34 T3 FEBRUARY 2022
Ultimate TV audio upgrades
SOUNDBARS
2
SONOS BEAM GEN 2
Although it’s actually around
twice as big as the LG Eclair,
the Sonos Beam Gen 2 is still a
relatively compact alternative
for spatially challenged people
who want a slightly larger Dolby
Atmos sound without needing
an external subwoofer. Plus,
of course, the Sonos name
guarantees exceptional abilities
when it comes to the Beam Gen
2 becoming just one part of a
potentially extensive multi-room
speaker system.
£429, sonos.com4
SONOS ARC
The second Sonos soundbar on
our hit list is a meatier, more
serious affair than the smaller,
more entry level Beam. Its
sound quality is outstanding,
with music as well as movies,
and it inevitably fits into Sonos’s
legendary multi-room system.
Provided you have a TV with an
eARC HDMI port for feeding
the Arc lossless Dolby Atmos
soundtracks, you won’t find
a better sounding all-rounder
for the money.
£899, sonos.com1
SENNHEISER AMBEO
When it comes to single-box
soundbars, the Sennheiser
Ambeo is the one the rest call
‘daddy’. Its massive, imposing
form subtly hints at the
uncompromising roster of 13
high-end drivers tucked inside,
but still nothing can prepare you
for the huge impact, dynamics
and immersive detail (even
without an external subwoofer)
the 5.1.4 channels and
Sennheiser’s outstanding virtual
surround processing can deliver.
£2,199, sennheiser.co.uk3
S O N Y H T- G 7 0 0
The G700 wears its heart
on its price tag. It costs just
£249, despite including a hefty
subwoofer alongside the large,
well-built soundbar. As hoped,
this two-piece configuration
produces a startlingly spacious
and cinematic sound for such
an affordable model, especially
if you can feed it Dolby Atmos.
Just don’t forget that it doesn’t
support streaming and lacks
a little clarity versus more
expensive rivals.
£249, sony.co.uk1
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