Sonos Beam reviews/recommendations?
Discussion
I'm considering a Sonos Beam for my kitchen-diner/conservatory and wonder if anyone can give me their honest feedback on sound quality - primarily to be used for Music.
Initially the Beam will be used standalone for music (radio/Spotify) and won't be connected to a TV until my extension/conservatory replacement is complete mid-next year.
I was considering a Sonos One but am unsure if this will be enough sound to fill my kitchen-diner/conservatory, and my plan is to get a Beam anyway for the new extension when complete.
Any views will be greatly appreciated.
Initially the Beam will be used standalone for music (radio/Spotify) and won't be connected to a TV until my extension/conservatory replacement is complete mid-next year.
I was considering a Sonos One but am unsure if this will be enough sound to fill my kitchen-diner/conservatory, and my plan is to get a Beam anyway for the new extension when complete.
Any views will be greatly appreciated.
stub101 said:
I'm considering a Sonos Beam for my kitchen-diner/conservatory and wonder if anyone can give me their honest feedback on sound quality - primarily to be used for Music.
Initially the Beam will be used standalone for music (radio/Spotify) and won't be connected to a TV until my extension/conservatory replacement is complete mid-next year.
I was considering a Sonos One but am unsure if this will be enough sound to fill my kitchen-diner/conservatory, and my plan is to get a Beam anyway for the new extension when complete.
Any views will be greatly appreciated.
Friend has both (S One with Alexa) & in a sitting room (say 25' x 15 @ a guess, with wooden floors), the One doesn't impress, but is fine for background music whilst chatting. It is much better in the kitchen/study/elsewhere as a high end alternative to a portable radio. Beam is under his TV & sounds pretty good - many many times better than the TV audio.Initially the Beam will be used standalone for music (radio/Spotify) and won't be connected to a TV until my extension/conservatory replacement is complete mid-next year.
I was considering a Sonos One but am unsure if this will be enough sound to fill my kitchen-diner/conservatory, and my plan is to get a Beam anyway for the new extension when complete.
Any views will be greatly appreciated.
WhatHiFi (FWIW) https://www.whathifi.com/features/sonos-beam-vs-so...
I think in his particular sitting room, the beam needs the Sub. Obviously with Sonos, you can add the Sub & other PlayOnes for better cinema action/multi rooms later.
Another friend has S One in the kitchen end of a very large (40+ x 20) open plan multi function room & it just sounds weedy, compared to his cinema at the other end. Again, it's perfect for his study.
TLDR, sorry...Don't think S One will fill a big room, but Alexa is a good feature. If it was me, I'd go beam: it just sounds better.
PS - Bluesound is very well reviewed these days as an alternative
Good luck, CF
I've actually got the beam sat at my neighbours now waiting for me to get it after work. I'll let you know how it stacks up but from what i have read it seems pretty impressive and as mentioned you can add other Sonos speakers to it little by little which is probably what i will do with my Sonos kit.
Also noticed on your profile your Leeds based so depending where i can bring it over for you to plug and try out before you want to get one.
Also noticed on your profile your Leeds based so depending where i can bring it over for you to plug and try out before you want to get one.
I've switched from a Sony sound bar with subwoofer to the Sonos beam which does a much better job, also has alexa built in.
Connected with a wire into the HDMI arc port and it all works well
https://support.sonos.com/s/article/2659?language=...
Connected with a wire into the HDMI arc port and it all works well
https://support.sonos.com/s/article/2659?language=...
Just took delivery of a Beam on Wednesday to complement my 2x Sonos play ones and sub. Surround sound (and 5.1) work pretty well with movies but the music playback is just superb. There’s a price premium on these compared to standard products but buy the whole system and it pays off in terms of quality imo theyve really worked on getting the software just right, tbf you prob don’t need the sub for movies as the beam and play ones are pretty bassy enough. Music playback and the sub makes a difference but is the most expensive part and imo not essential.
Great system, speech enhancement and night mode options also work well if you need lower volume playback. Alexa is pretty cool with Spotify but time will tell if I’m still using this function after the novelty wears off.
Great system, speech enhancement and night mode options also work well if you need lower volume playback. Alexa is pretty cool with Spotify but time will tell if I’m still using this function after the novelty wears off.
