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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 Arc Ultra wins by 6
Sonos Arc Ultra — 9.1.4 Atmos · Sound Motion woofers · eARC
Sonos

Sonos Arc Ultra

9.1.4 Atmos · Sound Motion woofers · eARC

92
/ 100
From $999
Specdex verdict

Sonos Arc Ultra takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) lands at 86 and Sonos Arc Ultra at 92. That puts Sonos Arc Ultra ahead by 6 points — a decisive 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 Sonos Arc Ultra if…

  • ✓Massive bass without a sub
  • ✓9.1.4 channel processing
  • ✓Easy TrueCinema tuning
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Winner by scenario

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

Design

Tie

Compared on the design sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Sound

Sonos Arc Ultra

Compared on the sound sub-score

Sonos Arc Ultra leads on sound (94 vs 86).

Ease of use

Tie

Compared on the ease of use sub-score

Effectively tied — neither pulls a 2-point weighted lead.

Value for money

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) more score per dollar ($499 vs $999).

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 86
vs
92 Sonos Arc Ultra

Score breakdown

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
86
sound 86
features 88
design 92
ease 90
Sonos Arc Ultra
92
sound 94
features 90
design 92
ease 90

Specs side-by-side

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) versus Sonos Arc Ultra — full spec comparison
Spec Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Sonos Arc Ultra
Channels
5.0 (virtual Atmos)
9.1.4
Connectivity
eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0
eARC HDMI, Wi-Fi 6, BT 5.0
Drivers
—
14 + Sound Motion woofers
Atmos
—
Dolby Atmos

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

Sonos Arc Ultra

Pros
  • +Massive bass without a sub
  • +9.1.4 channel processing
  • +Easy TrueCinema tuning
Cons
  • −No DTS:X
  • −App glitches
  • −Expensive

FAQ: Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Sonos Arc Ultra

Which is better, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Sonos Arc Ultra? +

Sonos Arc Ultra scores 92 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 6. 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 Sonos Arc Ultra worth the price? +

At $999, Sonos Arc Ultra delivers a Specdex score of 92 — strongest in sound.

Does Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Sonos Arc Ultra 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 sound, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Sonos Arc Ultra? +

Sonos Arc Ultra — leads on sound (94 vs 86). Compared on the sound sub-score.

Which is the better value, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Sonos Arc Ultra? +

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — more score per dollar ($499 vs $999). Specdex score per dollar at MSRP.