About the Sonos Beam
Wall-to-wall TV sound and voice control your way
Wall-to-wall TV sound and voice control your way
The compact Beam is Sonos's most advanced TV sound bar to date. It's great for music, delivering spacious, detailed, stereo sound. And it can be part of a Sonos wireless multi-room audio system. Plus, the Beam has Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant built-in.
Add the optional wireless Sonos Sub for deep bass.
So you can choose which voice command technology you want to use. Each has its advantages, and both let you control your entire Sonos multi-room audio system using voice commands.
Wireless home theater options
The Beam can be paired wirelessly with a Sonos Sub to create a 3.1 home theater system. Add a pair of Play:1 speakers as wireless surrounds, and you've got a full 5.1 system for wraparound sound.
The Beam connects to your TV's HDMI ARC (Audio Return Channel) port with an included cable. If your TV doesn't have this kind of HDMI connection, Sonos has included an adapter cable for connecting to your television's optical digital output. Either way, you can send sound from your connected TV to other Sonos speakers all around your house.
Voice commands get the music flowing
The Beam has a five-mic array with noise cancellation to ensure it hears your commands. Tell Alexa or Google Assistant to mix and match from Spotify®, Deezer, TuneIn internet radio, and more. You can control even more music features through the Sonos app on your smartphone or tablet.
Beyond music
The Beam lets you access many of the services Alexa and Google Assistant have to offer.
The free Amazon Alexa app lets you set up "skills." These are the services you can direct Alexa to access. It includes information sites, popular smart home brands such as Nest and Wemo®, sports sites, and more.
The same is true with the free Google Home app. You can have hands-free voice control over compatible smart home devices from Wemo, Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, Nest, and others.
Expand to any (or every) room
Your Beam can be part of a larger multi-room audio system. Place Sonos players like the Sonos One, Play:1, or the larger Play:5, in every room where you want to listen to music. You can set up the players to work on your existing Wi-Fi® network.
Or, you can connect any Sonos speaker to your network router, and Sonos will create its own dedicated wireless network for even better performance. You can also use a Boost to create this network if you can't place a speaker near your router.
Compatible with AirPlay 2
The Sonos Beam has AirPlay 2 built in. That means you can stream audio directly from your iPhone®, iPad®, or Mac® computer through your Sonos system. That includes soundtracks from YouTube® videos and Netflix movies.
And if you subscribe to Apple Music®, you can do even more. Use Siri on your iPhone, iPad, or Apple TV 4K to control Apple Music with voice commands. Tell it what selection or playlist to play — and which Sonos speakers you want it to play through.
Trueplay speaker tuning for optimal sound
If you use your Sonos control app on an iPhone®, iPad®, or iPod touch®, you can use it to fine-tune the Sonos Beam with Sonos's Trueplay feature. It uses the mic built into your device to measure how the sound reflects off your walls and furnishings, and then it adjusts the speaker's settings for the best possible sound.
Product highlights:
- plays TV sound, music from the web, and digital audio files on your home network
- 5 built-in speakers, each with a Class-D digital amplifier
- 4 full-range woofers
- 1 tweeter
- 3 passive bass radiators
- connects to your TV's HDMI ARC port via an included cable
- accepts Dolby® Digital and 2-channel PCM audio signals
- optical digital audio adapter included as secondary connection option
- stream sound from TV shows and movies to other Sonos speakers
- built-in array of 5 far-field microphones
General voice control functions (common to both Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant):
- select which Sonos speakers to play
- volume, play, pause, skip and repeat functions
- get weather reports, news updates, time, sports and stock reports
- select streaming music services such as Spotify, Pandora, and Deezer (subscriptions required for some services)
- select radio stations through iHeartRadio or TuneIn Radio
- control compatible smart home products
- Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant selectable as default voice control for speaker
- can communicate with in-network Sonos products using other voice control service as default
Amazon Alexa voice control functions:
- Amazon Alexa app control
- free download from Apple App Store and GooglePlay
- control Amazon Alexa built-in compatible streaming services such as Amazon Music, Apple Music,and SiriusXM (subscription required for some services)
- add items to your shopping list (requires Amazon Prime account)
- access to Alexa skills, such as compatible smart home commands, Audible books, and more (subscriptions required for some services)
Google Assistant functions:
- Google Home app control
- free download from Apple App Store and GooglePlay
- set alarms, start timers, and add items to your shopping list
- control Chromecast built-in-compatible streaming services such as TIDAL, Google Play Music, and YouTube Music (subscription required for some services)
Sonos control app:
- free download from Apple App Store® and Google Play
- compatible with Apple® and Android™ smartphones and tablets
- play the same song on multiple Sonos speakers, or have different music playing on each one
- Trueplay automatically adjusts Sonos speakers to your room for optimum performance
- Trueplay currently works with iOS® devices only
- plays MP3 and WMA streaming internet radio stations
- plays MP3, WMA, AAC, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, ALAC, Ogg Vorbis, and WAV files
- plays personalized internet radio stations from Pandora
- plays songs from subscription streaming services such as Spotify, Apple Music, Rhapsody, TIDAL, and more
- plays music and podcasts directly from compatible iOS portable devices
Other features:
- Apple AirPlay® 2 lets you stream directly from an iPhone® or iPad® and ask Siri to play Apple Music
- Ethernet port for wired connection to your home network (Ethernet cable included)
- pair with a Sonos Sub and a pair of Play:1 speakers for wireless 5.1-channel surround sound
- wall-mountable
- requires AC power (adapter included)
- 25-5/8"W x 2-11/16"H x 3-15/16"D
- weight: 6.2 lbs.
