The Sonos Beam stood out in 2018 as one of the first soundbars to feature the Amazon Alexa voice assistant. In addition to its smart speaker capabilities, the Beam offered strong audio performance relative to its small size, as well as easy multi-room integration with the rest of the company's speakers. The same holds true for the second-generation Beam, which adds Dolby Atmos support with five-channel audio processing (up from three). It doesn’t significantly improve the sound signature or offer more audio power, however, and still requires anyone looking for more substantial bass to buy the company's expensive subwoofer. It's also slightly pricier than the previous version at $449, up from $399. Even with these qualms, the Sonos Beam (2nd Gen) is a powerful and feature-filled soundbar for anyone who wants to minimize the footprint of their home theater speaker setup. Small and Smooth The second-gen Beam shares the same wide, flat, tablet-like design and 2.7-by-25.7-by-4.0-inch (...

The second-generation Sonos Beam soundbar adds Dolby Atmos support and two more audio processing channels, for an impressive sound field that retains the previous model's compact size.

Big sound field for its size; Full and crisp sound, from low-mids to highs; Dolby Atmos audio sounds precise and immersive, even without rear speakers

Not much deep bass without optional (and pricey) subwoofer; No Bluetooth support; Trueplay audio tuning only available for iOS

Clean and balanced sound; Upgradeable; Excellent size; Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support;

HDMI eARC input only; No DTS support (coming soon);

I was blown away by the sound quality that comes from the Sonos Beam gen 2. The sound fills my lounge room which is remarkable given its size. It is definitely worth the money

Ease of setup and integrates so well with my apps

The Sonos Beam 2 delivers delivers mild but definite improvements on the (outstanding) product it replaces, with performance that defies its dimensions. It’s not quite as emphatically Dolby Atmos-y as might have been hoped, and the lack of HDMI passthrough may be a problem for you, but the sound...

Deft, poised and weighty sound, Expansive and well-defined presentation, Good control options and app

No HDMI passthrough, Not the sonic height you might hope for

Although a moderate upgrade from the original - unless Virtual Dolby Atmos is very important to you - the second-gen Beam is an excellent compact soundbar that'll not only boost your TV viewing, but make your home smarter thanks to smart assistant support, and is easier to setup than before thanks...

Compact size and excellent sound, Multiple voice assistants supported, Virtual Dolby Atmos support enhances immersion, Adds HDMI eARC for easier setup

Not as good when at lower volumes, More expensive than original, Adding additional speakers for true surround is pricey

The Beam Gen 2 delivers with a mature and polished sound and effective virtual Atmos performance

Effective handling of Dolby Atmos, Warm, refined sound, Streaming smarts

No additional HDMI ports, Doesn’t support DTS:X

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a great upgrade compared to the original soundbar, coming with Dolby Atmos support, HDMI eARC compatibility, and a refreshed design. Although we weren’t entirely convinced by the virtual Atmos on offer, this soundbar sounds fantastic and fits small spaces perfectly, while...

Wide soundstage, HDMI eARC support, Hi-res audio compatibility, Compact design, Easily upgradeable

Slightly more expensive than the original, No upfiring tweeters, TruePlay only works with iOS devices

Sonos’ original Beam wowed with just how much home theater audio it packed into its tiny footprint, and now the Beam (Gen 2) is adding Dolby Atmos to the mix. A little more expensive at $449, and a lot smarter inside, this new Beam sees Sonos double-down on targeting an audience that wants surround...

Dolby Atmos support adds extra sense of audio height, Wider, more immersive soundstage, Easy setup and minimal footprint in your room, Sonos' multi-room support still can't be beat

$449 price tag makes it an expensive soundbar, Falls short of the full Dolby Atmos experience, No Bluetooth or auto Trueplay tuning

Just like the original, the Beam Gen 2 is an awesome product that's worth the $450 price tag. Sonos’ streamlined app and Wi-Fi integration, the clean design, and the Beam’s excellent acoustic performance (Atmos or not) each play their part to create a real symphony of a soundbar.

Excellent sound and features, Respectable virtual Dolby Atmos, Elegant design

So-so overhead audio, No spare HDMI input, Still no Trueplay for Android