I’ve not too long ago remodeled my residing house right into a soundbar testing studio and if you happen to’ve been questioning the place that racket has been coming from in North London, I’m sorry. You may need not too long ago caught my Samsung HW-S60B evaluatehowever throughout that point I additionally had the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)so I might evaluate it in opposition to its largest rival.
Let’s begin with the similarities. Each soundbars are pitched as a part of both firm’s life-style vary, which implies they’re designed to work on their very own and don’t want further audio system or subwoofers to create massive spatial audio. They’re marketed as an all-in-one answer, giving your TV’s audio the increase it wants – and so they actually do. In comparison with what many of the finest TVs can produce, the perfect soundbars ship sounds that is a lot larger, richer and deeper, as is the case even with these smaller choices.
Each the Beam (Gen 2) and HW-S60B help digital Dolby Atmos and DTS:X encompass sound, however lack built-in up-firing audio system, rear audio system and a subwoofer. They each have slim profiles, related options, include devoted management apps, and related management choices on the soundbars themselves. Other than their official pricing, which can also be usually similar at $499 / £449 (there’s a slight AU$100 distinction in Australia), that is the place the similarities finish.
Simple setup however consideration to element differs
The packaging is the very first thing you’ll discover in the case of un-boxing the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) and Samsung HW-260B side-by-side. Sonos has gone to lengths to make use of recyclable cardboard all through, constructing it as much as make it sturdy and sturdy too. It’s an additional contact and in stark distinction to the plastic air tubes used to guard the HW-S60B.
Subsequent up is what you get in both field. Forgetting the soundbars themselves for now, the Beam (Gen 2) comes with an influence cable, HDMI and guide, permitting you to immediately join it to your TV. The HW-S60B does not include a HDMI cable, it additionally doesn’t include a HDMI eARC port – only a common HDMI ARC, which means it does not take uncompressed audio from the perfect 4K Blu-ray gamers. Nevertheless, it does have wi-fi capabilities with suitable Samsung TVs, so it may possibly join with no cable in any respect, doubtlessly. The HW-S60B additionally comes with an added smooth distant and wall brackets. The Sonos has neither, although it does have an Ethernet port.
When it got here to organising each Beam (Gen 2) and HW-S60B, each soundbars have been extremely simple to regulate through devoted apps – SmartThings for Samsung and, uh, Sonos for Sonos. There’s numerous crossovers in options too, with specialised room tuning to calibrate your soundbar to its environment for the spatial audio and fast entry to a great deal of audio tuning settings, together with bass, treble and equalizer, in addition to sound modes.
Wanting on the two soundbars, the Beam (Gen 2) is 19mm shorter in size however 6.6mm taller than the HW-S60B. They each roughly take up the identical quantity of house and for my part look equally interesting in design, coming in white and black shade choices. However I’d say that Beam simply inches it in total attraction for the small LED backlit buttons on the highest of it, which in contrast to the HW-S60B don’t protrude from the highest. And I believe the Samsung’s distant is pointless for most individuals.
Sonos beats Samsung within the battle for giant sound
To present each soundbars as honest an opportunity as attainable, I used the identical connection strategies whereas listening to music, watching films, exhibits and whereas gaming. I additionally cycled by means of the completely different sound modes as I switched between streaming gadgets.
First, I related to 2 iPhones over AirPlay and performed music through Apple Music and Spotify. I then performed Elton John’s Rocket Man repeatedly to the purpose the place I believe I would like a little bit of a break from the music (I is perhaps switching up my reference tracks from right here on), but in addition for the sake of listening to both soundbar simply after the opposite.
I even did a blind listening take a look at (particular due to my associate for helping with this sound experiment), the place I requested him to modify between enjoying each soundbars with out telling me which was on, and asking me to notice which one I believed sounded higher. It was at all times the Sonos Beam (Gen 2).
The soundstage was merely wider, extra expansive. It has the dynamic vary to attain the tight shifts in devices, melody and rhythm demanded by sure tracks, all whereas seemingly immediately ending the bass or taming the treble when wanted.
The distinction in audio efficiency can also be evident when watching films; the HW-S60B simply sounds flatter. It is the identical story because the music, the Sonos has extra vitality and vary. However I’ll say that each ship a giant increase to vocal readability, and whereas the HW-S60B can sound barely strained, it does have a giant loud room-filling sound.
Last verdict: Sonos Beam vs Samsung HW-S60B
There are many similarities to how Samsung and Sonos strategy compact these soundbar,s however then there are fairly a couple of small variations that begin to actually add up if you’re attempting to make the perfect choice for which is finest for you.
These are the very same explanation why I’d choose the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) over the Samsung HW-S60B for my compact house theater setup. After all, if I didn’t have a non-Samsung TV, I is perhaps received over by the potential for the wi-fi connection that does not expend one in every of my HDMI ports, but when I have been to advocate one over the opposite it will nonetheless be the Beam (Gen 2).
You may also discover a great deal of low-cost Sonos gross sales and offersnevertheless it’s typically the primary technology of the Beam that is discounted. In saying that although, the Beam (Gen 2) is older than the HW-S60B by a 12 months so it can possible see larger gross sales sooner resulting from its age. My suggestion? Go along with the Beam (Gen 2) except you personal a Samsung TV. However even then, you may nonetheless need it.