So, you want the best sound system for your new TV, but with all of the options available on the market, how do you pick the the best option for you? Consider the Samsung HW-S61B and the Sonos Beam, two of the best yet most affordable soundbars available on the market today. Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison to help you to determine which will offer you the best listening experience and give you the best bang for your buck.
The Samsung HW-S61B
Available on Amazon, the Samsung HW-S61B soundbar offers a wonderful all-in-one listening experience and “rich sound that will fill your room.” Two woofers and tweets built right in take up less space and eliminate the need for HDMI cables with BlueTooth functionality.
It features Dolby Atmos, an immersive surround sound technology that creates a spatial sound experience and draws in the listener. It also allows you to hear sound from above for a truly unique sound. It is the world’s first brand to offer the wireless Dolby Atmos connection (only compatible with select 2022 Samsung TVs).
Q-Symphony sound allows the sound to emerge from every speaker in your room at the same time when used with a compatible Samsung TV, putting you right at the center of the action. You won’t miss a word of the action with the built-in center speaker, which delivers clearly enunciated and focused dialogue, even with intense background music or explosions.
The HW-361B features Amazon’s Alexa as a built-in voice assistant, so you can control your soundbar without a remote and without needing to set up an external device.
And the Samsung soundbar isn’t just for TVs, either. With music mode, you can turn your TV into your music listening system as well. Both the vocals and every note sound just as good as they did in the studio. It even works for Apple products, too. AirPlay 2 allows the soundbar to be paired with a compatible iPhone or other iOS device to offer additional musical options.
The soundbar is also available to purchase with two types of types of Samsung rear speakers, the SWA-510 and the SWA-9200S, should you want an even more impressive listening experience.
The types of rear speakers do add additional cost to your purchase. The Samsung HW-S61B soundbar is less expensive than the Sonos Beam and, if purchased from Amazon, offers free returns if it turns out that this soundbar is not the right one for you. It comes complete with an installation kit including a wall mounting kit, a remote (with batteries) and an HDMI cable if your TV is not compatible with the BlueTooth functionality.
The Sonos Beam
Also easily available for purchase on Amazon, the Sonos Beam is a sleek, compact soundbar that measures only 25.6 inches long and blends unobtrusively into your entertainment setup. The name of the game with this soundbar is easy: installation is simple, it’s easy to use and it even features a limited lifetime manufacturer warranty (30 years in Germany, Canada and regions not recognizing lifetime warranties), something that is not available from the Samsung soundbar.
It offers high-quality sound for a truly immersive listening experience; however, it does not have any upward facing speakers to allow you to hear sounds from above. It is compatible with Dolby Atmos and offers different listening modes for maximum sound quality and an enjoyable experience.
The Beam also offers Alexa as a built-in voice control, which lets you listen to your favorite music, watch your favorite shows and cheer on your favorite sports teams without ever standing up from your couch! It does not have a physical remote and can be controlled using the Sonos 2 app for iOS or Android devices.
Like its competitor, the Beam is a multi-purpose sound device that will play high-quality music, TV, movies, podcasts, radio, audiobooks and video games for your enjoyment. It offers AirPlay 2 to connect with a compatible iPhone or other iOS devices to expand your listening options.
It is more expensive than the Samsung soundbar when purchased with just the soundbar. The prices are comparable if you choose to purchase one of the sets of rear speaker with the Samsung soundbar. The Beam offers a simple setup and installation process that only features two cables and automatic remote detection that allows you to begin using it within minutes. It lacks the BlueTooth capability offered by its competitor. Additional speakers are available for purchase, but are not part of the same Amazon listing like they are in the Samsung soundbar purchase.
- ALL-IN-ONE: Everything you need in a single soundbar with two woofers and tweeters built in, so you can enjoy...
- WIRLESS DOLBY ATMOS: Enjoy a surround sound experience with Dolby Atmos and skip the need for HDMI cables;...
- Q-SYMPHONY: Perfectly synchronized, fully immersive audio floods your room all at once, using every speaker in...
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Wrap-Up: Which Soundbar is Right for You?
Both soundbars are excellent options to improve your home listening experience, but each have their own pros and cons. If you appreciate technologically-advanced features, then the Samsung HW-S61B soundbar is the one for you. It offers the most customizable listening experience and makes it easy to purchase rear speakers to take your listening experience to another level.
It allows you to minimize the number of cables involved in your entertainment center setup. The price is also on point. The downside is that you need to have a newer Samsung TV to take full advantage of some of these features (such as the wireless Dolby Atmos connection) and the installation process is more complicated.
If you prefer an easy-to-use option, the Sonos Beam is your bet. The Beam gets the job done—reliably, easily and with minimal effort on its users part. It is compatible with a number of different TVs and offers an easy installation process that involves connecting two cables and automatic remote detection.
It is a high-quality product, and the manufacturer offers a limited lifetime warranty. The Beam works with other speakers if you decide later on that you want to take your soundbar to the next level.
Happy listening!
- Beam - The smart, compact soundbar for TV, music, and more.
- High definition sound - Experience rich, detailed sound for your TV that fills the entire room.
- TV, music and more - Play music, TV, movies, podcasts, radio, audiobooks and video games.
Last update on 2024-04-25 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
