Don't Buy Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Before You See This
Critical warnings about hidden costs, compatibility issues, and better alternatives you need to know before buying.
Before You Buy...
Before you spend $499 on the Sonos Beam (Gen 2), there's something you need to know. Thousands of buyers discovered too late that this soundbar requires expensive add-ons and has hidden limitations that make it a poor fit for many living rooms.
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a sleek soundbar that promises immersive Dolby Atmos sound in a compact package. It's popular among design-conscious buyers who want a minimalist setup. But what Sonos doesn't advertise is that you'll likely need to buy additional speakers, a subwoofer, and ensure your TV has eARC to actually get true Atmos. In this guide, we'll uncover the hidden costs, compatibility pitfalls, and better alternatives that deliver comparable or superior sound for less money.
🔍What They Don't Tell You
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) markets itself as an all-in-one solution, but it's really an entry point into a closed ecosystem. The soundbar alone lacks bass depth, so most users end up spending another $300+ on the Sonos Sub Mini. For surround sound, you'll need two Sonos One speakers ($220 each). True Dolby Atmos requires an eARC port, which many 4K TVs from before 2020 don't have. And there's no DTS support, meaning many Blu-rays and streaming titles will be downmixed. The fine print: Bluetooth is only for setup, not for streaming music. You're locked into WiFi or AirPlay 2.
⚠️Critical Warnings
⚠️Dolby Atmos Requires eARC and Proper Source
IMPORTANTThe Beam Gen 2 can decode Dolby Atmos, but only if your TV has an HDMI eARC port. Many older 4K TVs (pre-2020) have only ARC, which limits audio to compressed Dolby Digital Plus – not the lossless Atmos from Blu-rays. Even with eARC, only streaming apps like Netflix and Disney+ provide Atmos; games and Blu-rays often use DTS or TrueHD, which the Beam cannot play. You'll get a downmixed stereo signal instead.
Affects: Most buyers
⚠️No DTS Support – Common Blu-ray Audio Ignored
IMPORTANTThe Sonos Beam Gen 2 does not support DTS or DTS:X. If you watch Blu-ray discs or stream content encoded in DTS (many movies on disc), the soundbar will not output any audio. You'll be left with silence unless your TV can transcode to PCM, which degrades quality. This is a severe limitation for home theater enthusiasts.
Affects: Most buyers
⚠️Expensive Ecosystem Lock-In for Full Features
IMPORTANTThe Beam alone is a 3.0 system with no subwoofer and no rear speakers. To get truly immersive sound, you need to add the Sonos Sub Mini ($429) and two Sonos One speakers ($219 each) – that's an extra $867, making the total over $1,300. There are no third-party speaker options; you must buy Sonos products to expand the system. Once invested, switching brands is costly.
Affects: Most buyers
⚠️Bluetooth Is Only for Setup, Not Music Streaming
IMPORTANTUnlike most soundbars, the Beam's Bluetooth is only used for the initial setup via the Sonos app. You cannot stream music directly from your phone via Bluetooth. All audio must go through WiFi or AirPlay 2. This means guests can't easily play music, and you need a stable WiFi network. If your WiFi goes down, the soundbar becomes useless for music.
Affects: Most buyers
⚠️No Google Assistant, Only Alexa (and Sonos Voice)
IMPORTANTThe Beam Gen 2 has built-in Amazon Alexa and Sonos Voice Control, but no Google Assistant. If you're a Google Home user, you'll have to rely on an external Google device or use the Sonos app. This limits voice control integration for those in the Google ecosystem.
Affects: Most buyers
⚠️Only One HDMI Port – No Passthrough for Other Devices
IMPORTANTThe Beam has a single HDMI eARC/ARC port and no additional HDMI inputs. This means you cannot connect a game console or streaming box directly to the soundbar. All devices must go through your TV, which can introduce audio lag or lip-sync issues, especially with non-eARC TVs.
Affects: Most buyers
💸Hidden Costs
- 💰Sonos Sub Mini (required for decent bass): $429
- 💰Two Sonos One speakers (for surround): $438+
- 💰HDMI cable (if not included): $10-20
- 💰Sonos wall mount (optional): $39
- 💰Extended warranty beyond 1 year: $30-50
- 💰Cost of upgrading to eARC TV if needed: $500+
🚫Common Mistakes Buyers Make
- ❌Assuming Dolby Atmos works without eARC
- ❌Not realizing Bluetooth is only for setup
- ❌Buying Beam alone expecting room-filling bass
- ❌Ignoring that DTS content won't play
- ❌Thinking any rear speakers work – they must be Sonos
- ❌Not buying a subwoofer and then being disappointed
🔌Compatibility Issues
- ⚡HDMI eARC required for Dolby Atmos; ARC only works with older codecs
- ⚡No DTS support (DTS, DTS:X, DTS-HD)
- ⚡Bluetooth only for setup – no music streaming
- ⚡No Google Assistant compatibility
- ⚡Only works with Sonos speakers for surround expansion
- ⚡No HDMI passthrough – all devices must connect to TV
- ⚡Requires Sonos app (iOS/Android) for setup; no physical volume control for TV audio
🌟Better Amazon Alternatives
Instead of dealing with the issues above, consider these better alternatives available on Amazon:
📝Bottom Line
The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is a well-built soundbar with good dialogue clarity and seamless integration into the Sonos ecosystem. However, its true cost and limitations are often hidden until after purchase. For movies, you'll need an eARC TV and you'll lose DTS support entirely. To get full surround, you'll spend over $1,300. Most buyers are better off with the Vizio M512a-H6 for complete Atmos and DTS:X at a much lower price, or the Yamaha YAS-209 for a solid 2.1 system with Alexa. If you're okay with the ecosystem lock-in and have a compatible TV, the Beam is fine – but for most people, these alternatives offer far more value and fewer headaches.
⚡ Quick Summary
- Product: Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
- Price: $449
- Warnings: 6
- Better Options: 0
✅ Before You Buy
- ☑️Does your TV have HDMI eARC? Check the manual or specs online.
- ☑️Do you watch Blu-rays or DTS-encoded content? If yes, avoid Beam or have a DTS-compatible setup.
- ☑️Are you willing to spend $800+ on sub and surrounds for full experience?
- ☑️Do you primarily use Google Assistant? If so, look elsewhere.
- ☑️Do you need Bluetooth music streaming? The Beam doesn't support it.
- ☑️Is your WiFi reliable? The Beam needs strong WiFi for music streaming.
- ☑️Have you considered alternative soundbars with included sub or DTS support?