- warranty: 1 year
- Our 60-day money-back guarantee
- MFR # BEAM1US1
What's in the box:
- Active soundbar speaker
- 6.5' AC power cord
- 5' HDMI cable
- 4.5" HDMI-to-optical adapter
- Quick Start Guide
- Important Product Information
Featured review
Sounds great and easy to install with other sonos speakers.
CURT from Ballston Lake, NY
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REVIEWS
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Sonos Beam reviews
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Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Los Angeles, CA on 6/10/2019
0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Hilton Head, SC on 5/30/2019
Works and sounds great. No problem integrating into my home Sonos system. Connecting to the LG TV was just a HDMI cable.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Mashpee, MA on 5/22/2019
Easy to use and great sound quality. Installed under new 55" tv and very happy overall.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Thin Sound
Mitchell from Columbus, OH on 5/15/2019
I'm disappointed in its thin and hollow sound. The little speakers in it just aren't big enough to provide a dynamic range. I have a Sonos Sub with it but still it's definitely a downgrade from the two bookshelf speakers I had with my receiver for TV and music. Set up and tuning couldn't be simpler-the Sonos ecosystem is really remarkable. I'll look forward to when they make a slightly larger version of the Beam that will sound more full-bodied. (I know they have a larger soundbar but it doesn't have ARC or Airplay.)
Pros: Very easy setup and operation. Attractive.
Cons: Sounds like $30 plugin speakers for your computer.
1 of 2 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from New Market, MN on 5/7/2019
0 of 0 found this helpful
Awesome Sound!!!!
Tim from New Castle, IN on 4/29/2019
Awesome!!!! I paired the Beam with a pair Sonos Ones... for incredible surround sound, in a 15X30 Family Room... I plan to add the sub woofer later... possibly another Set of Ones... for Up Front Surround... these replace an Onkyo 135W / Channel with Polk Audio speakers... I currently only use the Sonos for TV sound... it will play my music... But hard to Onkyo & Beat Polk Audio when you want to Jam!!!!
Pros: User Friendly, Easy Set-Up, Alexa Controlled
Cons: I have an older TV and does not have the ARC -HDMI output, thus I have to use the fiber optic out out, thus I can't use the Alexa Voice Feature!
0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Cleveland, OH on 4/22/2019
0 of 1 found this helpful
Really good customer service!
Crutchfield customer from Decatur, GA on 4/16/2019
0 of 1 found this helpful
Awesome Sounds.....
Crutchfield customer from Pittsboro, NC on 3/27/2019
The Sonos Beam definitely delivers the voice and sound enhancement that has been lacking from my Sony XBR55 Smart TV. I like the flexibility to change the bass and treble to bring out the best in both dialog and music. We no longer have to crank up the TV volume to understand character conversations while at the same time background noise has been toned down. The Sonos Beam delivers great sound and clarity for it's size. Great engineering on the part of Sonos.
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3 of 4 found this helpful
Extremely Pleased
Crutchfield customer from Cincinnati, OH on 3/26/2019
I am extremely pleased with the Sonos Beam Sound Bar. This product is ideal for a smaller space or bedroom and produces an excellent soundstage and clarity for both music and movies. I already had a pair of Sonos Play Ones that I was using in the bedroom for music. I decided to pair them with the Beam to create a surround sound system for that space. Set up was straight forward. I used the optical adapter since my tv did not have an ARC HDMI port. I had to make a few adjustments through the TVs menu to redirect the sound, but Sonos's guidance was spot on. It even had a process to recognize my tv remote's volume control. One less remote! This is the first Alexa device I have tried, and the only one we have in the house. I have used it to control the Sonos speakers in other rooms as well as the bedroom where it is set up and it works smoothly, even while watching TV. We now have clear dialogue, immersive surround, and no more riding the remote volume when we switch to an action scene. The bass is decent but not completely convincing. Since we live in an apartment, that is actually a bonus. If you need to improve your TV sound in a smaller space you would be hard pressed to find a better option for the money, especially if you already have other Sonos products.
Pros: Great sound for movies and music. Size. Wide sound stage Extremely easy to set up Excellent Alexa integration Room tuning
Cons: Price, though it is a good value given the performance and amenities
1 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos- Excellent
Crutchfield customer from Lakeville, PA on 3/19/2019
One of most prized additions to my SansonSmart TV. The sound is robust and very clear for both the tv and music. Never enjoyed speakers like this before, great selection.
Pros: Great Sound
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1 of 2 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Hixson, TN on 3/7/2019
Very happy with this purchase. Simple to setup and seamlessly works through the ARC port.
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0 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
CURT from Ballston Lake, NY on 3/4/2019
Sounds great and easy to install with other sonos speakers.
Pros: Sounds great
Cons: None
0 of 1 found this helpful
Great sound in a small package
Joe from Sanibel Island, FL on 2/27/2019
As usual, shopping for and selecting the right solution for our application was a breeze thanks to help from Wade at Crutchfield. Delivery was prompt, as promised and the out of the box setup was a snap. There were only two wires to connect. The results look great and the Sonos Beam enhances the sound of our TV tremendously. I would definitely return to Crutchfield and to Sonos for all of my future audio needs!
Pros: Size, sound and price
Cons: None so far
1 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from College Station, TX on 2/18/2019
Great sound, especially for music. Really easy to setup. Speech enhancement works well for video. Hope the google home connectivity comes out soon.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Big Sound!
Guest from Crozet, VA on 2/16/2019
Love it! Big sound and it's a great way to use Alexa! So glad I got it.
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1 of 2 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Rowlett, TX on 2/14/2019
I already have sonos in my living room for surround sound. I had the sonos 1 in my bedroom-this was a great addition, now I have the same quality sound in my bedroom all using the Beam. Sound is amazing and it feels like I am watching a movie in the bedroom. A great addition to anyone who is looking to add to their Sonos.
