We’ve tested the Beam and the Playbar multiple times in our listening room, and we found out that the difference isn’t something you can read off from their specs sheets. Both aren’t cheap soundbars as well, so picking at random can waste hundreds of dollars.
So, which is the better rig between the two? Here’s our experts’ head-to-head comparison:
Sonos Beam or Sonos Playbar?
Features of Sonos Beam and Playbar
Design
If looks matter to you, the Beam is the easy pick. It’s smaller and sleeker than the Playbar, which, on the other hand, has an outdated look.
Most top picks for soundbars come in black, and the same applies to the Playbar’s black and silver finish. The buttons on the side have a physical and tactile press to them — something that you might not prefer.
On the other hand, the Beam comes in white or black colors, allowing you to choose which better fits your interior. The buttons on top of the device are touch-sensitive as well, giving off a more modern feel.
It also has a more rounded edge while the Playbar sports a more angled design. This does give the latter more flexibility in the placement since the Beam can only have one orientation while the Playbar can either be placed flat or upright.
That said, this is a double-edged sword situation. When you place the Playbar flat on your TV rack, it’s less tall and won’t obstruct your TV screen. However, the drivers will mainly fire upwards instead of directly at you.
You will get better sound when the Playbar is placed on its edge, but in contrast to the flat placement, this orientation might block part of your TV screen.
Dimensions and Specifications
Compared to the other soundbars Sonos has in its product line, the Beam is the smallest one. It measures 65 cm wide, 7 cm tall, and 10 cm deep. It also weighs 2.8 kg, making it a lightweight device that’s easy to mount on your wall.
The Sonos Play Bar, on the other hand, measures 90 cm wide, 8.5 cm tall, and 14 cm deep. It weighs 5.4 kg. Clearly, it’s the heavier one as it is almost twice as heavy as the Beam.
When it comes to specs, it can be a tough competition between the Beam vs Sonos Playbar. The Beam’s system has five Class-D digital amplifiers, five far-field microphones, HDMI compatibility, and voice control.
Meanwhile, the Playbar has nine Class-D digital amplifiers and an optical input connection. There are some similar features as well, like the Wi-Fi and the adjustable bass levels.
While the Playbar lacks smart functions, it makes up for it by providing better sound — which we’ll get to next.
Sound Quality: Playbar VS Beam
One of the striking differences between the Sonos Beam vs Sonos Playbar is the number of drivers, directly affecting sound quality.
But given the Beam’s compact size, it only houses five amplified drivers—four woofers for mid and low frequencies, plus one tweeter for clear dialogue. The Playbar’s size is bigger, allowing it to have six mid-woofers and three tweeters, totaling to nine Class-D amplifiers.
With this, the Playbar pelts out a better virtual surround sound performance [1]. It can handle higher volumes, a wider range of frequencies, and a punchier bass. After hours of comparing and testing, the Playbar’s sound is rounder, fuller, and generally richer.
However, that’s not to say that the Beam sucks. Compared to other models at this price point, the sound quality is pretty deep and heavy. If you’re putting this soundbar in a small or a medium-sized room, you can experience wall-to-wall sound.
Overall, the sound produced by both soundbars is balanced, clear, and equipped with enough bass. That said, the Sonos Playbar may earn the winning verdict for those who prioritize watching movies in larger rooms.
Connections
When it comes to the connections in a soundbar, Sonos emphasizes the lack thereof, which may earn some users’ resentment. Then again, most Sonos speakers only have Wi-Fi and Ethernet.
However, there’s still a distinct difference in this aspect between the two soundbars we’re comparing. While the Beam uses the more modern HDMI ARC connection, the Playbar still uses an optical input.
We prefer HDMI for many reasons, mostly because it’s easy to set up, and it supports advanced audio formats. But aside from this, the Beam also one-ups the Playbar by having Airplay 2 built-in. This allows you to use your iOS devices to play music with the Beam directly.
Price
There’s a pretty big price difference between the two speakers, and that’s not surprising considering the number of drivers the latter has. Still, both Sonos speakers aren’t particularly cheap. They’re not something you’d find in the under-$100 soundbars department.
The Sonos Playbar is more expensive than the Beam, mainly due to the audio quality it has. But if you want smart features, the Beam is already a good deal for its price tag.
Sonos Beam & Playbar Performance
In terms of performance, both Sonos speakers are exceptional in their lane. The Playbar’s edge is in the number of speakers, but the Beam’s advantage is wall-to-wall sound when placed in small to medium-sized rooms.
Plus, the smart features that it brings to the table gives it an advantage, especially since the latter is more expensive yet lacking modern functions.
If you do have a large room, though, our tests reveal that the Beam might not be enough. In that case, you might want Playbar’s nine full-range drivers.
Airplay 2 compatibility is another point to consider when comparing the Sonos Beam vs. Sonos Playbar. Only the Beam has it, and since the Playbar’s design is pretty much old among Sonos speakers, Airplay 2 isn’t supported.
Voice Control
Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are both built into the Beam. If you’re a fan of voice control, you can use these functions to execute basic voice commands such as increasing and decreasing the soundbar volume.
However, if you want to take it up a notch and incorporate advanced commands such as playing Netflix shows, you can also consider adding an Amazon Fire TV Stick.
As for the Playbar’s controls, it can’t accept voice commands out of the box. But if you want to add Alexa to it, you can integrate an Amazon Echo device to make it work. However, not everyone may be willing to do this since the Playbar is already pricey in itself.
FAQ
Which is better Sonos beam or Playbar?
The Sonos Beam is better than the Playbar because of its modern design and features. It has Alexa, Google Assistant, Airplay 2, and HDMI connection — functions the Playbar doesn’t have. Although the Playbar has superior sound, the Beam is a more practical option.
Overall Winner: Sonos Beam
After hours of testing in our listening room, our winning verdict goes to this Sonos soundbar. It offers a modern and lightweight design, multi-room capabilities, smart features, and great sound quality at an accessible price.
The post Sonos Beam VS Playbar — Which is the Better Device? appeared first on The Product Analyst.
from The Product Analyst https://theproductanalyst.com/soundbar/sonos-beam-vs-playbar/
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