It was a real triple-play even without Dolby Atmos compatibility: with it, it’s a home run. But ultimately, the list of pros handily outweigh the cons, and the new Beam stands out as one of the most fetching soundbar buys in its price range. It lacks a spare HDMI input, meaning it’ll hog your HDMI ARC or HDMI eARC port and may introduce some format-based headaches on older TVs that only have an HDMI ARC port. Admittedly, starting with the Beam Gen 2 alone and upgrading with additional Sonos products is an expensive task, but the built-in flexibility is still a big boon-especially if you’ve already got a Sonos One smart speaker or other components. Tasks like adding additional Sonos speakers for surround sound, or syncing up multi-room audio are a snap. Like all Sonos products, you’ll get more than just a standalone speaker here: the Beam Gen 2 connects over the Sonos app for access to the full ecosystem, which integrates excellent Wi-Fi connectivity, Sonos Radio, Spotify Connect, AirPlay 2, and more. The clarity that Dolby Atmos brings to just about every sound effect and musical swell is well worth the price of admission here, even if the bar struggles to create the full overhead impact you’ll get from bars with dedicated height speakers.īut the value really comes in the overall package. The sounds of cars screeching around corners or footfalls onto rainy pavement boast a convincing level of aural placement. Best soundbar 2021 drivers#With this update, Sonos kept everything we liked about the original Beam-a minimalist form factor, powerfully tuned speakers, and versatile features and playback options-and added virtualized Dolby Atmos.ĭespite lacking the upfiring drivers of most Dolby Atmos soundbars we test, the Beam Gen 2 is surprisingly adept at creating an immersive soundstage. Best soundbar 2021 upgrade#We’ve enjoyed the deceptively potent Sonos Beam since it launched, and the Gen 2 upgrade brings even more to love. Here are the best soundbars under $500 we tested: Note: If you're on a tight budget, check out our Best Soundbars Under $300, and Best Under $200 lists for more options. But there are plenty of other great choices below, at multiple price points and form factors to perfectly suit your needs. We've tested dozens of soundbars over hundreds of hours, and the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) ( available at Best Buy for $449.99) is our favorite under $500 thanks to its brilliant mix of quality sound, versatile features, a compact design, and even Dolby Atmos support. Best soundbar 2021 movie#If you're not interested in a full-blown surround system investing in a good soundbar can make all the difference between a ho-hum movie night and one that really knocks your socks off. Pretty much any TV on the market needs an outboard device to balance things like dialogue, scores, major action sequences, and more. With exciting advancements like Dolby Atmos taking hold, the need for big sound to match those big screens has only grown. Modern TVs are thinner than ever, which unfortunately means their speakers suffer the consequences.
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