Sonos - Beam Soundbar with Voice Control built-in - Black

The Beam is the newest Soundbar from Sonos. It's smaller than the original Soundbar, simpler to connect and adds Alexa voice integration and Apple Airplay 2. Like other Sonos speakers, sound is rich and clear. Through the controller app, there's a room specific calibration, eq, night mode and voice enhancement settings. It does, as expected, produce a much richer sound than the TV speakers. It has four woofers and one tweeter. As a member of the Sonos system, the soundbar can optionally be paired with a Sonos subwoofer and a pair of Sonos speakers (Play:1 or Sonos One) as surround speakers. In this set up all the speakers work together in a group like a single system. Airplay 2 allows to use the whole Sonos system in addition to grouping Apple TVs (4 or newer) to play music from any app on iOS or macOS. Connecting it requires a power cable and HDMI 'ARC' from a TV: Most newer TVs have a single HDMI connector that's designated 'ARC' (Audio Return Channel), so whatever audio comes with the video on the TV is transmitted back through this port. Additionally the speaker can turn on or off the TV and the TV can control the volume via the CEC signal that’s transmitted via the same HDMI cable. The drawback is that this uses one of the few HDMI inputs on the TV. The 2017 model TV we're using the Beam with has 4 HDMI ports, but only two of these are 4K, ad one of these two is the ARC port (HDMI 2 in our case). So there is only one HDMI 4K port left that's where we have an AppleTV. Sonos Beam also has an alternative connection adapter that takes an optical audio input, found in most TVs (TOSLINK) and connects to the HDMI input on the speaker. The soundbar won't be able to turn the TV on or off (via Alexa) with this system. The Beam also has an infrared receiver that learns the volume commands from the TV remote. Because of this excellent integration, it doesn't have a separate remote control. It just works with either the TV's remote of the AppleTV remote in our case (The AppleTV uses the HDMI CEC connection to get the volume controls across). Setting up the Beam requires a phone or tablet: Download the app, start it, and then press the pairing button on the Beam, and within seconds it connected, asked for WiFi connection and was set up. It didn't require the phone to pair with a temporary WiFi network like other speakers do. It's very simple to do. In my experience simpler than setting up the Echo or other speakers. The soundbar doesn't have a Bluetooth connection like other speakers do, but the Sonos system is fantastic. It connects to every single music provider I could think of, including Apple Music (Not just Airplay 2 but native integration), Spotify, Pandora, Google Play, Internet radio, Plex, etc. Also, if using iOS, Airplay 2 is a better choice than Bluetooth. Then there is Alexa integration. While it's not the same as an Echo device (It's an 'Alexa enabled device'), it does pretty much anything an Echo does but doesn't currently support communications, drop ins or announcements, also doesn't join Echo music groups, although I can tell an Echo speaker to play music on the Sonos. Also, and this is different than other Echo speakers: When it wakes up with the Alexa keyword and is listening to a command it plays a chime. This is to announce that it's listening, but Echo devices don't do this and I initially found it very distracting, although after a week got used to it. Note that while voice with Alexa can control a Sonos playlist, if asking Alexa to play something it works like Echo devices, as it plays from the music sources configured in the Alexa App. There are four touch-sensitive buttons (not physical buttons, they're part of the surface, touch sensitive): Volume up/down, play/pause and mic button. There is a small white light for the mic button and a small light for the play button that changes color/intensity depending on what it's doing. It's quite faint and not distracting. The soundbar itself is quite compact, and while it's primarily designed to be sitting on a TV stand, it can also be wall-mounted, but the wall mount is extra. I'm disappointed that the wall mount didn't come with it because it doesn't use standard mounts. Sonos sells a custom wall mount for the Beam and a 3rd party mount to use as an under-cabinet speaker. The mount was quite expensive although I'm impressed how well it's made. It's a thick metal piece. The mounting holes fit like a glove, it has a felt backing so it doesn't mar the wall and is very simple to install either between beams or with anchors.

