walls look much cleaner then having 4 big boxes on them. I would consider the new Sony system and that is why you have reviewed it but would be interested in a comparison with an ARC system and is the Sony worth the change?
i watch all your videos and was excited to see you try Sonos. You are dipping your toes in. Once you step up to the arc two play 5's and two subs i think even you will be impressed. It is the best compromise for looks, sound and ease of functionality. Thanks for your videos
I felt exactly the same when I took mine out of the box.. that was until I set up through play and wow what a difference.. I also had to activate DTS mode on my TV so top tip for anyone in the same situation. Truly awesome sound bar for its size 👍🏻
Yes, it was worth the wait. Love having Christy’s opinion in the vids as it give a more well rounded review experience and helps me get an idea of what my wife or kids would say if I made this purchase. 2 questions i have, would the lack of bluetooth mean it supports lossless audio? Also would it make sense incorporating music streaming in the reviews? If so a music streaming comparison between the the Sonos, klipsch, LG, Sony HT A9 would be nice with a side of waffle fries since i am pitting in an order lol
There are so many things i want (and still dont need) before i would buy another soundbar for casual tv sound. But if i change my mind, its always good to circle back to these videos for options.
im an owner of beam gen2 with sub and 2x one sl system for my living room. heres some expierences. if you watch only tv show, beam gen2 only is totally fine, you get clear voice. if you have a large room or you need better atmos feeling, you should go ARC. Sub is costy but do add a lot of feeling of movie and music, and the bass from this sub are really clear, you will hear some part of the sound you can only get in cinema. i was think the same that i will not pay a sub, but after i got it im sure i should keep it. 2 sonos one have so nice sound in stereo mode, better than beam gen2. when you use them as rear surround, turn them lower to balance front and back. try apple music from apple tv, you can find atmos music. fantastic.
Loved the review mate…I recently purchased a Sonos Playbase, given they’re now discontinued it was being offered for a ‘a deal too good to refuse’ price. I was reluctant to get a sound bar as I’ve always had separates. But given we lack the room for a true 5.1 set up, it was time to concede and get something more compact. Well, to say I’m absolutely blown away by the sound quality would be an understatement…10 separate speakers, one being a dedicated sub, each with their own driver makes for a sound stage that had me scratching my head as to how they’re able to make something that’s not much more the 2” high, sound so damn good. The sound is so smooth, warm, comprehensive, I was genuinely surprised. I’m sold on the Sonos concept and I’ll soon be adding their amp to control a mix of wireless and passive speakers including a set of Q Acoustic Concept 20’s and a 7070si Sub, plus a pair of One SL’s for rear surround duties.
Thank you for the great review! If you have Samsung TVs or are in the Samsung ecosystem, the Samsung S60B(Black) or S61B(White) all-in-one sound bar is worth looking at as well. I compared it with Sonos Beam and I ended up bringing the S60B home; Sonos Beam had better audio quality but it's just that convenience of a wireless Dolby Atmos (via Wi-Fi) connection was hard to resist. Cheers
If you add two surrounds (even cheap Ikea Symfonisk bookshelfs) you really improve Beam's dialog clarity and front presentation, not only move surround sound to the back.
I bought the Sonos ARC with 2 Ones and the subwoofer for my living room...loved the system so much I bought the same for my bedroom. I bought the Beam 2 with 2 Ones and the subwoofer for my guestroom.. it's perfect for medium to smaller rooms. I've owned the top of the line soundbars from LG, Sony, and Samsung and none of them beat Sonos in sound quality especially for movies, music, and gaming. They all use cheap subwoofers that output flat bass and they sound bad when playing music
Great review as always. As a Sonos beam, arc, five, one, and sub owner, I have to say, the sub is damn impressive. Yes, it’s expensive, and takes away from the value proposition of the beam itself, but if you really enjoy low end extension, the sub is a really good product. It hits hard and low and is beautifully designed. Much nicer than my SVS sub of a similar price point.
I have several Sonos products. 3 1s, a connect, Amp, beam, and sub. The whole home music experience is great. It's very easy and works flawlessly. In my old home, I would move the sub from a pair of stereo speakers and the amp, to the beam. That's a cool feature. Also, the sub is definitely not boomy. Kristi may like the sound. It's small too. I do think cost is a bit high.
Love the review, I will admit I'm not much into TV and surround sound personally, so this review was actually quite informative. I mainly focus on my stereo for music and such, but we will be moving into a new home and would like to have some sort of surround sound on the tv and seeing these reviews does make it easier when considering a purchase. For the QOTD, yes the wait was worth it. SONOS has always been seen as a solid for this type of speaker and getting an impartial review like this does help when looking at this unit as a potential purchase. I like the fact that the reviews on this channel are always your honest opinion and not "colorized" by loyalty to a brand. Great Job!
I have the Beam in our master, and we are enjoying it immensely. I am not so convinced of the surround performance, though, it’s not as directional and hence, engaging. Vocals are absolutely beautiful even without the Dialogue Enhancer. Agree with Andrew on the bass extension missing, there are times you expect the sound to go lower and get the real thump, and it doesn’t happen, but in a bedroom, that’s fine. I don’t see this working for a mid-larger living room alone. Cannot understand what Kristy heard at all, maybe my room is so typical, it didn’t need any calibration, but the sound out of the box was just good, with only incremental clarity enhancement from the room correction.
Was worth the waiting and I don’t planning on buying one( arc owner) , it’s just very nice to hear your thoughts about vary of products, this is why people encouraged you to review Sonos products, it’s not that all of them want to buy one , it’s that hearing your detailed opinion is crucial for them to base theirs. I hope i made my point clearly as i wanted it to be heard Thanks 🙏 P.s- i own the arc and I felt that I’m missing the amount of base that i wanted so i decided that I’m goin insane move that I probably gonna regret and i saved much money and bought the sub. And… well. I was and still overwhelmed about this piece of engineering. This is that good So.. yea again.. looking forward to hear you what you guys (including kris) have to say about it
My first high priced soundbar was the Sonos Arc which helped get me into audio systems, thanks to the simplicity of the set up and app. My first Amp was the Sonos Amp with a pair of LS50 Meta’s and that was the first time I heard significantly amazing sound quality in my home. Having now used various systems I find the Sonos app to be my favourite, especially as it integrates my Apple Music library. Good review.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has been updated via the app to include Height control also adding a Sonos Sub Mini is a perfect fit for the size of room to which the Sonos Bean Gen 2 would target. Might be worth a review revisit.
