INTRODUCTION

   While i was growing up the only video playback systems available back then were VHS and LaserDisc both of which were replaced by DVD and its superior specifications in the late 90's. The DVD format didn't just offer twice the resolution of VHS but it also allowed for multi-channel audio like Dolby Surround/Digital (AC3) and DTS so it's no surprise that PCs were among the very first system to support it (which is why i got the Creative Encore DXR2 DVD player back in 1998). Since then, I’ve paired all my TV sets and PCs with 5.1/7.1 surround sound systems and even though I’ve always considered them far superior to 2.1 systems and even soundbars in regards to surround/positioning audio they've all had but two serious drawbacks, space requirements and time consuming installations. Because of that I’ve learned to admire the simplicity offered by soundbars and since many of you have asked for more such reviews today with me i have one of the most popular models in the market today, the Beam (Gen 2) Smart Atmos Soundbar by Sonos.

   Sonos (Nasdaq: SONO) is the world’s leading sound experience company. As the inventor of multi-room wireless home audio, Sonos innovation helps the world listen better by giving people access to the content they love and allowing them to control it however and wherever they choose. Known for delivering an unparalleled sound experience, thoughtful design aesthetic, simplicity of use, and an open platform, Sonos makes the breadth of audio content available to anyone. Sonos is headquartered in Santa Barbara, California. Learn more at www.sonos.com.

   The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) model (currently available in black and white matte colors) is a 5.0 soundbar which consists by 4 front-facing elliptical mid-woofers (drivers), single center tweeter, 3 passive radiators and a total of 5 Class-D digital amplifiers. The Beam (Gen 2) Soundbar by Sonos also features Bluetooth v5.0 and WiFi 2.4GHz (802.11b/g/n) wireless connectivity (supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant), far field microphone array for voice control/commands, IR sensor (for use with TV remotes), RJ45 10/100Mbps ethernet port, HDMI eARC port and an ARM Cortex-A53 quad-core 1.4GHz CPU together with 1GB SDRAM and 4GB flash memory. As for formats the Beam Gen 2 supports stereo PCM, Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Atmos (Digital+ & TrueHD), Dolby TrueHD, multichannel PCM, DTS Digital Surround (HDMI eARC connection required) and Dolby Multichannel PCM. The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Atmos soundbar has already been around for roughly 17 months now during which numerous firmware updates have been released so let's check it out and see just how good it is.