First off the speaker sounds fantastic, providing impressive range and presence for its diminutive size (2.75” tall, 25.5” wide, & 4” deep). Setup was simple and straightforward. The Beam interfaces with your TV using ARC via an HDMI cable., making the setup fairly simply if your TV supports it. Otherwise, Sonos provides an adapter to convert it to optical audio (toslink). I opted to connect the Beam via ethernet, but it can be connected to your network wirelessly via a dated 802.11 b/g or to a speaker mesh (SonosNet). Adding Alexa (Google Assistant wasn’t available at time of writing) required bouncing between services in order to allow access and add the device, which is straightforward for most. Alexa worked on the Beam as well as any other echo device I have used. Setting timers, asking questions, and playing music all performed as expected. I don’t use Alexa often so I appreciate that Sonos put the an LED on the same circuit as the physical microphone, providing a visual indicator of when it is on. The microphone must also be enabled or disabled by physically touching the controls on the Beam, another privacy detail Sonos considered. Airplay 2 worked well, playing music on the Beam from my iPhone or HomePod when requested. I actually find the Beam sounds better then my single HomePod, providing a much richer sound that fills the room. Even out of the box I was surprised by bass response from 4 small woofers and clarity from a single tweeter. After optimizing the soundbar for my living room (17’x17’) using TruePlay in the Sonos app, the spatial audio improved further. Filling the space with immersive sound, the Beam is surprisingly effective considering it’s footprint. The Beam can even be expanded into a full 5.1 system by adding two rears and a sub. As mentioned the bass is great, but not quite as good as a soundbar and dedicated sub combined. Unfortunately, the Sonos sub offered costs more then the Beam itself! I would like to see Sonos offer a slightly cheaper sub, but that isn’t an issue with the Beam. I’m also not a fan of the fabric grill on the Beam as opposed to the perforated hard surface on the Sonos One. If you are in the niche market shopping for a smart speaker and soundbar to use in the same room, Sonos has you covered. However, I highly recommend this for anyone looking for a discrete soundbar with great sound that can also integrate with practically any music service or platform.

The Sonos beam is a great home theater speaker for smaller living rooms. I paired this beam with x2 Sonos ONE:SL speakers and I get a good surround sound theater feel. Likes: Aesthetics, quality, sound, size, smart assistance integration, Airplay 2 integration Dislikes: The microphones integrated are inconsistent when I say the magic word, “Hey Google”. I wish they worked the first time every time; No Bluetooth Oh by the way: I don’t have one yet, but getting the Sonos Sub with this setup will give the beam better sound since it doesn’t have to worry about putting out the lower frequencies. If you have the cash, get a sub which I plan to do in the near future. Also, the Sonos app on the iPhone is the only app that can be used to tune the sound via “Trueplay”. So, if you have an android (Google type of phone), than you won’t be able to use the “Trueplay” setting. You will still be able to make EQ adjustments manually though.

I was a little reluctant on this system because I was used to the traditional "theater in a box" systems with 5 speakers. I am using this Beam Soundbar with a Sonos subwoofer and only two side speakers. The sound is far better than my old Samsung 5-speaker system. As for the setup ... there are absolutely no instructions other than "download the app and follow the instructions." That is frustrating when the app doesn't find some of the products. It found the subwoofer and the bar but had trouble locating the side speakers. You have to do things in the correct order. I had to delete the app, download it again and start over. When I was finally successful I was pleased but it was frustrating.

