There's a touch-sensitive play/pause 'button' and two context-sensitive touch panels that you'll most often use to control volume. But that means finding a TV that weighs 77 pounds or less and makes use of a single foot rather than claw feet. If you're not bothered about Dolby Atmos, the choice between the Playbar and Playbase will largely be based on your needs. Playbase is a good solution if tv is on a stand: Playbase can sit under it, but still a limited sound stage. Visit our corporate site. A little better low end then original playbar. Bluetooth LE – Sonos Beam Smart speaker is compatible with Bluetooth LE, which can help save power when setting up your new device. While it may not stand up to its younger sibling, it can sync up with an existing Alexa-enabled device like an Echo or Echo Dot. Winner: Playbase, Once you strip out all the bells and whistles, both of these devices are designed to be speakers, and sound quality is the most important thing to consider. Fans and followers of Sonos are likely familiar with the company's other soundbar, the Sonos Playbar, and may be wondering where the new Beam fits in the lineup.If you're trying to decide between these two products, this guide will help you understand the … Which is the best Sonos soundbar? Overall, these two devices have a lot more similarities than differences. It’s a minor inconvenience but a tangible one. The Arc also adds eARC support, to ensure it can handle those Dolby Atmos signals from TVs that can output it. While Sonos has two great products with the Beam and Playbar, the Beam is the overall better option for most people because of its size, sound quality, built-in Alexa support, integration with AirPlay 2, and price. These speakers are great at reading your voice and parsing your commands even when you’re blasting the TV at full volume. ... it’s more expensive than the Playbar and Playbase, and double the cost of the Beam — … The Playbase is a soundbase while the Beam is a soundbar. Only the Sennheiser Ambeo Soundbar is better in this regard, and that costs significantly more. Support for practically every music streaming service under the sun, the ability to work with other Sonos speakers in a multi-room set-up, and the option to add two of the company’s music speakers (the Play:1, One, One SL, Play:3 or Play:5) as surrounds and/or the Sub for extra bass are all here. Sonos refers to the Arc's arrangement as 5.0.2, which might initially seem a little confusing but makes more sense when you think of the soundbar as attempting to replicate the soundfield of a five-channel surround sound system with no subwoofer and two height speakers. That being said, you can add a Sonos Sub if you want. But the Playbase is naturally deeper and heavier, weighing in at roughly 19 pounds to the Beam’s 6. While most people think that it’s just another pricey set of speakers, Sonos proves that it is more than that. To get the best sound from the Playbar, you need to stand it on its edge - which then runs the risk of obstructing your TV screen. What Hi-Fi? The base price between the Sonos Playbar and the Sonos Playbase are about the same, but the Sonos Beam can be found for $300 less. There’s a cohesion through the tonal spectrum that the Beam and Playbar can’t match. The Playbar uses an optical connection, whereas the Beam uses an HDMI ARC connection— by far the preferred choice for most setups — that can be fitted with an included optical adapter if needed. What’s more, its compact dimensions make it far easier to find space for and its more advanced features, voice control in particular, make it extra compelling. Sonos' Playbar has been the soundbar/base to beat in terms of movie and music performance for the past few years, and the Playbase exceeds it in all areas. But that doesn't mean the Playbar soundbar or the Playbase soundbase shouldn't be considered while they remain on the market. 47. Playbar largely feels like an inferior evolutionary predecessor to the Beam, The difference between a Playbase and a Soundbar. As the name suggests, this is a soundbase rather than a soundbar, which means it’s designed to support a television – some TVs with feet at either end will straddle it rather neatly. The Sonos Playbase is a good-sounding speaker for those who don’t want to fumble with a true surround sound system or simply don’t have the room for one. 2.7 in. While both devices here look good in practice, they diverge pretty significantly in general terms of design. The device’s silicone feet are on what would be the back panel against a wall, and this orientation makes the Playbar less tall and therefore less likely to obstruct a TV behind it. The different shapes and sizes of these three speakers means there are stark differences in the quantity, type and arrangement of the drivers in each. But the Playbase, unlike its siblings, has an Achilles heel: bright, sibilant treble. Experience the sensation of rich, low-end sound from Sub, combined with the remarkable clarity of the Arc or Beam soundbars. The Beam