# Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Sonos Beam Gen 2 is the midrange Sonos soundbar to buy when the TV room needs real dialogue handling, HDMI eARC, and room to expand, but Arc Ultra is too much money or too much speaker. It is a better TV-room answer than a small assistant speaker, but it is still not Matter infrastructure.

Canonical page: https://matterhome.io/devices/sonos-beam-gen-2
Markdown page: https://matterhome.io/devices/sonos-beam-gen-2.md
Author: Matterhome Editorial Team
Author profile: https://matterhome.io/authors/matterhome-editorial-team
Edited and fact-checked by: JC Martinez
Editor profile: https://matterhome.io/authors/jc-martinez

## Device Facts

- Brand: Sonos
- Model: Beam (Gen 2)
- Product type: Dolby Atmos compact soundbar
- Category: Speakers
- Connection: Wi-Fi
- Matter status: Speaker entry; TV audio uses HDMI eARC or ARC while smart audio control uses Sonos, Wi-Fi, AirPlay 2, Alexa, Google Assistant, Sonos Voice Control, or a TV remote instead of Matter accessory pairing.
- Launch date: 2021-09
- Thread border router required: No
- Brand hub required: No
- Typical price range: $499
- Markets: Global
- Review status: Compatibility guide
- Product image: https://matterhome.io/content-assets/devices/sonos-beam-gen-2/product.webp
- Product image alt text: Black Sonos Beam Gen 2 compact soundbar
- Product image source: https://media.sonos.com/images/znqtjj88/production/e12ba440b45fc67e970049734783d6fb0b6b20d1-2480x2480.png?auto=format&fit=clip&q=100&w=1600

## Ecosystem Support

- Apple Home: Limited
- Google Home: Not listed
- Alexa: Limited
- SmartThings: Not listed
- Home Assistant: Limited

## Best For

- Small and midsize TV rooms that need a proper soundbar
- Sonos homes that want a TV speaker below Arc Ultra
- Apartments, bedrooms with TVs, and secondary living rooms

## Skip If

- The main room deserves the bigger Arc Ultra
- The TV has no practical HDMI ARC, HDMI eARC, or optical path
- You need a Matter controller or Thread border router

## Setup Notes

- Connect Beam to the TV's HDMI eARC or ARC port first, then finish setup in the Sonos app.
- Verify Dolby Atmos support from the TV, streaming box, app, and content before treating Atmos as guaranteed.
- Add music services, AirPlay 2, voice assistants, and surround expansion after everyday TV audio works.

## Known Limitations

- Dolby Atmos formats depend on HDMI eARC or ARC, source device, app, and content support.
- Trueplay tuning requires a supported iOS device.
- Sonos features and voice support vary by country, language, account, and service.

## Pros

- More affordable Sonos TV-room soundbar than Arc Ultra
- HDMI eARC or ARC, Dolby Atmos support, Speech Enhancement, Night Sound, and TV remote sync
- Works with Sonos multiroom audio, AirPlay 2, Alexa, Google Assistant, and Sonos Voice Control
- Compact enough for smaller TVs, bedrooms, apartments, and secondary living rooms

## Cons

- Not a Matter accessory or Thread border router
- Smaller and less immersive than Arc Ultra for large rooms
- Sonos app and TV HDMI behavior still decide much of the experience

## Sources

- https://www.sonos.com/en-us/shop/beam
- https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/sonos/
- https://media.sonos.com/images/znqtjj88/production/e12ba440b45fc67e970049734783d6fb0b6b20d1-2480x2480.png?auto=format&fit=clip&q=100&w=1600

## The midrange TV-room pick

Beam Gen 2 is the soundbar to add when the room has a real TV job but does not need Sonos Arc Ultra. Sonos lists HDMI eARC, Dolby Atmos, Speech Enhancement, Night Sound, TV remote sync, AirPlay 2, voice support, Wi-Fi, and Sonos surround expansion.

That makes Beam a cleaner recommendation than putting a small smart speaker beside the TV. It handles dialogue, volume, remote behavior, and future rear-speaker expansion in a way a nightstand speaker cannot.

## Setup path

Start with the TV connection. Use HDMI eARC or ARC when the TV supports it, then finish setup in the Sonos app. If the TV only has optical output, Sonos includes an optical adapter, but that lower-cost path changes the Atmos expectation.

After normal TV sound works, add music services, AirPlay 2, voice control, Trueplay, Speech Enhancement, and Night Sound. Treat those as layers on top of the TV setup, not replacements for it.

## Where it fits

Use Beam Gen 2 for small and midsize TV rooms, apartment living rooms, bedrooms with TVs, and secondary spaces where Arc Ultra is more than the room deserves.

It also works as a sensible first soundbar for a Sonos home. You can start with one bar, then add rear speakers or a subwoofer later if the room proves it needs more.

## Where it is the wrong buy

Skip Beam if the room is the main movie room and the budget allows Arc Ultra. Beam is good, but it is still the compact option.

Also skip it when the real job is music in a fixed room, a bathroom speaker, or Thread coverage. Era 100, Roam 2, Play, Move 2, or a true Matter hub will fit those jobs better.