When it comes to home audio systems, Sonos is a household name that needs no introduction. With their impressive range of soundbars, Sonos has revolutionized the way we experience audio in our living rooms. Two of their most popular products, the Sonos Beam and the Sonos Soundbar, have been gaining immense popularity among audiophiles and casual music lovers alike. But what sets them apart? In this article, we’ll delve into the world of Sonos soundbars and explore the key differences between the Sonos Beam and the Sonos Soundbar.
Design and Build: A Tale of Two Soundbars
One of the first things that catch your attention when comparing the Sonos Beam and Soundbar is their design and build. While both soundbars share a similar aesthetic, there are some notable differences.
The Sonos Beam is a compact soundbar designed to fit perfectly under your TV, measuring 25.6 inches in width, 3.9 inches in height, and 2.7 inches in depth. Its sleek and slim design makes it an ideal choice for smaller rooms or apartments where space is limited. The Beam’s compact size also makes it a great option for desktop use or as a soundbar for a computer or gaming console.
On the other hand, the Sonos Soundbar is a behemoth of a soundbar, measuring 35.4 inches in width, 3.4 inches in height, and 5.2 inches in depth. Its larger size allows it to produce more powerful and immersive sound, making it perfect for larger rooms or home theaters.
Materials and Finish
Both soundbars feature a premium build quality, with a sturdy and durable construction that exudes quality. The Sonos Beam has a matte finish, which helps reduce fingerprints and smudges, while the Soundbar has a more reflective, high-gloss finish that adds to its premium appeal.
Sound Quality: Where the Rubber Meets the Road
Sound quality is, without a doubt, the most critical aspect of any soundbar. So, how do the Sonos Beam and Soundbar compare in this regard?
The Sonos Beam is a 3-channel soundbar, featuring three Class-D digital amplifiers, one tweeter, and four full-range woofers. This configuration allows the Beam to produce clear and crisp sound with impressive bass response, considering its compact size. The Beam is designed to provide a more intimate listening experience, making it perfect for smaller rooms or when you want to focus on dialogue.
The Sonos Soundbar, on the other hand, is a 5-channel soundbar, featuring five Class-D digital amplifiers, three tweeters, and six mid-woofers. This more comprehensive configuration enables the Soundbar to produce a more immersive and cinematic sound experience, with deeper bass and more precise soundstage.
The Soundbar’s larger size and more powerful drivers give it a significant edge over the Beam in terms of sound quality.
Dialogue Enhancement and Speech Clarification
One area where the Sonos Beam excels is in dialogue enhancement and speech clarification. The Beam features Sonos’ proprietary Dialogue Enhancement technology, which helps to amplify and clarify dialogue, making it easier to understand what’s being said on screen. This feature is particularly useful for those who have difficulty hearing dialogue or for watching TV shows and movies with complex plots.
Smart Features and Connectivity
Both the Sonos Beam and Soundbar are smart soundbars that offer a range of innovative features and connectivity options.
Multi-Room Audio
One of the most significant advantages of Sonos soundbars is their ability to integrate seamlessly into a multi-room audio setup. This allows you to connect multiple Sonos speakers and soundbars throughout your home, creating a cohesive and immersive audio experience.
Alexa and Google Assistant Integration
The Sonos Beam and Soundbar both feature built-in support for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, allowing you to control your soundbar with voice commands. This integration enables you to play music, adjust the volume, and even control other smart devices in your home.
HDMI ARC and eARC Support
Both soundbars feature HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) and eARC (enhanced Audio Return Channel) support, which allows them to receive audio signals directly from your TV. This eliminates the need for optical cables and ensures a more streamlined connectivity experience.
Price and Value
When it comes to pricing, the Sonos Beam and Soundbar are positioned at opposite ends of the spectrum.
The Sonos Beam is a more affordable option, priced at around $399. This makes it an attractive choice for those who want a high-quality soundbar without breaking the bank.
The Sonos Soundbar, on the other hand, is a premium product priced at around $799. While it’s significantly more expensive than the Beam, the Soundbar’s superior sound quality and larger size make it a worthwhile investment for those seeking a more immersive audio experience.
| Feature | Sonos Beam | Sonos Soundbar |
|---|---|---|
| Design and Build | Compact, 25.6″ wide | Larger, 35.4″ wide |
| Sound Quality | 3-channel, clear and crisp sound | 5-channel, immersive and cinematic sound |
| Dialogue Enhancement | Yes, with Dialogue Enhancement technology | No |
| Smart Features | Alexa and Google Assistant integration, multi-room audio | Alexa and Google Assistant integration, multi-room audio |
| Price | $399 | $799 |
In conclusion, the Sonos Beam and Soundbar are two distinct soundbars that cater to different needs and preferences. The Beam is a compact, affordable option that excels in dialogue enhancement and speech clarification, making it perfect for smaller rooms and more intimate listening experiences.
The Soundbar, on the other hand, is a more expensive, premium product that offers superior sound quality, a larger size, and more immersive audio experience. While it may not be the best choice for smaller rooms or those on a budget, the Soundbar is an excellent investment for those seeking a high-quality soundbar that can deliver a cinematic experience in larger rooms or home theaters.
