Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

W What Hi-Fi? Article · Sept 2022

Delivering Dolby Atmos from a small chassis is no mean feat and the Sonos Beam Gen 2 achieves a convincing, immersive performance without so much as a vertical speaker in sight. Instead, when watching Atmos content, two of the soundbar's five front-facing arrays are dedicated to reproducing overhead and surround sounds. With its hefty processing power, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 uses psychoacoustic HRTF (head-related transfer function) technology to give the impression of height without needing to get vertical.

S Smart Home Sounds Smart Home Sounds · 167K subscribers · Feb 2022

And what I particularly like about how the beam has been designed is that the N2 speakers angled outwardly for extra width. So the sound is bounced off the wall and back to your ears. There's no upward firing drivers. So a big difference between this and the Sonos Arc is that the Dolby Atmos is simulated in the Beam whereas it's fully uncompressed in the Sonos Arc.

E Eurogamer.net Eurogamer.net · reviewer · Aug 2025

One of the best, more affordable soundbars in recent years has been the Sonos Beam Gen 2, which brings with it some great performance across a variety of content and also doubles nicely as a Sonos WiFi speaker for wireless playback and smart speaker with Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa powers that makes it quite the versatile customer.

O OASTHAR OASTHAR · 45.3K subscribers · Dec 2025

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 has been a go-to favorite for years thanks to its compact build and impressively detailed sound. On the other hand, JBL has entered the scene with the Bar 300 MK2, bringing big and room filling audio, a wider design, and a few thoughtful touches like an extra HDMI input and punchier bass.

P Pcmag George Yang · reviewer

PCMag's principal writer Will Greenwald awarded it an "Excellent" rating. In our Sonos Beam (Gen 2) review, he said, "The second-generation Sonos Beam soundbar adds Dolby Atmos support and two more audio processing channels, for an impressive sound field that retains the previous model's compact size.

A A2K A2K · 20K subscribers · Sept 2021

Now, this has been increased to five to provide a wider sound stage. This is paired with the new processing chip that's according to Sonos about 40% faster than last generation. Because of these changes, it now supports 3D audio with Dolby Atmos. The other improvement is actually at the HDMI ports, or rather what it supports.

T The Telegraph Article · Dec 2025

As engaging as it is, the BAR 300MK2 still plays second fiddle to the class leader in this category; the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) beats it for presence and immersiveness. But be in no doubt, JBL’s soundbar game is definitely moving in the right direction.

W World Wide Stereo World Wide Stereo · 13.5K subscribers · Sept 2021

I think it gives it a sleeker, cleaner look, and in impractical manners, it's easier to clean. To further refine the look and feel of the Beam Gen 2, Sonos has color-matched the power and HDMI cables to the rest of the soundbar.

W What Hi-Fi? Article · Dec 2025

That makes the Sonos Beam Gen 2 our top recommendation for most people, and means it keeps the top spot as the best entry-level Dolby Atmos soundbar for now. Though the JBL definitely gave it a decent, and welcome, run for its money.

W Which is Better Which is Better · 4.7K subscribers · Apr 2026

On the other hand, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 continues to justify its long-standing reputation by focusing on what ultimately matters most, which is delivering consistently natural, balanced, and engaging sound across movies and music. Its tighter bass response, cohesive tonal character, and strong musical performance give it a level of polish that the Harmon Cardan struggles to match. Considering both soundbars sit at roughly the same price, the Sonos remains the safer and more complete recommendation for most viewers. If your priority is pure listening enjoyment rather than spec sheet dominance, the Beam Gen 2 still holds its crown

S Seriously Into Audio Since 1974 Article

Works very well. It would be nice to offer a greater variety of spacers to get it to fit on most TVs. I have purchased two for Samsung TVs and each requires a different setup requiring more spacers.

M My Tech Gear My Tech Gear · 3.8K subscribers · Jun 2024

However, that aside, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is quite simply just awesome. You will not find a better compact soundbar, with more versatility both sonically and feature-wise, for the price of only $449 or £449

C Coolblue Mieke · reviewer

I can create a home cinema with virtual surround sound, thanks to the Dolby Atmos support. Are you curious about what I think of the Beam (Gen 2)? You can read my opinions in this article.

