IF you rushed out to buy a new TV for the World Cup it’s likely that it doesn’t sound as good as it looks.
Wafer-thin screens mean there’s less space to squeeze in speakers, with the audio experience often compromised by our desire for thinner tellies.
Sound bars are a good option to boost the tones but many are about as subtle as a TV from the 80s.
Now there’s a new speaker which not only makes your gogglebox sound like a mini cinema but also offers a compact design that won’t look out of place in smart homes.
The Sonos Beam is the latest speaker to launch from the US firm. It’s aimed at those wanting great audio and looks to match.
The Beam officially launches on July 17 but StarTech has had this device plumbed into our TV so we can bring you our verdict.
Firstly, the Beam looks fabulous
MARIO returns for a right racket of an adventure. Mario Tennis Aces lands on the Nintendo Switch just in time for Wimbledon – and it’s a smash hit.
It’s packed with action from single-player modes to full online multiplayer madness.
There’s even an action mode which gives gamers the chance to swing the Joy-Con controllers like an actual tennis racket for the ultimate rally. If and is perfect for anyone with a small living room who doesn’t want a giant boom box slapped in front of their TV.
At only 25.6 inches long, the Sonos Beam won’t hang off furniture or block the TV – something you’re bored, a full adventure mode lets you control Mario to take on bosses and defeat the legendary racket.
Aces is a grand slam game that’s bright, colourful and packed full of fun but it’s not without its niggles.
There’s no online leaderboards and you can’t pick the skill level of your rival, which is a bit like trying to beat Rafael Nadal with your shoelaces tied together.
Overall a great return to the courts for the famous plumber. that can’t be said for some of its monstrous rivals.
And don’t think small means it’s not powerful as with four custombuilt elliptical full-range woofers, three passive radiators and a single tweeter it sounds pretty mighty, especially when you turn the volume up to 11.
There’s also another nice feature as the Beam includes Amazon’s Alexa, which means you can control the sound, ask questions and play music via simple voice commands.
What makes this even smarter is the ability to play an album via Apple Music, but still be able to ask Alexa what song is playing.
Of course, this is a Sonos device which means it will link up with any other Sonos speakers you have for an instant surround sound and multi-room experience.
And there’s a big update coming for the launch which will allow Apple users to beam sound to it via AirPlay 2.
If we had one criticism we’d say it lacks the booming bass of a bigger speaker and depth can be lost at lower volumes.
At £399 it’s not cheap, but the Sonos Beam is a great-sounding speaker for anyone who wants something subtle tucked under their TV. Free yourself from the agony of back pain with the Pelvic Back Pain Belt. The Pelvic Back Pain Belt treats the area that is often the source of back pain; the pelvis. Shockwaves from walking and standing inflame the the nerves of the pelvic area and stab upwards into the muscles in the back. The result, agonising and sometimes crippling back pain.
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