When you move to a new place, it's normal for people to get new stuff to renovate their homes. That would include things like a new TV or speakers. The idea would be to upgrade your home theatre experience, so video and audio are equally important!
In this review, we'll introduce you to a soundbar we got to try for a few weeks - the Sonos Beam Gen 2! Those who are audio enthusiasts are probably no strangers to Sonos, so what kind of audio experience will this product bring? Please keep reading below!
In terms of appearance, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 does not have a rounded design and lightweight body like other soundbars that are more accessible. It's quite heavy in fact, and looks like a steel bar. Moreover, it's not the smallest soundbar at 65cm in length, so you would need a considerable amount of space.
If you place it on the same table as the TV, you could even end up blocking the infrared sensor of the TV. In terms of colour options, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is available in black and white. As for the buttons, you'll find them on the top of the Sonos Beam Gen 2. The volume and play buttons are there, along with a light indicator.
Watch how you position it, as it could block the infrared receiver of your TV
This soundbar is quite hefty
You can wall-mount this soundbar
Of course, there's a reason why it's heavy. The soundbar is packed with powerful hardware, resulting in superior audio quality. On the front of the speaker, you'll see four mid-woofers and a Sonos-optimised centre tweeter. Together, they deliver excellent bass performance. The audio is also crisp, with clear vocals and background sounds. Besides that, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 has five Class D amplifiers and three Passive Radiators that help boost low-end frequencies.
The space on the back of the Sonos Beam Gen 2 has everything you need, at least in terms of connections. This includes one HDMI eARC port, the power connector, a pairing/connect button, and a rare Ethernet port. The Sonos Beam 2 also supports wireless connectivity, so you can connect and control the soundbar via the Sonos S2 App. It also lets you adjust the sound profile and remote functions or play Spotify and YouTube from mobile phones.
The buttons and light indicator
Ports available
The HDMI eARC port allows users to adjust the volume via the connected TV. Of course, the TV has to support this feature. Moreover, the eARC port lets the soundbar support a variety of audio formats. This includes Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Atmos (Digital+ and TrueHD versions), Multi-frequency PCM and Dolby Multi-frequency PCM. Again, the video or music you play must support these formats
In terms of audio quality, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 performed well. This soundbar can deliver clear and deep audio in music, movies and games. Best of all, vocals and voices are easily discernible. You can adjust the bass and other settings too. Our writer loved the bass performance of the soundbar and found its max volume loud as well. If you are not careful, the sound might even be too loud.
Smart voice assistant and music playback software
Preset sound profiles and other settings
Overall, we loved the experience brought by the Sonos Beam Gen 2. The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is priced at RM2699 in Malaysia, which is not cheap compared to most Sound Bars. It's also relatively more expensive in Malaysia (for some reason).
But if you have the budget and the need for good audio (also a soundproofed room while you're at it), this is a soundbar that might be worth considering. Of course, you could get decent sub-woofers and speakers with basic features for around RM150 that are not bad, but ultimately, the choice is yours.
So, what do you think of the Sonos Beam 2? Share your thoughts in the comments, and stay tuned to TechNave for more reviews like this!
Tech specs & features
- Dimensions - 651 x 69 x 100 mm
- Weight - 2.8kg
- Frequency - Estimated 55Hz to 17kHz
- Features - Touch controls (volume up + volume down + play/pause), Dolby Atmos, Apple AirPlay 2, voice assistant, TV remote sync,
- Connectivity - HDMI eARC, Ethernet 10/100Mbps, Wireless 802.11 b/g/n
- Colours - Black, White
Pros: Crisp sound; excellent bass performance; supports mobile apps like Spotify and Youtube Music; and HDMI eARC supports higher sound quality specifications
Cons: Not something that most people can afford; and it requires the Sonos S2 App to operate
Conclusion: If money is no object, its clear sound, deep bass, and loud volume make it a soundbar worth considering
COMMENTS