Sonos
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
Dolby Atmos · HDMI eARC · Compact
86
/ 100
From $499
VS
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) wins by 4
Samsung
Samsung HW-S801D
$399
82
/ 100
From $399
Specdex verdict
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) takes it — here’s why.
In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) lands at 86 and Samsung HW-S801D at 82. That puts Sonos Beam (Gen 2) ahead by 4 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 Samsung HW-S801D if…
- ✓Dolby Atmos on most
- ✓One-box simplicity
- ✓eARC passthrough
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 86
vs 82 Samsung HW-S801D
Score breakdown
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
86 sound 86
features 88
design 92
ease 90
Samsung HW-S801D
82 sound 82
features 80
design 84
ease 86
Specs side-by-side
| Spec | Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | Samsung HW-S801D |
|---|---|---|
| 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
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
FAQ: Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Samsung HW-S801D
Which is better, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Samsung HW-S801D? +
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) scores 86 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 4. 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 Samsung HW-S801D worth the price? +
At $399, Samsung HW-S801D delivers a Specdex score of 82 — strongest in ease.
Does Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Samsung HW-S801D 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.