Where do I begin? I have had this speaker for 5 days now and I am amazed by the sound, design and functionality. I am new to Sonos in the last few weeks; I have Play Ones throughout the house, so I was definitely interested in the Beam for my office TV. Like all Sonos speakers, the Beam is packaged nicely and easy to get up and running. Simply plug in for power and run the included HDMI cable to your tv's "ARC" HDMI connection. I'm no techie, but it seems as if ARC gives you some two-way options as opposed to just sending audio and video. It allows a simpler connection to the tv, no need to program a remote and it also can turn the TV on when directed to. I love that. I have had Amazon branded Alexa devices throughout my home and have added smart lighting, switches and TV controls to complement my Alexa setup. The only issue was sound quality which is what led me to Sonos. The "Ones" blew me away and I was excited to try the Beam and replace an Alexa device in my office. The Beam has the same Alexa controls on the top center of the speaker that are on the One. Setting up Alexa through the Sonos and Alexa app is simple but these do not play as friendly as say an Echo. You cannot rename devices or customize alerts, etc, in the Alexa app. I am confident that these are options that will be added in the future, but I am ok with losing those options if it means superior audio. I will say that having Sonos Alexa devices throughout the home is a little more confusing than the Amazon branded devices as they do not pick up on the closest speaker like Echo's do. At times, when saying Alexa, multiple speakers are ready to listen and sometimes the closest one is not the one listening. I have the Beam in my office hooked up to a TV that runs off of an Amazon Fire TV. This is a nice combo as i can turn on the TV with my voice and have some control of content and TV volume. Again, I find that Echo devices play better with the Fire TV as well, but I'm sure that will be fixed. Any knocks on Alexa functionality is forgotten when you turn on your tv and hear the amazing sound coming from the Beam. I have Polk Omni sound bars in 2 other rooms and the Beam blows them away, but not on bass. Each sound is heard clearly and sounds beautiful, not just at high volumes. There are great options to hear voices better and a night mode so I do not disturb the neighbors late at night and still have great sound. There is plenty of bass for me in my office from the Beam, but if I had this in my larger living room, I would definitely want to add the Sonos subwoofer. In a smaller room, this is not needed, this speaker rocks! One of my knocks of the Polk sound bars are that they do not sound great playing music. This is not the case with the Beam. It sounds as good as the Sonos One Stereo pair setup in my living room, if not better. To me, this is one of the features that separates the Beam from other sound bars, the music sounds incredible. Switching back and forth between TV and music is easy to do with the TV and the Sonos App. I also tried a setup with 2 "ones" as rear speakers and it created an incredible surround sound experience. In this setup I would definitely recommend a sub, more bass was needed, but it still sounded fantastic. Conveniently enough, Airplay 2 is now supported by Sonos and I find it more reliable than choosing music through the Sonos app, but maybe I just have to get used it. The app seems to get confused by audio playing from different sources and it is something I need to get adjusted to. It is much better than the Play-Fi app, but it needs some improvement. More Alexa customizations and creating groups that can be saved would be nice. The speaker is elegant, blends in well and the sound is mind blowing, great job Sonos. The Beam is a bargain at $399 and I plan on adding another one in my bedroom.

For the record, I have 4 pairs of standalone tower speakers by different brands but I don't use them since you need to be hooked to the power plant directly to run them. Sonos does speaker optimization like no other. You can listen to this speaker at 45db (quiet library) average and enjoy all the nuances of the proper recording. Deezer offers you 5 band EQ just in case you are not happy with the Sonos one. So unless you are a bass chaser this does not require the Subwoofer as most other small speakers do. TV aspect I won't even review since it covers a wide gamut of bad broadcast quality. If you are not an "Audiophile" snob you'll agree this is the best bang for the buck.

Growing up in an audiophile home I was very quick to scoff at the Sonos products. But like most young men, I had a young lady start hanging around and my large Klipsch speakers with a “confusing” receiver had to leave the living room. Little did I know that Sonos products were an easy, user friendly, and surprising high quality sounding solution. I bought this Beam first to help keep my setup clean and was so impressed I added two Play1s as my surrounds! Setup was a breeze (no running speaker wires a breath of fresh air) and once I tuned the system I was very impressed with the sound.

Don't waste your time on any other product concerning sound. If it isn't Sonos, it isn't right.