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2 of 3 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Saint Louis, MO on 2/13/2019
Great sounds for its size. Connects to the rest of my Sonos system so I can listen to the TV through my in ceiling speakers. It also allows for that to be turned off and only played through the in ceiling if desired.
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0 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
George from Carrollton, TX on 2/7/2019
Very easy to setup and stream music. Great sound too.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Nick from Jackson, MS on 2/4/2019
The Beam is perfect for my living room. Fills the room with sound. Easy set up and sounds great.
Pros: Sounds Great Easy set up
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Good but bizarre volume fluctuations
Crutchfield customer from Berkeley, CA on 2/3/2019
Extremely easy to install and decent audio. Four stars because our first unit developed an odd problem on it's 58th day. The volume started fluctuated from the bottom of the range to the top of the range over and over without our having touched a thing. I found evidence on the web that this has occurred with some other Beams as well. Crutchfield replaced it so I didn't have to deal with Sonos. (Thanks, guys!) Hoping for the best.
Pros: Ease of install Compact size Decent audio
Cons: Problem with first unit Custom shelf attachment is too expensive
5 of 5 found this helpful
Great sound
Richard from Denver, NC on 2/3/2019
Sound is crisp and clear works great in our tv room
Pros: Perfect for our tv sound is crisp and clear
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Cincinnati, OH on 1/28/2019
Awesome device. Works well. This is our second. I recommend highly.
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0 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
ALEK from Lowell, AR on 1/23/2019
I have the playbase 5.1 setup in my living room, which sounds amazing. I bought the beam for my tv in the bedroom. Overall it sounds good, but it is flat compared to the playbase. You'll want to pair this with a sub to give it a full sound
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Jordan from Skokie, IL on 1/14/2019
This is a great way to have a noticeable upgrade to the sound quality of a TV while also making it a SONOS zone. Sound quality isn't quite as good as the Playbar, but the cost is so much lower. HDMI ARC capability is a huge plus.
Pros: Easy to use and set up, small profile, reasonable price, great connectivity.
Cons: Sound quality not as incredible as more expansive Playbar.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
vahan from Egg Hbr Twp, NJ on 1/3/2019
0 of 0 found this helpful
Awesome soundbar
Crutchfield customer from New York, NY on 12/23/2018
Go ahead and buy this soundbar and you will never regret it. It makes a great gift.
Pros: Great sound Compact Beautiful design
Cons: None
0 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Columbus, OH on 12/20/2018
Performs as expected. Seamless integration into broader house Sonos system. Extremely simple set up process.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Norfolk, VA on 12/19/2018
Excellent center speaker, not a bargain price but it functions like a receiver on my Samsung Smart TV with directly hookup and easy control. Could use the subwoofer for the bass, but great midrange clarity and good range.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Atlanta, GA on 12/18/2018
0 of 0 found this helpful
Wonderful sound
Mary from Covington, VA on 12/11/2018
Just what the son wanted. He did the research and picked out the best. And Crutchfield delivered fast and secure. So pleased all around.
Pros: size, delivery of sound, quality.
Cons: none
0 of 0 found this helpful
Great Sound, Small Package!
David from New York, NY on 12/10/2018
Fantastic product! Great sound, nice looking, and perfect for a bedroom!
Pros: Great sound, small form factor, great looking, easy to use
Cons: None
0 of 1 found this helpful
Very decent sound in a small package
Crutchfield customer from Brooklyn, NY on 12/10/2018
This is a solid Sonos product, especially good for slightly smaller spaces. (I won't go into the many virtues of Sonos products here, but they're great.) The sound is good, but not as rich as the larger sound bar - and because it's more compact, you can't expect it to be. Set up is very easy, and the item looks good in a nondescript-blend in kind of way. If you want something compact, versatile, and unobtrusive, this might be for you. If you want somewhat richer sound, possibly not. (Full disclosure, I like my old sound bar better even though it takes up more space. I do not have a woofer set up; I'm sure that would make both the Beam and Sound Bar sounds even better. My nephew heard the Beam and decided it would be perfect for his smaller apartment living room, so he's buying it from me and I'm keeping the sound bar.)
Pros: Size, appearance, ease of set up
Cons: Not as great sound as other products.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Ballston Lake, NY on 12/9/2018
It's a sonos product, what do you expect. Added product to my sonos sound collection. Works as advertised. More importantly, Crutchfield came through again with profession knowledge, price point, quick delivery. All in all good shopping experience.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Virginia Beach, VA on 12/9/2018
Amazing service from Crutchfield and the system setup was quick and easy. Highly recommend this product
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Great Piece of Equipment
Darrick from Brandon, FL on 12/9/2018
I love this little joy in a box! The beam isn't something that will blow the walls out of your house it's something more in-depth. It gives the listener the opportunity to pair the device with the One speakers and this combination brings nothing but pure audio bliss
Pros: Sound
Cons: Needs to be paired with two Sonos One speakers
0 of 0 found this helpful
Premium Sound Bar
Joe from Imperial, MO on 12/9/2018
The sound bar was better than my expectations from ut thought ut would be. Great sound in a compact design and enjoy the Alexa ferure controls as well. Very Happy with my purchace!!
Pros: Sound, Alexa, Looks.
Cons: A remote could be handy, instead of having to use a smart phone instead?
0 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Kevin from Lake Worth, FL on 12/9/2018
Exactly what you expect of SONOS = The Best
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Steamboat Spr, CO on 12/7/2018
It's a sound bar and that's it , it's great if you want the complete system spend $1200.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Webster, NY on 12/6/2018
Integrates with other equipment I have.! Exactly what we needed to meet our needs!
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Glenshaw, PA on 12/6/2018
Sounds great in a 5.0 surround setup in my master bedroom. Enough bass to skip putting Sub with it. Unlike my Playbar which excells in tandem with Sub
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Lucas, TX on 12/6/2018
0 of 0 found this helpful
Ensure you tune it.
