Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Soundbar Review - Should you buy it?
The RTINGS home theater team's video review asking whether the Beam (Gen 2) is worth buying.
Sonos · 2021
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
A compact Dolby Atmos soundbar with a single eARC connection, well suited to small and mid-size TVs.
Where to buy
List $449
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The verdict
Reviewers praise the sound for its size and the easy expansion path, but are not convinced by the virtual height effect. It is a good fit for TVs around 55 inches and under; if you want real overhead drivers, look at the Beam Ultra or Arc Ultra.
The Beam (Gen 2) is Sonos's compact soundbar, about 65 cm wide, with Dolby Atmos support delivered through processing rather than up-firing drivers. It connects over HDMI eARC, supports Trueplay room tuning, AirPlay 2 and the Sonos app, and can grow into a surround system with a Sub and rear speakers. It suits smaller TVs and rooms. The main caveats are the modest height effect and the lack of any extra HDMI inputs. Sonos also sells the more expensive Beam Ultra, which adds up-firing drivers.
Strengths
- Compact (651 mm wide), and Tom's Guide calls it the best Sonos option for TVs of 55 inches and smaller.
- Reviewers describe a wide soundstage and strong sound for the size.
- Supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby TrueHD over eARC, with Speech Enhancement and Night Sound modes.
- Expandable with a Sonos Sub and rear speakers, and works with AirPlay 2 and voice assistants.
- Includes an HDMI cable and an optical adapter for TVs without an eARC or ARC port.
Weak spots
- TechRadar was not convinced by the Atmos height effect, since there are no up-firing drivers.
- Only one HDMI connection (eARC) and no passthrough, so it takes up a TV HDMI port.
- Trueplay tuning needs an iOS device on this model, per Sonos and TechRadar.
- Bass is limited without a separate Sonos Sub.
Great for
- Smaller TVs and rooms
- People starting a Sonos system they may expand later
Skip if
- Buyers who want a convincing overhead Atmos effect from the bar alone
- Anyone who needs extra HDMI inputs on the soundbar
Full specifications
From the manufacturer unless noted. Shown for this model.
Sound
Audio formats
- Dolby Atmos
- Yes
- Dolby TrueHD
- Yes
Connections
Wireless
- Wi-Fi
- Yes
- Apple AirPlay
- Yes
Size & placement
- Bar width
- 651 mm
- Bar heightIf a soundbar sits in front of a low TV stand, its height can block the bottom of the picture or the remote sensor.
- 68 mm
- Bar depth
- 100 mm
- Bar weight
- 2.88 kg
- Wall mountable
- Yes
Primary source: sonos.com
Setup notes
- Connects to the TV's HDMI eARC/ARC port with the included cable; an optical audio adapter is included for TVs with optical output only.
- Dolby Atmos via Dolby TrueHD and multichannel PCM need an eARC connection, per Sonos.
- Sonos lists DTS Digital Surround but states this is not an indication of a licensed decoder.
Video reviews
Each video was checked to exist and to be about the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
What reviewers found
Summaries in our own words. Follow the link to read each review in full.
Rated 4 out of 5. Likes the wide soundstage, compact size and hi-res audio support, and values the eARC addition, but was not fully convinced by the virtual Atmos and notes Trueplay needs an iPhone or iPad. Bass improves noticeably with a Sonos Sub.
Read the originalImpressed by sound quality for the size and reliable room tuning, and recommends it for TVs of 55 inches and smaller. Downsides at launch were the higher cost than the first-generation model and some audio formats arriving later.
Read the original
Questions
Does the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) have HDMI passthrough?
No. Its only HDMI connection is the eARC port to the TV, so other devices must plug into the TV.
Is the Beam (Gen 2) true Dolby Atmos?
It accepts Dolby Atmos content but has no up-firing drivers, so height is created by processing. TechRadar found the effect less convincing than on bars with upward-firing speakers.
Has the Beam Ultra replaced the Beam (Gen 2)?
Not as of this check. Sonos still sells the Beam (Gen 2) new alongside the higher-priced Beam Ultra, which adds up-firing drivers and Bluetooth.
Does the Beam (Gen 2) work with Android phones?
Yes for general use through the Sonos app. Sonos states that Trueplay room tuning on this model requires a supported iOS device.
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Sources for this page
Last reviewed Nov 9, 2026. Released October 2021. Spotted an error? Tell us.