When it comes to upgrading your TV's audio, soundbars have become the go-to solution for most people. Today, we're comparing two popular but very different options: the $449 Sonos Beam Gen 2 and the $1,099 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9. Let's break down everything you need to know to make the right choice for your home.
Before diving into specifics, it's worth understanding what modern soundbars bring to the table. Unlike the basic soundbars of a decade ago, today's models pack sophisticated audio processing, wireless connectivity, and even voice assistant integration. The most significant recent advancement has been the widespread adoption of Dolby Atmos, which creates a three-dimensional sound field that can make it seem like audio is coming from above and around you.
The Beam Gen 2 and BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 represent two distinct philosophies in soundbar design. Released in late 2022, the Beam Gen 2 focuses on delivering maximum value in a compact form factor. It's an evolution of the original Beam, adding Dolby Atmos support and improved processing power.
The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9, launched in early 2023, takes a more premium approach. It's designed to deliver a theater-like experience with its array of 13 speakers and sophisticated sound processing. While both support Dolby Atmos, they implement it quite differently.
Room size is crucial when choosing between these soundbars. The Beam Gen 2's 26-inch width makes it perfect for apartments and smaller rooms, while still delivering impressive sound. I've tested it in rooms up to 200 square feet, where it performs admirably.
The BRAVIA Bar 9, at 51 inches wide, needs more space to shine. Its larger size allows for more speakers and better sound separation, but it might overwhelm smaller TV stands. In my experience, it really comes into its own in rooms larger than 300 square feet.
The Beam Gen 2 produces remarkably balanced sound from its compact frame. Its strength lies in clarity - dialogue is crisp and easy to understand, even during complex action scenes. The virtual Dolby Atmos implementation, while not as convincing as systems with dedicated upward-firing speakers, still adds noticeable height to the soundstage.
The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 delivers a more cinema-like experience. Its 13-speaker array creates a wider, taller sound field with more precise positioning of sounds. The Acoustic Center Sync feature (which works with compatible Sony TVs) is particularly impressive, making dialogue seem to come directly from the actors' mouths.
Neither soundbar includes a subwoofer, but they handle bass differently. The Beam Gen 2 produces respectable low frequencies for its size, though bass-heavy movies will benefit from adding Sonos's optional Sub. The BRAVIA Bar 9 delivers stronger native bass thanks to its larger size and dual passive radiators, but serious home theater enthusiasts might still want to add a subwoofer.
Both soundbars offer modern connectivity options, but their approaches differ:
The ecosystem story is particularly important. The Beam Gen 2 shines as part of Sonos's whole-home audio system. If you're already invested in Sonos or plan to add more speakers later, it's a compelling choice. The seamless multi-room audio capabilities and regular software updates add long-term value.
The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 works best when paired with a Sony TV, unlocking features like Acoustic Center Sync and integrated controls. While it works fine with other TVs, you'll get the most value from it within the Sony ecosystem.
At less than half the price of the BRAVIA Bar 9, the Beam Gen 2 offers exceptional value. It's particularly impressive how much performance Sonos has packed into a $449 device. The ability to expand the system later (adding a Sub or surrounds) provides flexibility for future upgrades.
The BRAVIA Bar 9's higher price tag brings more immediate performance but also requires a bigger upfront investment. Its premium features and superior sound quality justify the cost for serious home theater enthusiasts, but it's important to be sure you'll benefit from its advanced capabilities.
For dedicated home theater use, both soundbars offer distinct advantages:
The Beam Gen 2 works well in smaller home theaters where space is at a premium. Its dialog enhancement features are particularly useful for movie watching, and the optional surrounds create a convincing surround sound experience.
The BRAVIA Bar 9 excels in larger home theater setups, where its wider soundstage and more powerful output create a more cinematic experience. The 4K/120Hz passthrough is especially valuable for gaming setups.
Consider these key factors when choosing between the Beam Gen 2 and BRAVIA Theater Bar 9:
Both soundbars excel in their respective categories. The Beam Gen 2 is a versatile performer that offers remarkable value and future expandability. The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 delivers a more premium experience with superior sound quality and advanced features, particularly for Sony TV owners.
