Sonos Beam in Depth Review, UnBoxing and Setup / Amazing Sonos Sound from a Small Soundbar
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- Опубліковано 10 вер 2024
- Buckle up for an in depth review of the Sonos Beam. Released in 2018 it has modern upgrades from it’s predecessors, like an HDMI ARC port and Alexa built right in! Huzzah! It’s a 3 channel soundbar, that is designed to introduce new users to the Sonos Family - and is perfect for small and medium sized rooms. As an entry level soundbar it produces great sound quality for both TV and movies, and music without costing a fortune.
If you’re interested in upgrading from your TVs stock speaker system this is a soundbar to consider. Featuring voice assistant controls with "She-who-shall-not-be named" and Google Assistant it also doubles as a smart-hub, and can act as your entry into smart home products. When paired with other Sonos products you can create many different combinations of speakers and control them in various rooms throughout your house. It seems that Sonos is still on the cutting edge of smart-home sound technology, and the Beam is no exception. I’m honestly always a bit blown away with how well their speakers perform.
See on Amazon:
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► HumanCentric Wall Mount Bracket Compatible with Sonos Beam Speaker (Black): amzn.to/2XJ1RyS
► Find cheap alternatives (with reviews) to Sonos Beam here: my.lustre.ai/2...
Unboxing 1:21
Beam Dimension and Details 2:20
Controls 3:01
Setup 4:58
HDMI ARC 6:08
Pairing Speakers with the App 6:38
Voice Assistant (Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri) 8:18
Music Review 9:42
AV Review with Component Sonos One SLs 10:53
Supported Audio Codecs 12:18
Speech Enhancement Mode 12:53
TruePlay Tunning Review 13:15
Streaming Services Review 14:16
What are the Drawbacks 14:37
Potential for Latency 14:50
Pros in favor of the Sonos Beam 15:47
Final Review 16:28
*We did not receive any money from Sonos by posting this video. The Beam soundbar was purchased at Best Buy and was not a promotional offer from Sonos. We are in no way affiliated with the Sonos Brand and are merely posting this video for informative purposes only.
*As an Amazon affiliate we make small commissions on certain products when you click the link and purchase products from them.
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Taylor Swift picture used with permission of Eva Rinaldi who owns the rights to the picture:
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Love your style Ryan! Your calm and relaxed presence has me wondering if I'm watching an ASMR video or a soundbar review!
Thank you!
A have the Beam for one year now for my bedroom TV. I't is a dream soundbar and it responds remarkably good on voice commands. The bass is very nice but the treble is very bright(adjustable via the SONOS app)
The SONOS app is really really good.
Is that the slight hiss you hear with dialogue sometimes? I notice it worse if i have clear voice enabled
@@hard2bear3110 no hiss. Just good treble.
@@tdmduc what do you mean when you say 'bright' a bit too sharp?
Just set this up under my TV and I love it
I had to stop to video to add a comment. I really liked the way how you explain things, nice little subtle jokes and very informative. Clear English with explanations e.g. ARC. You answered all the questions I had on my mind. Very well done! I am so far enjoying this video a lot.
Glad you enjoyed it!
The best review of "This little bugger" I've seen. I've just bought one as I've been looking to add to my Sonos home system. Thanks, Ryan what a breath of fresh air you are. I could listen to you reading the dictionary! Love from the U.K ❤
Thank you!
I've seen a few UA-cam vids for the Sonos Beam as one is on its way to me right now, and this overview is by far the best I have seen, by a country mile in fact. Beyond excellent. Now I just have to wait to see what the beam is like.
Thank you for the feedback!
Thanks for the review. Helped me make an informed decision.
Glad I could help!
"If it's too loud, you're probably too old..." - truer words have never been spoken.
Yup! LMAO
Very good review, clear and precise. 👍🏻
Thank you!
HelpCloud 👦🏻👍🏻
Love the time coded shortcuts to certain sections! Thank you.
Glad you like them!
@@HelpCloud I have just purchased a Samsung q70 tv.
Can you tell me what sound setting do i choose on the sound menu on the tv once I've connected the Sonos beam? Or do i just turn the sound down on the tv?
I don't have an iPhone. If i borrow someone else's for the purpose of true play tuning, do i have to download the Sonos app on their phone and log into my account?
Any advice you have is very much appreciated.
Getting mine on Monday can't wait great video 👍
Enjoy it!!
How is it?
