TCL A65K vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Get the Sonos Beam (Gen 2). Unless you want deep bass for much less: then the TCL A65K comes with a sub.
TCL A65K
A very slim 3.1.2 Dolby Atmos bar tuned by Bang & Olufsen, with a wireless sub. Good for smaller rooms; surround is weak.
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
A compact bar with clear voices and a wide sound, sized for TVs up to 55 inches. Its Atmos height is virtual.
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The Beam sounds much bigger than it looks, with very clear voices and good music playback, and it works with the Sonos app and voice assistants. The A65K costs far less and adds a wireless sub and real up-firing Atmos drivers, but WIRED found its surround weak and some music muddy.
- —You want bass that fills the room.
- —You want to spend less in the UK.
- —You want Bluetooth.
- —You care most about clear dialogue.
- —You play music on it.
- —You have other Sonos speakers.
Key differences
Pros and cons
- +Very slim bar with a wireless sub
- +Real up-firing Atmos drivers, tuned by Bang & Olufsen
- +Room tuning with your phone
- −Surround and overhead effects are weak.
- −Some music sounds washed out and muddy.
- −Voices can drown under film music until you raise the centre level.
- −Bluetooth only: no Wi-Fi, and an old USB-A port.
- +Small, with a surprisingly big sound
- +Very clear dialogue
- +Alexa and Google Assistant built in
- −Atmos height is virtual, so effects stay mostly in front.
- −Light on the deepest bass without a Sonos sub.
- −One HDMI port, no Bluetooth, and no remote in the box.
- −Some owners report distorted surround sound over HDMI, or sound dropping out with some TVs.
- Is the TCL A65K worth it?
- Is the Sonos Beam worth it?
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How we reached this verdict
We compared independent expert reviews with the manufacturer's specifications, then checked it's sold at a major retailer where you live. We don't test products ourselves.
Sources: RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.