Sonos Beam (Gen 2). The compact smart soundbar for TV, music and more. (White)

Bought the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) to replace an LG sound bar and wireless subwoofer that had inexplicably stopped connecting wirelessly. My criteria for a replacement was that it had to be connected physically, have decent bass, be compact, expandable and under £500.After much research I settled on this Sonos.The Beam was incredibly easy to set up. Unboxing was straightforward thanks to fuss-free Apple-style packaging. Connected to TV and downloaded the Sonos app from the App Store (iOS). The menu took me through the process of adding the device step by step and within about 5 minutes I had sound.Put it to the test on some movie trailers. First was Le Mans 66, then Shang-Chi, The Legend of the Ten Rings, then the new Dune film. Reason I did this was to test if the Dolby Atmos function made any difference. I don’t think I can make use of the Dolby Atmos setting yet on this Beam as my current TV, which is an LG 55SM8600PLA, doesn’t have eArc connection which, from my research appears necessary for Dolby Atmos. I may be wrong on that so check it out. I am about to change telly to the LG OLED55B16LA which I know does have eArc so I will hopefully have the Dolby Atmos up and running soon.But regardless of Dolby, I can tell you that the sound on this sound bar is simply fantastic. The sound is clear and natural. Doesn’t sound muddy or over engineered. Bass is punchy and rich (and I admit to being a bit of a bass-head). So much so that I’m thinking I don’t need to spend the additional £749 on the Sonos subwoofer. Bass is still good at low volume, but obviously better at higher volumes.Only two negatives I can think of is a lack of physical remote and no Bluetooth connection. Neither were dealbreakers for me. I may add a couple of the Sonos IKEA side speakers that others have recommended. Delighted with this purchase. I’m a Sonos convert now (something else to spend money on!). Hit the helpful button if you found this review helpful.

I changed my tv for a Sony Bravia two weeks before I took delivery of the Beam 2 soundbar.The tv connected to wifi without a problem. The Beam 2 would not connect. Sonos Support eventually got it connected, but it was a real problem.A week later I bought the Sonos Sub Mini. Would it connect - not a chance!It took Sonos Support almost two hours to sort it out. After trying out various scenarios they decided the problem lay with my router, a BT Smart Hub 2, saying that it was because it's a Dual AC wifi, and the Sonos was having a problem connecting to the 5Ghz band. When we changed over to the 2.4Ghz band it connected without a problem and has been fine over the past month with no drop outs.I am very pleased with the Beam and the Sub Mini. They are very well constructed and sound great. I would recommend the Sonos to anyone but be mindful to connect to the 2.4Ghz band if you have a Smart Hub 2.

I purchased the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) to pair with my Xgimi projector as a compact and budget-friendly soundbar that supports Dolby Atmos. Having used Sonos products in the past, I was drawn to their wireless ecosystem, but my experience with this particular product was a mixed bag.Setup Experience: Frustrating and Time-ConsumingThe initial setup was an absolute nightmare. The soundbar refused to connect to my WiFi network despite multiple troubleshooting attempts. Following advice from the Sonos website, I separated my 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks, which didn’t help. I even created a dedicated 2.4GHz network without a password, but it still wouldn’t connect. Ultimately, I had to resort to using an Ethernet cable, which was not the solution I wanted for a wireless product. While Sonos is known for their seamless app integration and smart setup, this was far from the hassle-free experience I expected.Audio Performance: Good, but Bass is LackingFor music playback, the Beam is decent but not exceptional. Compared to my cheaper Marshall speaker, it noticeably lacks bass, which diminishes the richness of certain tracks. That said, the clarity is impressive, and the midrange is well-balanced, making it suitable for most casual listening.When it comes to movies, the Dolby Atmos effects are noticeable but not groundbreaking. For example, in Top Gun: Maverick, cockpit beeps are distinctly placed on the left or right, adding an immersive element to the soundstage. However, the surround effect was underwhelming during dogfights, where I expected more precise spatial audio for the roaring jet engines. A dedicated subwoofer feels essential to complete the experience, as the Beam’s built-in bass just doesn’t deliver the punch needed for action-heavy scenes. I plan to add the Sonos Sub in the future to address this shortcoming.Design and Price: Compact and AffordableOn the positive side, the compact design of the Beam is perfect for small spaces, and its sleek aesthetic fits nicely with modern setups. For the price, it’s a solid introduction to Dolby Atmos for those who don’t want to break the bank. While it doesn’t deliver the premium audio experience of a higher-end system, it’s sufficient for casual movie nights and background music.Final VerdictOverall, the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a good choice if you’re looking for an affordable soundbar with Dolby Atmos capability. The frustrating setup process and lack of bass prevent it from being a 5-star product, but it still offers decent performance for the price. If you’re willing to invest in a subwoofer and can tolerate some setup headaches, this soundbar is a solid addition to your home theater.

Transformed my listening experience by installing this along with the mini sun and two ERA 100 surround speakers, all linked effortlessly and wirelessly. Sounds amazing and a big leap up from the LG soundbar and sub it replaced (which I thought was good!) but so it should’ve at the total price point. Very pleased.

Ordered it during the BlackFriday promotion. Very fast delivery! After configured the TV properly, the SONOS Beam has upgraded the surround sound effects of the TV to a different level. With the promotion during BlackFriday, it is a great Value!

sounds great and works well with TV but the app has intermittent problems connecting to the device that will drive you nuts.

At first I thought okay; it’s a lot better than the tv but I was expecting more from the surround .I realised the settings were wrong and Dolby atmos was not being used. Once I fixed that issue; the quality was like something else!! Such a massive improvement. In general it’s good and worked for me flawlessly. But once using atmos content ; it’s very good!