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  1. Home
  2. Soundbar
  3. Compare
  1. Table of Contents
  2. Top
  3. Main Differences
  4. Design
    1. Style - Bar
    2. Style - Subwoofer
    3. Style - Satellites
    4. Dimensions - Bar
    5. Dimensions - Subwoofer
    6. Dimensions - Satellites
    7. Mounting
    8. Build Quality
    9. In The Box
  5. Sound
    1. Stereo Frequency Response
    2. Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
    3. Stereo Soundstage
    4. Stereo Dynamics
    5. Center
    6. Surround 5.1
    7. Height (Atmos)
    8. Sound Enhancement Features
  6. Connectivity
    1. Inputs/Outputs - Bar
    2. Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
    3. Audio Format Support: HDMI In
    4. Audio Format Support: Optical
    5. Audio Latency: ARC
    6. Audio Latency: HDMI In
    7. Audio Latency: Optical
    8. Video Passthrough To TV
    9. Wireless Playback
  7. Additional Features
    1. Interface
    2. Bar Controls
    3. Remote
    4. Voice Assistants Support
  8. Comments

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers

Side-by-Side Comparison

Products

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 03, 2024 06:17 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Aug 13, 2024 06:22 PM

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Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Picture
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Picture
Channels
5.1.2
Channels
7.1
  1. Recommended in 1 article:
  2. Sonos

Variants

  • Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers (Black)
  • Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers (White)
  • Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers (Black)

Review

See Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Review
See Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Review
0 
0 

Our Verdict

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers

The Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers is better than the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers. They're both very premium Dolby Atmos setups with built-in voice assistant support. However, the Arc is bigger, and it gets louder with less compression at max volume. Also, it provides a more immersive listening experience, especially with Dolby Atmos content. Subjectively, it reproduces more height in the soundstage, and objects seem to come from more accurate locations in the space around you.

1 

Check Price

Black
Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers
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Black
Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers
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White
Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers
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Black
Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers
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Black
Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers
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Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

0.10

Mixed Usage 

8.0
7.9

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.3
6.9

Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Style photo - bar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Style photo - bar
Show Text 

Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Style photo - sub
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Style photo - sub

Sub Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes

Enclosure 
 

Ported
Sealed
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Style photo - satellites
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Style photo - satellites

Satellite Wireless 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Dimensions photo - bar
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Dimensions photo - bar

Width  

44.9" (114.1 cm)
25.6" (65.0 cm)

Height  

3.4" (8.7 cm)
2.6" (6.7 cm)

Depth  

4.7" (12.0 cm)
4.0" (10.1 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Dimensions photo - sub
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Dimensions photo - sub

Width  

6.2" (15.7 cm)
9.1" (23.0 cm)

Height  

15.4" (39.2 cm)
11.9" (30.2 cm)

Depth  

16.1" (41.0 cm)
9.1" (23.0 cm)
Show Text 

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Dimensions photo - satellites
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Dimensions photo - satellites

Width  

4.7" (12.0 cm)
4.7" (12.0 cm)

Height  

6.3" (16.1 cm)
6.3" (16.1 cm)

Depth  

4.7" (12.0 cm)
4.7" (12.0 cm)
Show Text 

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Bar Mounting Holes
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Bar Mounting Holes

Satellite Mounting Holes  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Satellite Mounting Holes
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Satellite Mounting Holes

Mountable Bar 
 

Yes
Yes

Bar Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Mountable Satellites 
 

No
Yes

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

No
No

Build Quality 
 

8.5
8.5

Build quality photo  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Build quality photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Build quality photo
Show Text 

In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers In The Box photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers In The Box photo
Show Text 
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

8.2
8.2

Stereo Setup  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Stereo Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Stereo Setup

Raw Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Frequency Response Small  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Channels 
 

5.1.2
7.1

Tested Preset 
 

No Preset
No Preset

Slope 
 

0.16
-0.71

Standard Error 
 

3.20 dB
3.02 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

27.9 Hz
27.5 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
16.3 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

8.2
8.3

Frequency Response Calibrated  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Suggested Preset 
 

No Preset
No Preset

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

0
-3

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

-1
2

Slope 
 

0.05
-0.08

Standard Error 
 

3.17 dB
2.65 dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

27.9 Hz
28.3 Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

19.9 kHz
17.2 kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

8.0
8.0

Crosstalk  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Crosstalk Error 
 

2.30 dB
2.10 dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

8.3
6.9

Dynamic Range Compression  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

92.7 dB SPL
93.0 dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

0.30 dB
3.39 dB

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

0.43 dB
3.35 dB
Show Text 

Center 
 

7.8
8.3

Center Setup  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Center Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Center Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

1.27
0.11

Std. Err. 
 

