![]() ![]() The idea of any home cinema system, Atmos or otherwise, is to create a bubble of sound. The two new arrays are dedicated to surround and height information and provide the simulated Dolby Atmos playback. Instead, the Gen 2's main upgrades are on the inside with a more powerful processor and a new phased array (which can operate five separate audio zones versus the original's three). Actual upfiring drivers, which are required for "true" immersive playback, are absent on the new Beam. These drivers consist of four elliptical midwoofers, one central tweeter and three passive bass radiators. It has the same size (2 foot wide), the same shape and number of speakers. What it isĪpart from a couple of key improvements, the Beam Gen 2 is very, very similar to the original Beam. It does sound better, but it involves a lot more boxes with wires and no Wi-Fi or voice assistant built-in. As an alternative you can buy a full 5.1.2 system with "real" Dolby Atmos for only 50 bucks more - the excellent Vizio M512a. The Sonos ecosystem is excellent however and no other company offers the same level of support for music streaming services. Sonos isn't for everyone, though, as it can be costly to build a whole-home system, especially if you need to buy the $449 Port adapter for an existing stereo. It's not worth upgrading if you have the original - save up for the Sonos Arc instead - but for people looking to explore Dolby Atmos who want built-in voice assistant(s) and best-in-class whole-home music streaming, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a great choice. Without changing the physical design beyond a new grill, or adding any extra speakers, the Beam Gen 2 does indeed sound bigger than before. Soundbar and adds Atmos compatibility as well as a better processor. The $450 Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a tweak of the company's original After listening to the new Beam I was surprised at how good that processing can sound. Some include physical, upfiring drivers and some, like the Sonos Beam Gen 2, rely on fancy processing to create Atmos effects. Yet not all Atmos soundbars are created equal. With Dolby Atmos onboard can help transport you out of your living room and into another world - from the nuclear wastelands of the Outback to the battlefields of Europe. Not able to compete with systems with subs One of the best streaming music apps around The main differences are size, cost, voice control and the levels of immersive sound each is able to deliver.All-in-one system offers astoundingly wide soundĬhoice of Alexa or Google Assistant onboard Because the Ray lacks built-in microphones, it's the only soundbar that doesn't support any voice assistants, including the upcoming Sonos Voice Control. All three soundbars support music streaming over Wi-Fi (including AirPlay 2) and can be integrated in a larger multi-room or home theater system with other Sonos speakers. The Ray is similar to Sonos's other soundbars as well, even if it doesn't support Dolby Atmos. The main difference, other than size and price, is that the Beam (Gen 2) lacks dedicated upward-firing drivers that really get the most out of Dolby Atmos content. Both hook up to your TV via a single eARC connection, which is a newer version of ARC. Both are smart soundbars that can be set up to support voice commands from either Alexa or Google Assistant - and they will also work with Sonos Voice Control, the company's new voice assistant that rolls out in early June. The two Dolby Atmos soundbars, the Arc and the Beam (Gen 2), are more similar than they are different. And finally, there's the Ray, which costs just $279, making it the company's most affordable soundbar yet. The Beam (Gen 2) is a more compact Dolby Atmos soundbar that costs $499, making it half as expensive as the Arc. There's the Arc, its flagship Dolby Atmos soundbar that costs $899. Sonos now offers three different soundbars. This article has been updated to reflect that. Note: As of February 2023, Sonos has increased the price of the second-generation Beam soundbar from $449 to $499. ![]()
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