Denon Home Sound Bar 550 vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Which Soundbar Is Better?

Products

Denon Home Sound Bar 550
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Tested using Methodology v1.0

Updated Jan 12, 2024 08:01 PM

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Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated Sep 04, 2025 03:58 PM

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  1. Recommended in 9 articles:
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Our Verdict

Denon Home Sound Bar 550

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

The Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is better than the Denon Home Sound Bar 550. They're both standalone soundbars, but the Sonos is better built with better center and surround performances. The 5.0 setup can get a bit louder with less compression at max volume. The Denon has some extras, like a Full HDMI In port for high-quality passthrough.

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Variants

  • Home Sound Bar 550 (Black)
  • Beam (Gen 2) (Black)
  • Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (White)

Check Price

Black
Home Sound Bar 550
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Black
Beam (Gen 2)
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Black
Home Sound Bar 550
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White
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
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Black
Home Sound Bar 550
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Home Sound Bar 550
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Main Differences for
Mixed Usage

Threshold 

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Mixed Usage 

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Full Comparison

Design

Style - Bar  

Style photo - bar  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Style photo - bar Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Style photo - bar Sample

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Style - Subwoofer  

Style photo - sub  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Style photo - sub Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Style photo - sub Sample

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Sub Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Enclosure 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Style - Satellites  

Style photo - satellites  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Style photo - satellites Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Style photo - satellites Sample

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Satellite Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Dimensions - Bar  

Dimensions photo - bar  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Dimensions photo - bar Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dimensions photo - bar Sample

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Width  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Height  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth  

Lock" (Lock cm)
Lock" (Lock cm)
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Dimensions - Subwoofer  

Dimensions photo - sub  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Dimensions photo - sub Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dimensions photo - sub Sample

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Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Dimensions - Satellites  

Dimensions photo - satellites  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Dimensions photo - satellites Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dimensions photo - satellites Sample

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Width  

N/A
N/A

Height  

N/A
N/A

Depth  

N/A
N/A

Mounting 
 

Bar Mounting Holes  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Bar Mounting Holes Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Bar Mounting Holes Sample

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Satellite Mounting Holes  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Satellite Mounting Holes Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Satellite Mounting Holes Sample

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Mountable Bar 
 

Locked

Bar Brackets Included 
 

Locked

Mountable Satellites 
 

Locked

Satellite Brackets Included 
 

Locked
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Build Quality 
 

N/A
N/A

Build quality photo  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Build quality photo Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Build quality photo Sample

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In The Box 
 

In The Box photo   

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 In The Box photo  Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) In The Box photo  Sample

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HDMI Cable Length 
 

Lock m (Lock ft)

Digital Optical Cable Length 
 

Lock m (Lock ft)
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Back - Bar  

Back photo - bar  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Back photo - bar Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Back photo - bar Sample

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Bar Mounting 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Back - Subwoofer  

Back photo - sub  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Back photo - sub Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Back photo - sub Sample

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Enclosure 
 

Locked
Locked

Back - Satellites  

Back photo - satellites  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Back photo - satellites Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Back photo - satellites Sample

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Mounting 
 

Locked
Sound

Stereo Frequency Response 
 

N/A
N/A

Stereo Setup  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Stereo Setup Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Stereo Setup Sample

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Raw Frequency Response  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Raw Frequency Response Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Raw Frequency Response Sample

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Frequency Response Small  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Frequency Response Small Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Frequency Response Small Sample

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Channels 
 

Locked
Locked

Tested Preset 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Standard Error 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration 
 

N/A
N/A

Frequency Response Calibrated  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Frequency Response Calibrated Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Frequency Response Calibrated Sample

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Suggested Preset 
 

Locked
Locked

Suggested Bass Setting 
 

Lock
Lock

Suggested Treble Setting 
 

Lock
Lock

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Standard Error 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock Hz
Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension 
 

Lock kHz
Lock kHz
Show Text 

Stereo Soundstage 
 

N/A
N/A

Crosstalk  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Crosstalk Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Crosstalk Sample

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Crosstalk Error 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Stereo Dynamics 
 

N/A
N/A

Dynamic Range Compression  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Dynamic Range Compression Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Dynamic Range Compression Sample

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SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB 
 

N/A

DRC @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB
Show Text 

Stereo Total Harmonic Distortion 
 

N/A
N/A

THD  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 THD Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) THD Sample

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Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Show Text 

Center 
 

N/A
N/A

Center Setup  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Center Setup Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Center Setup Sample

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Frequency Response  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Frequency Response Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Frequency Response Sample

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Localization 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Lock
Show Text 

Surround 5.1 
 

N/A
N/A

Surround Setup  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Surround Setup Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Surround Setup Sample

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Frequency Response  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Frequency Response Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Frequency Response Sample

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Localization 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Lock

7.1 Rears 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Height (Atmos) 
 

N/A
N/A

Height Setup  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Height Setup Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Height Setup Sample

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H Frequency Response  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 H Frequency Response Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) H Frequency Response Sample

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Localization 
 

Locked
Locked

Slope 
 

Lock
Lock

Std. Err. 
 

