Sonos Arc Vs Beam Gen 2 Is The Atmos Performance Really Worth The Space

Choosing between the Sonos Arc and the Sonos Beam Gen 2 isn’t just about price or aesthetics—it’s a decision rooted in how you experience sound at home. Both are premium smart soundbars designed to elevate your TV audio, but they take different approaches to immersion. The Arc supports full Dolby Atmos with upward-firing drivers, while the Beam Gen 2 delivers a more compact version of spatial audio in a smaller footprint. The question remains: does the enhanced Atmos performance of the Arc justify its larger size and higher price?

This comparison dives into the technical differences, room dynamics, setup constraints, and real-world listening experiences to help you determine whether the extra depth and height channels are truly worth the trade-offs.

Design and Physical Footprint

The most immediate difference between the two models is their size. The Sonos Arc measures 45 inches wide, 3.4 inches high, and 5.1 inches deep—making it one of the larger soundbars on the market. In contrast, the Beam Gen 2 is significantly more compact at 25.6 inches wide, 2.7 inches high, and 4 inches deep. This makes the Beam far more adaptable to smaller TVs or tighter entertainment centers.

If your TV is mounted above a fireplace or placed in a shallow cabinet, the Arc may simply not fit. The Beam, however, slips neatly under most 48-inch and even some 55-inch displays without obstructing the remote sensor or requiring wall mounting.

Tip: Measure your TV stand or wall-mount clearance before choosing a soundbar—especially if you have a smaller living room or apartment setup.

Both units share Sonos’ minimalist aesthetic: matte finish, touch-sensitive controls, and discreet LED indicators. However, the Arc’s larger chassis allows for more internal speaker drivers and amplification, which directly impacts its sonic capabilities.

Audio Performance and Dolby Atmos Capabilities

The core of this debate lies in audio quality and immersive sound delivery. The Sonos Arc features 11 high-performance drivers powered by Class-D digital amplifiers, including front-firing, side-firing, and crucially, upward-firing speakers. These upward drivers bounce sound off the ceiling to simulate overhead effects—a key component of true Dolby Atmos.

The Beam Gen 2 also supports Dolby Atmos, but with fewer drivers (five total) and less powerful processing. It uses psychoacoustic modeling and beamforming to create a sense of height and space, but lacks dedicated upward-firing speakers. As a result, the “height” effect is more subtle and relies heavily on ideal room acoustics and listener positioning.

“Dolby Atmos isn’t just about adding more speakers—it’s about creating a three-dimensional soundscape. The difference between simulated and true overhead audio can be dramatic in well-treated rooms.” — David Kim, Audio Engineer & Home Theater Consultant

In practice, the Arc delivers a more convincing hemispheric sound field. During action sequences like helicopter flyovers in *Dunkirk* or rainstorms in *1917*, the Arc produces distinct directional cues from above, making the experience more cinematic. The Beam Gen 2 handles these moments competently but often renders them as ambient enhancements rather than precise spatial events.

Bass response is another area of divergence. While neither includes a built-in subwoofer, the Arc’s larger enclosure allows for deeper low-end reproduction. When paired with the Sonos Sub, both systems improve dramatically, but the Arc achieves better mid-bass presence even without external assistance.

Feature Comparison: Connectivity, Voice, and Ecosystem

Both soundbars run on the Sonos S2 operating system, support Wi-Fi and AirPlay 2, and integrate seamlessly with Alexa and Google Assistant. They also use HDMI eARC for lossless audio passthrough, ensuring compatibility with 4K HDR content and advanced audio formats.

However, there are subtle differences in connectivity and setup:

Feature	Sonos Arc	Sonos Beam Gen 2
Drivers	11 total (including up-firing)	5 total (no up-firing)
Dolby Atmos Support	Full, with height channels	Spatial audio via processing
HDMI Port	1 (eARC)	1 (eARC)
Ethernet Port	Yes	No
Auto Trueplay Tuning	Yes (iOS only)	Yes (iOS only)
Wall Mountable	Yes	Yes
Price (MSRP)	$899	$449

The inclusion of an Ethernet port on the Arc may seem minor, but it ensures a stable connection in Wi-Fi-congested environments—important for lag-free audio sync during fast-paced scenes. The Beam relies solely on Wi-Fi, which can introduce occasional hiccups in larger homes.

Real-World Listening: A Mini Case Study

Consider Mark, a software engineer living in a 700-square-foot downtown loft. His TV sits on a narrow console beneath a 55-inch OLED, with only 3 inches of vertical clearance. Initially drawn to the Arc’s Atmos promise, he quickly realized it wouldn’t fit without blocking the TV’s IR sensor or protruding awkwardly.

