Used daily for almost 2 years

Sonos Beam
(Gen 2)

Almost two years of daily use, plugged into my OLED TV. I expected more at first. Then I turned it up.

£339 on offer, bought by me Not sponsored Not gifted
My black Sonos Beam Gen 2 on a wooden TV unit, in front of the TV, with decorative skulls on the shelf below.
Mine, under the TV, where it’s been every day for almost two years.

The short version

The good

  • Turned up, there’s no distortion at all. You hear every pin drop
  • Makes even bad audio sound crisp
  • Dolby Atmos adds a more cinematic feel
  • Night Sound tames the bass for late-night watching
  • Used every day for almost two years

The not so good

  • At normal volume it didn’t fill the room like I expected
  • A little thumpy. The bass carries when someone’s trying to sleep
  • Expensive at full price

Who it’s for

Anyone with a good TV who wants proper cinema sound at home and doesn’t mind turning it up. With the TV and this turned up, who needs the cinema?

£339 On offer. I’d buy it again.

Two years with it

First impressions

What can I say? To be honest, I was expecting more. I’ve got a good 63-inch OLED TV and its own speakers are pretty good.

When I connected the Beam I expected it to fill the room. I was a little disappointed.

Then I turned it up

Wow. That’s where this thing shines. No distortion at all. You hear every pin drop, the sound is so clear.

Honestly, I could throw the worst audio at it and it still sounds crisp.

The bass, and my wife

It’s a little thumpy, which drives my wife insane when she’s trying to sleep. She hears the bass kicking in.

That’s where night mode comes in. Sonos calls it Night Sound. It quietens the bass and evens out the sound, so it doesn’t keep her awake.

Dolby Atmos

I use Atmos whenever I can. It adds a little more of a cinematic experience to the room.

It’s virtual Atmos. The Beam doesn’t have speakers firing at the ceiling, it uses processing to create the effect. It still makes a difference.

Every day for two years

The soundbar is in constant use, every single day, and has been for almost two years.

The price

It cost an arm and a leg. I got it on offer for £339 through Amazon, sold by Hughes Electrical. Its full price was £499.

I’m pleased with my purchase. I’d buy it again.

My Amazon order: Sonos Beam (Gen 2), black, sold by Hughes Electrical, £339.00.
My order. Proof I paid for it myself.

Night mode, explained

The setting that keeps the peace at home. You switch it on in the Sonos app.

Night Sound

Turns down the loud stuff, like bass hits and explosions, and brings up the quiet stuff. Everything sits at a more even volume, so you can follow the film without the bass thumping through the walls.

Speech Enhancement

Pushes voices forward so dialogue is easier to hear. Useful late at night when you want the volume low but still want to know what everyone is saying.

How I use it

Night Sound on when my wife is trying to sleep. The bass goes quiet and the sound is normalised. Off again when it’s time to turn it up properly.

The specs

Sonos’s numbers, and what I actually found.

5drivers4 elliptical woofers and 1 centre tweeter
AtmosDolby Atmos, created virtually with processing
3Passive radiators for bass
5Class-D amplifiers
eARCHDMI connection to the TV
2.8kgWeight
65×7×10cmSize (651 × 69 × 100mm)
£499Full price. I paid £339

Connections and features

Sonos says vs what I found

Sonos saysWhat I found
Compact smart soundbarCompact, yes. At normal volume it didn’t fill the room like I expected.
5 drivers, 5 ampsTurned up, there’s no distortion at all. Every pin drop is clear.
Dolby AtmosAdds a little more cinematic feel. I use it whenever I can.
Night SoundTames the bass so my wife can sleep, and evens out the sound.
£499 full priceSteep. I paid £339 on offer, and at that price I’d buy it again.

Specs are Sonos’s published figures. The £499 full price is from What Hi-Fi; prices change, so check before you buy.

The verdict

After almost two years of daily use.