Y YO MINUS YO MINUS · 3.1K subscribers · Feb 2026

Overall, this soundbar with Dolby Atmos sounds amazing. Whether you're enjoying panoramic sounds for shows, movies, and games while your TV is on, or streaming music or podcasts when it's off

T T3 Article

However, the new thing is that I think anyone buying a Beam now should absolutely get the Gen 2, even if they find the first-gen Beam for a good chunk lower on a discount.

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 gets an A-level rating, excellent. It offers powerful sound, clear dialogue, easy setup, smart features, and a flexible upgrade path in a compact design. It's an especially good option for anyone who wants a straightforward soundbar now with the option to build a larger Sonos home theater system later

W What Hi-Fi? Article

And that’s why, while I am impressed with the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)’s longevity and continued dominance, I would like to see it challenged in the not too distant future.

B BYSIGHT BYSIGHT · 1.7K subscribers · Dec 2025

With Atmos support, strong dialogue clarity, high-end build quality, and one of the most user-friendly ecosystems on the market, the Beam Gen 2 stands as one of the best compact soundbars available today. It's perfect for anyone wanting a stylish, powerful, and future ready audio upgrade that fits easily into any home. And that wraps up everything you need to know about the Sonos Beam Gen 2

W What Hi-Fi? Article · Oct 2022

To cut a long story short, if you want a small, affordable soundbar that can deliver convincing Dolby Atmos, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is the bar for you.

G Gadget droid Gadget droid · 1.4K subscribers · May 2026

In conclusion, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is an incredible soundbar that truly delivers on its promises. With its stunning sound quality, support for Dolby Atmos, and versatile streaming capabilities, it's an absolute must-have for anyone looking to take their entertainment experience to the next level. If you're in the market for a new soundbar, I highly recommend checking out the Sonos Beam Gen 2

Y Yahoo Tech Robyn Quick · reviewer · Mar 2026

However, considering both models are the same price, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 remains the clear winner in this entry-level Dolby Atmos soundbar category.

G Gadget droid Gadget droid · 1.4K subscribers · Mar 2026

In conclusion, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar with Dolby Atmos is an incredible piece of technology that's sure to take your entertainment experience to the next level. With its impressive sound quality, immersive Dolby Atmos support, and easy streaming capabilities, it's the perfect addition to any home theater setup. And with its sleek and compact design, it'll fit seamlessly into any room in the house

L Lifewire Article

If you're limited on space but also want as close to surround sound as possible, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a worthy purchase.

To sum it up, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is more than just a soundbar. It's a versatile audio hub that brings cinematic sound, high-quality streaming, and effortless control into a single, elegant package. If you're ready to upgrade your entertainment setup, experience true 3D audio, and simplify your device ecosystem, the Beam is the answer. Don't just hear the difference, feel it

Conclusion: The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a compact yet powerful soundbar with modern features. Its compatibility with Dolby Atmos, crisp dialogue, and seamless integration with smart homes make it stand out in the mid-range soundbar market. While it doesn't match the thunderous bass or expansive surround sound of larger systems, the Beam Gen 2 offers a balanced and immersive experience ideal for small rooms or minimalist setups. For those looking for premium sound and smart features in a small package, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is hard to beat

L LinkedIn Robert Goldansky 🇵🇱 · reviewer

Great dialogue clarity in reviews, but occasional user-reported distortion on some eARC content. Solid for the size/price — not lab-grade, but clean for everyday use!

S SXM Audio Picks SXM Audio Picks · 1.9K subscribers · Feb 2026

But it's not perfect. And if you buy it for the wrong reason, you will be disappointed. So, let's talk about it honestly. First impression, this thing looks calm. Almost too calm. The Beam Gen 2 doesn't scream home theater. No flashy LEDs, no aggressive angles. Just a clean, compact bar that quietly disappears under your TV. But don't let that fool you.

H HomeTechnologyReview Article

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 costs more upfront and requires additional purchases for comparable bass, but offers superior build quality and long-term ecosystem flexibility.