He opted for the Beam Gen 2 instead. After setup, he noticed improved dialogue clarity and wider stereo imaging compared to his TV’s built-in speakers. Watching *Stranger Things*, the eerie synth score felt more enveloping, and footsteps echoed subtly through the virtual soundstage. But during Season 4’s climactic battle, with thunder and dimensional rifts overhead, the height effects were faint—more suggestive than immersive.

After six months, Mark upgraded to a Sonos Sub and added two Era 100 rears. With surround sound enabled, the Beam delivered a compelling experience, though still not matching the vertical dimensionality of the Arc. He concluded that for his space-constrained environment, the Beam was the right compromise—but acknowledged that in a larger, acoustically balanced room, he’d likely prefer the Arc.

Tip: If you plan to expand to a full 5.1.2 or 5.1.4 setup later, starting with the Arc gives you a stronger foundation for future upgrades.

When the Arc Makes Sense—and When It Doesn’t

The Sonos Arc shines in medium to large living rooms with high ceilings (at least 8 feet) and minimal acoustic obstructions. Its upward-firing drivers require a flat, reflective ceiling to bounce sound effectively. If your room has vaulted ceilings, beams, or acoustic tiles, the Atmos effect will be diminished or lost entirely.

Conversely, the Beam Gen 2 excels in apartments, bedrooms, or secondary viewing areas where space is limited. It’s also ideal for users who prioritize voice assistant integration and multi-room audio over cinematic immersion. For casual viewers who watch mostly dialogue-driven content—news, sitcoms, documentaries—the Beam offers excellent clarity at half the price.

That said, if you frequently watch movies, play immersive games, or enjoy concert films, the Arc’s ability to reproduce overhead audio with precision adds a tangible layer of realism. It doesn’t just make sound louder; it makes it feel alive in three dimensions.

Checklist: Choosing Between Arc and Beam Gen 2

• ✅ Measure available space under or around your TV
• ✅ Confirm ceiling type and height (flat and ≤ 9 ft is best for Arc)
• ✅ Assess primary content type (movies/gaming vs. TV shows/podcasts)
• ✅ Determine budget (Arc costs twice as much)
• ✅ Consider future expansion (Sub + surrounds work better with Arc)
• ✅ Test room acoustics—hard surfaces enhance reflection; soft materials absorb
• ✅ Decide on wired vs. wireless network stability needs

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Sonos Beam Gen 2 do real Dolby Atmos?

Yes, but with limitations. The Beam Gen 2 decodes Dolby Atmos signals and uses digital processing to simulate height effects. However, without upward-firing drivers, it cannot produce true overhead sound. The result is a more spacious stereo image rather than a fully three-dimensional experience.

Do I need a subwoofer with either soundbar?

It depends on your expectations. For movie explosions, bass-heavy music, or gaming rumble, a subwoofer greatly enhances impact. The Arc has stronger built-in bass, but both benefit from pairing with a Sonos Sub or Sub Mini. Without one, low frequencies may feel thin during intense scenes.

Can I use both soundbars with Apple TV or gaming consoles?

Absolutely. Both support HDMI eARC, making them compatible with Apple TV 4K, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, and other devices that output Dolby Atmos. Just ensure your TV’s HDMI ARC port supports eARC for full bandwidth audio transmission.

Conclusion: Is the Atmos Performance Worth the Space?

The answer hinges on your priorities. If you value cinematic immersion, have the room to accommodate it, and want the closest thing to a theater-like experience at home, the Sonos Arc is worth the investment and the space it occupies. Its true Dolby Atmos performance—with distinct height channels and expansive sound staging—delivers a level of audio fidelity that the Beam Gen 2 can’t match, regardless of software tricks.

But if you live in a compact space, watch mostly TV content, or are building a smart audio ecosystem incrementally, the Beam Gen 2 offers remarkable value. It brings intelligent features, crisp dialogue, and a taste of spatial audio without demanding real estate or breaking the bank.

Ultimately, the Atmos performance of the Arc is genuinely superior—but only when your environment supports it. In the wrong room, even the best technology falls flat. Choose based not just on specs, but on how and where you listen.

🚀 Ready to upgrade your home audio? Measure your space, test your ceiling, and decide whether immersive sound is a luxury—or a necessity—for your viewing experience. Share your thoughts or setup photos in the comments below.