Sonos Playbar vs. Sonos Beam: Which Is Better?
When it comes to top-quality sound and a home theater experience, Sonos is one of the most popular and well-regarded brands in the market today. They offer a variety of products, but two stand out as possible choices for shoppers looking for a soundbar: the Sonos Playbar and the Sonos Beam. In this article, we’ll examine the similarities and differences between the two and help you decide which is better for your needs.
Design and Features
The Sonos Playbar has a sleek and modern design that looks good in any living room. It’s rectangular with rounded edges, and it’s covered with a smooth black fabric on all sides except for the front, which is covered in a metal grille. The Playbar features nine built-in speakers and a low-profile appearance, so it’s not too obtrusive.
The Sonos Beam is a smaller and more affordable option compared to the Playbar, but it’s still packed with features. It has a modern design made up of a sleek and compact rectangular-shaped speaker covered with a fabric grille on the top and sides. The Beam features five drivers, including a central tweeter and four woofers, which is fewer than the Playbar but still produces impressive sound.
Performance
Both the Sonos Playbar and the Sonos Beam offer fantastic sound quality. The Playbar shines with its seven mid-range drivers and two tweeters. This arrangement delivers impressive and precise audio with the ability to produce clean and accurate bass response. The Playbar is especially great for music listening and is perfect for larger living rooms because of its size and power.
The Sonos Beam, on the other hand, delivers a dynamic and full sound that efficiently fills a room with rich and crisp audio. The Beam also provides deep bass but to a lesser extent, and it’s suitable for medium-sized rooms and smaller living areas. The Beam includes voice support through Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant, which is an excellent feature that makes voice-activated commands easy and hands-free.
Connectivity and Compatibility
Both the Playbar and Beam have Wi-Fi connectivity and support features like Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Amazon Alexa. The Playbar also features an Optical audio port that can be used to connect to a TV or other devices, making it useful for those who want to use it for movies and gaming. However, the Beam lacks this feature, and it’s not quite as versatile. The Beam can connect using HDMI-ARC that makes it straightforward to fit right into any home entertain
Price
The Sonos Beam is a more affordable option than the Playbar. It’s an excellent choice for those who want excellent sound quality without spending too much money. It’s priced at under $400, making it much more accessible for anyone looking for a soundbar that offers high-quality audio. The Sonos Playbar costs almost double the price of the Beam, making it a more expensive option and best suited for those looking for premium performance and sound quality.