The world of home entertainment has undergone a significant transformation in recent years, with soundbars becoming an essential component of many living rooms. Among the plethora of options available, the Sonos Beam stands out as a compact, yet powerful, device that promises to elevate your TV-watching experience. But what exactly does the Sonos Beam do, and is it worth considering for your home entertainment setup?
What is the Sonos Beam?
The Sonos Beam is a compact, soundbar-style speaker designed specifically for TVs. Measuring just 25.6 inches wide, 3.9 inches tall, and 2.7 inches deep, it’s the smallest soundbar in Sonos’ lineup, making it perfect for smaller rooms, apartments, or even dorm rooms. Despite its diminutive size, the Beam packs a punch, delivering clear, room-filling sound that’s sure to impress.
Key Features of the Sonos Beam
So, what makes the Sonos Beam tick? Here are some of its key features:
Alexa and Google Assistant Integration
The Beam comes with built-in support for both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control your TV, music, and smart home devices with just your voice. This integration makes it easy to change channels, adjust the volume, or play your favorite tunes without lifting a finger.
Compact Design
As mentioned earlier, the Beam is incredibly compact, making it easy to place under most TVs or mount on a wall. Its small size also means it won’t dominate your living room, allowing you to focus on the action on screen.
Multi-Room Audio
The Beam is part of the Sonos ecosystem, which means you can connect it to other Sonos speakers in your home to create a seamless, whole-home audio experience. This feature allows you to play different music in different rooms or sync the same music throughout your home.
HDMI ARC Connectivity
The Beam features HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) connectivity, which allows it to receive audio signals directly from your TV, eliminating the need for additional cables or devices. This feature also enables the Beam to control your TV’s volume, ensuring a smooth, hassle-free experience.
Sound Quality
Despite its small size, the Beam delivers impressive sound quality, with clear dialogue, robust bass, and detailed highs. It’s capable of producing a maximum volume of 100 dB, which is more than enough to fill most rooms.
Setup and Compatibility
Setting up the Beam is a breeze, with a simple, intuitive app-based process that takes mere minutes. The Beam is compatible with a wide range of TVs, including those from top brands like Samsung, LG, and Sony.
How to Use the Sonos Beam
Using the Sonos Beam is straightforward, with a few different ways to control the device:
Voice Control
As mentioned earlier, the Beam comes with built-in support for Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control the device with voice commands.
Sonos App
The Sonos app (available for both iOS and Android) provides a comprehensive, app-based control experience. With the app, you can adjust the volume, change the input, and access a range of settings and features.
Remote Control
The Beam comes with a compact remote control that allows you to adjust the volume, mute the device, and access the TV’s input menu.
TV Remote Control
If your TV supports HDMI ARC, you can use your TV’s remote control to adjust the Beam’s volume and access other features.
What Can You Do with the Sonos Beam?
The Sonos Beam is an incredibly versatile device, capable of handling a wide range of tasks. Here are some examples of what you can do with the Beam:
Enhance Your TV Experience
The Beam is designed specifically for TVs, and it shows. With its clear, room-filling sound, it’s perfect for watching movies, TV shows, or sports.
Stream Music
The Beam is a Sonos speaker at heart, which means it’s capable of streaming music from a wide range of services, including Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music.
Control Your Smart Home
With built-in support for Alexa and Google Assistant, the Beam can be used to control a wide range of smart home devices, from lights and thermostats to security cameras and doorbells.
Create a Whole-Home Audio System
As part of the Sonos ecosystem, the Beam can be connected to other Sonos speakers to create a seamless, whole-home audio experience.
Pros and Cons of the Sonos Beam
Like any device, the Sonos Beam has its pros and cons. Here are some of the key points to consider:
Pros:
- Compact design makes it perfect for small rooms or apartments
- Impressive sound quality despite its small size
- Built-in support for Alexa and Google Assistant
- HDMI ARC connectivity for seamless TV integration
- Sonos app provides a comprehensive control experience
- Can be connected to other Sonos speakers for a whole-home audio experience
Cons:
- May struggle to fill larger rooms with sound
- No Dolby Atmos or DTS:X support
- No built-in woofer for added bass
- Can be expensive, especially when compared to other soundbars in its class
Conclusion
The Sonos Beam is a compact, powerful soundbar that packs a punch despite its small size. With its impressive sound quality, built-in support for Alexa and Google Assistant, and seamless TV integration, it’s an excellent choice for anyone looking to elevate their TV-watching experience. While it may have some limitations, the Beam is an excellent option for small to medium-sized rooms, and its compact design makes it perfect for apartments, dorm rooms, or even offices.
