5 Alternatives to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — Better Value, Bigger Sound, and Smarter Upgrades

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a polished 5.0 smart soundbar with Dolby Atmos support, strong dialogue clarity, and Sonos’ famously slick multi-room ecosystem. But depending on your priorities, one of these alternatives may suit you better.

WiiM Amp is the most obvious alternative if you want a more hi-fi-minded solution rather than a pure soundbar. With HDMI ARC, AirPlay, Google Cast, Alexa, and streaming support from Spotify, Amazon Music and Tidal, it’s a brilliant hub for passive speakers. At 60W per channel into 8 ohms, it has enough grunt for compact to mid-sized rooms, and it can sound more open and dynamic than the Beam when paired with good bookshelf speakers. What’s better: more flexibility, better upgrade path, and proper stereo imaging. What’s worse: you need speakers, so it’s not a simple all-in-one TV fix. Choose this if you want music first, TV second.

Sonos Era 100 is the best choice if you like Sonos but don’t actually need a soundbar. It’s a compact smart speaker with WiFi, Bluetooth, Alexa support, and a more conventional stereo driver arrangement than the old Sonos One. It won’t match the Beam for TV duties, but for music in a bedroom, kitchen, or office, it delivers surprisingly full sound from a small cabinet. What’s better: smaller footprint, lower price at £199, and excellent everyday music playback. What’s worse: no HDMI ARC and no virtual surround presentation. Pick this if your main goal is listening, not home cinema.

WiiM Amp Ultra with Voice Remote 2 is the premium alternative for listeners who want serious sound quality and modern convenience. Its ESS ES9039Q2M DAC and dual TI TPA3255 amplifier topology are a genuine step up in engineering, and the 100W output gives it much more headroom than the Beam. HDMI ARC, optical and RCA inputs make it wonderfully versatile, while RoomFit EQ helps tailor the response to your room. What’s better: stronger amplification, better DAC section, more input flexibility, and a more audiophile-leaning presentation. What’s worse: it’s pricier at £499 and still needs speakers. This is ideal if you want one box to anchor a proper stereo system.

Sonos Sub Mini is not a direct replacement, but it’s a compelling upgrade path if you already like the Beam’s sound and want real low-end weight. Dual 6-inch woofers in a compact sealed cabinet add proper bass extension and slam without taking over the room. Compared with the Beam alone, films gain impact and music gets more physical foundation. What’s better: deeper bass, cleaner dynamics, and seamless Sonos integration. What’s worse: at £339, it’s expensive as an add-on and does nothing on its own. Choose this if your Beam sounds a bit lean and you want cinema weight without going full-size.

WiiM Amp Pro sits between the standard WiiM Amp and the Ultra, making it a smart choice for people who want strong streaming performance and better system flexibility at £399. Like the others, it supports multiroom streaming and HDMI, and it’s a strong match for passive speakers with a more refined, controlled sound than many budget AV solutions. What’s better: excellent connectivity, strong value, and a more future-proof platform than many soundbars. What’s worse: no built-in speakers and no instant TV upgrade in the way a soundbar provides. Choose it if you’re building a system around sound quality and don’t mind separating TV audio from your speaker choice.

In short, the Beam remains the easiest all-in-one option, but these alternatives can beat it for value, bass, music fidelity, or upgrade potential depending on how you listen.