Sonos Beam Gen 2 – The Smart Soundbar for Exceptional Home Audio

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a premium smart soundbar that redefines home theater audio with Dolby Atmos and a sleek, compact design. Designed for audiophiles and movie lovers alike, it delivers immersive, cinematic sound that transforms your living room into a theater experience.

At the heart of the Beam Gen 2 is a sophisticated five-driver array with four elliptical mid-woofers and an enhanced center tweeter, powered by five Class-D amplifiers and three passive radiators to generate punchy bass and crystal-clear dialogue. Although it lacks physical upward-firing drivers, it employs innovative psychoacoustic technology and a 40% faster processor than its predecessor to simulate overhead Dolby Atmos effects, creating an expansive 3D soundstage with precise object tracking.​

The Beam Gen 2 supports a wide range of audio formats, including stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos (both Digital+ and TrueHD versions), multichannel PCM, and Dolby Multichannel PCM. It also decodes DTS digital surround but does not currently support DTS:X. This extensive codec support ensures high-quality playback for movies, music, and TV shows from Blu-rays and streaming platforms alike.​

Connectivity options include HDMI eARC for seamless integration with modern TVs, along with Wi-Fi for wireless streaming, Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect. Unlike some competitors, it does not have Bluetooth but relies on Wi-Fi for high-fidelity wireless audio and multi-room capabilities within the Sonos ecosystem. The soundbar is compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice control, supplemented by far-field microphones and touch-sensitive buttons for versatile operation. The Beam will integrate effortlessly with other Sonos speakers for building surround sound and multi-room systems.​

The design is minimalist and functional, with matte black or white finishes that blend into modern homes. The cable management system hides HDMI and power cords neatly, and the compact form allows for wall mounting or placement on a stand. While it lacks a display, LED indicators on top provide useful status updates for microphone activation and playback.​

In terms of performance, the Beam Gen 2 excels at delivering clear and punchy dialogue, making it perfect for TV shows and movies. The soundstage is wide and immersive, with believable spatial cues that enhance scenes and music alike, despite the absence of true upward-firing drivers. Its ability to handle dynamic content and nuanced atmospheric audio offers an audiophile-grade experience in a compact footprint.​

Setting up the Beam Gen 2 is straightforward, requiring only an HDMI connection and power. The Sonos S2 app facilitates room calibration with Trueplay tuning, allowing the soundbar to adjust to your room’s acoustics for optimal sound. The app also manages firmware updates, EQ adjustments, and system integration.​​

In conclusion, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a top-tier smart soundbar designed to elevate home entertainment with Dolby Atmos sound, intelligent features, and elegant aesthetics. It offers a transformative listening experience that outperforms many larger soundbars, ideal for anyone wanting high-quality, immersive audio in a stylish, compact device.

Sonos Beam Gen 2 Specifications

• Audio System:

  • 5 precision-engineered drivers: 4 elliptical mid-woofers + 1 improved center tweeter

  • 5 Class-D digital amplifiers

  • 3 passive radiators for enhanced low-end frequencies

  • Psychoacoustic technology for virtual height (Dolby Atmos) sound

• Supported Audio Formats:

  • Dolby Atmos (Digital+ and TrueHD)

  • Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD

  • Multichannel PCM and Dolby Multichannel PCM

  • Stereo PCM

  • DTS digital surround (no DTS:X support)

• Connectivity:

  • HDMI eARC for TV connection (includes HDMI cable and optical adapter)

  • Wi-Fi for high-resolution wireless streaming

  • Apple AirPlay 2 support

  • Ethernet port (10/100 Mbps) for wired network connection

  • No Bluetooth connectivity

• Voice Control:

  • Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in

  • Far-field microphones and physical mute button

  • Touch-sensitive controls on top for play/pause, skip, volume

• Physical Dimensions:

  • Height: 2.68 inches (68 mm)

  • Width: 25.63 inches (651 mm)

  • Depth: 3.94 inches (100 mm)

• Weight:

  • Approximately 6.35 lbs (2.88 kg)

• Design:

  • Matte black or white finish

  • Perforated polycarbonate grille for durability and easy cleaning

  • Cable management with color-matched cables

• Power:

  • Auto-switching 100-240 V, 50-60 Hz AC universal input

• Additional Features:

  • Supports Sonos multi-room and surround sound system integration

  • Trueplay room calibration via Sonos S2 app

  • Supports Spotify Connect and other streaming services

  • High-quality dialogue clarity with Speech Enhancement and Night Sound modes

  • No dedicated display; status indicated by LEDs

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