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Sonos Beam vs Vizio M Series M21d-H8R
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Sonos Beam
Vizio M Series M21d-H8R
Tested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:27 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.0
Updated Jan 12, 2024 03:54 PM
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Amazon.com
Channels3.0
Channels2.1
Variants
- Beam (Black)
- Beam (White)
- M-Series M21d-H8R (Black)
Our Verdict
Sonos Beam
Vizio M Series M21d-H8R
The Sonos Beam is a better soundbar than the Vizio M-Series M21d-H8R. The Sonos is better built and has a more balanced sound profile. It also has a better soundstage performance and gets louder with less compression when you play it at max volume. However, unlike the Sonos, the Vizio comes with some EQ presets, and it has a Full HDMI In port that supports 4k passthrough.
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Black
Beam
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M-Series M21d-H8R
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Beam
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M-Series M21d-H8R
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M-Series M21d-H8R
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M-Series M21d-H8R
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M-Series M21d-H8R
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Finding storeMain Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
6.9
6.8
Stereo Soundstage
8.0
6.5
Center
8.3
6.7
Full Comparison
Design
Style - Bar
Style photo - bar
Style - Subwoofer
Style photo - sub
Sub Wireless
No
No
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
Integrated
Style - Satellites
Style photo - satellites
Satellite Wireless
No
No
Dimensions - Bar
Dimensions photo - bar
Width
25.6" (65.0 cm)
36.0" (91.5 cm)
Height
2.6" (6.7 cm)
2.2" (5.7 cm)
Depth
4.0" (10.1 cm)
5.3" (13.5 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
8.0
7.5
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
HDMI Cable Length
1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Digital Optical Cable Length
1.5 m (4.9 ft)
Back - Bar
Back photo - bar
Bar Mounting
Proprietary
Back - Subwoofer
Back photo - sub
Enclosure
No Subwoofer
Integrated
Back - Satellites
Back photo - satellites
Mounting
No
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.2
7.3
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Tested Preset
No Preset
Music
Slope
0.63
-0.44
Std. Err.
3.39 dB
2.64 dB
Channels
3.0
2.1
Low-Frequency Extension
49.7 Hz
53.4 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.5
7.3
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
No Preset
Music
Suggested Bass Setting
0
-2
Suggested Treble Setting
-6
2
Slope
0.18
0.05
Std. Err.
2.34 dB
2.56 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
49.7 Hz
54.2 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
19.9 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
8.0
6.5
Crosstalk Error
2.26 dB
3.37 dB
Stereo Dynamics
6.4
6.5
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
91.2 dB SPL
96.2 dB SPL
DRC @ Max Volume
3.85 dB
4.88 dB
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
7.2
8.1
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.73
0.29
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.51
1.46
Center
8.3
6.7
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Discrete
Phantom
Slope
0.39
-0.72
Std. Err.
2.87 dB
3.06 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
92.0 dB SPL
92.9 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.97
0.37
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.56
1.50
Surround 5.1
3.1
4.4
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Stereo (Downmix)
Slope
-0.27
-0.66
Std. Err.
5.44 dB
2.86 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
85.2 dB SPL
94.6 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.74
0.32
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.95
1.55
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
4.6
Room Correction
Yes
No
Dialogue Enhancement
Yes
Yes
Auto-Volume/Night Mode
Yes
Yes
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 Out
ARC
1 (shared)
HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth
No
Full HDMI In
No
1
Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)
No
1
RCA In
No
No
USB for Files
No
1
Ethernet
1
No
Subwoofer Output
No
HDMI ARC
1 (shared)
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
6.3
7.1
Dolby Atmos
Not Supported
No
Dolby Digital
Supported
Yes
Dolby Digital Plus
Not Supported
No
Dolby TrueHD
Not Supported
No
DTS
Supported
Yes
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
6.4
Dolby Atmos
Not Supported
No
Dolby Digital
Not Supported
Yes
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
10
Dolby Digital
Supported
Yes
DTS
Supported
Yes
PCM Channels
2.0
Latency
9.8
5.0
Latency Video
ARC
-14 ms
195 ms
Optical
0 ms
179 ms
Full HDMI In
N/A
49 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
Yes
HDR10+ Passthrough
No
Dolby Vision Passthrough
No
HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough
No
4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough
Yes
FreeSync Passthrough
No
G-SYNC Passthrough
No
ALLM Passthrough
No
4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough
Yes
4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough
Yes
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
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
Yes (Built-in)
No
Google Assistant
Yes (Built-in)
No
Apple Siri
No
No
Microphone Mute
Yes
App
App image
App Name
No App
iOS
No
Android
No
Acts As A Remote
No
Controls Soundbar's Settings
No
Casts Device Files
No
Other Features
Power Saving
Auto-off
HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control)
Yes
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Black
Beam
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M-Series M21d-H8R
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Beam
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Finding storeBlack
M-Series M21d-H8R
Searching
Finding storeBlack
M-Series M21d-H8R
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Finding storeBlack
M-Series M21d-H8R
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M-Series M21d-H8R
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Finding store
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Sonos Beam
Vizio M Series M21d-H8R
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Sonos Beam vs Vizio M Series M21d-H8R: Main Discussion
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