Sonos Beam (Gen 2) vs Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5: Which Soundbar Is Better?

Tested using Methodology v1.3

Updated May 04, 2026 04:45 PM

This review is in Early access

See Sonos Beam (Gen 2) Review

Channels 5.0

Channels 3.1

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6

Our Verdict

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5

Full comparison details regarding individual product score sets can be found in the section below

Variants

Beam (Gen 2) (Black)
Sonos Beam (Gen 2) (White)

BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 (Black)

Review

See Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 5 Review

Check Price

Black

Beam (Gen 2)

Black

BRAVIA Theater Bar 5

White

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Black

BRAVIA Theater Bar 5

BestBuy.com

Black

BRAVIA Theater Bar 5

Sony

Black

BRAVIA Theater Bar 5

B&H

Black

BRAVIA Theater Bar 5

Walmart.com

Main Differences for

Mixed Usage

Threshold

0.10

Mixed Usage

0.0

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Full Comparison

Mixed Usage

0.0

Dialogue/TV Shows

0.0

Music

0.0

Movies

0.0

Design

Style - Bar

Style photo - bar

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Style - Subwoofer

Style photo - sub

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Sub Wireless

Locked

Enclosure

Locked

Style - Satellites

Style photo - satellites

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Satellite Wireless

Locked

Dimensions - Bar

Dimensions photo - bar

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Width

Lock" (Lock cm)

Height

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

Lock" (Lock cm)

Dimensions - Subwoofer

Dimensions photo - sub

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Width

N/A

Lock" (Lock cm)

Height

N/A

Lock" (Lock cm)

Depth

N/A

Lock" (Lock cm)

Dimensions - Satellites

Dimensions photo - satellites

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Width

N/A

Height

N/A

Depth

N/A

Mounting

Bar Mounting Holes

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Satellite Mounting Holes

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Mountable Bar

Locked

Bar Brackets Included

Locked

Mountable Satellites

Locked

Satellite Brackets Included

Locked

Build Quality

N/A

Build quality photo

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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In The Box

In The Box photo

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Sound

Stereo Frequency Response

N/A

Stereo Setup

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Raw Frequency Response

SAMPLE

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Frequency Response Small

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Channels

Locked

Tested Preset

Locked

Slope

Lock

Standard Error

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension

Lock kHz

Stereo Frequency Response With Preliminary Calibration

N/A

Frequency Response Calibrated

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Suggested Preset

Locked

Suggested Bass Setting

Lock

Suggested Treble Setting

Lock

N/A

Slope

Lock

Standard Error

Lock dB

Low-Frequency Extension

Lock Hz

High-Frequency Extension

Lock kHz

Stereo Soundstage

N/A

Crosstalk

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Crosstalk Error

Lock dB

Stereo Dynamics

N/A

Dynamic Range Compression

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

DRC @ 90dB

N/A

Lock dB

DRC @ Max Volume

Lock dB

Center

N/A

Center Setup

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Frequency Response

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Localization

Locked

Slope

Lock

Std. Err.

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

Lock

Surround 5.1

N/A

Surround Setup

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Frequency Response

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Localization

Locked

Slope

Lock

Std. Err.

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

Lock

7.1 Rears

Locked

Height (Atmos)

N/A

Height Setup

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

H Frequency Response

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

Localization

Locked

Slope

Lock

Std. Err.

Lock dB

SPL @ Max Volume

Lock dB SPL

Weighted THD @ 80dB

Lock

Weighted THD @ Max Volume

Lock

Sound Enhancement Features

N/A

Room Correction

Locked

Dialogue Enhancement

Locked

Auto-Volume/Night Mode

Locked

Subwoofer Level Adjustment

Locked

Bass Adjustment

Locked

Treble Adjustment

Locked

EQ

Locked

Surround Level Adjustment

Locked

Rear Level Adjustment

Locked

Height Level Adjustment

Locked

Virtual Surround

Locked

Connectivity

Inputs/Outputs - Bar

Physical Connections Bar Photo 1

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Physical Connections Bar Photo 2

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Optical Audio In

Locked

HDMI Out

Locked

HDMI 2.1 Class Bandwidth

Locked

Full HDMI In

Locked

Analog Audio In 3.5mm (Aux)

Locked

RCA In

Locked

USB for Files

Locked

Ethernet

Locked

Subwoofer Output

Locked

Audio Format Support: ARC/eARC

N/A

Dolby Atmos

Locked

Dolby Digital

Locked

Dolby Digital Plus

Locked

Dolby TrueHD

Locked

DTS

Locked

DTS:X

Locked

DTS-HD MA

Locked

PCM Channels

Locked

Audio Format Support: HDMI In

N/A

Dolby Atmos

Locked

Dolby Digital

Locked

Dolby Digital Plus

Locked

Dolby TrueHD

Locked

DTS

Locked

DTS:X

Locked

DTS-HD MA

Locked

PCM Channels

Locked

Audio Format Support: Optical

N/A

Dolby Digital

Locked

DTS

Locked

PCM Channels

Locked

Audio Latency: ARC

N/A

ARC Latency Video

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

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

Audio Latency: HDMI In

N/A

HDMI Latency Video

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

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

Audio Latency: Optical

N/A

Optical Latency Video

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

SAMPLE

for videos & test results

PCM-2.0 ch

Lock ms

Dolby Digital

Lock ms

Video Passthrough To TV

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

HDR10+ Passthrough

Locked

Dolby Vision Passthrough

Locked

HDMI Forum VRR Passthrough

Locked

FreeSync Passthrough

Locked

G-SYNC Passthrough

Locked

ALLM Passthrough

Locked

Wireless Playback

N/A

Bluetooth

Locked

Wi-Fi Playback

Locked

Chromecast built-in

Locked

Apple AirPlay

Locked

Spotify Connect

Locked

Additional Features

Interface

Interface photo

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Display

Locked

Bar Controls

Controls photo

SAMPLE

for pictures & test results

SAMPLE

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Remote

Remote photo

SAMPLE

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SAMPLE

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Voice Assistants Support

Amazon Alexa

Locked

Google Assistant

Locked

Apple Siri

Locked

Microphone Mute

Locked

Check Price

Black

Beam (Gen 2)

Black

BRAVIA Theater Bar 5

White

Sonos Beam (Gen 2)

Black

BRAVIA Theater Bar 5

BestBuy.com

Black

BRAVIA Theater Bar 5

Sony

Black

BRAVIA Theater Bar 5