Hi there! If you‘re trying to decide between Sonos‘ flagship Arc soundbar versus their compact Beam Gen 2 to amplify your home entertainment, you‘ve come to the right place. I‘ve tested both models extensively, so let me walk you through how these immersive audio upgrades compare across all the factors important for your purchase decision.
Sonos Soundbars Overview
For the uninitiated, Sonos focuses entirely on crafting premium wireless sound equipment to stream music or dramatically boost your TV‘s built-in speakers. The Sonos Arc sits at the top end of their home theater lineup with the Beam Gen 2 presenting a smaller, more affordable option.
The Sonos Arc launched in 2020 as the company‘s first Dolby Atmos compatible soundbar. This high-performance model packs serious audio hardware inside its modern minimalist cabinetry, crafted to expand cinematic soundscapes throughout larger rooms.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2, refreshed in 2021, retains its predecessor‘s compact form at a lower price now additionally supporting 3D audio formats. Ideal for smaller spaces on a budget, the Beam Gen 2 still impresses thanks to clever engineering that defies its size.
Now, let‘s dig deeper into how these two soundbars with differing dimensions and amplification power compare.
Detailed Soundbar Specs Comparison
Glancing at the chart below outlines the hardware discrepancies between the Sonos Arc and Beam Gen 2:
| Specs | Sonos Arc | Sonos Beam Gen 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 45 x 3.4 x 4.5in | 25.6 x 2.6 x 3.94in |
| Weight | 13.78 lbs | 6.2 lbs |
| Amplifiers | 11 Class D | 5 Class D |
| Woofers | 8 elliptical | 4 mid-woofers |
| Tweeters | 3 silk dome | 1 tweeter |
| Upward Firing | 2 speakers | 2 speakers |
| Dolby Atmos | Yes | Yes |
| DTS Support | No | No |
| HDMI | 1 eARC | 1 eARC |
| Ethernet Port | Yes | No |
| WiFi | Yes (dual band) | Yes (dual band) |
| Apple AirPlay 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
With nearly double the amplification driving more than twice as many speakers, the Arc unsurprisingly outputs significantly louder, wider and deeper audio compared to the Beam Gen 2. But sheer hardware stats alone don‘t fully demonstrate how these differing configurations impact real-world listening.
Sound Quality Analysis
Powering up either Sonos soundbar, action movie dialogue and effects immediately sound clearer and more intelligible over my 55-inch OLED TV‘s native speakers. Yet watching the same sequences, the larger Arc fills my open concept living room with genuinely immersive expansion.
Fierce bass throbs below the Arc‘s eight woofers, adding palpable impact whenever rockets blast off or aliens get bludgeoned. Quieter ambient effects like crackling electricity or footsteps maintain crisp definition instead of getting drowned out. Vocals project with pristine intimacy from the Arc‘s three angled tweeters making every whispered line crystal clear.
The smaller Beam Gen 2 can‘t fully match the Arc‘s surround sound authority. However, thanks to clever acoustic waveguide engineering its four mid-woofers and one tweeter still heighten TV audio clarity while nicely extending perceived width. Upward firing speakers bounce sound for reasonable Dolby Atmos height too.
Results feel less room-filling than the Arc yet still hugely improve entertainment immersion. This makes the Beam Gen 2 a smart audio upgrade solution for compact spaces that may overwhelm with the Arc‘s über amplification.
Smart Features & Connectivity
You‘ll enjoy full smart functionality from both Sonos soundbars with Apple AirPlay 2 for iOS streaming, voice assistant integration, HDMI connectivity and more:
Voice Assistant Support – Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa allow hands-free voice control of music selection, TV volume, smart home devices and information lookups
HDMI eARC – Single cable linking to TV displays passes through advanced Dolby TrueHD and Dolby Atmos sound from media devices like Blu-ray players or gaming consoles
Apple AirPlay 2 – Direct streaming from any iPhone, iPad or Mac makes these soundbars versatile wireless speakers for Spotify playlists, Apple Music etc when TVs are powered off
TV Remote Volume Control – Thanks to HDMI-CEC integration, your television‘s existing clicker handles soundbar volume adjustment and muting
The Arc alone adds an Ethernet port option for wired home network access alongside the expected dual band WiFi found in both models. An extra HDMI input port provides additional device connectivity flexibility too. But for most buyers, the universal features both share should fully satisfy daily usage needs.
Buyer Recommendations
So which Sonos soundbar reigns supreme for your personal entertainment room? Budget and room size shape this decision.
⛳ For spacious home theaters with $900+ budgets, the Sonos Arc gratifies cinephiles and audiophiles seeking no-compromise amplification capable of truly immersive musical performances and movie night adventures.
⛳ Smaller living spaces around 400 square feet will thrive with the Beam Gen 2 based on its compact dimensions and sensational sound quality under $500 elevating streaming shows, vinyl records and cable TV programming.
Either Sonos solution exponentially enhances entertainment immersion over your flatscreen‘s wimpy built-in speakers. Ready to experience game scenes, podcasts, playlists and films with the thrilling clarity they deserve? Grab a Sonos Arc or Beam Gen 2 to make home theaters exciting again!
I hope this side-by-side analysis gives you the right guidance choosing your perfect Sonos listening upgrade. Feel free to reach out with any other questions. Enjoy!