I really hope Sonos can get you some of their other speakers to review and / or this video does well enough for you to try out the surrounds / sub / Arc combinations. Love all your vids but I’m particularly interested in these ‘lifestyle’ products!
You should REALLY try the IKEA Symphonisk bookshelf speaker as rear monitors. They make a huge difference and cost almost nothing. I also bought a Sonos sub second hand, and it is SOLID. You guys were taking about neutral and really true to recording sound.. That is that they where aiming for. Listening to Apple Music with Dolby Vision on this setup impresses me and all my friends. It’s non intrusive to the living space and sounds according to me as a music producer creates a great balance between sound and design. I really love Sonos.
Great review Andrew and Kristi! I have experienced the Arc along with pair of Sonos Ones for surround speakers. I do consider myself a hifi person having separate AV system (Anthem MRX-1120) in family room and standalone Audio system (Yamaha AS2100, Denifrips Pontus, Roon Nucleus with pair of Monitor Audio Gold 100 5g with JL Audio D110's). After listening to Sonos ARC for one month, I can state this is a fantastic Soundbar for a mid to large size room. The integration to my Roon Nucleus is superb and sound quality for audio in master bed room LG OLED TV is excellent. The only draw back I've come to discover is that Dolby Atmos require your TV having an eArc or using a device such as the HD fury Arcana. For some, the sub-woofer gen 3 will bring quality bass, texture and low end capabilities to system but will bring your costs up to over 2 grand retail for Sub, One's and Arc. I would conclude by saying that Sonos is on the right track focused on ease of use, seamless integration and creating a great end user experience.
Great review Andrew and Kristi! We love your channel! My wife and I were thrilled to finally see a Sonos review from you. We are audiophiles, but we also have a massive 18-piece, multi-room Sonos setup. We have all of our vintage audiophile gear integrated with it as well. There are currently a total of 33 audio components in the entire system. We've added to it slowly over the last 6-7 years, and it has been flawless. Sure, it's a different experience than our dedicated audiophile gear, but we would never give it up after experiencing what it's like to fill our entire house with amazing sound with an excellent user interface. We are really looking forward to some more Sonos reviews. It is interesting that one of the only Sonos pieces we have never owned is the Subwoofer. It just seems too expensive for what it is and what it does. We've instead integrated two powered subwoofers and a passive subwoofer via our Sonos Connect Amps. Thanks again! Jonathan and Tania
Really nice review, and as an owner of a several sonos products, I could agree with most of it, but the Beam is probably the least impressive sonos speaker. And I don’t know why people ara constantly talking about their soundbars. I think you will be REALLY impressed by the One's. They are definitely something special, especially considering their price and size ;)
I thought my sonos arc was good when I bought it paired with my one's, then I bought the sub and wow it now sounds amazing. Yes the sub is expensive, but in my opinion it's a must to have
The sonos soundbars have pretty good base on their own. But with the sonos subwoofer I have experienced the bass overpowering the soundbar. You have to adjust the subwoofer volume low to match the soundbar. This was my experience in the room I was listening at.
When will you review the ARC? I originally purchased Monitor Audio Bronze 50 for my narrow basement theater based on your videos. The wife said they were too much/big for the room. Sad because I loved them. I picked up an ARC with the full theater setup. Love the setup and the ecosystem. The ecosystem was the true game-changer. We now have speakers in our bathrooms, kitchen, basement, office, living room, and MOVE. But would love to hear your thoughts on the ARC. Keep up the great content and thanks!!!
I agree with this review 👏🏽 I also enjoy Kristi’s review. I added two rear speakers (IKEA Symfonisk) and the surround sound is immersive with the ikea bookshelfs, considering the $119 price. There was no need for a subwoofer. The bass hits with this setup. All though, I still found the Beam Gen 2 unit soundstage was too narrow. The height channels weren’t there for me. It’s perfect for someone who lives in an apartment, a bedroom or an office in my preference.
There are rumours that Sonos are making a mini sub to pair with the beam the sub gen 2 is made for the Sonos Arc which I think you should buy for review (with the sub and then compare them both with the sub). I'm a little surprised at how much you both liked the beam I didn't expect it to be able to go up with the sammy. If you decide to get the Arc I'd be interested in seeing how you compare the beam with the Arc. Btw I have the Arc (just the Arc for now) and yes this was worth the wait
Had the same experience as Kristi. Plugged it in, was super underwhelmed, but pretty blown away after doing the room correction. Also the price of the Sub is a joke. No way I'd buy that. Adding two Ones as surrounds, while also expensive, was worth it though I think. Also usability is amazing. Haven't had a single problem in months. Btw you can use other IR remotes with it (well at least with v1). Thanks for the review. I enjoy your discussion at the end! Very informative.
I have a pair of 1s already and grouped it with the Gen 2 Beam. In another room, I have a Samsung theater setup. This is where I love Sonos most - the ease with which I created a new grouping with the 1s, turning them into side speakers, was incredibly easy and blows the Samsung setup away, even though I have a sub with the Sammy and not with the Sonos. My biggest debate now is whether I keep building on the Sonos system for audio and specifically vinyl or create a separate system from it. It’s pricey with each addition, but it is a good platform to keep building on.
People looking for a way to get good virtual atmos and dialogue quality for movies will be very satisfied with the Beam 2. I love it. And I got a big room.
Purchased the Sonos Beam for my bedroom and love it. Use it primarily for music and it is exceptional as a single point source for music and television.
I enjoyed the review, thanks! To help clarify the Bluetooth criticism for some viewers… it’s a Sonos product, so it doesn’t need Bluetooth. It uses Wi-Fi and a smartphone app like you showed in the video. It keeps the audio from being bussed through your phone, improving sound quality and your phone’s battery life, while adding the functionality of being able to sync with other Sonos products in your space. That Sonos ecosystem you mentioned is perhaps its greatest strength of all for folks who like reliable whole home audio. I’ve tried a few whole home wireless/network ecosystems and Sonos has by far the best uptime.
I'm 71 and listen to a vast 2-channel music collection via my vintage audio system consisting of some JBL L-100s I bought new in 1974 when I was serving in the USAF, being fed by a Marantz 2252B I bought in 1978 and still play cassettes on my Nakamichi tape deck. So how well with this SB handle 2 channel music audio?
Andrew, you must review the Sonos ARC soundbar. Had the Beam but the ARC is a magnitude order better. The ARC is OUTSTANDING. If you were impressed by the Beam than you MUST try the Arc. I am somewhat biased and have a cmplete Sonos equiped home - Sub, Plays, etc. Try Arc you wont be disappointed. Cheers
Just like small to large speakers they’re designed for different use cases. A good idea is for one to buy both on credit card directly from Sonos just after their monthly credit card statement rolls over. Test both products at home in their own environment, then return the one that doesn’t work so well in the room. But the ARC won’t automatically sound the best, just like the largest or latest HiFi speakers don’t automatically sound better.