Chris from Easton, PA on 12/2/2018
Nice sound bar, make sure you do all the set up. Out of the box this thug sounds muffled and too much bass. Do the audio set up wizard and ensure you try the Voice Emhancemnet feature as I was ready to return it before this was on. I am coming from an older Sony sound bar with a separate sub and I knew I would be missing some bass. Now just need to get use to it. I couldn't swallow the 1400$ price tag for the larger bar and sub. Now I can finally have my tv sound on my kitchen sonos speaker again. Oh, and easy set up lie always for sonos. I think this now makes 9 speakers in my house.
Pros: Easy set up as always. Now can have my tv sound in the kitchen again.
Cons: No base without $$ sub.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Much better than I thought
Paul H. from Oakland, CA on 12/1/2018
I had seen quite a few reviews of the Sonos Beam on You Tube and concerns about it's sound quality compared to the Playbar and Playbase. If you want these older systems that's fine as they probably do sound better as they are more expensive but I'm thoroughly satisfied with the Beam for both music and movies and throw in that it's much newer, has a wider range of expandability for future upgrades as well as Alexa and Google Assistant (shortly) built-in. I initially thought I would need the Sonos Sub to pair it with but it has very good bass without it and would be unnecessary for most people's needs. I really appreciate the simplicity of setup and how well it integrates with the Play One's I have - it' s just another Sonos speaker that = you're used to using but it can broadcast audio through HDMI-ARC as another input source. If you're concerned about sound quality and like the Play One's I think it's a a considerable upgrade to it and given it's flexibility as both a speaker as well as soundba and voice assistant it's a very solid and compelling choice.
Pros: Sound Quality. Ease of Use
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Guest from Louisa, VA on 11/30/2018
I love this Sonos sound bar and how well it ties on with my Sonos system. However, one drawback that doesn't just apply to the Sonos Beam but also the Sonos system in general is how it regularly requires app updates and system updates of the beam and speakers. As someone who doesn't have broadband at home these updates can regularly exceed my data plan for a given period when the system is left connected to my Internet.
Pros: Great sound
Cons: Volume has to be controlled by Sonos console app and has to be connected to WiFi. Tv can't utilize it without WiFi and can't adjust volume on it with TV remote.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Very poor user interface
Frank from Johns Island, SC on 11/29/2018
Stay away from this product. Everytime you play a different music source through your Beam, you have to reinstall the Beam connection to your TV. Worthless. Google this problem and you see there are thousands of folks who have this issue. The app hides the TV source in a 'Browse menu. ??? Fine if all you ever want to do is play your TV through your Beam. Otherwise not so.
Pros: None
Cons: see review
4 of 7 found this helpful
Great sound
Crutchfield customer from Matthews, NC on 11/20/2018
Great sound. Bought the ones with it also. Sound is amazingly from such a small speaker and dialogue is clear.
Pros: Sound. Clarity.
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Grayslake, IL on 11/12/2018
The Sonos Beam was purchased for my sister to replace the built-in speakers on her TV. Overall she is happy with the Beam. Highlights: * Size - Pretty small so it doesn't take all that much space * Sound - Much better than the TV speakers but nothing like my full size Klipsch speakers (no surprise here) * Can be controlled via the Sonos app which means you can play the various audio sources it supports * If your TV supports ARC then your TV remote will control the Beam * Alexa support - not much experience here but I wish it also supported Google Assistant * Wall mounting hardware is not included but can be purchased separately if you want to hang the Beam under or above the TV Now back to the configuration. Initially when I tried to configure the speaker the Sonos app kept failing to configure it. The first time I tried to configure the speaker the app asked me for location permission. I refused it since I didn't think that it should need to have this permission to configure a speaker. Eventually I gave the app the permission and the configuration completed successfully. Another issue I ran into is changing the WIFI network. When I tested it in my house I registered it to my network but when I installed it at my sister's I needed to change the registered WIFI network. Nothing I tried helped, including connecting the speaker to the router via a cable as suggested by the app. Eventally I had to reset the speaker to factory in order to
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Sunset Beach, NC on 10/20/2018
Great sound, easy to setup. Would love to be able to pair my TV remote (especially volume) with the Beam.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from San Diego, CA on 10/8/2018
Great sound, compact, easy to install, configure each speaker, wonderful to relax and pleasure listening.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from San Leandro, CA on 10/2/2018
Remember to calibrate your Sonos Beam and it will give a much better experience than what's out of the box. But don't expect it to replace a full surround system by itself. I was trying to upgrade and simplify from an old 2.1 system I've been using for almost 15 years. Sonos Beam doesn't have base notes that my old one did, but I didn't expect it to considering how small it is. The size and mountability is a plus however. And the wireless capability is just so convenient for my small home. Once I get the subwoofer, it will probably complete my system for the long term. Great soundscape. But the system excels mostly for music. It is kinda weird running an Apple TV 4K with movies. The sound doesn't feel as accurate. But Youtube and other music services work wonders!
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Atlanta, GA on 9/24/2018
Another great product from Sonos. Set up was essentially instantaneous using HDMI ARC and linking with my other Sonos products. The sound fills my medium-sized family room very well (strictly using the soundbar--not even paired with surrounds or a sub). Given that this is serving as the soundbar for my primary TV, dialogue clarity in TV shows/movies was the most important feature for me, and to this point the dialogue is coming through very clearly. My kids have also enjoyed the Alexa feature to control the TV (power on and off, volume up and down, etc.). Highly recommend.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Modern look and small footprint
Grant from San Francisco, CA on 9/22/2018
Great sound out of a small sound bar. I'd say that the sound is crisp right up until about 70% volume. At that time, you'll start to wish you had the sonos sub as well. If you're not watching BOOMING action movies, you'll be really happy with this. Everything about it feels premium.
