Sonos
Sonos Arc
$899
88
/ 100
From $899
VS
Sonos Arc wins by 2
Sonos
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact
86
/ 100
From $499
Specdex verdict
Sonos Arc takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Arc lands at 88 and Sonos Beam (Gen 2) at 86. That puts Sonos Arc ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.
Pick Sonos Arc 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
Sonos Arc 88
vs 86 Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Score breakdown
Sonos Arc
88 sound 88
features 86
design 84
ease 86
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
86 sound 86
features 88
design 92
ease 90
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sonos Arc | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Channels | — | 5.0 (virtual Atmos) |
| Connectivity | — | eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0 |
Sonos Arc
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: Sonos Arc vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Which is better, Sonos Arc or Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? +
Sonos Arc scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.
Is Sonos Arc worth the price? +
At $899, Sonos Arc delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.
Is Sonos Beam (Gen 2) worth the price? +
At $499, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) delivers a Specdex score of 86 — strongest in design.
Does Sonos Arc 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.