Sonos has introduced a brand new model of its pint-sized soundbar the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) This extra budget-friendly choice guarantees a couple of upgrades over the unique, however how does it examine to Sonos’ top-of-the-line soundbar the Sonos Arc?
We’re right here to interrupt down crucial components so you know the way the audio system stack up in opposition to one another. In case you’re within the temper for a brand new soundbar it is a must-read information that will help you weigh up the soundbars from probably the greatest speaker makers on the market.
Earlier than we dive in we should always point out that the brand new Sonos Beam isn’t out but (will probably be launched in October), so we’re basing our evaluation on its specs and the efficiency of comparable audio system. As soon as we’ve had an opportunity to check the soundbar for ourselves we’ll remember to let you realize if it performs higher or worse than we anticipated.
Worth and availability
The Sonos Arc launched at $799 / £799 / AU$1,399 however very lately obtained a worth hike to $899 / £899 / AU$1,499 for no obvious purpose.
The rise in worth now implies that the Sonos Arc prices roughly double what the brand new Sonos Beam (Gen 2) will when it launches in October at $449 / £449 / $699.
We’ve speculated that the value improve on Sonos’ gadgets may very well be right down to chip shortages which have plagued the tech business from smartphones to sport consoles to computer systems and now audio system.
Both Sonos is passing the elevated price of parts onto customers or – with extra folks having fun with their dwelling leisure than ever and driving gross sales – the forces of provide and demand are at work and Sonos has raised costs to account for much less availability.
We’ve not seen Sonos audio system be as troublesome to snag because the PS5 or the very best PC graphics playing cards for now, however inventory shortages might probably be on the way in which. Till inventory shortages do arrive (in the event that they ever do), the supply of each gadgets ought to be good, however if you happen to’re determined for a brand new soundbar now, the Sonos Arc will serve you nicely because it has already been launched.
Design
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and the Sonos Arc are pretty totally different in relation to design, with the Beam being a a lot better choice if you happen to’re brief on house.
The Sonos Beam upholds the compact nature of its predecessor being simply 2.72 x 25.63 x 3.94 inches (H x W x D). This implies you shouldn’t have an excessive amount of hassle discovering house for it it doesn’t matter what your private home cinema setup is like.
For the Sonos Arc, you’re going to need a bit extra space because it sits at 3.4 x 45 x 4.5 inches (H x W x D). Whereas it’s nicely over a foot longer than the Sonos Beam you need to discover that it is simply shorter than most 55-inch TVs. In case you’re rocking a bigger show you shouldn’t have too many issues squeezing the Sonos Arc in entrance of it – however will probably be price double-checking with a tape measure.
In any other case, you’ll discover that each soundbars are fabricated from plastic, with the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) dropping the fabric grille from the unique Sonos Beam. This makes each audio system straightforward to wash and hold free from mud. As for colours, each are solely obtainable in both white or black.
Audio efficiency (incl. Dolby Atmos)
The Sonos Arc presents excellent audio efficiency because of its eight elliptical woofers and three tweeters that ship strong bass and crisp highs. The {hardware} permits the speaker to take advantage of its Dolby Atmos codec – which separates sounds into object-based audio tracks – so that after it has been tuned to the room you’ll get a encompass sound expertise from only a single supply.
Proper now we will’t converse for the Sonos Beam (Gen2)’s efficiency as we haven’t examined it, however by looking at its specs we will make some predictions.
Whereas the brand new Beam may even have Dolby Atmos sound, it won’t be put to nearly as good use. For one it loses out on a number of the {hardware} within the Sonos Arc (having just one tweeter and 4 midwoofers), however importantly it isn’t an upfiring speaker. For ‘true’ Dolby Atmos, you want upfiring audio system that may bounce pontificate of the ceiling and again right down to your ears (or, even higher, ceiling-mounted audio system).
In line with Sonos, the brand new Beam makes use of “psychoacoustic strategies” to imitate the impact of upfiring audio system – one thing you would possibly hear known as digital Dolby Atmos – although we’d should attempt it out for ourselves to get a really feel for a way nicely it really works with the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
Connectivity
Like the unique Sonos Beam, the Beam (Gen 2) comes with help for Alexa and Google Assistant, AirPlay 2, and Wi-Fi connectivity, in addition to an Ethernet port for hardwiring the soundbar to your router. That is all the identical for the Sonos Arc too.
Nonetheless, the Sonos Beam features a new connectivity characteristic with its HDMI eARC compatibility. Sonos say this new compatibility will deliver a “richer, extra immersive, and better definition sound expertise” to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
In comparison with the HDMI ARC connectivity discovered on the unique Beam and Sonos Arc soundbars, eARC can deal with extra superior audio codecs and ship superior audio high quality.
As we’ve mentioned with different comparisons we’ll should attempt the soundbar out for ourselves to know something for certain, however we think about HDMI eARC help received’t give the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) an excessive amount of of a bonus over the Sonos Arc.
Takeaway
Whereas we don’t but know for sure how nicely the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) will carry out, it is seemingly that the Sonos Arc will present a much better audio expertise general – even with out HDMI eARC compatibility.
Actually your choice will come right down to what your price range is. In case you’re wanting an amazing expertise that received’t break the financial institution, go together with the brand new Sonos Beam that appears set to ship a robust efficiency at half the fee. If the value tag doesn’t put you off although, the Sonos Arc will nearly definitely serve your private home cinema a lot better.
And if you happen to’re involved a brand new Sonos Beam means a brand new Arc is coming quickly too, you won’t have to fret. The unique Beam is simply over three years previous whereas the Sonos Arc has simply hit one. Whereas we do not do something for sure we reckon you’ve gotten one other yr or so earlier than a brand new model hits cabinets.
Not offered on both Sonos machine? There are many different good soundbars on the market. If you need Dolby Atmos compatibility, try fashions such because the Samsung HW-Q950A and the Sony HT-X8500. On a strict price range? The Vizio SB362An-F6 is nicely price a glance, as is the Sony HT-MT300.