For most users, especially those in apartments or smaller homes, the Beam Gen 2 provides the better balance of performance and value. However, if you have the space and budget, and particularly if you own a Sony TV, the BRAVIA Theater Bar 9's superior sound quality and advanced features make it a worthwhile investment for a more theater-like experience.
| $449 Sonos Beam Gen 2 | $1,099 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 |
|---|---|
| Size - Critical for placement and room fit | |
| 25.6" wide (ideal for smaller rooms) | 51.25" wide (requires significant space) |
| Speaker Configuration - Determines sound quality and immersion | |
| 5 drivers (4 woofers, 1 tweeter) | 13 drivers with advanced array system |
| Dolby Atmos Implementation - Affects 3D sound experience | |
| Virtual (software-based processing) | Physical (dedicated height channels) |
| Room Size Sweet Spot - Crucial for optimal performance | |
| Up to 300 sq ft (ideal for apartments) | 300+ sq ft (better for larger spaces) |
| Ecosystem Integration - Important for existing device owners | |
| Sonos ecosystem with multi-room audio | Sony BRAVIA TV integration features |
| Bass Performance - Key for movie impact | |
| Limited built-in bass (sub recommended) | Better native bass (still expandable) |
| Smart Features - Affects daily usability | |
| Built-in Alexa/Google, AirPlay 2 | HDMI 2.1, 4K/120Hz passthrough |
| Expandability Options - Future upgrade path | |
| Wireless Sub, surrounds via Sonos | Optional wireless surrounds and sub |
| Power Output - Determines max volume capability | |
| Suitable for small/medium rooms | 2.5x more powerful, fills larger spaces |
| Primary Use Case - Helps match to needs | |
| Mixed use, music, TV (versatile) | Home theater focus (cinema experience) |
For dedicated home theater use, the $1,099 Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 offers superior performance with its 13-speaker array and more convincing Dolby Atmos implementation. However, the $449 Sonos Beam Gen 2 is still excellent for smaller home theaters where space is limited.
The price difference is significant. The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 justifies its higher cost if you have a larger room, want premium sound quality, or own a Sony TV. For most users, especially in smaller spaces, the Beam Gen 2 provides better value.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 is ideal for apartments due to its compact 25.6-inch width and optimized performance for smaller spaces. The BRAVIA Bar 9 at 51.25 inches is often too large for apartment setups.
Both soundbars benefit from adding a subwoofer for true home theater performance. The Beam Gen 2 especially needs one for impactful bass, while the BRAVIA Bar 9 has better built-in bass but still improves with a subwoofer.
The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 offers a more cinematic experience with better sound separation and more powerful output. However, the Beam Gen 2 still provides excellent movie performance, particularly in smaller rooms.
Both support music streaming, but the Beam Gen 2 has an advantage with its Sonos ecosystem integration and proven music performance. The BRAVIA Bar 9 performs well but is more focused on home theater use.
While both work with any TV brand, the BRAVIA Bar 9 offers additional features when paired with Sony TVs. The Beam Gen 2 works equally well with all TV brands that have HDMI ARC or eARC.
Both excel at dialogue clarity, but the Beam Gen 2 is particularly praised for its speech enhancement technology. The BRAVIA Bar 9 offers excellent dialogue clarity through its Acoustic Center Sync with Sony TVs.
Yes, both soundbars can be wall-mounted. The Beam Gen 2 is easier to mount due to its smaller size and weight. The BRAVIA Bar 9 requires more robust mounting due to its larger size.
The BRAVIA Theater Bar 9 has an advantage for gaming with its HDMI 2.1 support and 4K/120Hz passthrough. The Beam Gen 2 works fine for gaming but doesn't offer specialized gaming features.
Yes, both support Dolby Atmos, but implement it differently. The BRAVIA Bar 9 uses physical upward-firing speakers for more convincing height effects, while the Beam Gen 2 uses virtual processing.
The Beam Gen 2 has a strong track record of software updates and ecosystem expansion. The BRAVIA Bar 9 offers more advanced hardware features but may be more dependent on Sony's ecosystem for future improvements.
We've done our best to create useful and informative comparisons to help you decide what product to buy. Our research uses advanced automated methods to create this comparison and perfection is not possible - please contact us for corrections or questions. These are the sites we've researched in the creation of this article: whathifi.com - en.community.sonos.com - techradar.com - youtube.com - consumerreports.org - bestbuy.com - youtube.com - sonos.com - wave-electronics.com - en.community.sonos.com - epicsystems.tech - tomsguide.com - bestbuy.com - rtings.com - residentialsystems.com - rtings.com - bestbuy.com - valueelectronics.com - sony.com - sony.co.uk - sony.co.uk - rtings.com - sony.co.in - sony.com - pocket-lint.com - sony.com - crutchfield.com