Pros: Easy to set up, modern look
Cons: muddy bass at louder volume
1 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Youngstown, OH on 9/19/2018
The Beam has excellent sound for a compact device. If you have a large room, this may not do it for you, but I paired it with two Sonos One's and it delivers very nice surround sound. You cannot pair it with other Sonos speakers for surround sound but you can group all the speakers for a very nice effect. Also it was extremely easy to set up and I do not have ARC on my Samsung TV.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Great compact sound bar
Mike from Austin, TX on 9/18/2018
Small and compact, this speaker delivers great sound with super clarity on voices. Easy to mount and set up with the added bonus of Alexa, this is a great speaker for a Sonos household like mine.
Pros: Easy to mount and set up and has great sound for its size.
Cons: Could be thinner.
1 of 1 found this helpful
Small but powerful.
Salvatore from Quakertown, PA on 9/17/2018
Fantastic sound from a small looking unit. Alexia works great, as well.
Pros: Size, sound.
Cons: None
1 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Gretna, NE on 9/11/2018
Simple and sounds great. Love that I can play my tv through my whole house
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Millsboro, DE on 9/9/2018
After 4 (yes 4) different sound bars, Drummer recommended the new Sonos Beam. Great sound and depth, finally. The conversations are actually pretty clear despite not always understanding those British ones all the time. Easy set up with ARC from my Sony. Would recommend highly.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Cranford, NJ on 8/30/2018
Great product! Very easy to set up. I can't wait to add more Sonos speakers for that surround sound experience.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Guest from Portland, OR on 8/28/2018
The sound is better than my TV but very little surround even in a small room. It is a very good music speaker but over priced for music.
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1 of 1 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
J Scott from Littleton, CO on 8/26/2018
I'm a little disappointed in the Sonos Beam. I own 2 Amps, a subwoofer and a Play 3 and love them all. The Beam didn't improve the sound from our TV but does work well for playing music by itself or grouped with other Sonos players. Another problem is when playing the TV through the Beam and I group in another room, the Kitchen, every few minutes there is a blip of no sound through the Kitchen system. Guess I'll have to call Crutchfield and or Sonos to figure this out.
Pros: Looks good and sounds good playing music.
Cons: Didn't improve TV sound much. Sound blips when Kitchen system is grouped with TV.
2 of 2 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Chicago, IL on 8/13/2018
Sound appears much larger than what you'd expect. Fills up a large living room. Clear crisp sound. Attractive design. Switching back and forth from TV to Apple AirPlay causes some loss of signal at time, but I think that's an Airplay issue.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Great sound bar at great price.
Crutchfield customer from Rochester, NY on 8/11/2018
Very happy with the beam. Great sound, well rounded for a sound bar. Not great on bass, but, if you want booming bass you need a sub. Connected to Play:1 to it for full surround and I really like it. It does sound a little off if you sit too far to one side at a sharp angle but, what can you do. For the price, I think it's great.
Pros:
Cons: None yet, only been about a month.
0 of 0 found this helpful
Another Great Sonos Product
Matt from Naples, FL on 8/7/2018
This is another great Sonos Product with much better sound than I anticipated. Given its size versus the Playbase and the Playbar I was concerned that the level of volume would be considerably less. This is not the case. Setup was straightforward and as easy as the rest of the Sonos lineup. Syncing with three Play I's and a Play 5 was more or less instantaneous. I have not yet used its Alexa capabilities as of yet simply because I have a few Alexa enabled products scattered about my house but I will give same a try soon and add to this review. In summary, a very good product at a very fair price point. Highly recommended.
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2 of 2 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Nicholas from Gurley, AL on 8/7/2018
Simply superb. The sound that comes from such a small unit must be heard. Something so small should not be able to put out such a wide sound stage and staggering bass. This product is worth every penny.
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0 of 0 found this helpful
Can't enable Alexa
David from White Plains, MD on 8/5/2018
Three stars because I can't activate the Alexa feature which was the main reason i bought this. Some quirk with enabling the Alexa skill that I can't resolve. 8 hour wait time with Sonos customer service!
Pros: Small, nice sound
Cons: No customer support from sonos
7 of 11 found this helpful
APPS? Give me a break!
Ron from Cliffside Park, NJ on 8/2/2018
I miss quality sound. See my "cons" for more.
Pros: Haven't found any.
Cons: Why do I have to download an "app" to run or control this speaker? It's pure nonsense because everybody has IPhones or its equivalent piece of junk. A Speaker, amplified or not, should plug in and play when it is fed sound - pure and simple. Nothing else matters when you buy a speaker. You want sound and not have to play games to get it. T-t-t-hat's all folks!
13 of 84 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from New York, NY on 7/31/2018
Sleek look, simple setup, sounds great, easy to use for multiple functions (e.g., TV speaker, AirPlay music from iPhone/Mac, Alexa)
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7 of 9 found this helpful
Great Sound from a small sound bar!!
Joe from Stuart, FL on 7/31/2018
Great sounding smaller version of Sonos' larger sound bar!! Especially good for smaller rooms.
Pros: Great sound for smaller rooms
Cons: Better to buy larger sound bar for larger rooms.
6 of 6 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Crutchfield customer from Boca Raton, FL on 7/30/2018
Super simple setup and sounds great. The Alexa feature sets it apart from any soundbar that I've had in the past.
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4 of 5 found this helpful
Sonos Beam
Julius from Uppr Marlboro, MD on 7/30/2018
I was quite happy with my purchase of the Sonos Beam Playbar.
