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Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Tested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Jan 12, 2024 07:36 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.3
Updated May 12, 2025 07:14 PM
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Amazon.com
Channels3.0
Channels5.0
Variants
- Formation Bar (Black)
- Beam (Gen 2) (Black)
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (White)
Our Verdict
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is better than the Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar. The Sonos is a 5.0 setup with Dolby Atmos support. It has better soundstage and surround performances, and there are more sound enhancement features available such as room correction. Also, unlike the Bowers & Wilkins, it has HDMI connections.
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Black
Formation Bar
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Amazon.comBlack
Beam (Gen 2)
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Formation Bar
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Amazon.comWhite
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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Formation Bar
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Amazon.comMain Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
6.5
7.4
Audio Format Support - ARC
0.0
9.6
Height (Atmos)
0.0
5.7
Stereo Frequency Response
7.1
7.4
Dialogue Enhancement
No
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
No
Yes
Stereo Soundstage
7.0
8.0
Full Comparison
Design
Style - Bar
Style photo - bar
Style - Subwoofer
Style photo - sub
Sub Wireless
No
No
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Style - Satellites
Style photo - satellites
Satellite Wireless
No
No
Dimensions - Bar
Dimensions photo - bar
Width
49.0" (124.5 cm)
25.6" (65.0 cm)
Height
4.3" (11.0 cm)
2.6" (6.7 cm)
Depth
4.3" (11.0 cm)
4.0" (10.1 cm)
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Dimensions photo - sub
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Dimensions - Satellites
Dimensions photo - satellites
Width
N/A
N/A
Height
N/A
N/A
Depth
N/A
N/A
Mounting
Bar Mounting Holes
Satellite Mounting Holes
Mountable Bar
Yes
Bar Brackets Included
No
Mountable Satellites
No
Satellite Brackets Included
No
Build Quality
7.5
8.5
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
HDMI Cable Length
N/A
Digital Optical Cable Length
1.0 m (3.3 ft)
Back - Bar
Back photo - bar
Bar Mounting
Proprietary
Back - Subwoofer
Back photo - sub
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
No Subwoofer
Back - Satellites
Back photo - satellites
Mounting
No
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.1
7.4
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Channels
3.0
5.0
Tested Preset
No Preset
No Preset
Slope
0.02
-0.56
Standard Error
3.32 dB
2.82 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
53.4 Hz
50.4 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
16.7 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.1
7.4
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
No Preset
No Preset
Suggested Bass Setting
0
-3
Suggested Treble Setting
0
2
Slope
0.02
0.05
Standard Error
3.32 dB
2.66 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
53.4 Hz
51.9 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
17.2 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
7.0
8.0
Crosstalk Error
4.10 dB
2.32 dB
Stereo Dynamics
7.8
7.1
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
96.0 dB SPL
88.8 dB SPL
DRC @ 90dB
N/A
DRC @ Max Volume
2.23 dB
1.70 dB
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
8.4
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.20
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.10
Center
7.8
7.4
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Discrete
Discrete
Slope
-0.02
0.24
Std. Err.
5.04 dB
3.73 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
96.5 dB SPL
72.3 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.20
0.63
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
5.13
1.54
Surround 5.1
4.2
5.9
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing and Side Firing, Bar)
Slope
-0.69
-0.56
Std. Err.
3.50 dB
2.79 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
94.2 dB SPL
70.4 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.43
0.38
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.07
0.87
7.1 Rears
No
No
Height (Atmos)
0.0
5.7
Height Setup
H Frequency Response
Localization
Not Supported
Phantom (Front Firing, Bar)
Slope
N/A
1.01
Std. Err.
