Beam vs Playbar/Playbase - My Opinion

16 replies
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Hello

There are a lot of threads asking the question_”Beam vs Playbar/Playbase which should I get?” We all know that the Beam offers more features (i.e. HDMI_ARC, Alexa and AirPlay2). The biggy is sound; IMO primarily vocals/speech, as to how will it fairs in a room of X-Size. The obvious answer is given by Sonos:

I’m going to offer my opinion and feel free to agree or disagree because as I said it’s my opinion. Having both a Playbar and Beam I’ll say this...

Playbar/Playbase
Out of the Box they win hands down versus the Beam; as room size is a non-issue (to a point). More speakers (given Sonos engineers drive for perfection) equate to better music reproduction. Vocals and speech are handled well without augmentation.

The Beam
Music wise it’s better than a Sonos One or Play 1 as stand-alone’s and I dare say the discontinued Play 3. I wonder if there's a replacement in the works for the Play 3. :? Using those same speakers in stereo pairs the Beam falls short. Vocals and speech IMO the Beam sounds better with a sub (augmentation) to handle the low-end in an open space like a Family Room/Kitchen combo. In a bedroom; or slightly larger space with 4 walls, the Beam will do just fine without the sub.

FYI, I have a Beam is an area that is 580 square feet with 18 to 20 ft., ceilings (Family Room/Kitchen combo). Before adding the sub vocals/speech were all over the place; even after using TruePlay. Once I added the sub vocals/speech became lazer focused to the seating area (after TruePlay). It goes without saying that music sounds better also. Just in case you're wondering I have a media room where I mainly watch TV and listen to music. It requires a password to enter:)

So there you have it…my opinion as a Sonos fan! I can’t wait to get my hands on the Sonos AMP. :8

Cheers!

product comparison

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adamwalter

Contributor I

I currently have the Playbase + Sub in my 12'x16' living room and am very happy with the sound. My only issue is that the legs on my 42" TV are wider than the Playbase so it looks a bit dumb. I'm considering replacing my Playbase with a Beam because of its smaller package. Despite losing a few drivers in the Beam, I'm thinking audio quality loss would be minimal since my Sub handles the low end so well and the room is not that large. Is this a dumb idea?

AjTrek1Author

Hi

You will loose some of the wideness of soundstage afforded by the Playbase vs the Beam. However the Beam will be a bit more focused toward the seating area. So with that said it comes down to a personal listening experience and what you are accustomed to. My advice is two fold:

Buy from a seller with a liberal return policy and try the Beam for a few days especially with movies you have already viewed with the Playbase.

Use TruePlay to tune the Beam to your environment using a iOS device. If you don’t own an iOS device...borrow one.

I hope this helps. Cheers!

Together Everyone Achieves More = T.E.A.M.

adamwalter

Contributor I

Yeah, I think I'll grab a Beam today while it's $50 off and compare. Sonos.com has a 45 day guarantee. Thanks!

S

SOCalistic

Renowned Enthusiast I

My .02 cents is it also depends on the size of the room.
Plus the Playbar is so antiquated.
Sonos needs to get a larger size Beam on the market.
Plus a smaller size sub :-)
While I'm at it eliminate the Playbase and add mics to the Play 5.
2 sizes of soundbars and subs and update the Play 5.
Not sure they need to replace the Play 3.

adamwalter

Contributor I

I received my Beam today. The verdict: The Playbase is hands-down a much better speaker.

I'm not totally surprised since the hardware specs between the two are clear. Both have a very clear and strong presence, but the Playbase has a much fuller and wider sound when watching something with a surround soundtrack. Adding a Sub to either speaker will give you tremendous bass. However, I didn't test the Beam + Sub because by the time I had heard the Beam by itself, my choice was already made.

One feature that the Beam wins over the Playbase is the HDMI ARC connection. It works much better with my TV than the simple optical connection of the Playbase. My Samsung TV feels 100% integrated with the Beam's volume. With the Playbase + optical, there is zero visual feedback except for the Playbase's status light pulsing.

I had no intention of ever enabling Alexa on the Beam and letting Amazon eavesdrop on my daily life, so I can't give any feedback there.

So, in my opinion the Playbase is the best TV speaker in the lineup. The Beam is good for a small or secondary TV set where a more immersive sound isn't wanted. It's also $300 cheaper of course. I'll be hoping for Sonos to release a larger Beam sometime soon that will give the same wide surround sound of the Playbase.

spydrwebb

Prodigy I

I agree with the assessment of Beam being a less-wide/full sound stage, as compared to the Playbase. But the Playbase itself is aesthetically inferior unless you have the right TV. Looks aren't everything but our Samsung 42 looked ridiculous with the Playbase, so we opted for the Beam & 2 P:1's configuration (with recently added Sub). Definitely adequate for the smallish space where it resides.

Beam, Sub, 2 x P:1 -- 5.1 (video) / 2 x P:3 (music) / 2 x gen1 One (music) ----> ever evolving setup, as they say...

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