The Sonos Beam is a highly sought-after soundbar that has been making waves in the home theater industry. With its compact design, impressive sound quality, and seamless integration with other Sonos devices, it’s no wonder that many homeowners are considering it as their go-to sound system. But the question remains: is the Sonos Beam worth it? In this article, we’ll delve into the features, pros, and cons of this popular soundbar to help you make an informed decision.
The Compact Powerhouse: Design and Build
The Sonos Beam is designed to be compact and discreet, making it perfect for small to medium-sized rooms. Measuring just 25.6 inches wide and 2.7 inches tall, it can easily fit under most TVs without obstructing the view. The sleek and modern design is available in two colors: black and white, which can seamlessly blend into any home decor.
Despite its compact size, the Sonos Beam packs a punch when it comes to its build quality. The device is built with high-quality materials, including a sturdy plastic casing and a metal grille that adds a touch of sophistication. The Beam also comes with a wall-mounting option, making it easy to secure it to the wall and save floor space.
Sonos Beam vs. Sonos Playbar: What’s the Difference?
For those who are familiar with Sonos products, the Beam might seem similar to the Sonos Playbar. While both devices share some similarities, there are some key differences between them. Here’s a brief comparison:
| Feature | Sonos Beam | Sonos Playbar |
|---|---|---|
| Size | 25.6 inches wide, 2.7 inches tall | 35.4 inches wide, 2.7 inches tall |
| Weight | 4.1 lbs | 11.9 lbs |
| Sound Quality | Compact design, emphasis on dialogue clarity | Larger design, emphasis on bass response |
| Price | $399 | $699 |
As you can see, the Sonos Beam is smaller, lighter, and more affordable than the Sonos Playbar. The Beam is designed for smaller rooms and emphasizes dialogue clarity, whereas the Playbar is better suited for larger rooms and provides a more immersive audio experience with deeper bass response.
Seamless Integration and Connectivity
One of the standout features of the Sonos Beam is its seamless integration with other Sonos devices and smart home systems. With the Sonos app, you can easily connect the Beam to your TV, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, or Apple AirPlay 2. This allows you to control the soundbar with voice commands, stream music from popular services, and even use the Beam as a speaker for your smart home system.
The Beam also supports HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), which enables it to receive audio signals from your TV and other devices. This eliminates the need for multiple cables and makes it easy to connect the Beam to your existing home theater setup.
Multi-Room Audio with Sonos
One of the most attractive features of the Sonos ecosystem is its multi-room audio capabilities. With the Sonos Beam, you can easily connect it to other Sonos devices, such as the Sonos One or Sonos Move, to create a whole-home audio system. This allows you to play the same music in multiple rooms, or different music in different rooms, all controlled from the Sonos app.
Sonos Beam Sound Quality: Is it Worth the Hype?
The Sonos Beam’s sound quality is where it truly shines. Despite its compact size, the Beam produces a rich, detailed, and immersive audio experience that belies its diminutive dimensions. The soundbar is equipped with five class-D digital amplifiers, which power five custom-designed drivers:
- Four full-range woofers for deep bass and clear midrange
- One tweeter for crisp high-frequency response
The Beam’s sound signature is tailored towards dialogue clarity, making it an excellent choice for TV shows and movies. The soundbar uses advanced audio processing to enhance vocal clarity, ensuring that you can clearly hear every whisper, shout, or nuanced performance.
However, the Beam’s sound quality is not without its limitations. Due to its compact size, the soundbar lacks the bass response and sheer power of larger soundbars like the Sonos Playbar. If you’re looking for a soundbar that can shake the walls with deep bass, the Beam might not be the best choice.
Advanced Audio Features
The Sonos Beam comes with several advanced audio features that enhance its overall sound quality:
- Trueplay Tuning: This proprietary technology uses the microphone on your iOS device to optimize the Beam’s sound quality for your specific room.
- Speech Enhancement: This feature uses advanced audio processing to enhance dialogue clarity and reduce background noise.
- Night Mode: This feature reduces the soundbar’s dynamic range to minimize loud noises and preserve quiet moments, making it perfect for late-night viewing or gaming sessions.
Conclusion: Is the Sonos Beam Worth It?
So, is the Sonos Beam worth it? If you’re looking for a compact, affordable, and feature-rich soundbar for your small to medium-sized room, the answer is a resounding yes. The Beam’s impressive sound quality, seamless integration with other Sonos devices and smart home systems, and advanced audio features make it an excellent choice for anyone seeking a hassle-free home theater experience.
However, if you’re looking for a soundbar with deep bass response or a more immersive audio experience, you might want to consider other options. The Sonos Beam is a fantastic choice for its intended purpose, but it’s not perfect for every situation.