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3 of 4 found this helpful
More details on the Sonos Beam
Features & specs
| General | ||
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure | Passive Radiator | |
| Design | Bar | |
| Pieces in System | 1 | |
| Color | White | |
| Tweeter | 1 Dome tweeter | |
| Midrange | 4 Full-range woofers | |
| Woofer | 3 Passive Radiators | |
| Separate Subwoofer | Optional | |
| Subwoofer Driver | None | |
| Features | ||
| Surround Sound Decoding | 5.1-channel | |
| Dolby Atmos | No | |
| DTS:X | No | |
| Dialogue Enhancement | Yes | |
| Auto Volume | No | |
| 4K Video Compatible | No | |
| HDR Video Compatible | No | |
| Audio Return Channel | Yes | |
| Remote IR Passthrough | No | |
| Works with TV Remote (IR) | No | |
| Voice Control | Alexa & Google Home built-in | |
| Apple AirPlay | AirPlay 2 | |
| Control by App | Apple iOS, Android | |
| Bluetooth Connectivity | No | |
| Wi-Fi | Yes | |
| Wall-mountable | Yes | |
| Mounting Bracket Included | Optional | |
| Surface Mount Stand Included | No | |
| Speaker Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Speaker Labor Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Amplifier Parts Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Amplifier Labor Warranty | 1 Year | |
| Specifications | ||
| System Frequency Response | Not Given | |
| Powered System | Yes | |
| Sound Bar RMS Power | Not given | |
| Subwoofer RMS Power | N/A | |
| Inputs and Outputs | ||
| Mini Stereo Audio Inputs | None | |
| RCA Stereo Audio Inputs | None | |
| Optical Digital Audio Inputs | None | |
| Coaxial Digital Audio Inputs | None | |
| HDMI Inputs | None | |
| HDMI Outputs | 1 | |
| USB Port | No | |
| Subwoofer Output | Wireless | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Sound Bar (inches) | 2-11/16H x 25-5/8W x 3-15/16D | |
| Sound Bar Weight | 6.2 lbs | |
| Subwoofer (inches) | No Subwoofer | |
| Subwoofer Weight | N/A | |
Product Research
Home Theater Section
Network & Multiroom Audio
Remote & Voice Control
Home Theater Section
Multi-Speaker Array: The Sonos Beam houses utilizes a multi-speaker array to harmonize low and high frequencies. The Beam houses one tweeter for crisp and clear dialog, four full-range woofers for faithful midrange and rich midbass, plus three passive radiators for deep and accurate bass.
Class-D Amplification: Five Class-D digital amplifiers are perfectly tuned to match the Beam's single tweeter, four full-range range woofers, and the acoustic architecture of the passive radiator enclosure. Thanks to discrete Class-D amplifier technology, you get clear and dynamic sound at any volume level without distortion.
HDMI ARC: The Sonos Beam is equipped one HDMI ARC output to connect the soundbar to your TV's HDMI ARC input. The Beam's HDMI ARC output allows audio from your TV to be sent through the soundbar speaker system. The HDMI ARC output supports Dolby Digital (up to 5.1ch) and 2ch PCM. Some televisions will only pass 2ch PCM through the ARC-enabled HDMI input from devices connected to the TV via HDMI or analog, and will only pass Dolby Digital via the TV's built-in tuner, network apps, or USB.
Notes:
- If your TV does not have a HDMI ARC input, but does have an optical (toslink) digital output, an HDMI-to-optical digital adapter is included (supports 5.1ch Dolby Digital and 2ch PCM). The HDMI-to-optical digital adapter features a female HDMI connector on one end to slip on to a HDMI cable's male connector and a male optical (toslink) connector on the other end to plug into your TV optical digital input (you cannot use a dedicated optical digital cable with the Sonos Beam).
- The Sonos Beam does not offer an analog input connectivity for your TV.
Sound Adjustments: The Sonos Beam offers adjustable Bass & Treble, as well as a Dialog Clarity mode and Night mode. Turn on Dialog Clarity to enhance speech and vocals, so you never miss a word. Night mode allows you to enjoy late night TV without waking the whole house by balancing the sound output of loud and soft passages.
Trueplay Tuning (for Apple iOS): The layout of a room, and where a speaker is placed, can have a significant impact on the sound that you hear. Trueplay, an auto-tune app within the Sonos App, uses the microphone in your Apple iOS 8.0+ device to measure how sound reflects off walls, furnishings and other surfaces in a room, and then fine tunes the Sonos Beam soundbar speaker to make sure it sounds great no matter where you've placed it. The Sonos Beam speaker already sounds fantastic, but Trueplay brings you even closer to how music should sound. Completing Trueplay tuning for a room takes approximately 3 minutes from start to finish.
Note: Trueplay is currently not compatible with Android devices.
Wireless 5.1ch Speaker System: Add the Sonos Sub 1 Wireless Powered Subwoofer and a pair of Sonos One, Play:1, Play:3, or Play:5 speakers for a wireless 5.1ch surround sound experience (sub and speakers sold separately). Now you don't have to run wires to a powered sub or rear speakers to enjoy true 5.1ch audio. In conjunction with the Sonos Boost, you can even use the Sonos Connect:Amp as a rear amplifier with separate rear speakers; in this configuration you will still need to run wire between the rear speakers and the Connect:Amp (Boost, Connect:Amp, and speakers sold separately).
Mounting Options: The Sonos Beam's compact and versatile design make it great for small to medium size rooms where space is at a premium. You can place the Beam soundbar on your TV stand or purchase the custom designed wall mount (sold separately) to easily and securely hang it on your wall.
Network & Multiroom Audio
Sonos Multiroom Eco-System: The Beam is part of the Sonos wireless multiroom music eco-system consisting of a family of wireless network speakers, players, and amplifiers. Start with the Beam soundbar speaker and add other Sonos products - including the Sonos Play:1 / Play:3 / Play:5 powered speakers, the Sonos One voice-activated speaker, and the Sonos Connect:Amp / Connect zone players (all sold separately). With multiple zones, you can play the same or different songs in different rooms of your home. Up to 32 Sonos devices can be connected in one system.
