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Sonos Beam vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Side-by-Side Comparison
Products
Sonos Beam
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Tested using Methodology v1.2
Updated Apr 09, 2024 02:27 PM
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Amazon.comTested using Methodology v1.3
Updated Nov 21, 2024 02:28 PM
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Channels3.0
Channels5.0
Variants
- Beam (Black)
- Beam (White)
- Beam (Gen 2) (Black)
- Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (White)
Our Verdict
Sonos Beam
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a bit better for mixed usage than the original Sonos Beam. The Gen 2 is a 5.0 setup that offers better surround performance. It's better built and supports Dolby Atmos content. However, the 3.0 Beam does get louder.
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Black
Beam
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Amazon.comBlack
Beam (Gen 2)
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Amazon.comWhite
Beam
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Amazon.comWhite
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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Amazon.comNotice: Two or more of the products selected have been tested with different test methodologies, so some of the results below aren't directly comparable.
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Main Differences forMixed Usage
Mixed Usage
Threshold
Mixed Usage
6.9
7.4
Height (Atmos)
0.0
5.7
Surround 5.1
3.1
5.9
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
6.3
9.6
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
25.6" (65.0 cm)
25.6" (65.0 cm)
Height
2.6" (6.7 cm)
2.6" (6.7 cm)
Depth
4.0" (10.1 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
Yes
Bar Brackets Included
No
No
Mountable Satellites
No
No
Satellite Brackets Included
No
No
Build Quality
8.0
8.5
Build quality photo
In The Box
In The Box photo
Sound
Stereo Frequency Response
7.2
7.4
Stereo Setup
Raw Frequency Response
Frequency Response Small
Channels
3.0
5.0
Tested Preset
No Preset
No Preset
Slope
0.63
-0.56
Standard Error
3.39 dB
2.82 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
49.7 Hz
50.4 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
16.7 kHz
Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration
7.5
7.4
Frequency Response Calibrated
Suggested Preset
No Preset
No Preset
Suggested Bass Setting
0
-3
Suggested Treble Setting
-6
2
Slope
0.18
0.05
Standard Error
2.34 dB
2.66 dB
Low-Frequency Extension
49.7 Hz
51.9 Hz
High-Frequency Extension
19.9 kHz
17.2 kHz
Stereo Soundstage
8.0
8.0
Crosstalk Error
2.26 dB
2.32 dB
Stereo Dynamics
6.4
7.1
Dynamic Range Compression
SPL @ Max Volume
91.2 dB SPL
88.8 dB SPL
DRC @ 90dB
N/A
DRC @ Max Volume
3.85 dB
1.70 dB
Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion
7.2
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.73
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.51
Center
8.3
7.4
Center Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Discrete
Discrete
Slope
0.39
0.24
Std. Err.
2.87 dB
3.73 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
92.0 dB SPL
72.3 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
0.97
0.63
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.56
1.54
Surround 5.1
3.1
5.9
Surround Setup
Frequency Response
Localization
Stereo (Downmix)
Phantom (Front Firing and Side Firing, Bar)
Slope
-0.27
-0.56
Std. Err.
5.44 dB
2.79 dB
SPL @ Max Volume
85.2 dB SPL
70.4 dB SPL
Weighted THD @ 80dB
1.74
0.38
Weighted THD @ Max Volume
1.95
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
5.4
5.4
Room Correction
Yes
Yes
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
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
Adapter into HDMI ARC
Adapter into HDMI ARC
HDMI Out
ARC
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
Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC
6.3
9.6
Dolby Atmos
Not Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital
Supported
Supported
Dolby Digital Plus
Not Supported
Supported
Dolby TrueHD
Not Supported
Supported
DTS
Supported
Supported
DTS:X
Not Supported
Not Supported
DTS-HD MA
Not Supported
Not Supported
PCM Channels
2.0
Up To 7.1
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
Audio Format Support: Optical
10
10
Dolby Digital
Supported
Supported
DTS
Supported
Supported
PCM Channels
2.0
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
9.8
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
-14 ms
Optical
0 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
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
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
Additional Features
Interface
Interface photo
Display
No
No
Bar Controls
Controls photo
Remote
Remote photo
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
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Black
Beam
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Beam (Gen 2)
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Amazon.comWhite
Beam
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Amazon.comWhite
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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Sonos Beam
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Sonos Beam vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Main Discussion
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