STACK #205 Nov 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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PLAYING WITH THE SONOS BEAM

the content you’re consuming will need to be Dolby Atmos-compatible. Dolby Atmos is the prevalent audio format on 4K movies. The beach sequence in Saving Private Ryan is always our litmus test for soundbars, and the Beam doesn’t disappoint. Bullets fizz overhead, explosions rock through the grille, while the devasting effect of machine-gun fire hitting the beach will have you checking your pockets for sand. There’s a real feeling of soundstage width here, and the bass is exceptional for its size. It’s an impressive feat for a smaller soundbar. HDMI 2.1 support makes the Beam an ideal companion for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X. The crowd noise and on-field sound effects such as boot on ball in FIFA 22 are astounding. Soundbars often play second fiddle to dedicated music hardware, and that would be a mistake here. Music playback through the Beam is excellent across a broad range of artists and genres. The Beam is the perfect audio all-rounder. CHAIN GANG One of the best parts of being part linked to the Sonos ecosystem is the ease with which a new device settles into an existing chain of speakers. The Beam paired with the Sonos Sub and a pair of Sonos One SLs is a potent combination that will take your viewing and listening experience to a whole new level.

GEN 2

The new Sonos Beam is here, and it brings Dolby Atmos to the party! T he last 18 months here in Australia have forced many of us to rethink our

entertainment options for obvious reasons. Live music and the family cinema experience were forced into a state of redundancy across the country. With recreational

MAKING CONNECTIONS Like the Arc, there’s only one HDMI port in the back of the Beam. Now

IS IT FOR ME? Sonos has gone with the theory of upgrading

travel mainly off the table, the opportunity to upgrade the home entertainment system has become not only a viable proposition but a necessary one. Sonos has been quick to identify this trend, upgrading its stellar Beam soundbar. Taking the larger, premium-sounding Arc's audio successes, the Beam (Gen 2), available in black or white, is now Dolby Atmos-enabled. A soundbar better suited to a smaller TV, the cloth covering has been replaced with a polycarbonate grille. While it shares similar dimensions as its predecessor, under the hood is an entirely different story. WHAT’S NEW? Inside the Beam are one tweeter for high frequencies, four woofers for midrange, and three passive radiators for low-end frequencies. The CPU processor is now 40 per cent faster, too, meaning the software can create five- speaker arrays, two up from the previous model. The additional two produce the surround and overhead sounds providing the immersive 3D soundstage. And finally, support for HDMI eARC has been included.

and augmenting an already great performing soundbar rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, and that’s a good move. Sonos has an excellent track record with its soundbars, and the previous Beam and Arc are a cut above the competition in this price range. Adding Dolby Atmos to the Beam is an inspired move to bring the most current audio trends right into the lounge room without breaking the bank. The Beam performs best in a more concise space (for larger, more open living areas, we suggest you seek out the Arc). However, for its size, overall sound performance, and ability to expand within the Sonos ecosystem, it’s a wise investment for a vastly enhanced home entertainment experience.

it’s important to remember that unless you’ve bought a newTV over the last couple of years with an ARC/eARC HDMI port, you’re not going to enjoy the whole Dolby Atmos audio experience. Next to the HDMI port in the back of the Beam is an Ethernet port if you opt against connecting through a home Wi-Fi network. On top of the unit, exquisitely discreet, are controls for power, volume, play/pause, and a microphone for voice assistants. The Beam is compatible with both Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa.

Five things we love at a glance 1. Easy-to-clean polycarbonate grille. 2. New HDMI eARC port for glorious Dolby Atmos audio. 3. Five-speaker array for more immersive 3D sound. 4. Premium sound across movies, games, and music. 5. Fits seamlessly into an existing Sonos ecosystem.

LIFTING THE SOUNDBAR

To get the most out of the Beam, you’ll want an HDMI eARC connection on the TV, and

50 NOVEMBER 2021

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