Audiophile’s Choice: The Best Sonos Soundbar Reviewed

Founded in 2002 with the goal of revolutionizing home audio for the digital era, Sonos pioneered the development of the first truly wireless multi-room speaker system designed for simple installation and seamless home integration. Despite not matching some brands in total product quantity, Sonos focuses where it matters – offering the essential components for filling rooms with stunning high-fidelity sound.

Many people worldwide choose this brand’s products, and almost every day, the army of Sonos fans is growing. That’s why I decided to make this review, in which I have collected the best Sonos soundbars for you. I am sure that you will find your optimal option among the models I have selected.

Sonos soundbars comparison table

Best Sonos soundbars review

Sonos Arc – best overall

Back in 2020, Sonos made a statement on the soundbar market by releasing its flagship Arc. It replaced Playbar and also PlayBase. Later, it inspired the emergence of the Beam series, more compact bars with Atmos support.

Sonos Arc is a huge soundbar, both literally and figuratively. It is packed with multiple features that remain relevant these days. My Sonos Arc review will help you to get into all subtleties of this device, and besides, I will share my personal impression of this soundbar. And we will start with the appearance of this model.

Build and design

The Sonos Arc doesn't look like any other soundbar. As you look at it, you immediately realize that it wants to be noticed.

First, its size is in the spotlight. This soundbar is longer than the Sonos Beam and Beam Gen 2. It measures 45 x 4.5 x 3.4 inches (that's impressive!), though it weighs manageable 13.78 pounds. Even though it is large, you can easily transport it or set it up in any desired location.

Second, just look at its form. It is not rectangular like most soundbars. Its curved, elliptical shape makes the Arc model truly stand up among other Sonos soundbars.

When it comes to materials, Sonos Arc has the same plastic casing and perforated grille on the sides. There is a mesh between the grille and the top sides of the bar. This device is available in white and matte black variations. You will find the Sonos logo in the center along with a tiny LED indicating the microphone status. Volume and pause/play sensor controls are on the top of the Arc soundbar.

Setup and connectivity

To connect the Sonos Arc to the TV, use the HDMI eARC/ARC port with the HDMI cable. There is no optical port, but you can use the included Sonos optical audio adapter. To hardwire to your router, you may want to utilize the 10/100 Ethernet port. With the infrared receiver (IR), you will sync the soundbar with your TV remote for streamlined control.

Wireless connectivity is also available in the Arc bar. It works with any 2.4 GHz router, though 5 GHz is not supported. For wireless audio streaming, you may use the Apple AirPlay 2.

All soundbar adjustments are made via a Sonos S2 app. There is no way to go wrong with the setup as all the instructions are given in the app. Just follow the suggested steps, and here you go. Using the app, you can connect the streaming services and transmit audio content to the soundbar.

Tuning the sound is simple. With the Trueplay technology, you can be sure that the audio waves reach all walls, even in rooms with high ceilings or off-center soundbar placement. The degree of calibration may surprise audiophiles, for sure. I like that the bar automatically adjusts the playback based on the audio input and the acoustic room profile.

Features and specs

In my opinion, Dolby Atmos support is the most important feature of this model. The surround sound will immediately bring your movie viewing to a whole new level. But I think you realize this yourself.

As you turn on Speech Enhancement in the Sonos app, you will get greater clarity for character dialogs. When they whisper or the action intensifies, this feature ensures you will grasp every word. The Night Sound mode is also available. It tempers loud effects and makes them less prominent.

With the Sonos voice control, you can play music and control your system hands-free. Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are also here to let you manage your smart home devices, set timers, check the news, and more.

Listening experience

Even though the Arc soundbar is just one element of the whole Sonos system (you can improve it with a sub and two speakers), it proved to deliver a decent sound quality.

This model offers an even sound, especially in the mids. All thanks to the room correction feature. The vocals and lead instruments are detailed and crisp, though there is a touch of extra brightness in the treble. Naturally, for a standalone soundbar, you don't get extended low bass. You can adjust the bass, but do not hope these settings will change the low-frequency extension. For more rumble, you need a separate sub.

The Arc's stereo sound is great, and, in my opinion, it is much better than the Sonos Beam soundbar. The side-firing speakers make you feel that the sound is larger than the soundbar itself. When listening to Atmos content, the soundstage feels wider and diffused. However, the sound objects come from the front of the TV rather than from overhead. So, the sound of a helicopter flying above doesn't seem to be coming from overhead. But again, for a standalone bar, the Sonos Arc does a great job at delivering a tolerable surround sound.

Sonos Beam Gen 2 – small soundbar

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is an improved version of the previous soundbar model - the Sonos Beam. This device shares the same compact design as its predecessor but now comes with the support of Dolby Atmos. Yet, this is not the only novelty in this soundbar. So, keep reading my Sonos Beam Gen 2 review to get to know what makes this item superior to its previous model.

