ADECADE AGO, this test would have been purely about sound quality but now smart network features play a significant role too. So the balance comes down to those two factors, and price. The Sonos Beam is a very solid and relatively affordable option, cleverly using its speakers to simulate surround sound in Atmos mode, and producing a very impressive movie experience as well as being very capable with music playback. If a subwoofer isn’t practical due to space constraints, the Yamaha and Denon also perform admirably, though lack some virtual surround features. Honourable mention also to the Roku which is a sprightly upgrade to your TV speakers for not much cash.