is the smallest of Sonos’s TV speakers by quite some margin. OnePlus co-founder to launch wireless earbuds under new Nothing brand. Both of them come with the standard suite of Sonos features. As long as your TV has over 2.3″ in clearance, the Playbase can squeeze underneath it comfortably. It’s little surprise that this is a bassier delivery than that of the Beam, but that it goes deeper than the Playbase is unexpected. Winner: Playbase. The addition of Dolby Atmos sets the Arc apart and it offers a superior surround sound experience than the existing models. The problem is that many older TVs don’t support HDMI-ARC technology. Sonos’ products are designed from the ground up to be as easy to use as possible, and that’s as much true for their soundbar market as it is for their more conventional speakers. That’s not to say that the Playbase doesn’t have options in terms of smart features or voice integration. You will receive a verification email shortly. The Sonos Beam and the Playbase are both meant to be a central speaker in a home theater system. A Gen2 device so will support Airplay2 direct connection. Sonos Beam vs. Playbase — What’s Different? The newest of the four, the Sonos Arc, will ultimately replace the Playbar and Playbase in the line-up, leaving you a choice between the Arc and Beam. And while the Playbase doesn’t go as deep as you might expect, the integration, tonality and naturalness of its bass frequencies is impressive. Here, we will provide an in-depth comparison between the two speakers and help you decide the best. If you are confused between Bose Soundbar 700 and Sonos Beam, this article is for you. Our speakers are as easy to set up as they are powerful, so you can play whatever you’re craving and savor every moment with the most brilliant, pulse-pounding sound money can buy. The Sonos Beam is great for apartments, but if you really want a powerful soundbar, the Sonos Arc (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the one to get. The differences in the four products are mostly due to their varying ages, with the Arc and Beam upping the feature ante and being much smarter than their forebears. Bass performance was phenomenal for movies. It’s also in many ways an awkward design. Sonos Beam vs Sonos Playbar – Verdict One of the most attractive things about the Sonos Beam is the price. The Playbase uses an optical cord, a format designed explicitly for sound. Design If you have your TV on a wall mount, then the Playbar makes more sense of the two. The Playbase is the weak link in terms of sound, with the treble spoiling what is otherwise an impressive presentation. 28.35 in. At 90cm wide and weighing 5.4kg, it’s big and heavy. The core features of Sonos products are there regardless of which of these Sonos soundbars you buy. These considerations are largely practical. The bigger Playbar has nine, individually amplified drivers: three tweeters and six midrange drivers. It’s not the ideal solution in terms of aesthetics, but it works in a pinch. The Sonos Beam remains significantly smaller and cheaper than the other Sonos TV speakers, yet it offers the same array of streaming and multi-room features, plus the crucial upgrades of voice control and an HDMI connection. It’s solidly built, and the precisely machined holes that cover the device for maximum air control are pretty cool. The Playbar is arguably the least attractive of the four devices, with its angular design looking a little outdated compared to the rounded panels of its newer siblings. Weighing just 2.8kg, the Beam will be less of a stress on your wall if you decide to wall-mount too. The different shapes and sizes of these four speakers means there are stark differences in the quantity, type and arrangement of the drivers in each. All four models are worth considering but if you're after the most complete surround-sound experience the Dolby Atmos-capable Arc is the obvious choice. The good news is that those Sonos S2 software plans won't affect buyers of the the Arc, Beam, Playbar or Playbase. The playbase needs a bigger space; at least 14 inches of space will be taken by it, while the beam has a width of 4 inches only. No such issues with the new Sonos Arc. The official Playbar wall mount (£39/$39/AU$60) is cheaper than that of the Beam (£59/$59/AU$89), while some buyers have found they need no bracket at all. While Playbase does so solely using the WiFi connection and lacks the Bluetooth feature. Beam is more compact but has a small sound stage too. Sonos Presents Playbase and Beam for your every need when comes to good premium home action and relaxation. When you can make this work, it essentially sinks into your entertainment center, making it practically invisible. The Playbase has the same number of tweeters and mid-range drivers as the Playbar, but also has a separately amplified, innovatively S-shaped woofer for its bass frequencies. The Playbase boasts three tweeters, ten amplifiers, six mid-woofers, and one woofer. Now you can have a Sonos Beam within the