#Computer soundbar update#
#Computer soundbar upgrade#
#Computer soundbar tv#

Soundbars aren't new territory for Sonos, but the 2021 What Hi-Fi? Award-winning Arc is the only soundbar from the brand to deliver Dolby Atmos with verticle speakers.

#Computer soundbar upgrade#

There will also be a forthcoming upgrade to add support for Amazon Music Ultra HD audio, which will give access to lossless 24-bit/48kHz tracks as well as Dolby Atmos Music.ĭespite the lack of upward drivers, if space and budget are limited there isn't a better Dolby Atmos soundbar that we'd recommend. This means you can stream to the Beam Gen 2 from a handheld device using Apple AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect is built-in too.

Not that many soundbars at this price point come with networking capabilities, but this being a Sonos product, the Beam Gen 2’s ability to integrate into a wireless multiroom system is fundamental to its design. The Beam Gen 2 offers an enveloping, spatial soundscape with rich, detailed audio as well as tangible motion and depth.

While genuine overhead sounds are perhaps a stretch too far for this petite performer, its virtual delivery of the Atmos format outstrips any similarly priced soundbar and even a few that are more expensive. With its hefty processing power, the Sonos Beam Gen 2 uses psychoacoustic HRTF (head-related transfer function) technology to give the impression of height without needing to get vertical. Instead, when watching Atmos content, two of the soundbar's five front-facing arrays are dedicated to reproducing overhead and surround sounds. The Sony HT-A7000 is an outstanding, future-proofed, all-in-one performer with excellent integration if you have a newer Sony Bravia TV.ĭelivering Dolby Atmos from a small chassis is no mean feat but the 2021 What Hi-Fi? award winning Sonos Beam Gen 2 achieves a convincing, immersive performance without so much as a vertical speaker in sight.

#Computer soundbar tv#

There’s also an analogue output for Sony’s Acoustic Center Sync, which lets a compatible Bravia TV become part of the soundbar’s centre channel when the two are connected using the supplied cable. The A7000 is as packed with streaming smarts as it is stuffed with speakers with Spotify Connect, Apple AirPlay 2, Google Chromecast all on board and integration into a multi-room system – with Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit and Google Home all supported.Īlongside two HDMI 2.1 pass-through sockets capable of handling and Dolby Vision HDR, there are ports for eARC, analogue and optical audio inputs and USB type-A. In terms of supported audio formats, the A7000 excels itself and includes Dolby Atmos (in both the Digital+ and TrueHD formats), DTS:X, LPCM, hi-res wireless audio and Sony 360 Reality Audio. The integrated sub is also particularly impressive with a taut, controlled and powerful performance. It’s not the same as having direct audio from the speaker above or the side, but it’s effective and dramatically enticing, enriching the viewing experience. In terms of height and precision, the performance is similar to that of the Sonos Arc, but the width of the soundstage and its forward projection is more convincing.

#Computer soundbar update#

We constantly update our buying guide with recent models and revise our reviews to reflect new software releases, so you can rest assured we've rounded up the best of what's currently available. The models that make it onto this list are only the very best of what we test, so if you’re wondering why a particular model, such as the new Sonos Ray, isn’t featured, that's because it’s not good enough to recommend. But there are usually options to expand to a more extensive surround set-up if desired, or there are complete multi-box systems that connect wirelessly, so there are no snaking cables to act as trip hazards. The best are single capable speakers that don't need additional surrounds or subwoofers to crowd out the room. Most soundbars pack impressive audio into a self-contained package small enough to sit in front of or below your TV. But fortunately, simply adding a soundbar to your set-up is an easy way to get a more engaging, clear and enjoyable viewing experience. Have you found that no matter how thin and colourful smart TVs become, there's always a notable contrast between a new flat screen's sparkling picture quality and its lacklustre sound performance? That's because almost all modern sets, regardless of size, have subpar speakers hidden away in increasingly scant frames.