Whether you’re a movie buff, music lover, or simply looking to enhance your TV experience, the Sonos Beam is definitely worth considering. With its impressive feature set, compact design, and seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem, it’s an excellent addition to any home entertainment setup.
What is the Sonos Beam and how does it differ from other soundbars?
The Sonos Beam is a compact smart soundbar designed to provide high-quality sound in a small package. It differs from other soundbars in its compact size, advanced smart features, and seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem. Unlike larger soundbars, the Beam is designed to fit snugly under most TVs, making it perfect for smaller rooms or apartments.
The Beam also boasts advanced smart features, including built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing users to control their TV, music, and smart home devices with just their voice. Additionally, the Beam supports Apple AirPlay 2, making it easy to stream music and podcasts from Apple devices. Overall, the Sonos Beam is a powerful and versatile soundbar that packs a punch despite its compact size.
What kind of sound quality can I expect from the Sonos Beam?
The Sonos Beam is designed to deliver high-quality sound with clear and balanced audio. With five class-D digital amplifiers, the Beam produces rich and detailed sound that fills the room. The soundbar is also equipped with four full-range woofers and one tweeter, providing a wide range of frequencies and crystal-clear dialogue. Whether you’re watching a movie, listening to music, or playing video games, the Beam is capable of producing an immersive audio experience.
In addition to its high-quality sound, the Beam also features advanced audio processing technology, including Truemark and Speech Enhancement. These features work together to enhance dialogue and reduce background noise, making it easier to understand what’s being said. The result is a soundbar that delivers clear, balanced, and engaging sound that’s sure to impress.
Is the Sonos Beam easy to set up and use?
Yes, the Sonos Beam is extremely easy to set up and use. The soundbar comes with a simple and intuitive app that guides you through the setup process, which typically takes just a few minutes. Once set up, the Beam is easy to control using the Sonos app, your TV remote, or your voice with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.
The Beam also features automatic Trueplay tuning, which adjusts the soundbar’s settings to optimize sound quality based on the room it’s in. This means you don’t need to worry about complicated settings or adjustments – just plug in the Beam and start enjoying great sound.
Can I use the Sonos Beam with multiple TVs and devices?
Yes, the Sonos Beam is designed to be flexible and can be easily paired with multiple TVs and devices. Using the Sonos app, you can add multiple Beam soundbars to your system and control them all from one place. This makes it easy to move the Beam from room to room or use it with different TVs and devices.
In addition, the Beam supports HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel), which allows it to automatically switch between different audio sources, such as your TV, Blu-ray player, or gaming console. This means you can easily switch between different devices without having to manually adjust settings or switch inputs.
Is the Sonos Beam compatible with other Sonos speakers?
Yes, the Sonos Beam is fully compatible with other Sonos speakers, making it easy to create a whole-home audio system. Using the Sonos app, you can group multiple Sonos speakers together, including the Beam, to create a seamless and synchronized audio experience throughout your home.
This means you can start a song in one room and have it follow you as you move to another room, creating a truly immersive audio experience. You can also use the Beam as a rear speaker in a home theater setup, paired with other Sonos speakers, such as the Sonos Playbar or Playbase.
Does the Sonos Beam support multi-room audio?
Yes, the Sonos Beam supports multi-room audio, allowing you to play different music in different rooms or synchronize music throughout your home. Using the Sonos app, you can create different zones and group multiple speakers together, including the Beam, to create a customized audio experience.
In addition, the Beam supports Apple AirPlay 2, which allows you to play music in multiple rooms simultaneously from your Apple devices. This means you can start a song on your iPhone and have it play on multiple Sonos speakers, including the Beam, throughout your home.
Is the Sonos Beam worth the investment?
Yes, the Sonos Beam is definitely worth the investment for anyone looking for a high-quality, compact smart soundbar. With its advanced smart features, seamless integration with the Sonos ecosystem, and high-quality sound, the Beam is an excellent choice for anyone looking to upgrade their TV’s audio.
Whether you’re looking to enhance your TV-watching experience, create a whole-home audio system, or simply enjoy high-quality music, the Sonos Beam is an excellent investment. Its compact size, flexible design, and advanced features make it an excellent value for anyone looking for a premium soundbar experience.