Does Beam Gen 2 & Mini Sub really support Dolby Atmos or any Surround Sound

Yes, the Beam (Gen 2) + Sub Mini setup does support Dolby Atmos and 5.1 surround sound. But if you want to experience a true surround experience, adding a pair of surround speakers to your setup will make a big difference. The Beam alone creates more of a virtual surround experience.
 

For the audio pops, try this:

Make sure the TV has the latest firmware/software installed. Then disconnect everything from the TV and unplug the Beam and TV from power for a couple of minutes. Plug everything back in but keep everything disconnected. Be sure Simplink is enabled in the TV settings. Run TV Setup in the Sonos app and follow the app instructions. When the app instructs you, connect the Beam to the TV’s HDMI ARC/eARC port using the Sonos-supplied HDMI cable. After the Beam has been successfully connected, connect the Apple TV to the TV.
 

FYI, these are the best settings for your setup:

TV settings:

HDMI Input Audio Format: Bitstream
Digital Sound Output: Pass Through
eARC Support: On
 

Apple TV settings:

Change Format: OFF
Dolby Atmos: ON
 

PS5 settings:

Output Device: HDMI Device (AV amplifier)
HDMI Device Type: AV amplifier
Number of Channels: 5.1 ch
Audio Format (Priority): Linear PCM for gaming or when watching a DTS-encoded Blu-ray disc. When streaming content from the PS5 or watching a Dolby TrueHD/Dolby Atmos encoded Blu-ray disc, change this setting to Dolby.

When watching Blu-ray discs, there is another audio setting that must be adjusted when you start the disc. Tap the Options button on the controller, select the “…” and change the Audio Format setting to Bitstream for Dolby-encoded discs. Change this setting to Linear PCM for DTS-encoded discs.

Hi @GuitarSuperstar,

Thanks for your reply. I’ve read your posts across multiple threads and am using those settings. I am on the latest firmware for all involved devices.

I came across another thread related to Samsung tvs with the same problem and the respondent stated a use case and proposed solution. Essentially using the settings state above, if you have consistent sound breaks like every 1-2 minutes (like me) change the PS5 setting to 7.1 ch. I no longer have any audio issues with the PS5, so far. Since the Beam is only virtual 5.1 it means I now have a vey expensive stereo sound bar. I never got surround to work even with AppleTV or running Netflix from the LG directly anyway.

As far as the AppleTV situation, I did a hard reboot of the Sonos and AppleTV so time will tell since the issue with popping was only with Dolby Vision+Atmos content like Spider-man no way home, Ant-man Quantum Mania, etc. I’m going to watch the new Avatar this weekend over Disney+ so I’ll see if its still a problem.

Any tips on how to get the Beam to do proper surround, like where the virtual rear channels actually sound like behind me?

I can believe the Beam can produce virtual height channels when playing Atmos. I seriously doubt it would also produce virtual rear channels - why would you need rear speakers otherwise?

Beam Gen 2 uses a sound software called as “virtualizers” it produces atmos or 3D sound effects without an actual atmos speakers, though it supports atmos formats while making a virtual sound using speaker sounds combination as an atmos effect.

Virtual rear channels are possible depends on the room size, the sound waves need to bounce from behind in able to produce virtual rear sound effect.

it can be achieved by using or enabling sonos “TruePlay” function

No, that’s not what the ‘TruePlay’ function does. 

@Kaizos Please link to where Sonos explains this function.

My bedroom is a rectangle shape.

The Beam is mounted to a stand which suspends it below my TV. It’s set to a height off the ground so whether I’m in my articulating bed in TV mode or in a chair the Beam’s line of sight would be roughly at my neck.

The Beam is at the far end of the room, with a clear line of sight all the way to other end roughly 9 to 10ft apart. The room is a rectangle shape but the opposite end where the Beam fires sound towards has one side about 3ft of length left to right thats about 1 to 2 ft deeper where the entry is. I however have the Beam center to fire in the part where the rear wall is even left to right along the bed.

In bed my head would be about 8ft away from the Beam very close to the wall. In my chair I’d be 3 ft from the Beam. The mini sub is located off to a corner on the side of the Beam and elevated off the floor on a mini fridge. I find the bass is punchier elevated off the floor. In this configuration, the bass hits harder to me when I’m in bed versus when I’m in the chair; head 8ft away vs 4 ft away.

I’ve run Trueplay many times and the virtual rear channels always sound in front of me. I read a post from an ARC users that Trueplay is causing his bar to make sound popping noise. I wonder if it's the cause of my popping noise also. Since resetting the Beam I haven’t had any popping noise so far.

I opened a support ticket with Beam and never got a response, glad to know they stand behind their products especially how much they cost.

this is correct, it doesn't, but i believe with the help of ‘TruePlay’ the sound waves are enhanced/adjusted to make the sound bounce on surfaces to produce virtual surround. only users can tell the difference though.