Lock dB
Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume 
 

Lock dB SPL
Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB 
 

Lock
Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume 
 

Lock
Lock
Show Text 

Sound Enhancement Features 
 

N/A
N/A

Room Correction 
 

Locked
Locked

Dialogue Enhancement 
 

Locked
Locked

Auto-Volume/Night Mode 
 

Locked
Locked

Subwoofer Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Bass Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Treble Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

EQ 
 

Locked
Locked

Surround Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Rear Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Height Level Adjustment 
 

Locked
Locked

Virtual Surround 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 
Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar 
 

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical Connections Bar Photo 1 Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Physical Connections Bar Photo 1 Sample

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Physical Connections Bar Photo 2  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical Connections Bar Photo 2 Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Physical Connections Bar Photo 2 Sample

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Optical Audio In 
 

Locked
Locked

HDMI Out 
 

Locked
Locked

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth 
 

Locked

Full HDMI In 
 

Locked
Locked

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux) 
 

Locked
Locked

RCA In 
 

Locked
Locked

USB for Files 
 

Locked
Locked

Ethernet 
 

Locked
Locked

Subwoofer Output 
 

Locked

HDMI ARC 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Atmos 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS:X 
 

Locked
Locked

eARC 
 

Locked

DTS-HD MA 
 

Locked
Locked

PCM Channels 
 

Locked

5.1 PCM (eARC only) 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: HDMI In 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Atmos 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Locked
Locked

Dolby TrueHD 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS:X 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS-HD MA 
 

Locked
Locked

PCM Channels 
 

Locked

5.1 PCM 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Format Support: Optical 
 

N/A
N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

Locked
Locked

DTS 
 

Locked
Locked

PCM Channels 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Audio Latency: ARC 
 

N/A
N/A

ARC Latency Video  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 ARC Latency Video Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) ARC Latency Video Sample

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PCM-2.0 ch 
 

Lock ms

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

Lock ms

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

Lock ms

Dolby Digital 
 

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

Lock ms

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

Lock ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: HDMI In 
 

N/A
N/A

HDMI Latency Video  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 HDMI Latency Video Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) HDMI Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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Latency Video  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Latency Video Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Latency Video Sample

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PCM-2.0 ch 
 

N/A

PCM-5.1 ch 
 

N/A

Dolby MAT (PCM) Atmos 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus 
 

N/A

Dolby Digital Plus Atmos 
 

N/A

ARC 
 

Lock ms

Optical 
 

Lock ms

Full HDMI In 
 

Lock ms
Show Text 

Audio Latency: Optical 
 

N/A
N/A

Optical Latency Video  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Optical Latency Video Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Optical Latency Video Sample

SAMPLE

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PCM-2.0 ch 
 

Lock ms

Dolby Digital 
 

Lock ms
Show Text 

Video Passthrough To TV 
 

N/A
N/A

1080p Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

1080p @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

4k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

4k @ 120Hz @ 10-Bit 
 

Locked

4k @ 4:4:4 Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

8k Max Refresh Rate 
 

Locked

HDR10 Passthrough 
 

Locked
Locked

HDR10+ Passthrough 
 

Locked

Dolby Vision Passthrough 
 

Locked

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough 
 

Locked

4k @ 60 Hz Passthrough 
 

Locked

FreeSync Passthrough 
 

Locked

G-SYNC Passthrough 
 

Locked

ALLM Passthrough 
 

Locked

4k @ 60 Hz @ 10 bit Passthrough 
 

Locked

4k @ 60 Hz @ 4:4:4 Passthrough 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Wireless Playback 
 

N/A
N/A

Bluetooth 
 

Locked
Locked

Wi-Fi Playback 
 

Locked
Locked

Chromecast built-in 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple AirPlay 
 

Locked
Locked

Spotify Connect 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Connectivity - Subwoofer 
 

Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1 Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Physical inputs subwoofer photo 1 Sample

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Physical controls subwoofer photo 1  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical controls subwoofer photo 1 Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Physical controls subwoofer photo 1 Sample

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Sub Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked

Connectivity - Satellites 
 

Physical inputs satellites photo 1  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical inputs satellites photo 1 Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Physical inputs satellites photo 1 Sample

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Physical controls satellites photo 1  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Physical controls satellites photo 1 Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Physical controls satellites photo 1 Sample

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Sat Wireless 
 

Locked
Locked
Additional Features

Interface 
 

Interface photo  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Interface photo Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Interface photo Sample

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Display 
 

Locked
Locked
Show Text 

Bar Controls 
 

Controls photo  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Controls photo Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Controls photo Sample

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Remote  

Remote photo  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 Remote photo Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Remote photo Sample

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Universal Remote 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Voice Assistants Support 
 

Amazon Alexa 
 

Locked
Locked

Google Assistant 
 

Locked
Locked

Apple Siri 
 

Locked
Locked

Microphone Mute 
 

Locked
Show Text 

App 
 

App image  

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 App image Sample

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Sonos Beam (Gen 2) App image Sample

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App Name  

Locked

iOS  

Locked

Android  

Locked

Acts As A Remote 
 

Locked

Controls Soundbar's Settings 
 

Locked

Casts Device Files 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Other Features 
 

Power Saving 
 

Locked

HDMI CEC (TV Remote Control) 
 

Locked
Show Text 

Check Price

Black
Home Sound Bar 550
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Beam (Gen 2)
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Home Sound Bar 550
SEE PRICE
Amazon.com
White
Sonos Beam (Gen 2)
SEE PRICE
BestBuy.com
Black
Home Sound Bar 550
SEE PRICE
B&H
 
Black
Home Sound Bar 550
SEE PRICE
Walmart.com
 

Denon Home Sound Bar 550

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Comments

  1. Comparison

Denon Home Sound Bar 550 vs Sonos Beam (Gen 2): Main Discussion

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