The compact soundboard Beam is Sonos’ most obvious answer, when the need arises for good sound in a small TV room. If you have a small TV in a small room, you do not want a large soundboard, and in that way Beam is right up your alley.
Beam was Sonos’ first product with HDMI. In addition to streaming music in a multi-room setup with any other Sonos speaker, it could also be connected to the TV’s HDMI input labeled ARC. The soundboard would then take over as the audio source – whether you were playing PlayStation, watching Blu-ray movies or streaming content to your TV.
But time never stands still, and since Beam came on the market, especially the 3D audio format Dolby Atmos has made its entrance in earnest. The vast majority of new movies and TV series coming out today have Atmos soundtracks, which means that objects are placed in a three-dimensional soundscape – also in height. It has now almost become a requirement that soundboards must support Dolby Atmos.
Dolby Atmos – and soon DTS
That’s why Beam is now in its 2nd generation. With support for Dolby Atmos. It also means that the HDMI connector has been upgraded to eARC, ie enhanced ARC, which supports high definition audio up to 24-bit / 48 kHz. High-resolution audio will also eventually be supported from music services, where Amazon Music HD will be the first out according to what we experience. DTS support is also gradually on its way to all Sonos soundboards, but according to Sonos this will not be in the form of DTS: X, which is a direct competitor to Dolby Atmos.
This is new on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Dolby Atmos Support
- More powerful processor and DSP
- Steel grill instead of fabric
- eARC supports high definition audio
- Soon support for high-resolution music services
- Easier setup with iPhone
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Beam (Gen 2), which now has a metal grill instead of fabric, has a total of five speaker elements. Four of them are full tones, so there is a treble element in the middle. The predecessor had the same number of elements, but there were the oval elements in the middle midtones to the center channel, while the treble in the middle handled the harmonics. The speakers on the sides were used for the left and right channels.
New use of the side elements
On the latest version of the soundboard, the two elements in the middle are full-tone units that reproduce both the left, center and right channels, while the treble complements the center channel. The angled speaker elements have now been released completely on each side of the soundboard, to take care of the rear channels instead, in addition to pulling the left and right channels further out to the sides. The Atmos channels are also reproduced by the same side elements.
To make this good, especially since there are no dedicated Atmos elements pointing upwards towards the ceiling, advanced software is needed to control it all. It is an art to be able to create “virtual speakers” in the room.
Easier connection with iPhone
Otherwise, the connection has become easier for iPhone users since last time. Android users have long been able to set up Sonos products with their mobile phones using NFC technology, and now you can finally do the same with the iPhone. Just open the app, click to add a Sonos product, and then hold your mobile phone next to the Sonos Beam. The soundboard appears automatically and can be added to the home network.
TruePlay
To take full advantage of the sound, and achieve the best Atmos effect, you must activate TruePlay in the app. The mobile phone will then be transformed into a measuring microphone, which is moved around the room, while the soundbar sends out test signals. It works great, removes ugly stains from TV tables or other furniture the plank is on top of, and makes the perceived surround sound much better.
The downside is that it only works with iOS mobiles and tablets, so Android users have to borrow an iPhone for the occasion. The good news is that this only needs to be done once. Until the next time you move the soundbar or add more speakers or subwoofers.
The sound of new Beam
If you have heard the first Beam, you will notice that the sound quality is very similar between it and the new one. That is, a natural soundscape, where a car sounds like just that – and not a tractor. The dialogues sound lifelike and clear rather than rumbling and exaggerated. That said, it’s good energy from Tom Hardy’s stomach ache Mad Max: Fury Road, and I am constantly amazed at how well Beam manages on its own, without the use of aids such as rear speakers or subwoofer.
The soundscape is not quite on par with the larger one Arc, which fills the room to an even greater degree and can also play louder before it stops thriving. But then the Arc is both bigger and more expensive, and that should just be missing. But Beam (Gen 2) keeps up well up to a certain point, and I like this sound much better than if the soundboard could play with a higher sound level at the expense of fullness and vitality. There is a surprising amount of bass in the small paw.
Subwoofer
For everyday TV watching, I do not really feel Beam needs a subwoofer to work more than well enough. It sounds better alone than many other soundboards with external subwoofer in the same price range. Still, it is inevitable that the popcorn factor will be a bit limited. When the light is dimmed and the Marvel movie spins, I want more impact.
Fortunately, adding a Sonos Sub is easy to set up. Then the TruePlay correction must be started again, but it is so simple that it goes well.
With the subwoofer connected, two things happen. First, the bass register becomes far more physical, without sounding colored and disconnected. The bass effects sound far better, at the same time as they sound like a natural part of the soundscape. As if the sound instead comes from larger speakers.
Second, Beam is freed from playing the deepest bass. The result is that the dynamics and clarity of the midrange are even better, and you can play even louder before distortion.
Both film and TV sound better with subwoofer. But also music. Beam manages quite well alone without the help of music. With clear vocals and rich enough guitars. Bass instruments also work ok. But connect the subwoofer, and the lower octave makes the whole sound image breathe more.
Rear speakers
The new Beam does an even better job than the previous one, dragging the sound image out to the sides, and giving the impression of real surround sound when required. The Atmos effect with sound at height is also present, even though there are no upward-facing speakers on top.
The surround effect is of course even greater if you use a pair of wireless rear speakers as One SL. Both sound from behind becomes more convincing and virtually hits the back wall to a greater extent. But the Atmos effect will also be better, because the side elements on the Beam will now only reproduce the top channels and not the rear channels. It makes the whole even better. If I were to prioritize with my wallet, I would probably still rather spend money on subwoofers first, and then rear speakers. But you should also not be afraid to just buy the soundboard itself, and say you are happy with it.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Conclusion
The latest version of the Sonos Beam is as compact as its predecessor, but provides an even larger soundstage, thanks to a smarter speaker setup and more powerful processor. Not least because it now supports Dolby Atmos, which gives a better impression of sound at altitude. And that despite the fact that it is done virtually with processing, without speakers pointing upwards.
Beam sounds excellent on its own, but even better with a Sub. Then the price will be quite dramatically much higher, so you should be pretty sure that you need more bass before you invest. Beam does an approved job with bass on its own, if the room is not too big and the requirement for sound pressure then. Extra rear speakers are also not a necessity, although it lifts the experience another notch.
It is good to know that Beam can be bought as it is, and works very well, and is also gradually expanded when the need and wallet dictate it. If your budget is tight, this is one of the best buys out there. Also compared to soundboards where the subwoofer comes with the same price. That’s how good it is.
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