In your review you never said that the beam gen 2 can be paired with your tv remote to adjust the volume. I paired my LG remote with the beam and I guess that’s how must people would turn the volume up or down. I I’d the beam since it’s release and absolutely love the way it sounds. Your right when you say the only person who as to love your Soundbar is you and I absolutely love the beam gen 2.
Great review and absolutely was worth the wait! You’re right about being cautious regarding the whole buy-in into a full ecosystem. I’ve been quite happy with my Beam gen 1 (essentially what you reviewed minus the atmos support… which doesn’t sound like it’s much to write home about anyway). I too have not felt the need to add the sub - however - where it does make sense to broaden the ecosystem: creating a 3.0 setup with a pair of Sonos 1 SLs as rears… *chefs kiss*… still keeps it sub-$1000 too!
Love this video! I wanted to mention that yes, the sub is expensive but its performance has a way of bringing the system above its category... if that makes sense. I know for myself it makes stretching the budget on the sub a kind of "under promise - over deliver" experience. Would absolutely love to hear the thoughts from both of you if you ever get a chance to do a part 2 with the sub added :)
Nice review!!!! I have the Sonos ARC with dual Sonos Gen 3 sub, and sonos rear speakers (5.2.2). Adding a sub Gen 3 make a big difference and it also changes the Beam performance. I’ll be happy to ship one of my sonos sub Gen 3 to prove you how wonderful the beam will perform with a sub. Let me know if you want to borrow the Gen 3 sub
I absolutely LOVE all of my SONOS gear. I have the original sound bar, 8 play 1’s and 2 play 5’s. Obviously it doesn’t replace my NAD C388 and Forte’s, but there are times that I just use and enjoy using Sonos for music all over the house.
I think my biggest reluctance about buying a SONOS device is the SONOS "ecosystem". Similar to Apple, I feel you're in part paying a premium price to be "in the club". To take advantage of the higher price for a SONOS device you almost need to buy more devices within the SONOS ecosystem. Why doesn't it have Bluetooth? Because that would allow you to more easily bypass the SONOS app and all things designed to keep you in the SONOS ecosystem. Am I wrong? Maybe that's not the full answer, but I bet I'm not too far off. Granted, I'm bias as I don't like ecosystems.
Been using Sonos products since their first-generation streaming amps. I have the first-generation Beam and Sub in a couple of my bedrooms. The Sub actually lays on its side, under the bed. The Beam with the Sub is like night and day when compared to just the Beam alone and the two paired together sound outstanding. While I haven't heard the second-generation Beam, I would definitely pair it with the current generation Sub or buy an Arc instead...and probably end up buying the Sub anyway. ;-)
We have the Arc, two subs, and a pair of fives in our living room setup. There's also a turntable connected to the Sonos Port to feed the vinyl sound to the Fives. Just ordered the Beam 2 for our bedroom and may move one of the subs to pair with the beam.
I appreciate what Sonos, apple, and Bose are doing, and I acknowledge that they are great products, however... Personally ( as someone who has been in the tech industry for thirty years) anything that locks you into a connection,application or attachment ecosystem is essentially charging you for built in obsolescence. Eg. If you buy this without the sub, and in two years decide you would like to add the sub; there is no guarantee that they will still make it, so you are now either buying a whole new system, or scouring the used market. No Bluetooth, is also absurd for essentially a budget product that is for folks who want a one and done.
Although your review is for the Beam I recently spent a week at a friends house with the Sonos Arc paired with a sub and a pair of One SL's. I would not classify myself as a Audiophile but as a Audio/Music enthusiast. Good sound is important to me but constant search for perfect sound? I'll pass. With that said I have to say the sound was incredible. It WOW'd me over and over with both music and movie. It makes me rethink my living room ELAC Munro 5.1 setup.
I will wait for you to review Sonos Arc + Two One SLs + Sub Gen 3. I have them and feel it is worth it but I would like your inputs when you compare with other systems and especially wired HiFi systems.
Great review, I would suggest adding a pair of One SL’s as surrounds, what a difference it makes. Went from a Beosound Stage to the Beam, SL’s and Sub. I find having the surrounds a better theatre experience than the Stage.
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Having said in the video that you haven’t heard the Sonos Beam with the sub. I would be really interested to see how the Sonos Beam review would evolve and change with first adding the Sonos Sub and then another adding the Sonos Ones as surrounds (again with and without the sub). You can always return the sub after lol.
Damn, I was hoping it would suck. I’m sorry, but the hysteria surrounding this brand has become really annoying but I guess it’s valid enough now. I’m glad you finally reviewed it but I’m still not putting my money down. Maybe if my mother-in-law wanted better sound than her tv speakers, but even then I’d probably buy her the Klipsch 600 so I could crank it when I go for a family dinner.
Hi Andrew, the one sl's does make quite a difference, and the talk is Sonos are developing a mini sub to work with the beam at have the price of the gen 3
Would you rather have this or Klipsch The Fives?
You confirmed that my hearing is good. I really like Sonos products and they are present in almost every room in my house. What I don't like and can't understand is why Sonos never respond back to you and Kristi. What are they afraid of and is their egos that fragile? Critique is good -- especially if you have. a great product already.
Just bought my Sonos Beam Gen 2 for £449 and can absolutely confirm it blows all my previous Sony soundbars out of the water. It sounds fab .....
Arc, Arc, Arc! Now let's review the Sonos Arc, please! 🙂
Arc is alright nothing truly spectacular…..
Arc is Badass!!
Really interesting to hear him talk about this being the choice sub-$1000 when the Arc is also sub-$1000. Love to hear his take on the Arc.
I have the Arc for 1 year now.
If you buy only the soundbar. Not worth the price.
Soundbar and subwoofer. Its ok.
You can do beter for the price in my opinion.
Full system with the surrounds. Its wow. I recomend it if you whant something simple and easy to use.
We've had the new Beam for about a month, and we love its clarity. We were surprised by the wide sound stage coming out of this small soundbar. A week ago we added two IKEA Symfonisk bookshelf speakers which made our audio experience more immersive. Set up was super easy, by the way. One thing that did not impress me is the bass of the Beam. This unit can't really handle lower vibrations. It literally starts to rattle when going deeper. So, at some point we're adding the new SONOS sub mini. The other thing that's not so fabulous is Dolby Atmos. The effect is vague at best, and there's no dome of sound effect. It's more of a gimmick, to be honest. Overall, this soundbar is a great addition to our living room, and we're happy to have it.
