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Beam 2 - hollow sound compared to Ray

  • November 5, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 27 views

I got the Beam 2 a while back. I went for Sonos since my father has the Sonos Ray and I thought it sounded great. Reading that the Beam 2 would be much better I figured it would be a perfect setup.

After using it for 6 months now I have to say that I am a bit dissapointed. First of all it doesn’t sound as rich as the Ray. I don’t know why but everytime I visit my father I notice that the sound from his Ray is richer, deeper bass and clearer. We have more or less the same TV (old Samsungs from 2013-ish - optical out) and same settings. I have tried every setting in the app and all EQ settings. And we have the same TV audio output (PCM). The sound just isn’t there. My beam sounds more hollow and “metallic”. If I raise the bass and treble it sounds more “stressed” in the highs and closed in the mids and bass. If I lower the bass and try different combinations with or without loudness and speech enhancement it sounds hollow (like a laptop speaker).

 

I only have the Beam unit, not any extra speakers or sub. Are those required to get the same rich sound? Is the Beam configured differently in the hardware vs the Ray because of this?

 I’m not a big fan of subwoofers. They use space in the apartment and make my neighbours crazy. Let alone being expensive so I would like to avoid that.

 

Any ideas?

Thanks!

5 replies

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  • Senior Virtuoso
  • November 5, 2025

It could simply be the different acoustic effects of the rooms. Can you try swapping over the soundbars and listen to your Beam in his room next time you’re there? 
 

It may also be worth talking to Sonos support to check that all drivers are working correctly in your Beam. 


  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • November 5, 2025

It could simply be the different acoustic effects of the rooms. Can you try swapping over the soundbars and listen to your Beam in his room next time you’re there? 
 

It may also be worth talking to Sonos support to check that all drivers are working correctly in your Beam. 

Thanks. I’ll see if I can bring my Beam on my next visit but I don’t know if there will be any difference. Our livingrooms are about the same size. Different furniture sure (there is slightly more stuff there), but no big difference. The only thing I can think of is that when I’m there I am sitting slightly closer to the unit. But I have tried sitting closer at home and it is still the same issue.

 

I recently upgraded my Beam to the latest firmware so I hope the drivers are working.

Also - I have an Android phone so I can’t use Trueplay. I don’t know if that makes a difference?


Forum|alt.badge.img+19
  • Senior Virtuoso
  • November 5, 2025

It may also be worth talking to Sonos support to check that all drivers are working correctly in your Beam. 

 

I recently upgraded my Beam to the latest firmware so I hope the drivers are working.


An update will not detect faults in a unit. Sonos support staff have tools that they can use to diagnose your Beam.


  • Author
  • Contributor I
  • November 5, 2025

It may also be worth talking to Sonos support to check that all drivers are working correctly in your Beam. 

 

I recently upgraded my Beam to the latest firmware so I hope the drivers are working.


An update will not detect faults in a unit. Sonos support staff have tools that they can use to diagnose your Beam.

Ok, thanks. I will check.

 

Also - I have an Android phone so I can’t use Trueplay. I don’t know if that makes a difference?


Triticale
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  • Prominent Collaborator I
  • November 5, 2025

It could simply be the different acoustic effects of the rooms. Can you try swapping over the soundbars and listen to your Beam in his room next time you’re there? 
 

It may also be worth talking to Sonos support to check that all drivers are working correctly in your Beam. 

Thanks. I’ll see if I can bring my Beam on my next visit but I don’t know if there will be any difference. Our livingrooms are about the same size. Different furniture sure (there is slightly more stuff there), but no big difference. The only thing I can think of is that when I’m there I am sitting slightly closer to the unit. But I have tried sitting closer at home and it is still the same issue.

 

I recently upgraded my Beam to the latest firmware so I hope the drivers are working.

Also - I have an Android phone so I can’t use Trueplay. I don’t know if that makes a difference?

I think it could be the key! Try to get an iPhone to do the equalisation, perhaps it improves your Beam.