Known for its impressive Sonos Arc soundbar for home cinema, Sonos now rolls out updates to its more compact and less expensive Sonos Beam, including the Arc’s Dolby Atmos 3D sound.
Both soundbars support AirPlay 2 for easy Apple ecosystem connectivity. The Sonos Arc costs about $900 while the new Sonos Beam Gen 2 goes for about $450.
Sonos Beam: improved sound
The new version of the Sonos Beam uses HDMI eARC support to help drive the higher-resolution audio of Dolby Atmos.
Sound quality also benefits from an adaptive TruePlay smart equalizer, Sonos said. The EQ modifies the sound to fit the room the soundbar is in.
Similar look and feel as before
Gen 2 of the Beam is about the same, compact size as its predecessor, and carries a similar design. However, Sonos now uses a finely perforated plastic grille rather than a fabric wrap, which could add to the device’s durability.
The Sonos Bean includes just two ports. That simple interface plus near-field communication (NFC) and AirPlay 2 support over Wi-Fi with nearby devices makes setup simple. The Sonos app helps connect streaming services and you can use Siri voice control, too.
You can preorder the new Sonos Beam Gen 2 for $449 in black or white colors. Sonos expects to start shipping on October 5.
Price: 449
Where to preorder: Sonos