Scenario:
Bose: Recently purchased. Setup was fine as far as plugging in, blah blah blah. Turned on, loaded app. App seemed fine. Out of the blue, the speaker turned off(With ARC). After messing with the settings, powering on and off, it finally turned back on and got it up and running again. It then failed again and turned off the next day. I asked myself "Do I want to do this again?" Answer: NO!
Result: Returned both the soundbar and the sub.
Fresh Start: Purchased the Sonos Beam.
App easy setup, updated firmware(via wired connection), set up sub via NFC via the phone, which was nice. Ran the spacial piece. Watched TOP Gun Mav and it was amazing. You could hear the booms, here the speech audio clearly. The way soundbars should be.
I have had other surround sound systems in the past, the big issue is music too loud, cannot hear vocals, bass not enough, and more....
Sonos accomplishes everything that is needed for a great movie experience, hands down and for under 1g, its well worth it.
Go Sonos for sure. You will be happy.
I had the same issue with a Bose 600 + my Q80 QLED TV (sound keep dropping out, despite playing with all the possible settings on the Bose app). I returned it to Best Buy and will pick up the Sonos Beam Gen 2 (plus geek squad coverage) on Black Friday.
Your reviews are ALWAYS worth the wait! I align with Kristi's „criticism“ here. The expensive Sub is making it difficult for some people. When looking into Soundbars around 2019 the first Gen Beam had the same situation. I really liked the sound of it, but I missed the Bass I wanted from my system. So i picked the Bose pendant back then and got the small Bass Module with it. It was more expensive, than getting the Beam, but made for sense overall for me. Sonos is said to be working on a smaller cyclindrical shaped Sub for around the same price as the Beam itself. This and an optional microphone for Android devices to be able to use TruPlay would make the Beam more interesting to more people.
My thoughts exactly! The big advantage Bose has in the market is that they have different caliber/priced subwoofers. I have the 900 soundbar paired with the 700 sub and surrounds but it was an expensive system. My sister who didn’t have that kind of budget was considering Sonos amongst a few others, but I ultimately recommended she go with Bose because she could get the 500 series soundbar without paying like 50% more than the cost of the bar for a sub with the bass module 500. Glad Sonos will be introducing a more mid range level sub this year.
You GOT to test the Sub now too. I thought it was totally bonkers to spend that much money on a sub but it changes everything! It sends all low tones to the sub in a dedicated 5ghz network and free up the speakers on the sound bar for even more mid range sound. It’s SONOS highest ranked speaker by customer satisfaction. Also placement isn’t an issue since you trueplay it too it can be placed virtually wherever in a room, even under a sofa or bed. And it’s totally vibration free! Truly amazing piece of engineering…
We need a full Sonos system review, the sub and surround’s make all the difference
Had Beam gen 2 for about 2 months now and find I am enjoying shows and movies 10x more. No issues at all. I was worries about the bass but its actually so strong in my basement set up I have to turn volume down! Worth every penny.
Sounds like Kristi is talking about the Five. It’s a really great little speaker. I think the advantage with Sonos is never fully experienced with a single speaker because part of the price is the ability to expand wirelessly. So for me, what started with a soundbar, went through the roof (as far as enjoyment) when I added the subs. Then as I added Fives and Ones around the house and created separate rooms (that can be grouped) the VALUE of each one to me increased greatly. The ability to bring the whole house into the TV audio (great for games or parties) or ability to bring the TV 5.1 audio into whatever I’m streaming (music or podcast) is AWESOME. And one Sub on the same floor enhances ALL of the speakers. It feels like a $150 speaker (in another room) sounds much fuller in the frequency response. So your comment on joining the Sonos ecosystem makes a lot of sense.
Thank you Andrew and Kristi. And thank you Kristi for your brute honesty. It's refreshing and needed.
I bought the Sonos Beam with a gen 3sub, and 2 SLs, for about $1400. I’ve enjoyed it so far! For those who want a no nonsense 5.1 setup, I think Sonos does a great job of providing that kinda of experience. I think it’s important for buyers to understand their needs and thoroughly research Options that meet those specs.
This review was absolutely worth the wait. Kristi’s section always adds a ton of value to the channel, especially loved her insights on dialogue clarity and Trueplay here. I share her experience with my own Sonos One, Trueplay made a huge difference in soundstage and balance for me.
Sonos has now also released a sub mini that is more affordable and plays very well with the beam gen2!
Seems Sonos listened to this review. It can now be paired with the cheaper sub mini which plays very nicely with the beam (but for only 400 bucks) and they've added DTS X support.
I ended up picking up a Sonos sub gen2 from Sonos. They sell refurbished or factory blem on their website. Almost 150 to 200 off retail.
It completely changes the sound and atmosphere. It’s my number one must have upgrade for Sonos sound bars.
Awesome Review Andrew! It’s an impressive bar for the size. Looking to forward to hearing your thoughts on the ARC when you can get your hands on one 😊
I have the Sonos Beam Gen 2 and a pair of Sonos One SL speakers and quite frankly, there is more than enough bass to go around without a sub and I have full surround.
I have an ARC soundbar in my basement, Sonos I SL in my living room. Three weeks ago bought the Beam for my family room, returned it because the Bose 900 went on sale so I bought it, I was really disappointed with the 900 after three days later I sent back to Bose and rebought the Beam😊 I’m really happy with it.
I'm surprised this is such a positive review. I'm interested to learn how the Beam compares to the four Sony surround speakers you reviewed a couple of months ago. Many thanks.
The recent 14.6 update has given the Beam gen 2 a height channel, you can now crank it up to +10. Have you noticed any difference the atmos performance after the update?
I use the Beam with two IKEA Symfonisk bookshelf speakers for the surrounds in the small sitting room in the master suite. The symfonisk are an incredible deal as surrounds.
100% agree! that combo is gold and i dont think many ppl even know or think about the ikea symfonisk speakers.
I have the beam in my bedroom and I also think the bass is completely fine for that environment. If I had it in my main listening area, I would want the sub though (I have the arc w/ surrounds and sub in my living room). The room correction is pretty impressive with all the sonos products I have tried. It easy to toggle on and off, so it kind of fun to do that when listening to see how much it’s fixing the room. I’m glad you were able to review one of their products, as most “hi-fi reviewers” just pass on them as not being a real speaker.
