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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) — $499
Sonos

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

$499

86
/ 100
From $499
VS
Sonos Arc wins by 2
Sonos Arc — $899
Sonos

Sonos Arc

$899

88
/ 100
From $899
Specdex verdict

Sonos Arc takes it — here’s why.

In our weighted Specdex score, Sonos Beam (Gen 2) lands at 86 and Sonos Arc at 88. That puts Sonos Arc ahead by 2 points — a narrow margin driven mostly by its strengths in the categories below.

Pick Sonos Beam (Gen 2) if…

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

Pick Sonos Arc if…

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

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

Sound

Sonos Arc

Compared on the sound sub-score

Sonos Arc leads on sound (88 vs 86).

Ease of use

Tie

Compared on the ease of use sub-score

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

Features

Sonos Arc

Compared on the features sub-score

Sonos Arc leads on features (86 vs 84).

Value for money

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Specdex score per dollar at MSRP

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) more score per dollar ($499 vs $899).

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) 86
vs
88 Sonos Arc

Score breakdown

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
86
sound 86
features 84
design 84
ease 86
Sonos Arc
88
sound 88
features 86
design 84
ease 86

Specs side-by-side

Sonos Beam (Gen 2) versus Sonos Arc — full spec comparison
Spec Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Sonos Arc

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

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 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

FAQ: Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Sonos Arc

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

Sonos Arc scores 88 on our weighted rubric — ahead by 2. 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 sound.

Is Sonos Arc worth the price? +

At $899, Sonos Arc delivers a Specdex score of 88 — strongest in sound.

Does Sonos Beam (Gen 2) or Sonos Arc 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? +

Sonos Arc — leads on sound (88 vs 86). Compared on the sound sub-score.

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

Sonos Arc — leads on features (86 vs 84). Compared on the features sub-score.