While sequels often pail in comparison to their predecessors, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 joins the ranks of The Dark Knight, The Godfather Part II and The Empire Strikes Back as not only a worthy successor but better than its predecessor in every way. That's no small claim, as the first generation Beam captured our hearts back in 2018 and was adorned with What Hi-Fi? Awards up until this new version launched.
Subsequently, the Beam Gen 2 has taken the place of the first-gen Beam in the Awards lists, and for good reason, too. Key to this Sonos sequel's success is the continuation of what made the first-generation soundbar so appealing, that being a compact and fuss-free design, streamlined functionality and surprising sonic scale and weight, despite its modest footprint.