I’m already using an Echo Dot hooked up to my amp and Bose Acoustimass system just for radio and Spotify in a decent size kitchen/day room and it works a treat.
The ‘voice commands’ are much more useful in this environment and is actually one of the stand-out features for me, whereas Ive found the Alexa functionality pretty useless/irrelevant in most other rooms of the house.
The ‘voice commands’ are much more useful in this environment and is actually one of the stand-out features for me, whereas Ive found the Alexa functionality pretty useless/irrelevant in most other rooms of the house.
stub101 said:
Thanks for the feedback, which I think is swaying me towards the Beam and just to use in stand alone mode for now.
Thanks also @Richatnort for your very kind offer. I’m in Moortown LS17 if that’s not too far away from you?
Not far at all as I'm chapel Allerton. I've sent you a pm if you still want the offer Thanks also @Richatnort for your very kind offer. I’m in Moortown LS17 if that’s not too far away from you?
Just to totally jump n the back of this, I’m also thinking about going for a Beam. I’ve currently got a cheap Yamaha 5.1 system which is fine but don’t often use the rears and would prefer to tidy up the living room.
The reviews are great for the beam but a bit worried I’ll miss the sub. Any one with the Beam moved from a 5.1 previously?
The reviews are great for the beam but a bit worried I’ll miss the sub. Any one with the Beam moved from a 5.1 previously?
stub101 said:
I'm considering a Sonos Beam for my kitchen-diner/conservatory and wonder if anyone can give me their honest feedback on sound quality - primarily to be used for Music.
Just bought one this afternoon with the aim of replacing two Play 1's that I have setup in a stereo pair plus TV use. Didn't think the beam would come close but so far I'm very impressed with the music ability. The play 1's can now be relocated to another room! Not quite blown away on TV sound yet but it's early days and more experimenting to do with that.markstev0 said:
Are any of you using the beam with a Samsung TV? I’ve read that they sometimes struggle to stay connected via hdmi arc. Anyone have any issues?
Ta
Mark
Got mine connected to an LG TV via HDMI Arc and so far no problems staying connected but lip sync is another story. Having big problems trying to get it synced and it's one of those things that once you try and fix you can't stop noticing it! I may have to try the optical connection.Ta
Mark
Audio quality is good though and music ability is beyond what I was expecting.
I got the Playbar and Beam the other day, I was thinking they would fit easier than my old Yamaha YSP600 soundbar that I bought for £30.
Long story short, I bought the big Yamaha YSP40D without a remote, so bought the YSP600 for £30 to use the remote. Turns up, with my Rel sub, the YSP600 sounded better.
Anyway, with the new TV the Yamaha soundbar didn't fit right, so decided on the Playbar or Beam.
In my room which is 5m x 5.5m with 11ft ceilings and wooden floor the Playbar sounded awful.
It definitely needs the sub. The Beam I didn't even bother setting up on its own.
I took the playbar back and borrowed the sub, and although better it was no better than the Yamaha and Rel, which were £120.
In fact the Sonos sub was a bit boomy, I thought it crossed over at 80Hz, but sounded more like 100-120hz to me.
It would have cost me £950 for the two, keeping the kit I have and will get a new TV rack built instead.
I guess what I am trying to say is, unless you are going to get a sub I don't think they are very good at all.
Maybe for a small 12' by 12' terraced room to make the TV sound a bit better, but not for a bigger room.
You need the sub.
Long story short, I bought the big Yamaha YSP40D without a remote, so bought the YSP600 for £30 to use the remote. Turns up, with my Rel sub, the YSP600 sounded better.
Anyway, with the new TV the Yamaha soundbar didn't fit right, so decided on the Playbar or Beam.
In my room which is 5m x 5.5m with 11ft ceilings and wooden floor the Playbar sounded awful.
It definitely needs the sub. The Beam I didn't even bother setting up on its own.
I took the playbar back and borrowed the sub, and although better it was no better than the Yamaha and Rel, which were £120.
In fact the Sonos sub was a bit boomy, I thought it crossed over at 80Hz, but sounded more like 100-120hz to me.
It would have cost me £950 for the two, keeping the kit I have and will get a new TV rack built instead.
I guess what I am trying to say is, unless you are going to get a sub I don't think they are very good at all.
Maybe for a small 12' by 12' terraced room to make the TV sound a bit better, but not for a bigger room.
You need the sub.
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