The Sonos Beam Gen 2 soundbar, a capable and compact audio solution, is currently available for £350 on Amazon as part of Prime Day promotions. This represents a £100 discount and is among the lowest prices recorded for the device this year. The price reduction follows the recent unveiling of Sonos's larger Beam Ultra model.
The Beam Gen 2 offers Dolby Atmos support, achieved through psychoacoustic processing rather than dedicated upward-firing speakers, delivering an immersive audio experience with good sound positioning. This capability extends to music playback, allowing users to enjoy Atmos-mixed tracks from services like Tidal. While not a replacement for a full surround sound system, it provides a significant upgrade over standard TV speakers for a single-unit solution.
Aesthetically, the Beam Gen 2 features a plastic grille, an improvement over the fabric grille of its predecessor, offering a cleaner look and easier maintenance. Its compact form factor allows for flexible placement, making it suitable for smaller spaces or alcoves. Connectivity is handled via a single HDMI eARC port, an Ethernet port, and a power socket. Setup is streamlined through the Sonos app, with an optional Trueplay tuning feature using an iOS device and its microphone to optimize audio output for the specific room environment.
Sonos systems are known for their richness and detail. The Beam Gen 2 is capable of filling small to medium-sized rooms with sound, offering surprising bass response and a sense of scale for its size. It performs well across various content, including films, music, and other media.
Beyond its primary function as a soundbar, the Beam Gen 2 integrates seamlessly into the Sonos ecosystem of Wi-Fi speakers. It supports playback from virtually any device via the Sonos app, with compatibility for Roon, Tidal, and Spotify. Apple users can utilize AirPlay 2 for convenient streaming, and the soundbar includes built-in support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa for voice control and information retrieval.
Further customization is possible through the addition of other Sonos components. Users can expand their setup with a Sonos Sub Mini for enhanced bass or a pair of Sonos Era 100 speakers for rear surround channels, creating a modular and scalable home theater system that can be adapted to individual budgets and preferences.
For those seeking to enhance their TV or PC audio setup with a versatile, all-in-one Dolby Atmos soundbar, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 presents a compelling option, especially at its current discounted price point.