Two Ways to Connect Wirelessly: Sonos brings great sounding music wirelessly to any room in your house, without a big wiring project through SonosNet or WiFi.
- SonosNet Wireless Mesh Network: Sonos can utilize its own SonosNet proprietary wireless mesh network technology to provides superior wireless range for whole-house coverage, ensure synchronous music playback, and avoid sources of wireless interference. The transmitting range of the Sonos wireless system is approximately 100', depending upon your home's layout. In addition to the Beam, you will need a Sonos Boost (sold separately) connected to your network router/modem via a Ethernet cable.
- WiFi Wireless Network: Sonos can also operate over your home's existing WiFi network (802.11 b/g; 2.4GHz). Because you are connecting wirelessly to your home's existing WiFi network, you do not need to hardwire a Sonos Boost to your router/modem. The Sonos system's wireless range will be dependent on your home's existing WiFi network.
Notes:
- You cannot connect the Sonos system via both the SonosNet proprietary mesh network and WiFi; you will need to choose one. Sonos recommends using its proprietary SonosNet wireless mesh network over WiFi when applicable.
- The Sonos proprietary mesh network will provide a more secure wireless connection with fewer interruptions for optimum performance.
- WiFi is subject to greater interference from other WiFi and 2.4GHz devices on your network. WiFi connectivity is not compatible with 5GHz (you will have to use the Sonos wireless mesh network in this case).
Ethernet Port (10/100 Mbps): In addition to built-in WiFi, the Sonos Beam is equipped with one Ethernet port (10/100 Mbps). Use it to wire directly to your router to operate Sonos if WiFi is unstable, or use the Ethernet port to provide Internet accessibility to non-wireless devices if you're using a SonosNET Boost setup.
Music Streaming Services: Sonos gives you access to unlimited music; such as your iTunes library, your favorite music services, and thousands of Internet radio stations, shows, and podcasts.
- Online Music Services: Sonos works seamlessly with TuneIn, Spotify, Pandora, SiriusXM, Google Play Music, Apple Music, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Rhapsody, TIDAL, Deezer, SoundCloud, and more; plus downloads from any service offering DRM-free tracks. (Service availability varies by region.) Click here for the latest online music services (some online services require a paid subscription).
- Music Libraries: Sonos supports playback of music from any computer or network-attached storage (NAS) device on your home network where you have shared music folders. Sonos can play music stored on up to 16 PCs, Macs or NAS (Network Attached Storage) devices on your home network, supporting the most popular audio formats. Sonos indexes your music folders so you can view your music collection by categories (such as artists, albums, composers, genres, or tracks). Sonos supports the following audio file formats - MP3 (compressed), WMA (compressed), AAC (MPEG4), iTunes, Ogg Vorbis, Audible (format 4), Apple Lossless, FLAC (lossless), WAV (uncompressed), and AIFF (uncompressed).
- iTunes Music: The Sonos wireless music system supports the playback of music and playlists managed with your iTunes account (playlists are limited to 40,000 tracks). Sonos can access your iTunes music files from your network computer or directly from your Apple iPod iOS device (4.0+) running the Sonos app.
AirPlay 2 (Firmware Update Available): AirPlay 2 is an advanced and easy-to-use wireless multiroom audio platform for iTunes, Apple Music, and other Apple iOS apps. With AirPlay 2 you can play any sound from your Apple iOS device (running iOS 11.4 or later) or Mac computer (running OS X 10.13.2) on the Sonos One, Play:5, Beam speakers, and other compatible AirPlay 2 speakers throughout your home. You will also be able to ask Siri-enabled devices (like your Apple iPhone, iPad, or Watch) to control playback of your Apple Music on compatible Sonos speakers. You can even watch videos and movies from YouTube and Netflix on your compatible Apple iOS device or Mac computer with perfectly synced audio on a Sonos One, Play:5, or Beam speaker. You can choose to play audio in one room, play the same audio in grouped rooms, or play the same audio in every room.
Note: Even though the Play:1, Play:3, Playbar, and other Sonos products are not AirPlay 2 compatible, you can still group these Sonos speakers with an AirPlay 2 compatible player (like the Sonos One, Play:5, or Beam) to unlock AirPlay for your entire system.
Home Network Requirements: To access Internet music services, Internet radio, and any digital music stored on your computer or Network-Attached Storage (NAS) device, your home network must meet the following requirements:
- High-speed DSL/Cable modem, or fiber-to-the-home broadband connection for proper playback of Internet-based music services. If your Internet service provider only offers Satellite Internet access, you may experience playback issues due to fluctuation in download rates.
- If your modem is not a modem/router combination and you want to take advantage of Sonos' automatic online updates, or stream music from an Internet-based music service, you must install a wireless router in your home network. If you don't have a wireless router, you will need to purchase and install one before setting up your system.
- The Sonos Controller app (for Apple iOS 10.0+ and Android OS 5.0+) is required for system setup. Initial setup is not possible through the Sonos Controller software (for Windows PC (7-up) and Mac OS X 10.10-up).
- Connect at least one Sonos component to your home network router using an Ethernet cable, and then you can add other Sonos components wirelessly. Or setup your Sonos component wirelessly via WiFi without any hardwire connection.
- For best results, you should connect the computer or NAS drive that contains your personal music library collection to your home network router using an Ethernet cable.
- Make sure all of your Sonos components have the latest software update installed.
Note: Although Sonos is compatible with most networking equipment, some network devices are incompatible. Usually when networking hardware does not work with Sonos, it's because it lacks support for the network protocols that Sonos uses to operate, like UPnP, STP, and SMB/CIFS.