Build and design

The sleek design is one of the key parameters of the Sonos Beam Gen 2. If you are familiar with Sonos products, then the fact that Beam Gen 2 blends Sonos Arc and the original Sonos Beam will give you a hint of how it looks. The soundbar maintains an elongated shape with a slightly convex top of the Beam and gets a perforated polycarbonate grille from the Arc. There are volume and play/pause controls on the top.

The Beam Gen 2 soundbar is compact - it measures 45 x 4.5 x 3.4 inches, so it is suitable for smaller entertainment spaces as it will easily fit 50-inch TVs or smaller. It comes in two casing options - white and black to accompany your interior.

Under the compact housing, this soundbar conceals five class-D amps that power a central tweeter and four elliptical mid-woofers. There are also three passive radiators to deliver a balanced sound by enhancing low frequencies.

Setup and connectivity

At the back of the Sonos Beam Gen 2, you will find an HDMI eARC/ARC port to let you benefit from high-definition audio formats. There is also an Ethernet 10/100 port to give you an option for connecting to your router. USB, 3.5 mm, or AUX ports are not available in this model. Though you can connect to Wi-Fi with any 2.4 GHz 802.11/b/g/n broadcast-capable router.

Setting up Sonos Beam Gen 2 is easy. You just hook the soundbar to the TV using an included HDMI cable and proceed with the settings through the Sonos App. The app will provide step-by-step guidance so you won't go wrong with the settings. Additionally, you can connect streaming services or customize settings via this app. To make things easier, the soundbar syncs with your existing TV remote to let you control everything using a single device.

The soundbar works with Apple AirPlay 2, so you can stream audio directly from your iPhone, Mac, or iPad. If you have an Android-powered phone, the Sonos App gives access to hundreds of streaming services, so there will be plenty of audio content for you to enjoy.

Features and specs

The Sonos Beam 2 is a smart soundbar with a 40% faster chip than in the previous model. Thanks to this, this device gives you more capabilities and allows the entire listening experience to be configured in as much detail as possible. For instance, the Trueplay technology initiates a series of test tones to adapt to the speaker settings depending on a specific room layout.

Yet, the most prominent update to the Gen 2 model is the support of Dolby Atmos. Now you can definitely add some drive to your television. There is a Speech Enhancement feature available in the app that will let you always follow the story, even when characters whisper. With the Night Sound mode, you will reduce the intensity of loud sound effects and keep the TV down.

Being created with music in mind, the Sonos Beam 2 soundbar supports the highest-resolution formats, including Dolby Atmos Music. By the way, the other good news is that you can control music playback and other system settings using Siri, Alexa, and Google Assistant voice assistants.

Listening experience

Let me put this straight right at the outset. This is a single-piece soundbar, and it doesn't come with a subwoofer or additional speakers (though you can buy them to extend your sound system). So, it doesn't deliver window-shaking bass or an overwhelming immersive experience.

In general, the sound is clear, balanced, and accurate. You can hear the effects of the surround sound, but they are unlikely to be the same as in a full audio system. The sound effects like explosions, gunfire, footsteps and others may lack the 3D range. Though I want to admit that the returned central channel in the soundbar prioritizes vocal clarity, making dialogs crisper and easier to comprehend.

The Gen 2 provides better depth and height than the original Beam, but it doesn't outperform Sonos Arc in these terms. But considering that this model is smaller than Arc, this fact comes as no surprise. The Beam 2 also does not get nearly as loud as Arc. I would say that its volume capacity is moderate, so you won't get the status of a “noisy” neighbor if you live in an apartment.

As for the music, Beam Gen 2 performs fine. It replicated clear and detailed vocals with accurate lead instruments. Tracks got a little bit of punch in the high-bass sections. Though there was a lack of rumble in the low bass, which may disappoint fans of hip-hop and EDM.

Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc – premium pick

By bundling the impressive Arc soundbar with the Sub Gen 3 and Era 300 speakers pair, listeners can achieve premium home theater sound quality matching far more complex traditional A/V receiver systems. I think most audiophiles would agree the experience should match the price tag, so I tested precisely what Sonos promises in an attractive package. So here is my Sonos Ultimate Immersive Set with Arc review.

Build and design

A huge plus is the size of Arc; you can place it on a TV stand or the wall under the TV using the original fasteners. As soon as I took it out of the package, it was immediately clear that the item was expensive and of high quality. The device is made in a monolithic plastic case. I like that the plastic is non-staining despite the white color. The overall build quality is impeccable. I didn't find any untreated joints, nothing shakes inside, and there were no obvious weak points in the Sonos soundbar design. Sonos Sub (Gen 3) features a perfectly cubic, sleek, monolithic shape. Engineers worked hard on it so that the sub can work in any position, which is also a great advantage, and you have options on how to set it. The design of Era 300 speakers is absolutely different from other models Sonos has, but in its unique way for sure. For the lower part of the speakers, anti-vibration silicone and support anchors remain, and the upper part is crowned with touch controls, redesigned in this model for ease of use.