lounge, Apple HomePod within the kitchen and a Naim Mu-so Qb 2 within the bed room, all enjoying the identical music, due to AirPlay 2. Both devices support a vast array of music streaming services, and they can coordinate seamlessly with any existing or future Sonos speakers to create a comprehensive and adjustable sound system for your TV. 47 editorial reviews. It’s about as wide as a 43in TV, and wall-mounters will need to be fairly sure about the strength of the wall and fixtures they use. You can now have a Sonos Beam in the lounge, Apple HomePod in the kitchen and a Naim Mu-so Qb 2 in the bedroom, all playing the same music, thanks to AirPlay 2. That means that they can be integrated into your existing Sonos sound system. The Playbase is a soundbase while the Beam is a soundbar. There's also a microphone button and a single LED that indicates whether the Arc is or isn't listening for Alexa or Google Assistant voice commands. Unlike the Playbar, the Arc can't be positioned on either its front or side – it's oriented the same way regardless of positioning (the bespoke Sonos wall-mount is a £79/$79/AU$99 optional extra), and even automatically adjusts its frequency response accordingly. While the Playbar largely feels like an inferior evolutionary predecessor to the Beam, the Playbase comes with some distinct advantages that could make it a viable alternative if you’re shopping around for a superior speaker for your TV. The Playbase is meant to sit under a television, while a Beam is meant to sit next to a TV. Both are pretty and minimalist, offering black and white variants with smoothed off edges and buttons that allow you to control the units themselves from attache buttons that don’t stand out. So which Sonos soundbar is best for you? © There are now four Sonos soundbars in the company's multi-room family tree, the Sonos Beam, the Sonos Playbar, the Sonos Playbase and the newly-launched Sonos Arc, with each one offering something a little different. While both devices here look good in practice, they diverge pretty significantly in general terms of design. So it depends on your budget and how much time you spend watching movies and listening to music in that second room whether or not it's worth the extra cash. Not only is it smaller and lighter, the Beam also looks prettier than the Playbar and Playbase, though the Arc may give it a run for its money. That’s made possible by the Playbase’s height. The full Sonos Arc dimensions are 8.7 x 114 x 11.6cm (HWD), or 3.4 x 45 x 4.5 inches, and it weighs 6.25kg (13.78lbs). The Beam is the smallest of Sonos’s TV speakers by quite some margin. In some ways the Beam is obviously less sonically capable than the Playbar and Playbase, but its performance given its size and price is really exceptional. Here’s how the two stack up in practice. The Sonos PlayBase got a lot of things right - and the Beam takes a lot of its design cues from here. Through the use of a Sonos Sub and two Play:1 devices, you can even simulate wireless 5.1 surround sound. The Playbar is weightier, richer and more authoritative than the Beam. There's a slight lack of directness to music, but that's really our only criticism of the Arc's sound. Winner: Echo. It’s clear and balanced, with good rhythmic sense, plenty of punch and a natural midrange. If you’ve got no intention of wall-mounting, the obvious course of action is to buy the Playbase. By default, most Sonos speakers will have Wi-Fi and Ethernet, and nothing else. The big news on the Arc? On the other hand, the Playbar is a physically cumbersome and rather awkward proposition, and its styling and feature set is starting to show its age. Turning on your TV using Alexa is occasionally genuinely useful, and you can introduce deeper integration (playing particular shows via voice command) by adding a Fire TV device. The curvy design of the Arc makes it look rather svelte in pictures, but it is a not inconsiderable 8.5cm tall. Best budget soundbars 2021: excellent, affordable TV speakers, Best portable projectors: the best mini projectors 2021. Unsurprisingly, given its relatively diminutive dimensions, the Beam has the fewest drivers, with one tweeter and four full-range, elliptical woofers working with three passive bass radiators. The Sonos Beam also has … Read on for our thorough comparison of the features, specs, dimensions and sound – and today's best Sonos soundbar deals. Playbase - released last year - 10 amplifiers (3 tweeters, 6 mid-range, 1 woofer). Available colors: Editiorial reviews: 4.4 / 5. There’s a whole lot of versatility on display here. Review - Sonos Beam sound bar, a new breed of home cinema experience.Read more. The Sonos Playbase is available now for $699 (£699, AU$999), the same price as the Playbar. It doesn’t use a traditional HDMI cord either. One of the biggest selling points of the Beam is that it has Alexa features built right in. Both make use of a simple power cord and a cable that plugs them directly into the TV, but the format they use differs. Unsurprisingly, given