Today, we’ll take a look at the differences between the Sonos Beam vs. Playbase.
Of them all, the most important is Sonos Playbase’s improved sound rage with its 10 class-D digital amplifiers.
However, when it comes to the best model both excel in different ways, and it really depends on whether you’re looking for something more compact with good audio like the Sonos Beam, or the Sonos Playbase which produces louder ranges with more width and bass, making it perfect for bigger rooms that you want to fill with sound.
The Short Version
Sonos Playbase = Stereo output, 10 class D digital amplifiers, 3 tweeters, 6 mid-woofers, 1 woofer, adjustable bass & treble, connects to TV Via Digital Optical Cable, compatible w/ Alexa, Airplay 2 & Trueplay, supports 2.4 GHz WiFi, no Bluetooth, one ethernet port, comes w/ touch control, one-app control, IR control, dialog enhancement, includes night mode.
Sonos Beam = Stereo output, 5 class D digital amplifiers, 1 tweeter, 4 mid-woofers, no woofer, adjustable bass & treble, connects to the TV via Digital Optical Cable or HDMI ARC, compatible w/ Alexa, Airplay 2 & Trueplay, comes w/ built-in Alexa, supports a 2.4 GHz WiFi connection, Bluetooth, one ethernet port, comes w/ touch control, app control, IR control, dialog enhancement & night mode.
Which one are you getting?
Last update on 2023-09-22 at 10:29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Sonos Beam vs. Playbase — Easy Comparison Chart
| Sonos Playbase | Sonos Beam | |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensions | 2.28 x 28.35 x 14.96 in. | 2.70 x 25.625 x 3.94 in. |
| Weight | 18.85 lbs. (8.6 kg) | 6.2 lbs (2.8 kg) |
| Stereo Output | Yes | Yes |
| Audio line-in | No | No |
| Class-D Digital Amplifiers | 10 | 5 |
| Tweeter | 3 | 1 |
| Mid-Woofer | 6 | 4 |
| Woofer | One | N/A |
| Adjustable Bass & Treble Controls | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Alexa | Yes | Yes |
| Amazon Alexa Built-In | No | Yes |
| Support for Apple Airplay 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Trueplay | Yes | Yes |
| Humidity Resistant | No | No |
| WiFi | 802.11b/g, 2.4 GHz | 802.11b/g, 2.4 GHz |
| Bluetooth LE | No | Yes |
| Ethernet Port | One | One |
| Touch Control | Yes | Yes |
| One App Control | Yes | Yes |
| IR Control | Yes | Yes |
| Dialog enhancement | Yes | Yes |
| Night Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Connects to TV | Via Digital Optical Cable | Via Digital Optical Cable or HDMI ARC |
| Product finish | Black/White | Black /White |
Sonos Beam vs. Playbase — What’s Different?
Bluetooth LE – Sonos Beam Smart speaker is compatible with Bluetooth LE, which can help save power when setting up your new device.
While Playbase does so solely using the WiFi connection and lacks the Bluetooth feature.
Sound Quality – In terms of sound quality, Playbase comes out ahead with its three tweeters, six mid-woofers, one woofer, and ten amplifiers, providing you with a much more powerful audio.
Whereas Beam comes with one tweeter, four mid-woofers, and five amplifiers, which is good, but not the same.
Design – When it comes to design, Sonos Playbase is significantly heavier and features a more square shape that’s harder to stow away.
While Beam features a more traditional long and thin soundbar design that’s easy to place over or under the entertainment unit.
Connects to TV – Connecting your smart speaker directly into your TV is an efficient way to enjoy movies in a whole new way.
This is why the Playbase plugs in via an optical cord, making the process extremely simple and quick.
Whereas Sonos Beam is a little bit more complicated and needs to be connected to your TV via an HDMI-ARC connection
Voice Control – While both smart speakers are compatible with voice assistants such as Google Assistant & Amazon Alexa, The Beam already has Alexa built-in and doesn’t need any external equipment to respond to your commands.
Last update on 2023-09-22 at 10:29 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API