Before buying the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), check three things first: your TV’s audio connection, whether the soundbar fits beneath or in front of your screen, and whether its audio-format support matches the sources you use. The Beam connects over HDMI ARC/eARC, with an included optical adapter for TVs that have optical audio only. It supports Dolby Atmos, but Sonos describes its height effect as phantom height channels—not physical overhead speakers.
Will the Sonos Beam work with your TV?
Sonos recommends connecting the Beam to the TV’s HDMI ARC or eARC port using the included HDMI cable. Check the labels beside your TV’s HDMI sockets: an ordinary HDMI input is not the same as an ARC/eARC port. If your TV has optical audio output but no ARC/eARC, Sonos lists an optical audio adapter in the box contents, so confirm the included adapter is available and suitable before assuming you need to buy one separately. See Sonos’ Beam product page for current box contents and connection requirements.
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ARC, eARC, and audio formats
The TV connection can affect which formats reach the soundbar. Sonos marks Dolby TrueHD and several Atmos and multichannel formats as requiring HDMI eARC. If you intend to play high-bandwidth formats from a compatible TV, console, Blu-ray player, or streaming setup, verify that the full signal path supports eARC—not just that the Beam itself lists the format.
Sonos lists Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos via Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos via TrueHD, Multichannel PCM, Dolby Multichannel PCM, and DTS Digital Surround. Its product-page footnotes identify eARC dependencies for marked formats; consult those notes and your TV’s manual for your exact setup. Sonos also warns that its DTS listing “is not an indication of a licensed decoder,” so do not treat the listing as a guarantee of every DTS feature or source’s compatibility. The current Sonos product page and Beam (Gen 2) fact sheet provide the manufacturer’s format details.
#1 Best Overall
- Enrich your entertainment experience with vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, and a panoramic soundstage.
- Experience a 3D surround sound effect with Dolby Atmos.
- Stream music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks from all your favorite services when the TV is off.
- Control with the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and your voice.
- Effortless setup with only two cables and smart Trueplay tuning.
What does Dolby Atmos mean on this soundbar?
The Beam (Gen 2) supports Dolby Atmos content, including Atmos delivered via Dolby Digital Plus and, with the required connection, TrueHD. Sonos says the Beam processes Atmos using “phantom height channels.” That describes a virtualized height effect; the compact bar does not contain physical speakers mounted above the listener.
Atmos support alone does not ensure an Atmos signal will play. The source must offer Atmos, the TV and connection must pass the relevant format, and the settings across the devices must be configured accordingly. If your priority is discrete overhead speakers, the Beam’s stated phantom-height approach is an important distinction.
Rank #2
- Enrich your entertainment experience with vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, and a panoramic soundstage.
- Experience a 3D surround sound effect with Dolby Atmos.
- Stream music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks from all your favorite services when the TV is off.
- Control with the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and your voice.
- Effortless setup with only two cables and smart Trueplay tuning.
Will it fit under your TV?
The Beam is 25.63 inches (651 mm) wide and 3.94 inches (100 mm) deep. Sonos lists its height as 2.68 inches (68 mm) on the current US product page and 69 mm on the fact sheet; the small difference appears to be rounding. Weight is listed as 6.35 lb (2.88 kg) on the US page and 6.2 lb (2.8 kg) on the fact sheet, also likely a rounding difference. These are manufacturer specifications, not measurements of the space in your particular installation.
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Before ordering, measure the shelf or TV stand and the clear opening below the screen. Include room for the HDMI or optical cable to bend and route out of sight, and make sure the bar will not block the TV’s screen, sensor, or controls. For wall or TV mounting, Sonos lists a Beam wall mount and Sanus TV mounts as optional accessories; check the mount’s model fit and your installation layout rather than assuming a mount is included.
Rank #3
- Take your TV, music, and gaming to the next level with this compact smart soundbar and subwoofer.
- This set is ideal for smaller or medium-sized rooms and low to moderate volume levels.
- Use the Sonos app to easily set up your home theater system and sync with your existing TV remote.
- Sub Mini balances out the lowest frequencies so Beam sounds even better.
- When the TV is off, stream music and more over WiFi from hundreds of services using the Sonos app, your voice, and Apple AirPlay 2.
Can you use Trueplay without an iPhone or iPad?
Sonos says Trueplay measures the room’s acoustics and fine-tunes the soundbar, and that a supported iOS device is required. If you do not have access to a supported iOS device, do not assume you can complete Trueplay from any phone or tablet. The soundbar still has its listed TV and app features, but the manufacturer’s stated Trueplay setup requirement is iOS.
Which app features matter for TV watching?
