Contributor I

Sonos Beam 2 v Playbar

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I currently have a Playbar, 2 Play ones as rear Speakers and a Sub Woofer. I want Dolby Atmos and am considering replacing the Playbar with Beam Gen 2. Has anyone done this and what was their experience good or bad?

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R

Rhonny

Prodigy III

@Billbir

The Beam Gen 2 would be a step down from the Playbar overall. The equivalent of the Playbar is the Arc, or a step up is the Arc Ultra,

The Beam uses simulated Dolby Atmos to create the sense of it, but has no upfiring speakers so isn’t true Dolby Atmos.

If you did want to get the Arc as equivalent, you’d need to swap to Era 100s (or Sonos Ones) as Play:1s are not compatible as surrounds for the Arc.

if you want to go for the Beam Gen 2 then the Play:1s will work - but it won’t be true Atmos.

Mr. T

If you did want to get the Arc as equivalent, you’d need to swap to Era 100s (or Sonos Ones) as Play:1s are not compatible as surrounds for the Arc.

Play:1s are not compatible surrounds with the Arc Ultra, but they do work as surrounds with the Arc.

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Rhonny

Prodigy III

If you did want to get the Arc as equivalent, you’d need to swap to Era 100s (or Sonos Ones) as Play:1s are not compatible as surrounds for the Arc.

Play:1s are not compatible surrounds with the Arc Ultra, but they do work as surrounds with the Arc.

One of these days my research will be spot on… I should stop looking at AlmostCorrectSonosAnswers.com.

B

BillbirAuthor

Contributor I

Thanks for your quick replies,. I did say good or bad but did not expect them to be all bad. Not aware that Gen Beam 2 is simulated Dolby Atmos. No mention of that on any adverts . Cannot afford Arc or Arc Ultra so back to the drawing board.

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Rhonny

Prodigy III

Thanks for your quick replies,. I did say good or bad but did not expect them to be all bad. Not aware that Gen Beam 2 is simulated Dolby Atmos. No mention of that on any adverts . Cannot afford Arc or Arc Ultra so back to the drawing board.

Google “Sonos Upgrade Program”, click on the Sonos Upgrade link, log into your account and see what % off Sonos will give you in return for upgrading the Playbar. All my speakers are relatively new so only entitle me to 15% off but perhaps an older Playbar might get you 25-30% off…?

With that discount, you can possibly save money on a certified Sonos-refurbished Arc - plus you keep the Playbar so you could sell that on eBay etc to claw back even more money.

Mr. T

Rhonny Rhonny Rhonny,

The upgrade credit for a Playbar is 15%. The 30% upgrade credit applies to S1 devices only. There’s no such credit of 25-29% off.

The upgrade credit cannot be used in conjunction with any other sale/offer and that also applies to certified refurbished products.

R

Rhonny

Prodigy III

Rhonny Rhonny Rhonny,

The upgrade credit for a Playbar is 15%. The 30% upgrade credit applies to S1 devices only. There’s no such credit of 25-29% off.

The upgrade credit cannot be used in conjunction with any other sale/offer and that also applies to certified refurbished products.

Is the Playbar not an S1 device..? I’ll get my coat.

Mr. T

Rhonny Rhonny Rhonny,

The upgrade credit for a Playbar is 15%. The 30% upgrade credit applies to S1 devices only. There’s no such credit of 25-29% off.

The upgrade credit cannot be used in conjunction with any other sale/offer and that also applies to certified refurbished products.

Is the Playbar not an S1 device..? I’ll get my coat.

The Playbar is compatible with both S1 and the new Sonos app.

Stanley_4

Grand Maestro

Keep in mind the discount is per-purdhase so you can get a set and just use the one discount.

My Play 5 gen 1 discount got me a full home theater set at 30% off.

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