Sonos Beam (Gen 2) has a new speaker array for improved sound as well as support for Dolby Atmos and HDMI eARC – and a higher price tag. DTS support will be added later this year.
Sonos Beam Gen 2
The second generation of the Sonos Beam replaces the first generation of the compact soundbar. It comes with new features to elevate the TV, gaming and music experience.
- "We often talk about ‘Hollywood at Home’ being a real catalyst for our business, and Beam has played a huge part in this as one of the top-selling soundbars in its category," said Patrick Spence, Sonos CEO. "Taking what we've learned over the years about great listening and home theater, we've found a way to bring new features and significantly better sound to Beam, all in the same compact size that has proven extremely popular with customers."
Sonos Beam Gen 2
Through a combination of a newly developed phased speaker array and more processing power (40% faster), Beam Gen 2 can deliver a "more immersive sound experience with greater depth and clarity" than its predecessor, said Sonos. Beam Gen 2 also has a new grille design.
Beam Gen 2 comes with new features like Dolby Atmos and HDMI eARC. Dolby Atmos utilizes object-based audio to deliver a more immersive soundstage whereas HDMI eARC enables better audio quality and improved audio format support together with an eARC-compatible TV. This includes support for Dolby multichannel PCM for surround sound from game consoles without audio delay.
Also read: HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) and eARC explained
Beam can stand on its own as a compact soundbar or be expanded wirelessly through the Sonos multi-room system, for example with a subwoofer and a pair of rear speakers.
Sonos Beam Gen 2 has new features to improve gaming audio
DTS support coming later this year
For the first time, Sonos is bringing support for DTS Digital Surround to Beam and other S2-compatible speakers. DTS will be added with a software update later this year, as detailed in the article below.
Also read: DTS support coming to Sonos Arc, Playbar, Beam & other products
Sonos is also planning to add support for Amazon Music's lossless audio and/or Dolby Atmos on several of its S2 products including Beam Gen 2.
Like other Sonos products, the new Beam comes pre-tuned from the factory but you can also fine-tune audio to your environment with the Trueplay function. Beam can be controlled with the Sonos app and your existing TV remote control, or through voice assistants (Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant). It also supports Apple AirPlay 2.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is available for pre-order starting today for $449, £449 and €499. It will start shipping on October 5.
Sonos Beam Gen 2 – specifications
Audio
Amplifiers
All five Class-D digital amplifiers have been perfectly tuned to the soundbar's unique acoustic architecture.
Tweeter
One center tweeter creates a crisp high-frequency response.
Midwoofers
Four elliptical midwoofers ensure faithful playback of mid-range frequencies and maximize low-end output.
Passive Radiators
Three passive radiators enhance low frequencies for balanced, powerful sound.
Microphone
The far-field microphone array uses advanced beamforming and multi-channel echo cancellation for quick and accurate voice control.
Adjustable EQ
Use the Sonos app to adjust bass, treble and loudness.
Trueplay
This software measures the acoustics of the room then fine-tunes the soundbar. Supported iOS device required.
Speech Enhancement
Boosts voice frequencies and clarifies dialogue.
Night Sound
Reduces the intensity of loud sounds and increases the level of quieter sounds.
Home Theater Audio Formats
Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos (Dolby Digital Plus), Dolby Atmos*, Dolby TrueHD*, Dolby Atmos (True HD)*, Multichannel PCM*, Dolby Multichannel PCM* (*HDMI eARC connection required.)
Details
Dimensions
25.63x3.94x2.72in.(651x100x69mm)
Weight
6.2 lbs (2.8kg)
Finish
Matte; Available in Black or White
Capacitive Controls
Tap to play, pause, adjust the volume and mute the microphones. LED indicates speaker and microphone status and adjusts based on room lighting to be visible but not distracting.
LEDs
Lights on the product indicate connection, mute status, microphone activation, and errors.
Power and Networking
WiFi
Connect to WiFi with any 802.11b/g/n/ac 2.4 or 5 GHz broadcast-capable router.
HDMI eARC
Connect to your TV's HDMI eARC/ARC port with the included HDMI cable. If your TV has an optical output only, use the included Sonos Optical Audio Adapter.
Ethernet
10/100 port for hardwiring to your router
Infrared (IR) Receiver
Syncs the soundbar with your TV remote for streamlined control
Voltage
100-240V 50/60Hz internal power supply
Sonos S2
Download the latest generation of the app to setup and control.
Apple AirPlay 2
Works with AirPlay 2 on Apple devices iOS 11.4 and higher.
Voice
Works with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant
Pricing and Availability
Available starting October 5 in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Latin America, United Kingdom, Ireland, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Eastern Europe, India, Morocco, Egypt, South Africa, Israel, United Arab Emirates, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Hong Kong. China, Japan, and Russia to follow.
USD $449 / CAD $559 / GBP £449 / EUR €499 |
FlatpanelsHD