Will you be reviewing the Sonos Arc anytime soon? This is the one I'm really interested in. I have a larger living room and currently have the
I bought the Arc alone and was really, really unimpressed. And this was me coming from an old Samsung sound bar with a wireless sub. Then I added the Sonos sub and things got much better. But even after Trueplay room tuning, it felt like something was missing. I later learned I wasn’t running the Arc in 5.1 - I had to change a non-intuitive setting on my TV. And then it finally sounded like I expected. The system is MUCH better after Truplay tuning, so if you don’t have an iPhone (Android isn’t currently supported), borrow one. Finally, because we have a large living room and an open-concept home, I felt like the Arc and sub could use a bit more support, so I added the Sonos One SL surrounds. Finally, the system sounds perfect. It’s even better because of the Sonos app, which allows you to adjust the surround volume and mode (full stereo or ambient mix), which is essential - from shows that support Atmos to Dolby Digital 5.1 to basic stereo, the mix can change drastically in the surrounds and adjustment really comes in handy, especially when it’s all done in a well-designed phone app.
Now if you paired the beam with the sub mini…. that would be a game changer.
Obviously this was prior to the mini sub but the beam with the mini sub is under $900 and definitely worth it. And in regard to the sub gen3 it actually would be perfect for a bedroom as it can be laid down and placed under the bed. As it is designed to stand or lay. That would make the bass I’m sure while being in the bed and watching a movie be amazing.
Agree about the Sub Mini; it is less expensive and produces some nice bass in a smaller room (paired with the Beam).
Love the siskel and ebert type bantering between you two. It's awesome cause when you two totally agree on a product it's guaranteed to be great. Thanks to you both for your honest reviews.
Thanks so much Mark! Appreciate it.
While probably too expensive, adding the sub is absolutely transformative . Highly recommend it.
I got the Sonos arc + sub + surrounds for $1700 after tax and it’s been amazing. After the price increase, it might be a hard sell at around $2200+ but it’s still an excellent and easy to use set up
Loved this review! I have a full Sonos system with the Beam + Sub + Fives. Yes two pairs of Fives are my surrounds! I generally turn the surrounds down for movies since the Sonos app lets you do so. Then have them turned up for any music and let the Fives shine when I play my music over Tidal, etc. SO HAPPY YOU ARE KEEPING IT!!! As I LOVE my system! Thanks for the review as always!
Thanks for sharing Curtis! Glad you're enjoying your Sonos setup.
Andrew thank you as always for amazing reviews love your videos. I will say my Uncle bought Sonos and asked I install. Probably one of the most painful setups I’ve ever had. This technology is NOT designed for anyone older who has an older TV or no mobile phone. Sound was underwhelming and the optical cable really didnt work. Ended up returning and getting zVOX which was much better. If your a young person with top of the line equipment thats fine but just word of caution.
Honestly, I'll take an Harley or/and a Mustang GT over a Tesla any day. Great comparison, Mr. Andrew!
No remote and running out of steam at 80 db's plus $750.00 for a dedicated sub. For the same price I bought, years ago, an SVS PB12-NSD which can be paired to anything on hearth and it goes really really low without running out of breath on both music and movies! I'll pass on the Sonos.
I have the arc and the sub and the sonance architextural rears. By far the sub blows me away way more than anything else. Like. SVS ultra blows me away. Absolutely ingenious design prevents floor, room, and box vibrations with an incredibly clear and seamless addition to the system overall.
A seamless integration with other Sonos products for multi room audio is a big plus for Sonos products. Thanks for the review.
I could imagine a whole home Sonos setup could be quite trick, not to mention easy to use.
I love getting your partner's second opinion. Thank you both!
So glad! Thanks for watching, Travis.
I second Kristi with my experience. Here my take on Sonos beam gen 2
Pros- Build quality, APP, Bass and sound for its size. Dialogue clarity....Best customer support experience so far
Cons- Mids are not balanced. When increased volume,not well balances, dialogue/vocal will take over all other frequencies like low,mid . If i wants to add sub woofer & surround, costs 3 times high and does not justify for Beam output segment.
Can improve- Should add Full EQ in APP, Support Andriod. lower cost surround speakers and sub woofer to match beam segment range.Remote.cant keep taking mobile and open app to control all the time.HDMI pass through added adv.Bluetooth support to play music.
If possible, do Arc review
- quick note, for tv viewing most use tv remote for volume adjustment
no separate remote needed imo
Another great review!
I’m a longterm sonos user (9 years). So I wasn’t waiting for a review. But I am always looking forward to your next videos. This is a testament to the quality of your work. Thank you both for your hard work and dedication. This is another great video. ❤️
Actually, the route we finally went? We grabbed the Arc along with the one sl's. Then, we grabbed the amp. It allowed me to use my own subs!! Sonos is brilliant! They charged me $700.00 bucks, to access my own subs!!
Great review. I purchased one of these as soon as it was introduced, primarily because I was looking for dialogue enhancement ( my 60 year old ears are a little fried from too many rock concerts over the last 40 odd years !). I’ve been pleased with it and although, as you say, the enhancement mode is subtle, the Sonos has made a huge difference to me over the native audio from my LG TV. I did initially try a cheaper Sony bar but was disappointed with it and decided to bite the bullet and go for the Sonos, I’m happy with that decision.
Literally bought one last week and I have never been happier.
What you said about not needing the sub in smaller rooms? Literally took the words out of my mouth. I was just telling my partner the other day that the bass is more than sufficient for me in my small apartment. One thing to note is that they’re apparently working on a smaller, cheaper sub to pair with the Beam so that might interesting to look out for.
On the exclusion of Bluetooth, it’s really down to Bluetooth’s limitations. Calls and notifications can interrupt a Bluetooth connection which sucks for everyone listening. It also doesn’t have the flexibility to support true multiroom audio. Sonos also clearly has a special place in the hearts for Apple so AirPlay (which uses wifi) is the preferred mobile streaming solution.
Going into it, I was already aware of how much people love the app. I think it’s super clean and user friendly but I never find myself needing or using it beyond the initial setup. I just use my TV remote and that works perfect. For Apple Music, I just AirPlay and I find that more convenient than using the app.
Overall, I’m really happy with the Beam Gen 2. I plan on adding two Ones for surrounds and that should complete the system for me.