I can’t find the right app. Can you please tell me which one is? I’m trying to connect my iPhone to this speaker sonos bar
Should be this one
apps.apple.com/us/app/sonos/id1488977981
Okay Justin Timberlake! I swear he sounds like him, if I close my eyes...I expect him to hear Mirrors lol. Awesome video Ryan! 👏🏼
Haha! You bet!
I love your voice. Your whole aesthetic.
i just picked up the sonos beam from Crutchfield. the sony flatscreen speakers were dinky and sounded horrible. the sonos beam sounds amazing. i'm a fan now!
Awesome!
I love this soundbar! it sounds amazing but the soundstage sounds very narrow to me so I only kept it for 3 weeks and got something else.
Good to know! What did you go with?
Same for me. I don t understabd why so many goog comments about Beam. Sound is not as good as they say...
I found the soundstage too narrow. So I added a pair of Symfonisk speakers as rears and it sounds great. Both with TV and music. I love it now.
Good review thanks!!
Thank you!
If I use Sonos Beam and add Sonos Sub do you think it will fill large room ok? Are you planning to test a setup like that vs just the Beam?
It would absolutely fill up a large size room - and I would always recommend adding the sub if you can afford it. The Beam won't preform as well (top end volume-wise) as the Arc (or the older PlayBase or PlayBar) which would fill a large sized room better; but it sounds great and has a lot more advanced features. So my recommendation would be either the Beam (w/ Sub if you can afford it) or the Arc (w/ Sub if you can afford it). I hope that helps clarify.
Hi Ryan you might not see this as it's an old video. I am looking to get the new beam gen 2 with Dolby Atmos , I have a Sony x900h 4k TV and I'm looking to add 2 symfonisk Sonos speakers from IKEA. Would this fill a room that's 20ft by 20ft and has high ceilings? Great video by the way .
For a room of that size, I think you would be happier with a 5.1 system.
hi from Canada....its on sale at best buy for 349 ( 270 US ) regular
499.....trying to decide between the ARC and the BEAM.....ARC is 999
canadian....room its for is 14x22 feet....will be putting this with the
sub gen3 and the two SL ones as rears....what do you think ? should
...which should i go with
Do you want Atmos?
For someone starting a fresh with both music speakers and TV soundbars, would you recommend this? I'd love to go all in on Google as it's much cheaper but this soundbar is so recommended + have option of surround sound. How is the assistant on this?
You can use Google Home or Alexa with this sound bar
www.theverge.com/2019/5/23/18637225/sonos-google-assistant-how-to-set-up-one-beam-home
Great informative review.
Glad it was helpful!
Great review. And when it's paired with the sonos play1 you get the sound though all of them from the TV while play music or watch a movie?
Yes, you can set it up to play seamless multi-room functionality.
Subbed at comment of color of soul.. lol.. awesome review..
Thanks for the sub!! Glad you enjoyed the review.
Is this Gen 2?
Hi, I’m really struggling whether I should buy this sound bar or not. I listened to it in the store and loved it but I’m a huge movie fan and I have lots of current blu ray movies. I am worried that if they do not have Dolby digital then I will get a poor sound experience as compared to say the Sony HTX-8500 which covers many more codecs. I have a small bedroom and I’m really just looking for something with more depth and wider sound experience than me TV currently gives - what are your thoughts?
I’d say if you’re really wanting it then get it, life’s really short, may as well enjoy it. Plus you can add to it with more Sonos accessories in the future.
Scissortongue I can confirm I have bought the Sonos arc and wouldn’t be happier - I receive Dolby Atmos signal which sounds incredible.
CJonesART damn I’m jealous, I could afford the Beam but the Arc was a little out of my budget. Enjoy!
Way to pull the trigger, and the ARC none the less!
Great review. Thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Could I put one of these on each TV in the house and use them for whole house audio also? I would want to be control them from the Sonos app and have several sources and volume levels for each room.
Absolutely. Just give each one a unique name and you can control them separately, or listen to the same thing all on one.
HelpCloud - Thanks!
Do you need the echo dot to control your tv
You don't need an echo dot to enable Alexa with this soundbar. It is compatible with Alexa right out of the box. So you can simply buy the Beam and add your Alexa to this device and control your TV without the echo.
Just found your channel. Excellent. Two questions. 1. Can I HDMI my video into my late model 4K TV, and then ARC HDMI to this so that I can stream computer audio to this? 2. And if yes, can I turn off the audio here so that it is only a stereo pair of Sonos ONE (and sub) to play? Really the Beam is to get audio into my Sonos system from my computer. Thanks in advance for any help. Thumbs up!
