Best match
JBL Bar 300MK2
$450vs $499Save $49 (10%)
Why it's a good swap A compact all-in-one bar with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, no subwoofer needed.
You give up: No Sonos app or grouping with Sonos speakers around the house.
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Prices checked October 2026Not tested in handNo paid rankingsHow we pick
You give up: No Sonos app or grouping with Sonos speakers around the house.
Short answer: The closest cheaper alternative to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) is the JBL Bar 300MK2, about $450 instead of $499 (save 10%). What you give up: No Sonos app or grouping with Sonos speakers around the house. The cheapest is the TCL S55H 2.1 Soundbar at about $140. Prices checked October 2026.
Why it's a good swap A compact all-in-one bar with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, no subwoofer needed.
You give up: No Sonos app or grouping with Sonos speakers around the house.
Why it's a good swap A cheap 2.1 soundbar that makes TV dialogue and bass clearly better than TV speakers.
You give up: Basic sound with no smart features, Wi-Fi streaming or multiroom.
Why it's a good swap Sonos's smaller soundbar, with the same app and multiroom features.
You give up: No Dolby Atmos, HDMI or voice assistant; it connects by optical cable.
Why it's a good swap A 3.1.1-channel bar that comes with a wireless subwoofer for deeper bass.
You give up: Bigger setup with a separate sub, and no Sonos multiroom app.
Typical US prices, checked October 2026. Not live prices; check the listing before you buy.
Looking for a cheaper alternative to the Sonos Beam (Gen 2)? It usually sells for about $499. Here are 4 cheaper swaps from $140: the JBL Bar 300MK2 is the closest match from another brand, the Sonos Ray is a cheaper option from Sonos and the TCL S55H 2.1 Soundbar is the cheapest at about $140. Each one says what you give up for the lower price.
Sonos no longer sells the Beam (Gen 2) itself, so check its current price. The closest cheaper pick is the JBL Bar 300MK2 at about $450, and the cheapest swap is the TCL S55H 2.1 soundbar at about $140.
Worth it if you want a compact soundbar that joins a Sonos system: Tom's Guide praised its impressive sound for its size, Dolby Atmos support and reliable Trueplay tuning. It called the Beam (Gen 2) the best option for 55-inch and smaller TVs.
If you don't need Sonos multiroom, a cheaper bar can still clearly improve TV sound. The LG S70TY 3.1.1 Soundbar ($300) comes with a wireless subwoofer for deeper bass, and the TCL S55H 2.1 Soundbar ($140) makes dialogue and bass clearly better than TV speakers.
| Option | Type | Typical price | You save | What you give up | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sonos Beam (Gen 2) | The original | $499 | – | – | View ↗ |
| TCL S55H 2.1 Soundbar | Budget pick | $140 | $359 (72%) | Basic sound with no smart features, Wi-Fi streaming or multiroom. | View ↗ |
| Sonos Ray | Same brand, cheaper | $219 | $280 (56%) | No Dolby Atmos, HDMI or voice assistant; it connects by optical cable. | View ↗ |
| LG S70TY 3.1.1 Soundbar | Close match | $300 | $199 (40%) | Bigger setup with a separate sub, and no Sonos multiroom app. | View ↗ |
| JBL Bar 300MK2 | Close match | $450 | $49 (10%) | No Sonos app or grouping with Sonos speakers around the house. | View ↗ |
Typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices and may have changed, so check the listing before you buy.
The TCL S55H 2.1 Soundbar, at about $140 (72% less). A cheap 2.1 soundbar that makes TV dialogue and bass clearly better than TV speakers. The catch: Basic sound with no smart features, Wi-Fi streaming or multiroom.
The JBL Bar 300MK2, at about $450 (10% less). A compact all-in-one bar with Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X, no subwoofer needed. The catch: No Sonos app or grouping with Sonos speakers around the house.
Yes. The Sonos Ray, at about $219 (56% less). Sonos's smaller soundbar, with the same app and multiroom features. The catch: No Dolby Atmos, HDMI or voice assistant; it connects by optical cable.
Sonos says the Beam Ultra adds actual upward-firing drivers for Dolby Atmos, a 7.1.2 setup instead of 5.1.2, AI Speech Enhancement, and Bluetooth and line-in. The Beam (Gen 2) simulates height channels instead.
Tom's Guide called it the best option for 55-inch and smaller TVs. For a large room, its reviewer found the bigger Sonos Arc more immersive.
The Sonos Ray ($219) keeps the Sonos app and multiroom features, but has no Dolby Atmos, HDMI or voice assistant and connects by optical cable. If you want Atmos without Sonos, the JBL Bar 300MK2 ($450) supports Dolby Atmos and DTS Virtual:X.
Each swap links to amazon.com. Prices are typical US prices checked October 2026 and change often, so check the listing before you buy.
Every swap is a product sold in the US that does the main job of the original. Close match is another brand with similar features, Same brand, cheaper is an older, smaller or renewed model from the same maker, and Budget pick is the cheapest thing that still does the job. On each page, Closest match is the close match nearest the original in price, and Lowest price is the cheapest swap. We compare published specs, retailer listings and reviews; we don't test products ourselves.
A cheaper product is cheaper for a reason. Each swap says what you give up, like weaker noise cancelling, a smaller screen or a shorter warranty, so you can decide if the savings are worth it.
Prices are typical US prices from retailer listings and price trackers, last checked October 2026. They are not live Amazon prices, which change often. When a price couldn't be confirmed, the page says “Check price on Amazon” instead of showing a number.
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