The Sonos ARC has DTS…you must do a review to this soundbar next ! 😃
Be nice to see you take the Beam back and get the ARC instead. I currently run the ARC with two subs and the two SL surround speakers. I can play DTS format discs but certainly Atmos sounds better in this set up as the Sonos does not do full DTS. I like that I have the one sub hidden under the couch and have been impressed with the sound quality. Yes it is not perfect and lacks height sounds etc... but compared to my old 7.2 system with a receiver and everything there is not a ton of difference sonically though the old system was not set up with height channels either I guess it makes the walls look much cleaner then having 4 big boxes on them. I would consider the new Sony system and that is why you have reviewed it but would be interested in a comparison with an ARC system and is the Sony worth the change?
i watch all your videos and was excited to see you try Sonos. You are dipping your toes in. Once you step up to the arc two play 5's and two subs i think even you will be impressed. It is the best compromise for looks, sound and ease of functionality. Thanks for your videos
I just got the beam 2 and I think your review is spot on. I would say it has a very warm sound. I guess that’s what you mean by neutral ?
I felt exactly the same when I took mine out of the box.. that was until I set up through play and wow what a difference.. I also had to activate DTS mode on my TV so top tip for anyone in the same situation. Truly awesome sound bar for its size 👍🏻
Yes, it was worth the wait. Love having Christy’s opinion in the vids as it give a more well rounded review experience and helps me get an idea of what my wife or kids would say if I made this purchase. 2 questions i have, would the lack of bluetooth mean it supports lossless audio? Also would it make sense incorporating music streaming in the reviews? If so a music streaming comparison between the the Sonos, klipsch, LG, Sony HT A9 would be nice with a side of waffle fries since i am pitting in an order lol
There are so many things i want (and still dont need) before i would buy another soundbar for casual tv sound. But if i change my mind, its always good to circle back to these videos for options.
Although sound from a tv is unbearable. I find a soundbar is one of the best improvements you can possibly make
@@camillo1234 agreed. My tv setup has a stereo receiver and 2 decent speakers
im an owner of beam gen2 with sub and 2x one sl system for my living room. heres some expierences. if you watch only tv show, beam gen2 only is totally fine, you get clear voice. if you have a large room or you need better atmos feeling, you should go ARC. Sub is costy but do add a lot of feeling of movie and music, and the bass from this sub are really clear, you will hear some part of the sound you can only get in cinema. i was think the same that i will not pay a sub, but after i got it im sure i should keep it. 2 sonos one have so nice sound in stereo mode, better than beam gen2. when you use them as rear surround, turn them lower to balance front and back. try apple music from apple tv, you can find atmos music. fantastic.
I suggest to add a couple of symfonisk from Ikea as rear channel. IMHO you could get better results than adding the sub!
Loved the review mate…I recently purchased a Sonos Playbase, given they’re now discontinued it was being offered for a ‘a deal too good to refuse’ price. I was reluctant to get a sound bar as I’ve always had separates. But given we lack the room for a true 5.1 set up, it was time to concede and get something more compact. Well, to say I’m absolutely blown away by the sound quality would be an understatement…10 separate speakers, one being a dedicated sub, each with their own driver makes for a sound stage that had me scratching my head as to how they’re able to make something that’s not much more the 2” high, sound so damn good. The sound is so smooth, warm, comprehensive, I was genuinely surprised. I’m sold on the Sonos concept and I’ll soon be adding their amp to control a mix of wireless and passive speakers including a set of Q Acoustic Concept 20’s and a 7070si Sub, plus a pair of One SL’s for rear surround duties.
Thank you for the great review! If you have Samsung TVs or are in the Samsung ecosystem, the Samsung S60B(Black) or S61B(White) all-in-one sound bar is worth looking at as well. I compared it with Sonos Beam and I ended up bringing the S60B home; Sonos Beam had better audio quality but it's just that convenience of a wireless Dolby Atmos (via Wi-Fi) connection was hard to resist. Cheers
If you add two surrounds (even cheap Ikea Symfonisk bookshelfs) you really improve Beam's dialog clarity and front presentation, not only move surround sound to the back.
I bought the Sonos ARC with 2 Ones and the subwoofer for my living room...loved the system so much I bought the same for my bedroom. I bought the Beam 2 with 2 Ones and the subwoofer for my guestroom.. it's perfect for medium to smaller rooms. I've owned the top of the line soundbars from LG, Sony, and Samsung and none of them beat Sonos in sound quality especially for movies, music, and gaming. They all use cheap subwoofers that output flat bass and they sound bad when playing music
Great review as always. As a Sonos beam, arc, five, one, and sub owner, I have to say, the sub is damn impressive. Yes, it’s expensive, and takes away from the value proposition of the beam itself, but if you really enjoy low end extension, the sub is a really good product. It hits hard and low and is beautifully designed. Much nicer than my SVS sub of a similar price point.
I have several Sonos products. 3 1s, a connect, Amp, beam, and sub. The whole home music experience is great. It's very easy and works flawlessly. In my old home, I would move the sub from a pair of stereo speakers and the amp, to the beam. That's a cool feature. Also, the sub is definitely not boomy. Kristi may like the sound. It's small too. I do think cost is a bit high.
Love the review, I will admit I'm not much into TV and surround sound personally, so this review was actually quite informative. I mainly focus on my stereo for music and such, but we will be moving into a new home and would like to have some sort of surround sound on the tv and seeing these reviews does make it easier when considering a purchase. For the QOTD, yes the wait was worth it. SONOS has always been seen as a solid for this type of speaker and getting an impartial review like this does help when looking at this unit as a potential purchase. I like the fact that the reviews on this channel are always your honest opinion and not "colorized" by loyalty to a brand. Great Job!
Thanks Terry. Appreciate you watching!
I have the Beam in our master, and we are enjoying it immensely. I am not so convinced of the surround performance, though, it’s not as directional and hence, engaging. Vocals are absolutely beautiful even without the Dialogue Enhancer. Agree with Andrew on the bass extension missing, there are times you expect the sound to go lower and get the real thump, and it doesn’t happen, but in a bedroom, that’s fine. I don’t see this working for a mid-larger living room alone.
Cannot understand what Kristy heard at all, maybe my room is so typical, it didn’t need any calibration, but the sound out of the box was just good, with only incremental clarity enhancement from the room correction.
Was worth the waiting and I don’t planning on buying one( arc owner) , it’s just very nice to hear your thoughts about vary of products, this is why people encouraged you to review Sonos products, it’s not that all of them want to buy one , it’s that hearing your detailed opinion is crucial for them to base theirs.
I hope i made my point clearly as i wanted it to be heard
Thanks 🙏
P.s- i own the arc and I felt that I’m missing the amount of base that i wanted so i decided that I’m goin insane move that I probably gonna regret and i saved much money and bought the sub.