Pros:
- Compact design perfect for small rooms
- Impressive sound quality with dialogue clarity
- Seamless integration with other Sonos devices and smart home systems
- Advanced audio features like Trueplay Tuning and Speech Enhancement
- Affordable price point of $399
Cons:
- Limited bass response compared to larger soundbars
- Not ideal for large rooms or immersive audio experiences
- No Dolby Atmos or DTS:X support
Ultimately, the Sonos Beam is a fantastic addition to any home theater setup, offering a unique blend of compact design, impressive sound quality, and seamless integration. If you’re willing to compromise on bass response, the Beam is an excellent choice that’s well worth the investment.
What is the Sonos Beam and how is it different from other soundbars?
The Sonos Beam is a compact, high-performance soundbar designed specifically for small to medium-sized rooms. What sets it apart from other soundbars is its impressive audio quality, sleek design, and ease of use. With its compact size, the Sonos Beam is perfect for apartments, condos, or smaller living rooms where space is limited.
Unlike other soundbars, the Sonos Beam is built with advanced audio processing technology, allowing it to deliver crystal-clear dialogue, deep bass, and immersive sound that envelops the entire room. Additionally, the Beam is incredibly easy to set up and use, with seamless integration with popular music streaming services and voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
How does the Sonos Beam sound quality compare to larger soundbars?
Despite its compact size, the Sonos Beam delivers sound quality that rivals larger soundbars. With its advanced audio processing technology, the Beam produces clear and balanced sound with impressive bass response. The Beam’s soundstage is wide and immersive, making it perfect for watching movies, TV shows, or playing video games.
In fact, the Sonos Beam’s sound quality is often compared to that of larger, more expensive soundbars. This is because Sonos has managed to pack advanced audio technology, including five Class-D digital amplifiers, into a compact design. The result is a soundbar that punches well above its weight, delivering an immersive audio experience that belies its small size.
Can I use the Sonos Beam with my TV or will it only work with certain brands?
The Sonos Beam is designed to work with virtually any TV, regardless of brand or model. It connects to your TV using an HDMI-ARC (Audio Return Channel) connection, which is a standard feature on most modern TVs. This means you can use the Beam with your existing TV setup, without worrying about compatibility issues.
In addition to its HDMI-ARC connection, the Beam also supports optical audio input, allowing you to connect it to older TVs that don’t have HDMI-ARC. This flexibility makes the Beam an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality soundbar that will work seamlessly with their existing TV setup.
Is the Sonos Beam compatible with voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant?
Yes, the Sonos Beam is compatible with popular voice assistants like Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. In fact, the Beam is one of the first soundbars to integrate voice control technology, allowing you to control your music, TV, and smart home devices with just your voice.
Using voice commands, you can play music, adjust the volume, and even control other smart devices in your home. The Beam also supports Apple’s AirPlay 2, allowing you to stream music and audio from your iPhone or iPad with ease.
Do I need to purchase additional speakers or subwoofers to get the most out of the Sonos Beam?
No, the Sonos Beam is designed to provide an immersive audio experience on its own, without the need for additional speakers or subwoofers. The Beam’s compact design belies its impressive audio capabilities, which include five Class-D digital amplifiers and four full-range woofers.
That being said, if you want to take your home theater experience to the next level, you can pair the Beam with additional Sonos speakers or subwoofers. The Beam is fully compatible with other Sonos products, allowing you to create a complete home theater system that meets your specific needs and budget.
How easy is it to set up and use the Sonos Beam?
Setting up the Sonos Beam is incredibly easy and straightforward. Simply connect the Beam to your TV using an HDMI-ARC connection, download the Sonos app, and follow the on-screen instructions. The app will guide you through the setup process, which typically takes just a few minutes.
Using the Beam is equally easy. You can control the Beam using the Sonos app, your TV remote, or your voice (if you have a voice assistant like Alexa or Google Assistant). The Beam also supports Apple’s AirPlay 2, allowing you to stream music and audio from your iPhone or iPad with ease.
Is the Sonos Beam worth the investment, or are there cheaper alternatives available?
While there are certainly cheaper soundbars available on the market, the Sonos Beam is an investment worth considering. The Beam’s compact design, advanced audio technology, and ease of use make it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a high-quality soundbar that will deliver an immersive audio experience.
In addition, the Beam’s compact size and sleek design make it an attractive addition to any living room, making it a worthwhile investment for anyone who values both form and function. While it may be more expensive than some other soundbars, the Beam’s performance and features make it an excellent value for the price.