Setup and connectivity

Sonos Arc has several connection interfaces. First of all, it can be connected to the TV via HDMI (ARC and eARC for maximum functionality) or optical. The soundbar includes only 1 HDMI connector for this. However, with the included adapter, you can connect to a TV without HDMI. Arc soundbar can be connected to the Internet to access all its functionality. This can be via Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Of course, I connected via Wi-Fi, but it's great that there are options. The Wi-Fi connection quality was excellent. It would be strange if not. The soundbar almost constantly played content from the Internet. I only updated the firmware a couple of times, luckily without bugs and issues. I'd prefer to include Bluetooth as well, but the option isn't available. The setup process is extremely simple, you just need to download the Sonos app on your phone and follow the instructions, which boil down to waiting and pressing the group button (on the back with an infinity icon). You get the missed Bluetooth function with Era 300 speakers, which integrates Bluetooth 5.0. They also include a USB-C port. You may connect an audio device via a 3.5mm cable via the separately available Sonos Line-In Adapter or the Ethernet + 3.5mm Jack Adapter, also available separately.

Features and specs

As a soundbar, the Arc provides high-quality sound, supporting all major decoders like Dolby Atmos. In most cases, I used an app to control the whole system. Various streaming music services and music libraries can easily be managed with the Sonos app. While the TV was running, 2 useful functions appeared: night mode and speech emphasis. Nothing can make you happy when these functions really work. When it's late, but you want to watch some action movie, you simply turn on the night mode, and the dynamic range narrows: the difference between loud and quiet sounds decreases without much loss of quality. You won't have to turn down the volume during loud scenes and turn it up again to hear dialogues. Well, if you need to emphasize the voice, the second useful function also works great. As for the cool feature of speakers and the sub, there is a function for adjusting the sound to a specific area. Thanks to Trueplay technology, the acoustics in the room are changed, creating a large-scale sound picture. Unfortunately, it is only available on the iOS version of the Sonos app, so get one of Apple devices if you haven't. Era 300 speakers shine thanks to non-standard waveguides inside, allowing you to imitate acoustic space. This is why the speakers are so heavy. All the sound is sent by 6 digital class D amplifiers, which Sub Gen 3 also features. Speakers can work independently with a variety of music streaming services and also sync with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Listening experience

The sound quality is good with Arc, and it has more than enough power and bass. However, the game changes when you add Era 300 and Sub Gen 3. The sound became more interesting, spacious, and detailed in any mode. The difference in the virtual left and right channels is clearly audible. The initial observation that caught my attention was the evident realization of the front-to-back Atmos dome after adding the speakers to Arc. The surround sound field now exhibits a level of seamlessness that was simply absent before. I also discovered that providing some space around speakers, especially behind, enhances the sound's fullness and clarity. In addition to enhancing the surround sound with Sub Gen 3, I got a profound and clearly defined bass enhancement.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of Sonos soundbars

No matter how attractive the characteristics of the above-mentioned Sonos models may sound to you, let’s still look at what strengths and weaknesses Sonos equipment has.

Advantages

• Great sound quality. Sonos sound system produces excellent audio quality for both music and home theater use. The customized speaker drivers and precise tuning deliver clear, detailed sound.
• Easy setup. They use a single HDMI connection to your TV and can be set up completely wirelessly using the intuitive Sonos app. You won’t even need a receiver.
• Expandable surround system. Sonos audio products can be seamlessly combined creating wireless surround sound systems in a variety of configurations.
• Voice control integration. Sonos amplifiers work with Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant for handy voice commands to access music and control playback.
• Hi-res streaming app support. The Sonos app grants access to all major music apps like Spotify, Apple Music, Pandora, Tidal etc. Stream millions of songs.
• Sleek aesthetic. The soundbars feature a low-profile, minimalist design in black or white rendering that blends into modern décor.

Disadvantages

• Expensive pricing. Sonos soundbars come with most models priced over $550. This is considerably more expensive than many competing soundbars from other brands.
• Closed ecosystem. Sonos’ insistence that its products only work within their wireless ecosystem can irritate buyers. Especially since integrating the highest-end surround audio standards like Dolby Atmos requires adding more Sonos models. No mixing and matching of products from different brands due to proprietary protocols.
• Reliant on app control. Basic functions like volume adjustments require you to use the Sonos app rather than having a standard IR remote control. The tactile remote experience may be missed by some users.
• Speech clarity issues. Some users and experts in audio equipment report speech in movies and TV shows sounding less clear compared to music clarity due to Sonos’ audio tuning priorities.