Unfortunately the Beam only has ONE HDMI port. I hope I understand your question and what you are trying to accomplish. 1. You can run source content to your TV (from anything - XBox, Computer, DVD player, etc), and then run an HDMI cable from your TV to the Beam and reasonably expect good quality sound (it will entirely depend on your TV's pass through capabilities). So if you are attaching your computer to your TV, and then running an HDMI cable from your TV to the Beam you will be able to "stream" audio from your computer. Bear in mind, that you can also 'cast' through AirPlay 2 if it's an Apple OS system (meaning you wouldn't need any cables at all).
2. I don't know what you're referencing when you say "turn off audio from HERE". Where is here? Your computer? You can very reasonably configure your Sonos system with a pair of Sonos ONE speakers, and a sub to achieve the results you want. You would just create a room with those speakers in them and play music from that "room".
I really hope that I understood your questions and have provided valuable responses. Either way the Beam is an awesome soundbar with some amazing features that should get you what you are looking for! Good luck!
Your eyes are hypnotising
Thank you!
Hi, I am a UK viewer of your video. I read a lot here in the UK about problems connecting this Sonos Beam to the TV through a One Connect Box. Your description makes it all look so easy, but so many people have had lots of issues with the Sonos Beam. Have you produced a video showing connection through the One Connect?
I don't have a video for that, sorry!
@@HelpCloud Thanks for responding
I was hesitant to watch a review from "help cloud" because I am a man and men never need "help".
Happy to say this was a very thorough and informative review. The reviewer is also not a smarmy "audiophile" going on and on about how many other stereophile equipment he has in the basement (full disclosure: I have some audio equipment in the basement).
One question? Is that an LG C8 or C9 in the demo (looks like a 65")? I have a 55" C9 in my bedroom and would like to put a Beam in front of it. Have been concerned it might be too tall and cut off the bottom of the panel. It doesn't seem to do that on your set. Is the TV just on the it's stand or on a riser?
Thanks for the feedback! The TV is an LG C9, so it's the 77", and the Beam clips a small amount of the TV, but not enough to really bother me. If you need to, you could simply add a small spacer below your TV stand and you should be good to go!
HelpCloud thanks! Much appreciate that.
Have you ever tried pairing this with the IKEA Symfonisk bookshelf speakers instead of a Sonos One? The IKEA Symfonisk lamp looks pretty sweet, too!
I haven't but it looks awesome. Have you?
@@HelpCloud I do not have a Sonos sound bar yet and they just released the Arc yesterday. I may pick up the Arc and try out the Ikea's as rears.
Sandra W. you try that out?
Which would be a better purchase: the Sonos Beam or Bose 300 (sound bar). It is simply for my 65” TV in the living room.
Check this link out, it compares the 2 side by side
www.rtings.com/soundbar/tools/compare/sonos-beam-vs-bose-smart-soundbar-300/836/17863
Seems a whole lot of people are saying the apps recent update has completely busted it.. That's a pretty big deal if true. Sonos doesn't seem to be acknowledging it.
Odd, anything specific?
@@HelpCloud Well, after having picked up the Sonos Beam just now I haven't personally had a problem. Seems folks with pre-existing setups had them go out of wack.
Can I use that for my desktop, as my desktop speaker? Thanks
Cannot. :/
It can't due to the limitations of the ports.
It can, and I have just done it with Creative Omni external sound blaster card... It is AWESOME...
No subWoofer jack?
The are wireless.
Can you add the Sonos one SL later???
Yep. You can set it up initially as a solo device, and then add ANY component speaker later.
I have two of the SL set up with the beam, it rocks!
Sonos Beam with Sub or Sonos Arc (No Sub)?
We haven't used the Sonos Arc yet.
Great video! How does this compare to the Bose 700 soundbar in a medium-large room? (60m2). The Sonos Playbar is outdated...
Stefan I await his response to this!
I'm going to plug my Bose in today and give you an update. It's been several months since I listened to the Bose system in my room and I want to freshen up my memory. I do love the interface of the Sonos speakers WAY more than the Bose. So, if you're interested in more speakers throughout your house, it's no contest in favor of Sonos. But the sound of the Bose 700 I think is going to edge out the Sonos. Please wait a skosh for a more definitive answer (maybe that should be my next video).