its relatively diminutive dimensions, the Beam has the fewest drivers, with one tweeter and four full-range, elliptical woofers working with three passive bass radiators. Thank you for signing up to What Hi-Fi?. Immerse yourself in movies, games, TV, sports, and more by adding Sonos sound to your TV. Sign up below to get the latest from What Hi-Fi?, plus exclusive special offers, direct to your inbox! It will also offer a greater depth of bass than the Playbar and Beam thanks to its additional bass radiator. While Sonos got their start revitalizing audio systems for the 21st century, it took them some time to move into the AV market. You can add Alexa to the Playbar or Playbase (or any Sonos speaker) by adding an Amazon Echo device such as the Echo Dot to your network, but this isn’t nearly as neat or as functional. Measuring 65cm wide, 10cm deep and 7cm tall, it's easy to find a spot for under or in front of your TV. This largely comes down to their unique purposes. The Sonos Arc is specifically designed to partner the bigger TVs that are becoming more and more popular, with its width measurement of 114cm making it just a bit wider than a typical modern 49in TV. It’s incredibly responsive too. Create a 360-degree sonic landscape with Ones or One SLs for true surround sound. Either one would make a solid addition to any home. It's also a Gen2 device so it will support Airplay2 direct connections to (a little more future proof). The PlayBase by itself will undoubtedly sound better than the Beam. This is a situation where there’s no contest, and it’s easy enough to evaluate just looking at the tech packed into these devices. But when they did, they moved with a vengeance, releasing the Playbase, Playbar, and Beam over the course of a scant few years. Both the Beam and the Playbase are essentially plug and play. Toslink Digital input from TV. The Playbase has the same number of tweeters and mid-range drivers as the Playbar, … The problem is that in this orientation, the Playbar’s drivers are largely firing upwards, leading to a sound delivery that’s tall but lacking in directness. That means that the Amazon device will need to be in the same room as your TV if you want to make adjustments locally, but if your home is already integrated with Alexa devices, the integrated tech of the Beam won’t bring a whole lot to the table. It will go even louder and is capable of filling even the largest of rooms. In this video we take a look at the Bose Soundbar 500 and the Sonos Beam side by side and do a sound test. Simply connect the cable at both ends, and it will automatically transmit to its source device. The bigger Playbar has nine, individually amplified drivers: three tweeters and six midrange drivers. Soundbar products like the Sonos Playbar and Sonos Beam are slightly different in that they need to physically connect to a TV. Measuring just 5.8cm tall, it is much wider and deeper, giving the impression of a design that puts function before form. While Sonos has always focused on elegant designs that don’t overshadow your room or the other devices within your entertainment center. That it misses out on AirPlay 2 will be a deal-breaker for some. If you’re using a TV that predates 2013, chances are good that you’ll have to invest in an HDMI to optical adapter to make sure the device works as it should. The Arc, Beam and the Playbase have AirPlay 2 help, bringing with it the power to create multi-room techniques with audio system from a number of manufacturers. 25.63 in. by Lisa Hayden October 14, 2020. That also makes it significantly wider than the Playbar (90cm). The Sonos Beam sports one tweeter and four mid-woofers each accompanied by their own amplifiers. Sub is a good additional to them all - even the Playbar, I’m told! Sonos Playbar vs Beam vs Playbase. You might be wary of splashing the cash on a Sonos product, as the company recently hit the headlines over its plans to cease software updates for older products in May 2020. Please refresh the page and try again. On balance, the Sonos Beam is the pick of the three current models, so it's perhaps no surprise that it will soon sit on its own alongside the Arc as the two Sonos TV speakers to choose from in the new-look range. And with Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday and Cyber Monday all fast approaching, where you can find the cheapest deals? Combined with the fact that the Beam is the newest, state of the art, and most feature-packed offering of the three Sonos Soundbars, the Sonos Beam becomes instantly attractive. It's also the most musical of the quartet, capable of handling big dynamic shifts without breaking a sweat, and conveys plenty of subtle texture. Both are also two for one devices, providing full theater sound for your TV while also doubling as a robust core for a stereo system. Both are pretty and minimalist, offering black and white variants with smoothed off edges and buttons that allow you to control the units themselves fro…
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