Skip to content
Specdex
Compare now
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact
Sonos

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact

86
/ 100
From $499
VS
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) wins by 3
Bose Smart Soundbar 600 — $499
Bose

Bose Smart Soundbar 600

$499

83
/ 100
From $499
Specdex verdict

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

In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) lands at 86 and Bose Smart Soundbar 600 at 83. That puts Sonos Beam (Gen 2) ahead by 3 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if…

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

Pick Bose Smart Soundbar 600 if…

  • ✓Dolby Atmos on most
  • ✓One-box simplicity
  • ✓eARC passthrough
Share this comparison: Share to Reddit X / Twitter

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 83).

Value for money

Tie

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Effectively tied — similar score-per-dollar at MSRP.

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 86
vs
83 Bose Smart Soundbar 600

Score breakdown

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
86
sound 86
features 88
design 92
ease 90
Bose Smart Soundbar 600
83
sound 83
features 81
design 84
ease 86

Specs side-by-side

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) versus Bose Smart Soundbar 600 — full spec comparison
Spec Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Bose Smart Soundbar 600
Channels
5.0 (virtual Atmos)
—
Connectivity
eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0
—

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

Bose Smart Soundbar 600

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

FAQ: Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Bose Smart Soundbar 600

Which is better, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Bose Smart Soundbar 600? +

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 3. Your best pick depends on the sub-scores above.

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

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

Is Bose Smart Soundbar 600 worth the price? +

At $499, Bose Smart Soundbar 600 delivers a Specdex score of 83 — strongest in ease.

Does Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Bose Smart Soundbar 600 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, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Bose Smart Soundbar 600? +

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

Which is better for ease of use, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Bose Smart Soundbar 600? +

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