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Sonos Beam vs Hisense HS218
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Sonos Beam
Hisense HS218
Tested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:27 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.1
Updated Apr 17, 2024 03:01 PM
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Amazon.com
Channels3.0
Channels2.1
Variants
- Beam (Black)
- Beam (White)
- HS218 (Black)
Our Verdict
Sonos Beam
Hisense HS218
The Sonos Beam is better than the Hisense HS218. The Sonos is a 3.0 setup that's better built and comes with built-in voice assistant support. It has better center and soundstage performances, too. Also, it comes with some more sound enhancement features, like room correction. However, the Hisense has a dedicated sub, which helps reproduce a slightly more extended low-bass.
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Beam
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HS218
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Beam
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HS218
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B&HNotice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable. Learn how our test benches and scoring system work, and read more about the latest changes to our soundbars test methodology.
Main Differences for
Threshold
Mixed Usage
6.9
6.7
Stereo Soundstage
8.0
6.5
Center
8.3
6.6
Stereo Frequency Response
7.2
7.6
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
No
Full Comparison
Design
Style - Bar
Style photo - bar
Style - Subwoofer
Style photo - sub
Sub Wireless
No
Yes
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
Ported
Style - Satellites
Style photo - satellites
Satellite Wireless
No
No
Dimensions - Bar
Dimensions photo - bar
Width
25.6" (65.0 cm)
37.8" (96.0 cm)
Height
2.6" (6.7 cm)
2.4" (6.0 cm)
Depth
4.0" (10.1 cm)
3.6" (9.2 cm)
Dimensions - Subwoofer
Dimensions photo - sub
Width
N/A
6.7" (17.0 cm)
Height
N/A
13.5" (34.3 cm)
Depth
N/A
13.1" (33.4 cm)
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
Yes
Bar Brackets Included
No
Yes
Mountable Satellites
No
No
Satellite Brackets Included
No
No
Build Quality
8.0
7.5
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.2
7.6
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Tested Preset
No Preset
Music
Slope
0.63
-0.88
Std. Err.
3.39 dB
3.10 dB
Channels
3.0
2.1
Low-Frequency Extension
49.7 Hz
40.6 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
17.7 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.5
7.7
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
No Preset
Music
Suggested Bass Setting
0
-3
Suggested Treble Setting
-6
4
Slope
0.18
-0.04
Std. Err.
2.34 dB
2.58 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
49.7 Hz
43.6 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
8.0
6.5
Crosstalk Error
2.26 dB
2.52 dB
Stereo Dynamics
6.4
7.1
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
91.2 dB SPL
95.7 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
3.85 dB
3.43 dB
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
7.2
8.0
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.73
0.35
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.51
1.23
Center
8.3
6.6
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Discrete
Phantom
Slope
0.39
-0.57
Std. Err.
2.87 dB
3.47 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
92.0 dB SPL
93.1 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.97
0.39
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.56
1.24
Surround 5.1
3.1
4.2
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
-0.27
-0.63
Std. Err.
5.44 dB
3.44 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
85.2 dB SPL
93.1 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.74
0.40
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.95
1.18
7.1 Rears
No
No
Height (Atmos)
0.0
0.0
Height Setup
H Frequency Response
Localization
Not Supported
Not Supported
Slope
N/A
N/A
Std. Err.
N/A
N/A
SPL @ Max Volume
N/A
N/A
Weighted THD @ 80dB
N/A
N/A
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
N/A
N/A
Sound Enhancement Features
5.4
4.1
Room Correction
Yes
No
Dialogue Enhancement
Yes
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
No
Subwoofer Level Adjustment
No
No
Bass Adjustment
Yes
Yes
Treble Adjustment
Yes
Yes
EQ
No
Presets
Surround Level Adjustment
No
No
Rear Level Adjustment
No
No
Height Level Adjustment
No
No
Virtual Surround
No
Yes
Connectivity
Inputs/Outputs - Bar
Physical Connections Bar Photo 1
Physical Connections Bar Photo 2
Optical Audio In
Adapter into HDMI ARC
1
HDMI ARC
1
HDMI Out
ARC
No
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
No
Full HDMI In
No
No
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
No
1
RCA In
No
No
USB for Files
No
1
Ethernet
1
No
Subwoofer Output
No
No
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
6.3
6.1
Dolby Atmos
Not Supported
No
Dolby Digital
Supported
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus
Not Supported
No
Dolby TrueHD
Not Supported
No
DTS
Supported
No
DTS:X
Not Supported
No
eARC
No
DTS-HD MA
Not Supported
No
PCM Channels
2.0
5.1 PCM (eARC only)
No
Audio Format Support: HDMI In
0.0
0.0
Dolby Atmos
Not Supported
No
Dolby Digital
Not Supported
No
Dolby Digital Plus
Not Supported
No
Dolby TrueHD
Not Supported
No
DTS
Not Supported
No
DTS:X
Not Supported
No
DTS-HD MA
Not Supported
No
PCM Channels
Not Supported
5.1 PCM
No
Audio Format Support: Optical
10
6.0
Dolby Digital
Supported
Yes
DTS
Supported
No
PCM Channels
2.0
Latency
9.8
9.0
Latency Video
ARC
-14 ms
32 ms
Optical
0 ms
24 ms
Full HDMI In
N/A
N/A
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
3.0
6.0
Bluetooth
No
Yes
Wi-Fi Playback
Yes
No
Chromecast built-in
No
No
Apple AirPlay
Yes
No
Spotify Connect
Yes
No
Additional Features
Interface
Interface photo
Display
No
Yes
Bar Controls
Controls photo
Remote
Remote photo
Voice Assistants Support
Amazon Alexa
Yes (Built-in)
No
Google Assistant
Yes (Built-in)
No
Apple Siri
No
No
Microphone Mute
Yes
No
Check Price
Black
Beam
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Amazon.comBlack
HS218
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Amazon.comWhite
Beam
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Amazon.comBlack
HS218
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BestBuy.comBlack
HS218
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Walmart.comBlack
HS218
SEARCH
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Sonos Beam
Hisense HS218
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Sonos Beam vs Hisense HS218: Main Discussion
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