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Samsung HW-S801D — $399
Samsung

Samsung HW-S801D

$399

82
/ 100
From $399
VS
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) wins by 4
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact
Sonos

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact

86
/ 100
From $499
Specdex verdict

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Samsung HW-S801D lands at 82 and Sonos Beam (Gen 2) at 86. That puts Sonos Beam (Gen 2) ahead by 4 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Samsung HW-S801D if…

  • ✓Dolby Atmos on most
  • ✓One-box simplicity
  • ✓eARC passthrough

Pick Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if…

  • ✓Atmos in a compact bar
  • ✓Trueplay room correction
  • ✓Expandable with Sub + rears
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Winner by scenario

Derived from the sub-score breakdown · not a separate test

Design

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Compared on the design sub-score

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) leads on design (92 vs 84).

Ease of use

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Compared on the ease of use sub-score

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) leads on ease (90 vs 86).

Sound

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Compared on the sound sub-score

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) leads on sound (86 vs 82).

Value for money

Samsung HW-S801D

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Samsung HW-S801D more score per dollar ($399 vs $499).

Samsung HW-S801D 82
vs
86 Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Score breakdown

Samsung HW-S801D
82
sound 82
features 80
design 84
ease 86
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
86
sound 86
features 88
design 92
ease 90

Specs side-by-side

Samsung HW-S801D versus Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — full spec comparison
Spec Samsung HW-S801D Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Channels
—
5.0 (virtual Atmos)
Connectivity
—
eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0

Samsung HW-S801D

Pros
  • +Dolby Atmos on most
  • +One-box simplicity
  • +eARC passthrough
Cons
  • −Rear surrounds sold separately on some
  • −App quality varies
  • −Cabinet depth needs space

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Pros
  • +Atmos in a compact bar
  • +Trueplay room correction
  • +Expandable with Sub + rears
Cons
  • −No upward drivers (virtual Atmos)
  • −No DTS
  • −App glitches

FAQ: Samsung HW-S801D vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Which is better, Samsung HW-S801D or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? +

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

Is Samsung HW-S801D worth the price? +

At $399, Samsung HW-S801D delivers a Specdex score of 82 — strongest in ease.

Is Sonos Beam (Gen 2) worth the price? +

At $499, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in design.

Does Samsung HW-S801D or Sonos Beam (Gen 2) last longer? +

Based on our long-term update and support ratings, both ship with multi-year support. Battery and reliability scores are visible in the breakdown above.

Which is better for design, Samsung HW-S801D or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? +

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — leads on design (92 vs 84). Compared on the design sub-score.

Which is better for ease of use, Samsung HW-S801D or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? +

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — leads on ease (90 vs 86). Compared on the ease of use sub-score.