Sonos Beam Gen 2 adds Dolby Atmos to the compact soundbar
Image Credit: Sonos
Sonos update their Beam soundbar to include Dolby Atmos, more speakers and a new design, at a slightly higher price.
Sonos launched the first generation Beam in 2018, a small, affordable soundbar with Alexa, Google Assistant and AirPlay. The second generation Sonos Beam comes in an improved black or white matte finish, packed with one center tweeter and four elliptical midwoofers, over the three total speakers in the first gen model. The speakers are joined by three passive radiators to improve the low end and five digital amplifiers.
The highlight feature for the Gen 2 is Dolby Atmos. As introduced on their more expensive Sonos Arc last year, Dolby Atmos provides a 3D sound experience by mapping sounds in space, be it a plane flying over head, footsteps across the floor or a score surround you. This will of course require a TV and content that supports the relatively new format. Trueplay tuning technology adapts the sound based on the unique acoustics of your room.
When the TV is off, stream music to the Beam via the Sonos app, your voice or Apple AirPlay 2 from an iPhone, iPad or Mac. Voice control is enabled through Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, allowing you to set timers, check the news, control smart home devices and more. Using the app, you can also connect streaming services, play Sonos Radio and personalize settings such as Speech Enhancement for greater clarity in dialogue. The top panel features touch controls via tap or swipes to play/pause music, adjust volume, skip tracks and more. Sonos Beam Gen 2 can even sync with your existing TV remote, to simplify your entertainment setup.
Connect to the speaker over WiFi, ethernet or HDMI eARC. Thanks to Sonos’ ecosystem, you can add more speakers such as rear Sonos One’s and a subwoofer for a true wireless surround sound system or multiroom setup. Find various Speaker Sets from Sonos here. The speaker can also be mounted via the optional $49 Wall Mount.
Last generation’s Beam launched at $399, however many Sonos products recently experienced a slight price hike. Sonos Beam Gen 2 is available to pre-order now for $449 and ships from October 5th.