N/A
3.35 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
N/A
59.2 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
N/A
1.45
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
N/A
0.30
Sound Enhancement Features
1.0
5.4
Room Correction
No
Yes
Dialogue Enhancement
No
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
No
Yes
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
No
No
Bass Adjustment
Yes
Yes
Treble Adjustment
Yes
Yes
EQ
No
No
Surround Level Adjustment
No
No
Rear Level Adjustment
No
No
Height Level Adjustment
No
No
Virtual Surround
No
No
Connectivity
Inputs/Outputs - Bar
Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Optical Audio In
1
Adapter into HDMI ARC
HDMI Out
No
eARC
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
No
Full HDMI In
No
No
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
No
No
RCA In
No
No
USB for Files
No
No
Ethernet
1
1
Subwoofer Output
No
HDMI ARC
No
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
0.0
9.6
Dolby Atmos
No
Supported
Dolby Digital
No
Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
No
Supported
Dolby TrueHD
No
Supported
DTS
No
Supported
DTS:X
No
Not Supported
eARC
No
DTS-HD MA
No
Not Supported
PCM Channels
Up To 7.1
5.1 PCM (eARC only)
No
Audio Format Support: HDMI In
0.0
0.0
Dolby Atmos
No
Not Supported
Dolby Digital
No
Not Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
No
Not Supported
Dolby TrueHD
No
Not Supported
DTS
No
Not Supported
DTS:X
No
Not Supported
DTS-HD MA
No
Not Supported
PCM Channels
Not Supported
5.1 PCM
No
Audio Format Support: Optical
6.0
10
Dolby Digital
Yes
Supported
DTS
No
Supported
PCM Channels
2.0
Audio Latency: ARC
7.3
ARC Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
61 ms
PCM-5.1 ch
61 ms
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
79 ms
Dolby Digital
111 ms
Dolby Digital Plus
121 ms
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
121 ms
Audio Latency: HDMI In
7.3
0.0
HDMI Latency Video
Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
N/A
PCM-5.1 ch
N/A
Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos
N/A
Dolby Digital
N/A
Dolby Digital Plus
N/A
Dolby Digital Plus Atmos
N/A
ARC
N/A
Optical
81 ms
Full HDMI In
N/A
Audio Latency: Optical
7.8
Optical Latency Video
PCM-2.0 ch
119 ms
Dolby Digital
180 ms
Video Passthrough To TV
0.0
0.0
1080p Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
4k Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit
Not Supported
4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
8k Max Refresh Rate
Not Supported
HDR10 Passthrough
No
No
HDR10+ Passthrough
No
Dolby Vision Passthrough
No
HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough
No
4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough
No
FreeSync Passthrough
No
G-SYNC Passthrough
No
ALLM Passthrough
No
4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough
No
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough
No
Wireless Playback
9.0
3.0
Bluetooth
Yes
No
Wi-Fi Playback
Yes
Yes
Chromecast built-in
No
No
Apple AirPlay
Yes
Yes
Spotify Connect
Yes
Connectivity - Subwoofer
Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1
Physical controls subwoofer photo 1
Sub Wireless
No
No
Connectivity - Satellites
Physical inputs satellites photo 1
Physical controls satellites photo 1
Sat Wireless
No
No
Additional Features
Interface
Interface photo
Display
No
No
Bar Controls
Controls photo
Remote
Remote photo
Universal Remote
No
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
No
Yes (Built-in)
Google Assistant
No
Yes (Built-in)
Apple Siri
No
No
Microphone Mute
Yes
App
App image
App Name
Bowers & Wilkins Formation Setup and Bowers & Wilkins Music
iOS
Yes
Android
Yes
Acts As A Remote
Yes
Controls Soundbar's Settings
All
Casts Device Files
Yes
Other Features
Power Saving
Standby
HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control)
No CEC, limited IR remote
Check Price
Black
Formation Bar
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comBlack
Beam (Gen 2)
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Formation Bar
SEE PRICE
Amazon.comWhite
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Searching
Finding storeBlack
Formation Bar
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
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Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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Bowers & Wilkins Formation Bar vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Main Discussion
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