Sonos Beam soundbar test (Gen 2) - a strong candidate for my "bar"

I mention film music composers because their work is often underestimated. Sound and image are ying and yang, they cannot live without each other. When watching a movie tugs at your heartstrings, gives you goosebumps, or awakens a sleeping warrior inside you, the soundtrack plays a big part in these feelings. While everything moreč we pay attention to what kind of TV we are going to buy, we still put the sound on the sidelines. Televisions have their own speakers, but with rare exceptions, they cannot create the magic of famous composers.

That's why we need more dedicated solutions, such as the Sonos Beam sound bar (2nd generation), which I was able to test in recent weeks. In moments like these, I remember how late I am because I, too, still rely on the TV's poor speakers. I promised myself that when I move into my “stalka” (when the real estate market allows me to do so), I will also take care of the sound as it should.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) price in Slovenia?

The Sonos Beam is available for €499 at Mimovrste and other stores.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) – it blends in nicely with the living room

When I looked at the initial release of the Sonos Beam soundbar, I didn't find many differences at first glance. The design was quite modern even in 2018 and they obviously had no reason to thoroughly redesign it. What is noticeable is the different mask on the front. No more made of fabric, but of polycarbonate. At least to me, the fabric looks a little more sophisticated, but I agree that the plastic will last much longer and is even easier to clean. Despite the concern, the speaker went very well in my living room. If I were its permanent owner, I would mount it on the wall (it also supports this) just like a TV, which would look even more minimalistic.

The dimensions are relatively compact (65.1 x 6.86 x 10 cm). It is not the thinnest bar, its bed is quite high and you will not be able to place it, for example, under the TV, if it is very low on the cabinet. If you have the TV at least slightly raised, then there will be no problem. Although I love white electronics, in this case I would prefer to stick with the #141 variety, which goes better with most TVs.

At the top there are touch buttons for controlling music, volume, and the microphone can also be turned off. Once you set up the speaker, I doubt you'll use these buttons very often. Instead, you'll prefer to reach for the Sonos app or your TV remote.

On the back side, of course, there are still connectors: HDMI, Ethernet, optics and a connection connector.

Installation is easy, Dolby Atmos and HDMI eARC are important

Installing the speaker will take you about 5 minutes. You need to install the Sonos application, follow the instructions, pair the device with a Wi-Fi network (there is no Bluetooth connectivity, AirPlay 2 is available) and if you may have another Sonos speaker at home, you can now pair it with the new Sonos Beam. When paired, the TruePlay function should follow me to adjust the sound according to the dimensions of the living room. Since it wasn't there, I first thought that the problem was with my Huawei phone, but later I found out that TruePlay is only available with iOS devices. Å code. I would like to see how much the sound would differ after the adjustment.

The bar has four mid-range speakers at the front, and a tweeter is placed in the middle. For audiophiles, I have additional information that the speakers are powered by class D amplifiers, and finally there are three passive radiators for amplifying low frequencies. The layout is certainly not bad, but even more important information is the support for Dolby Atmos, which film buffs are looking for to enrich their home cinema. Yes, it doesn't have upward-facing speakers, so it won't have that truly authentic Atmos feeling, but the Sonos is a good substitute for psychoacoustic technology that creates a general sense of height in the room. ine, although the speaker itself does not have such drivers. And this is not just empty talk from the manufacturer, because it actually silences the depth of the sound around you.

Even in general, I can only praise the sound quality. I would probably add some kind of subwoofer, but I would also be satisfied with the existing bass level. To begin with, I watched the movie The Batman (2022), where sound plays a very important role. To feel the gloom and despair, I also had to start the movie Dune (2021), where I could feel even more the culture of the sand planet Arrakis, the fate of young Paul and simply enjoy the sound. there is no scenery created by Hans Zimmer and company.

Another novelty is compatibility with HDMI eARC, which means that we have access to even better quality sound and, of course, support for more advanced audio formats. If you don't happen to have a TV with an HDMI connector, you can use the supplied optical cable. You can also play music from your phone, but only through built-in stations and services that can be connected to the Sonos application (Spotify, YouTube Music, Apple Music...). I couldn't find an option to play music from my local storage. An updated application is coming. It's coming on May 7th, and they promise a fresh look, a simplified and faster interface, and even more functions.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) – will overrule any doubters

The second generation of the Sonos Beam soundbar is a success story for me. It has no flaws that would deter me from buying it, with the possible exception of a relatively high price, but it's hard to find a similar soundbar for a significantly lower price.

The sound is excellent, the shape is nice, the installation is easy, the connectivity is at the expected level. His only fault is that he won't stay with me.

If you're interested in something more portable, check out the Sonos Move 2 portable speaker test.