> Sonos Beam

$449 From sonos.com

The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is a more entry–level soundbar than the company’s Arc model but nonetheless has a solid feature set and an excellent sound from its 5– speaker array. Setup is via the slick Sonos app for iOS or Android and you can also use this to manage the built–in Alexa and Google Assistant features. On first run you’re prompted to run the Trueplay setup that uses your phone to optimize playback for your unique space.

Wi–Fi, ethernet, and HDMI eARC are available for connectivity and while it doesn’t have as many physical ports as some of the larger units on test, this should still be adequate for many users. Sonically it performed very well both with movies and music, providing a surprisingly solid bass end even without a subwoofer. Dolby Atmos is supported, with the unit using DSP to simulate surround sound. Sending music to the bar via AirPlay showed it to be a capable performer in that regard too.

Deep and rich soundstage

Slick setup via app

Good bang for your buck

Slight high–end brightness AWESOME