While watching a movie, a decent sound system is a must-have! As you know even top-tier TVs fall short in delivering sound quality. So, most people often rely on home cinema systems. However, this system costs quite a penny and also requires enough space to set them up. In this scenario, a soundbar becomes your optimal solution, and Sonos is well-known for crafting exceptional ones. However, choosing a soundbar from the same brand can be a bit overwhelming. Here, we’re going to compare Sonos Beam 2 vs Sonos Arc in this blog. These soundbars seamlessly integrate with other Sonos wireless speakers, offering the flexibility to expand into a complete surround sound setup or contribute to a multiroom audio system throughout your home.
Curious about the distinctions between them? Let’s delve into these devices and assist you in identifying the perfect soundbar for your captivating audio experience.
| Specifications | Sonos Beam 2 | Sonos Arc |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $399.00* | $719.00* |
| Dimensions | 2.68 x 25.63 x 3.94 inches | 3.43 x 44.96 x 4.57 inches |
| Weight | 6.35 lbs | 13.78 lbs |
| Audio Formats | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and support for various formats | Dolby Atmos, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, and support for various formats |
| Speakers | Five Class-D digital amplifiers, One tweeter, and Four mid-woofers | Eleven Class-D digital amplifiers, Three tweeters, and Eight woofers |
| Voice Assistants | Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, | Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI eARC, AirPlay 2 | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, HDMI eARC, AirPlay 2 |
| Ports | HDMI eARC, Ethernet | HDMI eARC, Ethernet |
| Control | With Sonos app, Voice, TV remote, and Apple AirPlay 2 | With Sonos app, Voice, TV remote, and Apple AirPlay 2 |
| Colors | Black and White | Black and White |
Let’s delve deeper into our Sonos Beam 2 VS Sonos Arc and discuss how much price difference both the soundbars have. As sometimes price can be a deciding factor while choosing between the two. The Sonos Beam, originally priced at 449* USD, is presently accessible for purchase at a reduced rate of $399*. This soundbar offers impressive room-filling sound with Atmos capabilities, making it a cost-effective choice.
Meanwhile, the Arc, initially priced at $899* and now at $719*, stands as Sonos’s first Dolby Atmos soundbar and provides a more expansive audio experience. If you prioritize a more expansive and premium audio experience, the Arc might be the choice. However, if you’re looking for a solid performance at a more budget-friendly price, the Beam could be the better fit.
Sonos has crafted a sophisticated upgrade with the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), available in sleek black or white finishes. The new design maintains its compact profile, measuring 2.7 x 25.6 x 3.9 inches (H x W x D), this soundbar can fit beautifully under most TVs or pleasantly on a wall. Unlike its predecessor, this iteration features a refined plastic grille that enhances both aesthetics and ease of cleaning, similar to Sonos Arc’s design.
The touch-sensitive control panel at the top of the soundbar offers convenient music playback adjustments and microphone control for added privacy. Its responsiveness is notable, although regular TV remotes might handle most functions. Additionally, discreet LED indicators keep users informed about mic status and interactions.
Sonos emphasizes this updated aesthetic choice, clarifying it’s primarily for visual appeal without impacting sound quality.
The Sonos Arc is a beautifully engineered soundbar, crafted with a sleek and minimalistic design that effortlessly complements any home entertainment setup. The Arc stands out with its wider, more curved design compared to the Beam. Similarly, the Arc is available in Black and white options. However, it’s important to note that its slightly taller build might need consideration when placing it in front of your TV.
Similar to the Beam, the Arc features an all-plastic grille covering the front and back, and maintaining a consistent design. Whether wall-mounted or placed on a media console, the Sonos Arc effortlessly blends into its surroundings. Moreover, the touch panel positioned discreetly on top of the soundbar, allows for effortless control over playback, volume adjustments, and other functions with a simple tap or swipe.
In terms of design, which one is more suitable will depend on your personal preference and space. While the Beam suits most movie-watchers and gamers, the Arc caters to serious home theater enthusiasts.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a compact powerhouse, packing a punch in its small frame. It’s tailor-made for living rooms, bringing a theater-like experience without overwhelming your space. With its four woofers and additional passive radiators, it handles a broad range of frequencies admirably, offering clear dialogue and balanced highs and mids.
Though it aims for Dolby Atmos immersion, it falls slightly short in creating that distinct height-based audio. While it does simulate it to some extent, it doesn’t quite achieve the overhead effect that truly elevates the experience. However, its expansive soundstage compensates, enveloping you in the action without needing extra rear speakers.
Musically, it’s no slouch either. From deep bass to rich synth strings, the Beam (Gen 2) delivers crisp clarity across various genres. If you want a more engaging listening experience, you can opt for a subwoofer which creates a more captivating experience, especially the bass frequencies.
The Sonos Arc packs quite a sonic punch with its arsenal of 11 finely-tuned amplifiers, strategically positioned tweeters, and an array of eight well-crafted woofers. It’s engineered to deliver an immersive experience, especially excelling in rendering bass richness and clear mid-to-high ranges. The precision in sound is remarkable, notably evident in the distinct separation of various instruments in complex audio compositions.