3.19 dB
3.00 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

77.9 dB SPL
92.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.33
0.63

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.66
1.80
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

6.9
8.0

Surround Setup  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Surround Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Surround Setup

Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Discrete
Discrete

Slope 
 

-0.47
-0.07

Std. Err. 
 

3.76 dB
2.49 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

73.4 dB SPL
92.7 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

1.37
0.76

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

1.85
2.04

7.1 Rears 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

6.1
5.6

Height Setup  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Height Setup
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Height Setup

H Frequency Response  

See details on graph tool
See details on graph tool

Localization 
 

Phantom (Up Firing, Bar)
Phantom (Side Firing and Front Firing, Bar)

Slope 
 

0.18
0.23

Std. Err. 
 

3.10 dB
4.09 dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

63.8 dB SPL
79.1 dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

0.93
2.42

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

0.20
0.44
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

7.5
7.5

Room Correction 
 

Yes
Yes

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Yes
Yes

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Yes
Yes

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Bass Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Treble Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

EQ 
 

No
No

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

No
No

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Yes
Yes

Virtual Surround 
 

No
No
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

Optical Audio In 
 

Adapter into HDMI ARC
Adapter into HDMI ARC

HDMI Out 
 

eARC
eARC

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

No
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
No
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

9.6
9.6

Dolby Atmos 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Supported
Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Up To 7.1
Up To 7.1
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

0.0
0.0

Dolby Atmos 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS:X 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

DTS-HD MA 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

PCM Channels 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

10
10

Dolby Digital 
 

Supported
Supported

DTS 
 

Supported
Supported

PCM Channels 
 

2.0
2.0
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

8.5
7.0

ARC Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

42 ms
65 ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

41 ms
65 ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

59 ms
83 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

92 ms
115 ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

101 ms
125 ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

101 ms
125 ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

0.0
0.0

HDMI Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A
N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A
N/A

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

9.0
7.7

Optical Latency Video  

PCM-2.0 ch 
 

99 ms
123 ms

Dolby Digital 
 

129 ms
184 ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

0.0
0.0

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Not Supported
Not Supported

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

No
No

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

No
No

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

No
No

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

No
No

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

No
No

ALLM Passthrough 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

3.0
3.0

Bluetooth 
 

No
No

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Yes
Yes

Chromecast built-in 
 

No
No

Apple AirPlay 
 

Yes
Yes

Spotify Connect 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Interface photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Interface photo

Display 
 

No
No
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Controls photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Controls photo
Show Text 

Remote  

Remote photo  

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers Remote photo
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers Remote photo
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Yes (Built-in)
Yes (Built-in)

Google Assistant 
 

Yes (Built-in)
Yes (Built-in)

Apple Siri 
 

No
No

Microphone Mute 
 

Yes
Yes
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers
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Black
Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers
SEARCH
Amazon.com
White
Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers
SEARCH
Amazon.com
Black
Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers
SEARCH
B&H
 
Black
Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers
SEARCH
BestBuy.com
 
Black
Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers
SEARCH
Walmart.com
Back to Top

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers

Comments

  1. Comparison
Active 12 months ago
 ·  • Posted 1 year ago

Sonos Arc with Sub + One SL Speakers vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2) with Sub Mini + One SL Speakers: Main Discussion

What do you think of these products? Let us know below.


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  1.  • Posted 12 months ago
    May 08, 2024 10:42 AM By Pepe46
    1

    Hello, I would like some advice please. I have a Sonos Beam 2+ 2 One SL+ Sub mini at home and am considering replacing the Beam 2 with an ARC. But when I see your test here, it seems to me that there is Arc in addition to Stereo and Dolby Atmos (which I don’t use anyway) actually worse? Is the Arc better in that it plays better highs, mids, or will I have a feeling of better sound quality, which is what I’m primarily interested in? Thank you very much for your help

    Hello! Help with personalized buying advice is something our experts offer only via our insider forums. We do have lots of self-service tools and recommendation articles that should be helpful as well though!

  2. 2
    1
    0
    1
    0
    Pepe46
     1
     • Posted 12 months ago

    Hello, I would like some advice please. I have a Sonos Beam 2+ 2 One SL+ Sub mini at home and am considering replacing the Beam 2 with an ARC. But when I see your test here, it seems to me that there is Arc in addition to Stereo and Dolby Atmos (which I don’t use anyway) actually worse? Is the Arc better in that it plays better highs, mids, or will I have a feeling of better sound quality, which is what I’m primarily interested in? Thank you very much for your help

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