Torn between what to get
I’m downgrading from a proper 5.1.2 setup to Sonos for aesthetic reasons. I just ordered a refurb Beam Gen 2 from Sonos for $300 and felt pretty good about it after reading a lot of Beam vs. Arc (non-Ultra) comparisons.
From what I’ve read, the general consensus is that as standalone bars, the Beam sounds warmer and has more bass, while the Arc has a wider soundstage. I tend to prefer warmer sound signatures and good bass, but I’m definitely not an audiophile.
That said, I love deep bass, so I’ll almost certainly add a Sub later. That’s what has me second guessing whether I should have gone with the Arc instead.
What would you do? Is Beam + Sub the sweet spot for someone like me, or is the Arc worth it?
For context, my usage is probably 80% YouTube and 20% shows/movies. I don’t need amazing audio for YouTube, but I do enjoy strong bass for movies. I also pirate most of my movies, so I’m not chasing the best audio formats, which means separation won’t be as noticeable from the Arc.
Posted Jun 17, 2026, 1:21 PM UTC