Sonos Beam Gen 2 review: £349 for big sound in a small box

Yes — the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is worth buying at £349, especially now that the price is at its all-time lowest and sits 22% below the £449 RRP. With a 4.6/5 rating from 925 reviews and 300+ bought last month, this is a well-liked soundbar that clearly lands with buyers who want cleaner TV dialogue, easy streaming, and proper room-filling sound without the footprint of a larger bar.

First impressions

The appeal is immediate: this is a compact smart soundbar designed for TV, music and more, and it keeps the setup refreshingly simple. Sonos says it uses only two cables, with step-by-step guidance in the Sonos app and smart Trueplay tuning to help it adapt to your room. For UK living rooms where space is often at a premium, that matters more than flashy design language — the Beam is built to disappear under a TV and get on with the job.

What does it do well?

Sonos is promising vibrant bass, crystal clear dialogue, and a panoramic soundstage, and those are exactly the features that define the Beam’s appeal. The headline attraction is Dolby Atmos, which creates a 3D surround sound effect from a single compact bar. That won’t replace a full separates system or a true multi-speaker cinema setup, but it does give films and streaming shows a more spacious, enveloping presentation than a basic TV speaker can manage.

The Beam is also strong as a daily music hub. You can stream music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks over WiFi when the TV is off, and control it through the Sonos app, your TV remote, Apple AirPlay 2, and your voice. That flexibility is one of Sonos’ biggest strengths: it is not just a soundbar for movie night, but a networked audio system that can become the centre of a home setup.

How does it perform in real use?

For TV, the most valuable promise here is clear dialogue. In practical terms, that is often the difference between constantly reaching for the remote and actually enjoying a film or box set. The Beam’s focus on dialogue, plus its room tuning, makes it especially appealing for viewers who find built-in TV speakers thin or muffled.

For music, the Beam benefits from Sonos’ ecosystem approach. You can expand your Sonos system over time for true surround sound and multiroom listening, all connected over WiFi. That makes the Beam a sensible starting point rather than a dead-end purchase. The TV Audio Swap feature is also smart: you can instantly move TV audio from the Beam to Sonos Ace headphones when you do not want to disturb others.

Build quality and setup

The Beam’s compact form factor and black finish suit modern setups, but the real win is usability. Sonos has built a reputation on tidy installation, and this model continues that with two-cable setup and app-led guidance. The inclusion of Trueplay tuning is important because soundbars are heavily affected by room shape, wall reflections, and furniture placement. If you want a system that can be adjusted without fuss, this is a major plus.

Is it good value for money?

At £349, the Beam Gen 2 sits in a competitive but sensible spot. It is cheaper than the WiiM Amp Ultra at £499 and carries a stronger mainstream rating than many rivals, while the WiiM Amp at £319 is closer in price but is a different product category altogether — a streaming amplifier rather than a soundbar. The Sonos Era 100 at £199 is also cheaper, but again it is a speaker, not a TV-focused bar. If your priority is improving television sound with a compact, ecosystem-friendly device, the Beam’s price is justified, particularly at its current low.

What should buyers watch out for?

The biggest warning is simple: this is a compact soundbar, so expectations need to stay realistic. Dolby Atmos on a single bar can sound impressively spacious, but it will not match the physical separation of a larger multi-speaker system. Also, Sonos’ strengths are tied to its ecosystem — the Beam makes the most sense if you value WiFi streaming, app control, and future expansion. If you mainly want raw power per pound, a more traditional amplifier-and-speaker route may give you more flexibility.

Bottom line

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is one of the easiest soundbars to recommend at £349, because it combines strong user ratings, a lowest-ever price, and genuinely useful features rather than gimmicks. It is best for people who want a neat, high-quality TV upgrade with excellent dialogue clarity, multiroom potential, and a polished streaming experience.

How does the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) compare to rivals?

Against the WiiM Amp at £319, the Beam is the better fit for TV-first buyers because it is purpose-built as a soundbar with HDMI/TV integration, Dolby Atmos, and TV Audio Swap. Against the WiiM Amp Ultra at £499, the Beam is much cheaper, though the WiiM offers 100W streaming amplification, ESS ES9039Q2M DAC, dual TI TPA3255 amps, RoomFit EQ, and more inputs — features that matter more if you are building a speaker system rather than upgrading TV audio. Compared with the Sonos Era 100 at £199, the Beam is the more complete living-room AV product, while the Era 100 is better as a standalone smart speaker.

Is the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) good for music as well as TV?

Yes — it is good for both, but it is strongest as a TV soundbar first. The ability to stream music, radio, podcasts, and audiobooks over WiFi means it can handle everyday listening very well, and Sonos’ multiroom ecosystem adds real long-term value. If music is your main priority and you want stereo separation or more upgrade paths, a speaker-based setup may suit you better.

Should you buy it now?

Yes — the current £349 price is the all-time lowest, matching the lowest recorded price and sitting at the buy-timing assessment of GOOD TIME TO BUY. If you want a compact, easy-to-use soundbar with strong reviews and Sonos ecosystem support, this is a sensible time to buy rather than wait for a better deal that may not come.