Automatic Updates: The Sonos Beam supports free automatic software updates so you will always have the newest features and music services to enjoy. Simply register the Beam and Sonos will automatically notify you when software updates are available through Sonos Controller app. By simply pressing one button your system updates itself.
Remote & Voice Control
Sonos Controller App: Sonos allows you to control playback functions, search features, and multiroom audio distribution through the Sonos Controller app (for Apple iOS 10.0+ and Android OS 5.0+) or the Sonos Controller software (for Windows PC (7-up) and Mac OS X 10.10-up) - letting you control the entire Sonos eco-system from your compatible smartphone, tablet, laptop, or computer. The new navigation bar (My Sonos, Rooms, Browse, Search and More) at the bottom of the app makes finding what you're looking for effortless and moving between music quicker than ever.
- My Sonos: Organize your music with the My Sonos tab. It's the simplest way to combine and access all the music you love. Bringing together in one simple screen all your favorite songs, playlists, albums, podcasts and radio stations from across your different music services.
- Now Playing: The Now Playing screen features album art and basic playback controls. For a deeper look into the music you're listening to, the "Info View" screen gives you artist bios, album reviews and concert listings. See related artist suggestions to discover a new band for your queue. You can also add to your playlists, delete songs from your library, and share tracks to Twitter or Facebook.
- Rooms: You can choose to play different songs in different rooms, choose to group all rooms together to hear the same music throughout your home, or choose to group only certain rooms together for music playback. You can also crank up the volume for each room individually or together.
- Browse & Search: Browse your music services, favorites, internet radio, personal music library and playlists. You can browse your music content by Album, Artist, Song, or Playlist. You can even search across all of your music services and files simultaneously, so you can find the music you love instantly.
- More: Provides personalized & custom settings for your Sonos system. Adjust and audio settings like bass, treble, balance, and loudness for each room location.
Note: The Sonos device, Apple iOS/Android device, Windows PC, and/or Mac computer must be connected to the same wireless network.
Built-in Microphones with Voice Control: The Sonos Beam blends great sound and multiroom audio with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for voice-activated, hands-free control of your music and more. Five far-field microphones with advanced beamforming and multichannel echo-cancellation are built in to Sonos Beam to detect your voice from any direction, anywhere in the room. When the microphone LED is on, Alexa or Google Assistant is ready for a voice command (these microphone can be turned off). You can speak at natural volume to activate Alexa or Google supported voice commands. Based on your preference, you can choose to have voice feedback turned on or off. You'll be able to control music and multiroom playback with just your voice. You can also use the Sonos Beam like any other Alexa Echo or Google Home device and ask non-music related commands (like information about the weather, traffic, news, sports, etc) or have Alexa control your smart home devices. Specific control functions will vary by digital voice assistant.
- Amazon Alexa: Voice control functions supported by Amazon Alexa -
- Music:You can ask Alexa to play music on a specific Sonos device in an specific room of your home from these featured music services (Apple Music, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Pandora, iHeartRadio, SiriusXM, & Spotify). Using the Alexa app, you can group your Sonos products and your Alexa-enabled devices together. This makes it easier for Alexa to control your Sonos products based on which room or area they are in. You can pause, resume, and skip songs, as well as change the volume with all Sonos compatible online music services.
- TV: For compatible TVs, Sonos Beam introduces commands specific to TV use, including "Turn on the TV" and "Turn off the TV". Sonos Beam also follows commands such as "Turn it up" and "Mute", applying them to the TV volume. Sonos Beam must be connected to your TV's HDMI-ARC input and your TV needs to support CEC features. Amazon Alexa voice control for your TV will not work if the Sonos Beam is connected via the included optical adapter.
- Fire TV: The Sonos Beam can also be linked to Alexa-enabled video streaming devices such as Fire TV (sold separately). Once linked, you can control these services with the Sonos Beam by switching to specific network or tuning to a certain channel - all with just your voice. If you've logged into Netflix or added HBO shows onto your Fire TV, you'll even be able to select shows by their title using only your voice.
- Google Assistant: Voice control functions supported by Google Assistant -
- Music:You can ask Google to play music on a specific Sonos device in an specific room of your home from these featured music services (Google Play, Spotify, YouTube Music, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio). You can pause, resume, and skip songs, as well as change the volume with all Sonos compatible online music services.
- TV: For compatible TVs, Sonos Beam introduces commands specific to TV use, including "Turn on the TV" and "Turn off the TV". Google voice control for your TV will not work if the Sonos Beam is connected via the included optical adapter.
- Google Broadcast: Broadcast a message to everyone in your home over your Sonos One, Beam, or other Google Assistant-enabled devices. Include your message after the command.
Notes:
- You can only configure your Sonos system to work with one digital voice assisant; choose either Alexa or Google Assistant (you cannot use both). You will need to search and enable the Sonos skill from the Alexa or Google Home app on your mobile device or computer. Your Sonos equipment and Amazon Alexa-enabled devices must be on the same wireless network.
- Sonos and Alexa or Google Assistant work together using a single Amazon or Google account. If you have a second Sonos system in another location, you'll need to use a second Amazon or Google account if you'd like to use Alexa. An Amazon or Google account can only be in use on one Sonos system at a time.
- Click here for more information regarding Amazon Alexa on Sonos. Click here for more information regarding Google Assistant on Sonos.
HDMI CEC: The Sonos Beam soundbar speaker does not come with a remote, but does offer HDMI CEC compatibility so you can control basic functions of the soundbar from your HDMI connected TV's remote. Basic functions include Power On/Off, Volume Up/Down, and Mute. HDMI CEC will not work if the Sonos Beam is connected via the included optical adapter.
Note: The Sonos Beam does not support IR, RF, or Bluetooth commands.
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