And… well. I was and still overwhelmed about this piece of engineering. This is that good
So.. yea again.. looking forward to hear you what you guys (including kris) have to say about it
My first high priced soundbar was the Sonos Arc which helped get me into audio systems, thanks to the simplicity of the set up and app. My first Amp was the Sonos Amp with a pair of LS50 Meta’s and that was the first time I heard significantly amazing sound quality in my home. Having now used various systems I find the Sonos app to be my favourite, especially as it integrates my Apple Music library. Good review.
Great to hear about your personal experience!!
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has been updated via the app to include Height control also adding a Sonos Sub Mini is a perfect fit for the size of room to which the Sonos Bean Gen 2 would target. Might be worth a review revisit.
I really hope Sonos can get you some of their other speakers to review and / or this video does well enough for you to try out the surrounds / sub / Arc combinations. Love all your vids but I’m particularly interested in these ‘lifestyle’ products!
You should REALLY try the IKEA Symphonisk bookshelf speaker as rear monitors. They make a huge difference and cost almost nothing. I also bought a Sonos sub second hand, and it is SOLID. You guys were taking about neutral and really true to recording sound.. That is that they where aiming for. Listening to Apple Music with Dolby Vision on this setup impresses me and all my friends. It’s non intrusive to the living space and sounds according to me as a music producer creates a great balance between sound and design. I really love Sonos.
Great review Andrew and Kristi! I have experienced the Arc along with pair of Sonos Ones for surround speakers. I do consider myself a hifi person having separate AV system (Anthem MRX-1120) in family room and standalone Audio system (Yamaha AS2100, Denifrips Pontus, Roon Nucleus with pair of Monitor Audio Gold 100 5g with JL Audio D110's). After listening to Sonos ARC for one month, I can state this is a fantastic Soundbar for a mid to large size room. The integration to my Roon Nucleus is superb and sound quality for audio in master bed room LG OLED TV is excellent. The only draw back I've come to discover is that Dolby Atmos require your TV having an eArc or using a device such as the HD fury Arcana. For some, the sub-woofer gen 3 will bring quality bass, texture and low end capabilities to system but will bring your costs up to over 2 grand retail for Sub, One's and Arc. I would conclude by saying that Sonos is on the right track focused on ease of use, seamless integration and creating a great end user experience.
Great review Andrew and Kristi! We love your channel!
My wife and I were thrilled to finally see a Sonos review from you. We are audiophiles, but we also have a massive 18-piece, multi-room Sonos setup. We have all of our vintage audiophile gear integrated with it as well. There are currently a total of 33 audio components in the entire system. We've added to it slowly over the last 6-7 years, and it has been flawless. Sure, it's a different experience than our dedicated audiophile gear, but we would never give it up after experiencing what it's like to fill our entire house with amazing sound with an excellent user interface. We are really looking forward to some more Sonos reviews.
It is interesting that one of the only Sonos pieces we have never owned is the Subwoofer. It just seems too expensive for what it is and what it does. We've instead integrated two powered subwoofers and a passive subwoofer via our Sonos Connect Amps.
Thanks again!
Jonathan and Tania
Thank so much for watching, Jonathan and Tania!
Really nice review, and as an owner of a several sonos products, I could agree with most of it, but the Beam is probably the least impressive sonos speaker. And I don’t know why people ara constantly talking about their soundbars. I think you will be REALLY impressed by the One's. They are definitely something special, especially considering their price and size ;)
We would love to bring you that review but so far they are unresponsive to both our own and their customer's requests to send review samples.
I thought my sonos arc was good when I bought it paired with my one's, then I bought the sub and wow it now sounds amazing. Yes the sub is expensive, but in my opinion it's a must to have
The sonos soundbars have pretty good base on their own. But with the sonos subwoofer I have experienced the bass overpowering the soundbar. You have to adjust the subwoofer volume low to match the soundbar. This was my experience in the room I was listening at.
This is the ONE video that made my choice, thank you so much. Beam 2 + Sub Mini it is!!!
I’m returning mines, I don’t believe it’s work the money
@@iamJafarlee I actually went with the Samsung q930 and couldn't be happier
When will you review the ARC? I originally purchased Monitor Audio Bronze 50 for my narrow basement theater based on your videos. The wife said they were too much/big for the room. Sad because I loved them. I picked up an ARC with the full theater setup. Love the setup and the ecosystem. The ecosystem was the true game-changer. We now have speakers in our bathrooms, kitchen, basement, office, living room, and MOVE. But would love to hear your thoughts on the ARC. Keep up the great content and thanks!!!
I agree with this review 👏🏽 I also enjoy Kristi’s review.
I added two rear speakers (IKEA Symfonisk) and the surround sound is immersive with the ikea bookshelfs, considering the $119 price. There was no need for a subwoofer. The bass hits with this setup. All though, I still found the Beam Gen 2 unit soundstage was too narrow. The height channels weren’t there for me. It’s perfect for someone who lives in an apartment, a bedroom or an office in my preference.
There are rumours that Sonos are making a mini sub to pair with the beam the sub gen 2 is made for the Sonos Arc which I think you should buy for review (with the sub and then compare them both with the sub). I'm a little surprised at how much you both liked the beam I didn't expect it to be able to go up with the sammy. If you decide to get the Arc I'd be interested in seeing how you compare the beam with the Arc. Btw I have the Arc (just the Arc for now) and yes this was worth the wait
Had the same experience as Kristi. Plugged it in, was super underwhelmed, but pretty blown away after doing the room correction. Also the price of the Sub is a joke. No way I'd buy that. Adding two Ones as surrounds, while also expensive, was worth it though I think. Also usability is amazing. Haven't had a single problem in months. Btw you can use other IR remotes with it (well at least with v1). Thanks for the review. I enjoy your discussion at the end! Very informative.
Also worth mentioning that you need an iPhone or iPad for the room correction. No android support. Had to borrow one from a friend.
I have a pair of 1s already and grouped it with the Gen 2 Beam. In another room, I have a Samsung theater setup. This is where I love Sonos most - the ease with which I created a new grouping with the 1s, turning them into side speakers, was incredibly easy and blows the Samsung setup away, even though I have a sub with the Sammy and not with the Sonos.
My biggest debate now is whether I keep building on the Sonos system for audio and specifically vinyl or create a separate system from it. It’s pricey with each addition, but it is a good platform to keep building on.
People looking for a way to get good virtual atmos and dialogue quality for movies will be very satisfied with the Beam 2. I love it. And I got a big room.
Purchased the Sonos Beam for my bedroom and love it. Use it primarily for music and it is exceptional as a single point source for music and television.
