Updated 18 Oct 2026
Is the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) worth it?
Yes — the best soundbar for a smaller TV.
At 65cm it fits under smaller TVs, yet it sounds much bigger than it looks, with very clear dialogue and good music playback. It supports Dolby Atmos over HDMI eARC, though the height effect is simulated rather than from up-firing speakers. Bass is decent but light at the very bottom without a sub. It has Alexa and Google Assistant built in, but no Bluetooth and only one HDMI port.
95%of 732 owners give it 4 or 5 stars
- Small, with a surprisingly big sound
- Very clear dialogue
- Alexa and Google Assistant built in
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What owners say
Owners love the sound for its size and how easy it is to set up. The most common complaint is that it sounds underwhelming for the price without a sub.
Good to know
- 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.
From 732 buyer ratings at Currys and Otto (Germany), every complaint read by us, October 2026. How we do this
What they love
- Great sound for its sizeMentioned a lot
- Easy to set upAlso mentioned
- A big step up from TV speakersMentioned by some
- Compact, stylish designMentioned by some
What they complain about
- Sound underwhelming for the priceVery rare
- Light on bass without a subVery rare
- Sonos app problemsVery rare
Get it if…
- Your TV is 55 inches or smaller.
- You want clearer TV sound and good music in one compact bar.
- You might add Sonos speakers later.
Skip it if…
- You want overhead effects you can really hear: get the Arc Ultra.
- You need Bluetooth: it only streams over Wi-Fi.
How we reached this verdict
RTINGS names it the best small soundbar, and What Hi-Fi gives it five stars and an Award as the best Atmos bar at its size and price, while saying true overhead sound is a stretch. Tom's Guide calls it the best-sounding bar for small TVs, and Trusted Reviews gives 4.5/5. RTINGS notes it lacks deep bass and doesn't get very loud. Sonos launched the bigger Beam Ultra in 2026, but still sells this one.
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, Tom's Guide, Trusted Reviews, RTINGS, What Hi-Fi, What Hi-Fi, manufacturer specifications.
Updated 18 Oct 2026How we decide