This soundbar is optimized for Dolby Atmos, which utilizes room acoustics to bounce sound effects around, offering a near-surround experience. Although the extent of its surround capabilities can vary based on room characteristics, it impresses with its audio positioning.
Surprisingly, the Arc stands strong even without the addition of a subwoofer, delivering ample bass for impactful moments, and its adjustable settings cater to different living environments, making it adaptable for various spaces.
If you’re seeking a nearly authentic surround sound experience, and have the space to accommodate it, the Arc delivers the audio quality you seek.
Let’s delve into the detailed comparison of features and functionalities of Sonos Beam 2 and Sonos Arc. Despite their apparent similarities, there might be subtle nuances that could make a difference for potential buyers. So, let’s break through it!
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and Sonos Arc offer a versatile range of supported audio formats for an enriched home theater experience. Both devices seamlessly handle Stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS (S2 only). However, the advanced capabilities of Sonos Arc and Beam 2 shine with additional support for Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos (both Dolby Digital Plus and TrueHD versions), and multichannel PCM, delivering a truly immersive audio encounter. This comprehensive audio format compatibility makes these Sonos devices well-suited for various media sources, from standard stereo to cutting-edge immersive formats, providing users with a dynamic soundstage for their home entertainment setup.
Here’s another robust feature to enhance your listening experience. Sonos Beam Gen 2 and Sonos Arc feature Trueplay technology. It studies your space’s acoustics to tailor the speaker’s sound to perfection. It meticulously adjusts EQ settings and even finetune height channels for precise localization. This feature optimizes content delivery, ensuring every sound reaches your ears with unparalleled accuracy.
Forget those days when you have to struggle to hear the dialogue during those fight sequences or when the background music is too loud. Both the soundbars are equipped with impressive speech enhancement capabilities. These features are crafted to refine and clarify dialogues in various content, be it movies, shows, or music. This enhancement isn’t merely about increasing volume, it’s about finetuning the audio to highlight the intricacies and variations in speech, creating richer and more immersive viewing and listening encounters.
What’s more! The Sonos Beam 2 and Arc both offer immersive night sound features designed to enhance your late-night viewing without disturbing the neighbors or anyone dozing off nearby. The night sound function typically refines the audio by reducing intense bass and leveling out sudden loud sounds. It aims to maintain clarity while toning down the extremes, ensuring dialogue remains clear and effects are balanced, even at lower volumes.
This feature could be a game-changer if you enjoy watching movies or shows late into the night but want to keep the noise levels in check. It’s a thoughtful addition to creating an enjoyable viewing experience without compromising on audio quality or disturbing the peace.
Last but not least, the connectivity and compatibility of Sonos Beam 2 and Sonos Arc!
Both the Sonos Beam 2 and Sonos Arc offer an impressive array of connectivity options. They seamlessly hook up to your WiFi via a 2.4 GHz router or can be hardwired through Ethernet for a robust connection.
For tech compatibility, they work admirably with Apple AirPlay 2, enabling iOS users to cast audio directly to these soundbars. Moreover, both Beam 2 and Arc cater to voice control enthusiasts, integrating with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Sonos Voice Control. The Sonos app acts as a command center, granting access to various music streaming platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Tidal, while also enabling audio zoning for customized playback across different Sonos speakers.
When it comes to your TV setup, they connect effortlessly through HDMI eARC/ARC ports or an optical audio adapter for TVs with only an optical output. Additionally, the IR receiver allows easy sync-up with your TV remote for smooth control.
The Sonos Beam 2 and Arc both excel in delivering top-notch audio performance within small paces, yet the Beam 2 stands out with its compact design. It provides remarkable sound quality while perfectly suiting smaller rooms, ensuring an exceptional listening experience without sacrificing space.
The Sonos Beam 2 and Sonos Arc both are expandable to achieve a complete surround sound setup. By combining additional Sonos speakers, such as the One SL or Sonos Five, you can create a rich, enfolding surround sound experience, enhancing your audio pleasure beyond a singular soundbar setup.
The Sonos Beam 2 and the Sonos Arc deliver exceptional audio experiences, yet they cater to distinct preferences. The Beam 2 is compact, versatile, and suits smaller spaces without compromising sound quality. Its subtle audio reproduction and smart integration make it a solid choice for those seeking a balance between size and performance.
On the other hand, the Arc boasts a more expansive soundstage, ideal for larger rooms or enthusiasts craving immersive, theater-like audio. Its Dolby Atmos support elevates the cinematic experience, offering a depth and dimensionality that can redefine home entertainment.
Ultimately, choosing between them depends on personal needs. If you don’t want to compromise on performance and budget is not your concern then The Arc truly stands out. And if space efficiency and high-quality sound in a smaller area are priorities, the Beam 2 shines. However, both systems excel, ensuring a tailored audio solution for distinct preferences.
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