Do you think it would sound better if the beam was mounted on top of the TV vs below it?
I enjoyed the review, thanks! To help clarify the Bluetooth criticism for some viewers… it’s a Sonos product, so it doesn’t need Bluetooth. It uses Wi-Fi and a smartphone app like you showed in the video. It keeps the audio from being bussed through your phone, improving sound quality and your phone’s battery life, while adding the functionality of being able to sync with other Sonos products in your space. That Sonos ecosystem you mentioned is perhaps its greatest strength of all for folks who like reliable whole home audio. I’ve tried a few whole home wireless/network ecosystems and Sonos has by far the best uptime.
The subwoofer transforms the Beam and the ARC for that matter. You have to get the sub IMHO.
I'm 71 and listen to a vast 2-channel music collection via my vintage audio system consisting of some JBL L-100s I bought new in 1974 when I was serving in the USAF, being fed by a Marantz 2252B I bought in 1978 and still play cassettes on my Nakamichi tape deck. So how well with this SB handle 2 channel music audio?
Andrew, you must review the Sonos ARC soundbar. Had the Beam but the ARC is a magnitude order better. The ARC is OUTSTANDING. If you were impressed by the Beam than you MUST try the Arc. I am somewhat biased and have a cmplete Sonos equiped home - Sub, Plays, etc. Try Arc you wont be disappointed. Cheers
Just like small to large speakers they’re designed for different use cases. A good idea is for one to buy both on credit card directly from Sonos just after their monthly credit card statement rolls over. Test both products at home in their own environment, then return the one that doesn’t work so well in the room. But the ARC won’t automatically sound the best, just like the largest or latest HiFi speakers don’t automatically sound better.
I'd like to see some updates now that the sub mini is released! Great video
The sonos sub is awesome! I did not think it was worth it until I got it and the bass well blow you out of the chair! It’s impressive!
In your review you never said that the beam gen 2 can be paired with your tv remote to adjust the volume. I paired my LG remote with the beam and I guess that’s how must people would turn the volume up or down. I I’d the beam since it’s release and absolutely love the way it sounds. Your right when you say the only person who as to love your Soundbar is you and I absolutely love the beam gen 2.
I got this soundbar for the fact that I’m in an apartment and don’t want to bother my neighbors too much. About to pick it up now.
Great review and absolutely was worth the wait! You’re right about being cautious regarding the whole buy-in into a full ecosystem. I’ve been quite happy with my Beam gen 1 (essentially what you reviewed minus the atmos support… which doesn’t sound like it’s much to write home about anyway). I too have not felt the need to add the sub - however - where it does make sense to broaden the ecosystem: creating a 3.0 setup with a pair of Sonos 1 SLs as rears… *chefs kiss*… still keeps it sub-$1000 too!
My plan, when I move, is to utilize my current two Sonos Ones in the back of the room with a new Sonos Beam, in a modest sized room.
Love this video! I wanted to mention that yes, the sub is expensive but its performance has a way of bringing the system above its category... if that makes sense. I know for myself it makes stretching the budget on the sub a kind of "under promise - over deliver" experience. Would absolutely love to hear the thoughts from both of you if you ever get a chance to do a part 2 with the sub added :)
Nice review!!!! I have the Sonos ARC with dual Sonos Gen 3 sub, and sonos rear speakers (5.2.2). Adding a sub Gen 3 make a big difference and it also changes the Beam performance. I’ll be happy to ship one of my sonos sub Gen 3 to prove you how wonderful the beam will perform with a sub. Let me know if you want to borrow the Gen 3 sub
hi, Andrew, nice review; what about Sonos Arc?
I absolutely LOVE all of my SONOS gear. I have the original sound bar, 8 play 1’s and 2 play 5’s. Obviously it doesn’t replace my NAD C388 and Forte’s, but there are times that I just use and enjoy using Sonos for music all over the house.
I can understand how one could just rely on Sonos more often even if they have a "real" setup elsewhere in the home.
I think my biggest reluctance about buying a SONOS device is the SONOS "ecosystem". Similar to Apple, I feel you're in part paying a premium price to be "in the club". To take advantage of the higher price for a SONOS device you almost need to buy more devices within the SONOS ecosystem. Why doesn't it have Bluetooth? Because that would allow you to more easily bypass the SONOS app and all things designed to keep you in the SONOS ecosystem. Am I wrong? Maybe that's not the full answer, but I bet I'm not too far off. Granted, I'm bias as I don't like ecosystems.
it you want multiroom audio, Sonos is best in class. If you don’t want multi room audio then no need to pay the Sonos premium.
Been using Sonos products since their first-generation streaming amps. I have the first-generation Beam and Sub in a couple of my bedrooms. The Sub actually lays on its side, under the bed. The Beam with the Sub is like night and day when compared to just the Beam alone and the two paired together sound outstanding. While I haven't heard the second-generation Beam, I would definitely pair it with the current generation Sub or buy an Arc instead...and probably end up buying the Sub anyway. ;-)
We have the Arc, two subs, and a pair of fives in our living room setup. There's also a turntable connected to the Sonos Port to feed the vinyl sound to the Fives. Just ordered the Beam 2 for our bedroom and may move one of the subs to pair with the beam.
I appreciate what Sonos, apple, and Bose are doing, and I acknowledge that they are great products, however...
Personally ( as someone who has been in the tech industry for thirty years) anything that locks you into a connection,application or attachment ecosystem is essentially charging you for built in obsolescence.
Eg. If you buy this without the sub, and in two years decide you would like to add the sub; there is no guarantee that they will still make it, so you are now either buying a whole new system, or scouring the used market.
No Bluetooth, is also absurd for essentially a budget product that is for folks who want a one and done.
Although your review is for the Beam I recently spent a week at a friends house with the Sonos Arc paired with a sub and a pair of One SL's. I would not classify myself as a Audiophile but as a Audio/Music enthusiast. Good sound is important to me but constant search for perfect sound? I'll pass. With that said I have to say the sound was incredible. It WOW'd me over and over with both music and movie. It makes me rethink my living room ELAC Munro 5.1 setup.
Very good to hear the Arc performed well.
I will wait for you to review Sonos Arc + Two One SLs + Sub Gen 3. I have them and feel it is worth it but I would like your inputs when you compare with other systems and especially wired HiFi systems.
Still waiting on a arc review. It's much better then the beam
Great review, I would suggest adding a pair of One SL’s as surrounds, what a difference it makes. Went from a Beosound Stage to the Beam, SL’s and Sub. I find having the surrounds a better theatre experience than the Stage.