Sonos Beam (Gen2) review: sensible evolution
A TEST REPORT from David Haydl 
on November 15, 2021, 9:00 | Write a comment
Sonos sends the Beam in the second round. The innovations: A slightly revised design and support for Dolby Atmos. I was able to find out how the Sonos Beam (Gen2) performs in everyday life.
With the Beam of the first generation, you already got a solid overall package for a low price. It allowed a connection to a window, offered good sound quality, came with the multiroom features known from Sonos and also had a chic and timeless design with recognition value.
Well came a few weeks ago the second generation out. This should mainly convince with a slight revision of the design, Dolby Atmos for films, series and music and with an improved sound quality at a relatively low price. For a little over a week I was able to see whether this succeeded.
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Unboxing and initial setup
The Sonos Beam (Gen2) comes in an elongated box made of brown cardboard. You can see various imprints on it, including a picture of the soundbar itself. To get to the contents of the package, you have to remove the seal and open the lid towards the back. In the box you will find the beam itself and a cable box with a power cable, an HDMI cable and an adapter (optical connection to HDMI). You will also receive several pieces of paper and instructions. I already like that the color of the cables is now the same as that of the device. It wasn't like that before and looks a lot better.
You should have these things in front of you after unpacking the packaging. (Image: TechnikNews)
The Sonos app is required for setup, which is available free of charge for iOS, Android, Windows and macOS. However, as the owner of an iOS device, the setup is particularly recommended with a smartphone, as you can then optimize the sound with the Trueplay function.
If the Beam is connected to the mains, you should already see a pop-up in the app that prompts you to set it up. If this is not the case, the setup can also be started manually via the app settings. Then you have to log into a Sonos account, if you haven't already, and add the soundbar to a system. Now it is possible to hold the smartphone to the NFC chip next to the touch fields on the top to complete the pairing. Otherwise, some noises will be heard that are detected by the smartphone, so that the pairing is completed in the next step. Last but not least, all you have to do is connect to the WiFi and select a room for the Beam.
Then there are two optional items, the first is the connection to a television. To do this, the HDMI cable must be connected to an eArc connection on the television and, if necessary, output via eArc must be activated. The Beam should automatically recognize the TV. Then you have the option to set up Trueplay to improve the sound. As mentioned, this requires an iOS smartphone and can be found in the app settings. Sonos recommends that you remove the case from your smartphone so that the microphones pick up the sounds better. The calibration now takes place twice, once while sitting and once while walking.
Design
Basically, the Sonos Beam (Gen2) looks exactly like its predecessor. All buttons and connections are still in the same position and you can still choose between black and white for the color options. Glad I received the white model as I think it fits better in my room.
Picture: TechnikNews
There are a few touch buttons on the top. One for pausing and resuming playback and two for adjusting the volume. In addition, microphones were installed for the two supported voice assistants. These are the Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. I won't explain in great detail how these work, as everyone should know that. Definitely commendable for being given the choice.
The most important things can also be controlled directly on the soundbar. (Image: TechnikNews)
Sonos cleverly hid any connections on the back. More precisely, they disappear into a small recess, so that only the cables running away are visible. The choice of connectors remained unchanged compared to the first generation. You still have Ethernet, HDMI and the port for the power plug there. The manufacturer also placed a button there that is sometimes used to reset the beam.
All connections are hidden on the back. (Image: TechnikNews)
The material used for the speaker cover is new. It used to be made of one material and now it is made of plastic. This has the advantage that the soundbar is easier to clean when dust builds up.
sound quality
Sonos installed five amplifiers, one tweeter, four mid-range speakers and three passive radiators in the Beam (Gen2). In addition, the sound of compatible films, series or pieces of music is improved with Dolby Atmos. This makes it feel like the sound is coming from all corners of the room.
What does it look like in everyday use? In music, low, medium and high notes are audibly more detailed than in the first generation. In addition, Sonos tweaked the bass, it is now stronger, but by no means too intrusive. In a direct comparison, I also noticed that voices sound less artificial. I noticed that in particular Anti ally from Abor & Tynna. Nevertheless, the sound of the first Sonos Beam was overall a bit more balanced for my taste for my taste.
Overall, I like the sound of the second Sonos Beam (right) a little better. (Image: TechnikNews)
And how did this Dolby Atmos come about? In short, it is exactly as it is advertised in films and series. The sound is much more intense and actually comes from several directions. Action films or series in particular look much more gripping with it, but the effect also comes out quite well with other genres. However, all this does not come without disadvantages. You have to activate Dolby Digital Plus on the television, which was hidden quite deep in the settings, at least on mine. Then you have to consider that the amount of compatible content is currently still limited. And with Netflix you even need the more expensive subscription to get it at all proto be able to fit.
Dolby Atmos is also available for music, although here none yet Services are supported. Sonos only announced that Amazon Music HD with Atmos should be on board by the end of the year. However, the company did not give an exact date for this. That's a shame because that's supposed to be the big point for the Sonos Beam (Gen2).
Finally, I want to briefly talk about the night mode. This is intended to weaken the sounds when playing on a TV so that people sleeping in the same house are not woken up. The idea is nice, but in reality the difference is barely audible. But I am sure that Sonos can improve this with an update.
Sonos app
The Sonos app is the control center for the Sonos system and is available for iOS, Android, Windows and macOS. It is used, among other things, to manage the system and add music services.
With the latter, the range is practically infinite. From the best-known radio services, such as TuneIn, to podcast apps, including PocketCasts, to various music streaming services, everything is included. The Sonos app even allows the libraries of music services to be managed to a certain extent. For example, you can favorite songs or add a new album to a playlist.
I also mentioned that settings can be made on the Sonos system. Loudspeakers can be grouped into a room, with Trueplay the sound can be optimized in a few minutes and you have the option of introducing a volume limit.
Also the previously mentionedproAny language assistants are managed in the Sonos app. You either add them or remove them from the list.
Prices and availability
Sonos requires an MSRP of 2 euros for the Sonos Beam (Gen499). It is available from the manufacturer's online store and from Amazon.
Sonos Beam (Gen2): Conclusion
The second-generation Sonos Beam is a sensible evolution. You primarily get the further development in sound quality and Dolby Atmos, which means that you no longer have to resort to the much more expensive Sonos Arc. Because Amazon Music is not yet supported with Atmos, Sonos also gave away a lot of potential. In addition, the night mode in its current form is rather pointless. These frustrations are offset, among other things, by the simple and timeless design, the simple furnishingprozess and those already mentioned aboveprosome points.
So who is the new Beam suitable for? If you still own the first generation, I think that an upgrade is not (yet) worthwhile. The price would have to drop quite a bit for that. First-time buyers looking for a reasonably priced soundbar with some premium features will be very happy with it.
Thank you for providing the Sonos Beam (Gen2)!
