With the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) I complete my sound setup. The installation is, as I am used to from Sonos products, very quick and easy. While playing my favorite song, I hear all the details that I normally only hear through the headphones. What is disappointing to me is that Trueplay can only be adjusted with an iOS device.
Quickly connected and installed
The bar comes with an HDMI cable and an adapter from HDMI to optical. Connecting the Beam is done in no time. I connect the bar to the mains power and connect the hdmi cable to the hdmi arc port of the tv. Installing the Beam is almost as fast as connecting it. I already have the Sonos app and it immediately detects a new device. After I have gone through the steps in the app, the bar is fully installed. The entire connection and installation takes about 10 minutes.
Lots of detail in every song
I play songs from different genres via AirPlay 2 and it strikes me how much detail I hear. I even hear the little additions in songs that I normally only hear through my headphones.
A home cinema in the living room
When I watch a movie that supports Dolby Atmos, it doesn't take long before I'm fully immersed in the movie. Because the bar has Virtual Dolby Atmos, I enjoy surround sound without separate rear speakers. The sound seems to come from all sides and I have no trouble keeping my attention on the film. The full 1.5 hours that the film lasts almost feels like I'm in the cinema.
Personalized sound
I personalize the sound of the Beam via the Sonos app. For example, I set the bass and treble separately from each other. Via Trueplay in the Sonos app on my iPhone, I adjust the sound of the bar to the space. If you don't have an iOS device at home, you borrow one from an acquaintance. Trueplay only needs to be adjusted once if you don't move the device.
Operate bar with TV remote
Using the TV remote control for the bar is an additional feature. You normally only use this when you connect the soundbar to the television via the HDMI arc connection. Because the bar is connected to the optical connection via an adapter plug, I operate the Beam with the TV remote control. This saves an extra remote control and works nicely.