Ultimately, the choice between the Sonos Beam and Soundbar depends on your specific needs and preferences. By understanding the key differences between these two soundbars, you can make an informed decision that will enhance your audio experience and bring your entertainment to life.
What is the main difference between Sonos Beam and Soundbar in terms of design?
The main difference between the Sonos Beam and Soundbar in terms of design lies in their size and shape. The Sonos Beam is a compact soundbar, measuring only 25.6 inches wide, making it perfect for smaller rooms or apartments. It’s also incredibly lightweight, weighing just 6.2 pounds. On the other hand, the Sonos Soundbar is a larger and more substantial unit, measuring 35.4 inches wide and weighing 11.9 pounds. This makes it more suitable for larger rooms or homes.
Despite their size differences, both soundbars share a similar aesthetic, with a sleek and modern design that blends seamlessly into any home decor. They both feature a matte black finish and a touch-sensitive control panel on top. However, the Sonos Beam has a more rounded edge, giving it a more compact and compactness feel. Overall, the design of both soundbars is focused on providing a sleek and unobtrusive listening experience.
How do the Sonos Beam and Soundbar compare in terms of sound quality?
In terms of sound quality, both the Sonos Beam and Soundbar are designed to provide an immersive and cinematic listening experience. They both feature Sonos’ signature sound technology, which is known for its clear and detailed audio reproduction. However, the larger size of the Soundbar allows it to produce a more expansive and richer sound, with deeper bass notes and clearer dialogue. The Beam, on the other hand, has a more focused soundstage, which is better suited for smaller rooms and apartments.
That being said, the Beam is still capable of producing an impressive amount of sound for its size, and its sound quality is still significantly better than many other compact soundbars on the market. Additionally, the Beam has a feature called “Night Sound,” which allows it to reduce the intensity of loud sounds and enhance quiet sounds, making it perfect for late-night viewing. Overall, while the Soundbar may have a slight edge in terms of sound quality, the Beam still holds its own and is an excellent choice for those who want a more compact soundbar.
What are the key features of the Sonos Beam and Soundbar?
Both the Sonos Beam and Soundbar are feature-rich soundbars that offer a range of advanced features to enhance your listening experience. One of the key features they share is multi-room capability, which allows you to connect multiple Sonos speakers together to create a seamless whole-home audio system. They also both feature HDMI connectivity, allowing you to connect them directly to your TV for a hassle-free setup.
The Beam has some unique features of its own, such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in, allowing you to control your soundbar with just your voice. It also has AirPlay 2 support, making it easy to stream music from your Apple devices. The Soundbar, on the other hand, has more advanced audio processing capabilities, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X support, which allow it to create a more immersive and cinematic sound experience.
How do the Sonos Beam and Soundbar compare in terms of price?
The Sonos Beam and Soundbar are both premium soundbars, and as such, they come with a higher price tag. However, the Beam is significantly more affordable than the Soundbar, with a price point of around $399 compared to the Soundbar’s $899. This makes the Beam an excellent option for those who want a high-quality soundbar without breaking the bank.
That being said, the Soundbar’s higher price is reflected in its more advanced features and higher sound quality. If you’re looking for a more immersive and cinematic sound experience, the Soundbar may be worth the extra investment. However, for those on a budget or who just want a compact and easy-to-use soundbar, the Beam is an excellent option.
What kind of connectivity options do the Sonos Beam and Soundbar offer?
Both the Sonos Beam and Soundbar offer a range of connectivity options to make it easy to get started. They both feature HDMI connectivity, with the Beam having a single HDMI ARC port and the Soundbar having an HDMI ARC port as well as an optical audio input. They also both feature Wi-Fi connectivity, allowing you to connect them to your home network and stream music wirelessly.
In addition to these standard connectivity options, the Beam also features Bluetooth connectivity, making it easy to connect your phone or tablet and stream music directly. The Soundbar, on the other hand, has an Ethernet port, which allows for a wired connection to your router. This can be useful if you have a large or complex home network.
Can I use the Sonos Beam or Soundbar as a TV speaker?
Both the Sonos Beam and Soundbar are designed to be used as TV speakers, and they both excel in this role. They both feature HDMI ARC connectivity, which allows them to connect directly to your TV and receive audio signals. They also both have features such as dialogue enhancement, which helps to make dialogue clearer and more intelligible.
However, the Soundbar is better suited for use as a TV speaker, thanks to its more advanced audio processing capabilities and larger size. It’s capable of producing a more immersive and cinematic sound, making it perfect for watching movies or TV shows. The Beam, on the other hand, is better suited for smaller rooms or apartments, and is perfect for enhancing the sound of your TV in a more compact space.
Is it easy to set up and use the Sonos Beam or Soundbar?
Both the Sonos Beam and Soundbar are incredibly easy to set up and use, making them perfect for those who are new to home audio. They both come with a simple and intuitive setup process, which involves downloading the Sonos app and following the prompts. The app walks you through the process of connecting your soundbar to your Wi-Fi network and pairing it with your TV.
Once set up, using your Sonos soundbar is incredibly easy. You can control it using the Sonos app, or using the controls on your TV remote. You can also use voice commands, thanks to the built-in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support on the Beam. Overall, both soundbars are designed to be user-friendly and easy to use, making them perfect for anyone who wants a hassle-free listening experience.