Speech Enhancement
Sonos describes Speech Enhancement as boosting voice frequencies, a setting intended to make dialogue easier to hear. This is the manufacturer’s description, not an independent listening-test result.
Rank #4
- 【𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐕𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐭】: Elevate faint sounds to vibrant with automatic loudness boost. Experience immersive sound through 4 versatile placements—horizontal for distortion-free audio, vertical for room-filling sound, tabletop for vibrant clarity, or wall mount for 360° cinematic magic. Transforms your room into a personal theater.
- 【𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐚 𝐀𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨】: Powered by 4 high-performance drivers, 80W powerful sound output, it provide richer details, like soft whisper or subtle croon, whether deep thunder or sonorous roar, turn flat audioto vivid, adding weight to music, making the virtual game experience immersive.
- 【𝐓𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝】: Fine-tune your listening experience with 3 dynamic equalizer modes—movie, music, and news. Enjoy rich, cinematic audio, luxurious melodies, and crystal-clear dialogue, tailored to enhance every scene and soundtrack. Spreading the audio evenly throughout a room, ensures that everyone, regardless of seating position, experiences the full range of sound.
- 【𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐔𝐬𝐞】: Enjoy seamless setup with cutting-edge Bluetooth 5.0 or reliable ARC, OPT, and AUX connections. In ARC mode, control your soundbar with ease using your TV remote, guided by our easy-to-follow instructions and video tutorials.
- 【𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭】: Your satisfaction is our top priority. Enjoy peace of mind with our 18-month warranty and 24/7 online tech support. Our 60-day hassle-free replacement policy, with top-tier assistance whenever you need it.
Night Sound
Sonos says Night Sound reduces the intensity of loud sounds and raises quieter ones. It may be useful when you want to limit volume swings, but it changes the programme’s dynamics rather than making the soundbar physically quieter in every respect.
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Sonos lists TV remote synchronization, touch controls, Apple AirPlay 2, and voice features. Voice-service availability depends on country and language, and Sonos says Alexa and Google Assistant cannot be used on the same product simultaneously. Check regional service availability if voice control is part of your buying decision.
Best Value
- HEAR YOUR TV BETTER: Designed with simplicity in mind, the Bose TV Speaker is an all-in-one soundbar that clarifies speech and is a simple fix for better TV sound
- WIDE, NATURAL SOUND: 2 angled full-range drivers deliver a more realistic, spatial audio experience for overall better TV sound from a small soundbar
- ENHANCED DIALOGUE: This sound bar for smart tv is designed to specifically focus on clarifying and elevating vocals and pronunciation
- BLUETOOTH TV SPEAKER: Pair your device to this Bluetooth soundbar to wirelessly stream your favorite music and podcasts. Connect up to 3 devices through the inputs (HDMI, Optical in, and AUX in); the first powered on device will automatically connect
- SIMPLE SETUP: A single connection from this compact soundbar to the TV via an optical audio cable (included) or an HDMI cable (sold separately) has you up and running in minutes
What do setup and networking require?
Sonos says setup requires its latest-generation app on a compatible device, Wi-Fi and internet access, and a nearby power outlet. Its current Beam product page lists Wi-Fi support for 2.4 GHz 802.11 b/g/n and advises enabling 2.4 GHz or hardwiring a Sonos product if the router is 5 GHz-only. The older Gen 2 fact sheet lists 2.4 or 5 GHz 802.11 b/g/n/ac, so for an unusual or restricted network configuration, use the current product requirements rather than relying on the fact sheet alone.
Can you expand the system later?
Sonos says you can add a subwoofer and rear speakers for a larger Sonos home-theater setup. That gives the Beam an upgrade path within the Sonos ecosystem, but those additions are separate components and mean more hardware, space, and setup. If you expect a one-box soundbar to provide discrete surround or overhead speakers, distinguish that expectation from the Beam’s virtualized Atmos height effect.
What the specifications can—and cannot—tell you
Sonos lists five Class-D amplifiers, one center tweeter, four elliptical midwoofers, and three passive radiators. These component counts describe the hardware, but do not establish how the Beam will sound in your room or whether it will outperform another soundbar. Sonos’ US product page, accessed October 7, 2026, also claims its chip is “40% faster” than the previous generation; that is a processor comparison from Sonos, not a claim of 40% better sound.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteSonos’ product page quotes Giles Martin, identified there as a Grammy-winning music producer and Sonos Sound Experience Leader: “When developing a soundbar, we treat music and home theater equally.” This is a manufacturer product-page statement, not independent comparative evidence. Current price, stock, and color options depend on region and can change, so check the listing for your location before purchase.
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