Great! I would be surprised if the Bose doesn’t give a better sound. The question is how much better.
Just finished a small test between the two. I used the 'db Meter' application on my iPhone to measure the decibel levels between the two. I watched the same 15 min intro sequence to 6 Underground and measured the performance between the Bose 700 and the Sonos Beam. Unsurprisingly the Bose 700 peaked at 101 db with an average of 84 db (on max volume); while the Beam peaked at 94 db with an average of 75 db (on max vol).
What did surprise me was how equal the sound quality was and movement across the screen with the simulated 3 channel experience. They both SOUNDED great, but the Bose was able to push much more top end. That becomes quite significant when you consider that the human ear hears an increase of 3db as doubling in intensity (not necessarily loudness - but increased intensity). So yeah, the Bose is better for bigger rooms - if you want REALLY loud sound.
Also, bear in mind that the room I tested these in is my front room, which is attached to my kitchen and dinning room; and for my taste, the Sonos has plenty of loudness (especially when you add a subwoofer) to keep me happy. If I really want a theater experience I simply go downstairs to my theater room - a luxury (I know) that not everyone can enjoy. Hope this helps.
Thanks! So on normal volumes the beam is equal? How large is you’re room in total (with kitchen and dining room)?
Nice review, you sound like Bill Hader playing Stefan though lol
The hottest new club in NY is SONOS! Ha ha ha!
You are so cute. Thank you for the video.
😊 thank you
What sounds better: Sonos beam or 2 Sonos one is stereo pair?
Sonos Beam is going to give you a more rich sound.
What about Dolby digital plus ???
The Beam does NOT support Dolby Digital Plus.
@@HelpCloud so how it sounds with two Sonos one ? Spotify or TV ? I have 4k DD+ TV
Awesome video :) will you be featuring the new Sonos Arc when it is released?
That's the plan!
Great review. FYI, ARC does not support Dolby Atmos
My understanding may be incorrect, but Dolby Atmos is encoded in two formats, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD (a BlueRay, UHD format that is lossless). Because of the high bit rates required to support Dolby TrueHD an HDMI ARC doesn’t have enough bandwidth. HDMI ARC ports however can support Dolby Digital Plus bandwidth requirements, and therefore they can transport Atmos sound to either your TV or AV unit. That become relevant with new Smart TV’s that offer streaming services and enabled content. So, if you have a new TV whose processor can decode Dolby Digital Plus you can listen to Dolby Atmos enabled content on your home system (think streaming services like AppleTV, Firestick 4K, etc., which carry Atmos content). I double checked this with Dolby’s Developer blog, which has some really good content on this subject and a much more thorough explanation. You can follow the link here:
developer.dolby.com/blog/dolby-audio-over-hdmi-part-3-reality/
In the end, the Sonos Beam doesn’t support Dolby Atmos. I hope that meshes with your understanding. Thanks for the comment.
I chose black just to match the color of my soul 😂😂😂
Haha!
So sad this product requires a ‘wired connection. I guess I’ll get something else.
Instant follow after your black soul joke
Haha, thank you!
Hi, good review but (please) stop saying "Alexa {Insert Alexa Command Here}" in the videos... Yeah, good joke...
It drove me crazy as I was editing it as well. Thanks for the feedback!
"If it's too loud, you're probably too old..." This was a risk that may not pay off for you in terms of your brand. Even educated young people are offended by ageism.
Unfortunately it is very easy to offend people nowadays and if they can't see the humor in this, that is on them.
there are """"FIVE"""" microphones threw me off so bad XD
Haha!
who else amazon device went to look for stranger things when he said it.🖐🖐
Haha!
This sound bar isn't right for anyone if you require a $1200 remote to start this thing up, instead of everything just working out of the box.
I agree, that is the way tech is moving.
@@HelpCloud instead switched to the Samsung qt with buffer and surround and still saved 100 compared to the single bar from sonos. The Samsung bar worked right out of the box with its own remote, the sound is decent but im sore the sonos is more better but such a shame for its ridiculous hardware design.
Way too expensive for a stereo sound bar without sub
It is $$ but the sound is pretty incredible for how small the unit is.
You don't need a sub with the beam......for its size it lays down a decent amount of bass
Stop whispering its wigging me out dude feel like I just did something wrong
Haha! Thanks for the feedback!
Your voice is too hush hush....
Thanks for the feedback!