Hisense AX5125H vs Sonos Beam Gen 2: which budget Dolby Atmos bar is better?
An entry-level Dolby Atmos soundbar is, in theory, a good proposition. It means you can bring a focused yet precise movie experience to your home, while not using up your entire living room with an AV kit. That’s not to say that their more affordable price tag compared to a multi-room speaker system is definitely a bargain.
There is a huge variety in the types of models you can choose from, from small stand-alone bars to complete sound bar systems. And it is the example of each one we have before us today.
That would rightly lead you to ask: which model should I buy? Well, don’t worry too much, because we’ve compared both models side by side to help you decide which one is right for your home setup.
Hisense AX5125H vs Sonos Beam Gen 2
As we said, Hisense AX5125H is the cheaper option of the two. It comes in at £249 / $350 (around AU$500), which is quite a bargain when you consider getting a main soundbar, a subwoofer and two wireless surround speakers.
This makes it the most affordable soundbar package we’ve had in our test room.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2, despite being a single soundbar, was launched at £449 / $449 / AU$649. We’ve seen it drop to around £349 / $399 / AU$700 during sales events, but it’s stuck close to its launch price since it came out.
That still means the Hisense model is the clear winner here, costing £200 / $100 (around AU$200) less than the Beam.
**Winner: Hisense AX5125H**
Hisense AX5125H vs Sonos Beam Gen 2: build
When it comes to design, the Beam is certainly the lighter of the two, with its all-in-one bar measuring 7 x 65 x 10cm (hwd).
It has a stylish yet compact design, sporting rounded edges with polycarbonate grille openings facing the listener. There are two color finishes available – white and black.
On top of the Beam’s body are touch-sensitive buttons, LEDs, and remote microphones for Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice control.
Hisense’s main soundbar is reasonably tall, measuring 6 x 92 x 9cm (hwd), and is only available in black.
Although the Hisense is taller than the Sonos, both primary soundbars are thick enough to sit on most furniture and in front of most TVs without blocking their display, but they’re not so small that they look disproportionate.
The Hisense wireless subwoofer measures in at 29 x 21 x 30cm, and the surrounds measure 14 x 9 x 11cm each. Each package model kit has a more polished look than the Sonos, but nothing feels or looks cheap.
Unlike the Beam, there is an LED display on the front of the Hisense soundbar, which is a pleasant surprise at this price and brings information such as inputs, audio presets and the selected surround mode, as well as the volume level.
The Sonos Beam Gen 2 doesn’t come with a remote, but it can be used with the Sonos app and TV remote.
With the AX5125H, there is no dedicated product control application. Instead, we get a remote that feels basic and plastic, as you’d expect, but does the job well enough. From here, you can turn on Bluetooth, change the output, adjust the volume, bass and treble levels, and dim the sound bar display.
Both soundbars are functional and easy to set up, but which one you choose will depend on whether you’re short on space or want more kit for your money. Hisense just takes it, however, with its active LED display.
**Winner: Hisense AX5125H*
Hisense AX5125H vs Sonos Beam Gen 2: features
Under the Sonos hood, you’ll find one central tweeter and four elliptical mid-woofers, each powered by Class D amplifiers.
The 5.0 bar is the opposite of Hisense’s 5.1.2 channel configuration. That includes three front-firing channels and a driver in the surround ‘five’, one main driver in the ‘one’, and two drivers firing in the soundbar in the ‘two’.
Behind the Sonos bar, you’ll find power, ethernet, and one HDMI eARC sockets as well as a connect/reset push button.
You’ll get more connectivity with the Hisense AX5125H, which offers a dedicated HDMI input. Passthrough is limited to 60Hz, so there’s no support for 4K/120Hz game signals, but any passthrough performance at this level is a bonus, especially since the Beam doesn’t have it.
Both soundbars support Dolby Atmos, but the Hisense AX5125H also supports DTS:X. That’s a great sign for movie fans looking for more options when it comes to surround sound technology.
The Sonos bar can be controlled by the Sonos app, which acts as a hub for the product. From here, you can access EQ controls and more advanced sound settings.
The app also offers room calibration to fine-tune the sound in your space, but it’s important to note that Beam calibration requires an iOS device – Android devices are not compatible.
The Beam doesn’t offer any different audio modes, while the Hisense gives you preset types to choose from: Movie, Music, Game, News and Sports. Although it is automatic in the AI setting, we settle on Movies and TV shows, as well as Music, after many tests.
With its offering as a complete system rather than a stand-alone bar, and its support for DTS:X, the Hisense model takes the crown of this category.
**Winner: Hisense AX5125H**
Hisense AX5125H vs Sonos Beam Gen 2: sound
Now for the juicy part: how do the two models compare when it comes to sound quality? Here, both Hisense AX5125H and Sonos Beam Gen 2 are very different.
Hisense’s model produces enveloping but compact sound that delivers a more immersive soundstage than the Beam Gen 2, thanks to its different satellite positions.
If you watch Civil War in our test room, we note: “Bullets fly from the front to the back of the room and even behind the listening area, helicopters fly high on the ceiling, and distant explosions are dangerously loud.”
The bass delivered by the subwoofer is surprising considering the cost of a soundbar, with powerful booms and booms that have good impact and intensity.
There are frequencies where the sub gets really excited, and delivers a big thump that sticks out. This is explained when you watch Batmanas our hero approaches the thugs in the subway tunnel, and one repeating bass note in the song is produced louder than the others.
With Sonos, although it does not fill the room, the counters have a very detailed and balanced sound that creates an authentic listening experience.
It’s a solid performer with vocals, too, and we say in our review: “Whether it’s a bird chirping, a car or a voice, there’s incredible harmony across the soundstage, and a seamless handoff between drivers, which we have to say isn’t always the case when a Dolby Atmos soundbar has top drivers to contend with.”
This is stronger than Hisense’s performance in this area. We find with the AX5125H that while vocals sound natural and very emotional, the busiest, bassiest parts cause it to suffer.
Unlike most models at this level, both do well with music, although the Hisense doesn’t match the capabilities of the Sonos.
The solid sound performance of the Sonos Beam continues to shine through the music, and maintains a good balance between different frequencies.
If you play Tool’s Invincible with Hisense, it manages to bring out some of the subtle warble in Maynard James Keenan’s voice. But even at its lowest volume level, the subwoofer can’t resist a bit of intrusion at times and adds some unpleasant bass notes.
It’s hard to pick a clear winner here, as it really depends on what you’re looking for. If you’re looking for a soundbar that offers clarity, detail and sophistication, then the Beam Gen 2 is a great choice. But if you’re hunting for a true room-filling, three-dimensional Atmos effect with bassy sound to boot, then the Hisense model is a better choice.
**Winner: draw**
Hisense AX5125H vs Sonos Beam Gen 2
Both the Hisense AX5125H and the Sonos Beam Gen 2 are five-star high-end soundbars that will suit your home cinema setup if you’re hunting for Dolby Atmos without the hefty price tag.
Sonos’ model delivers a more controlled overall performance with a great sense of precision and finesse that the Hisense system can’t match.
But the AX5125H offers a more immersive soundstage with excellent Atmos presentation thanks to the extra surround and subwoofer. Also, its affordable price tag is a good choice for those on a budget.
We are all under arrest.
**Overall winner: draw**
MORE:
These are The best soundbars for Dolby Atmos right now
Check out our review of Hisense AX5125H
And here you are best budget soundbars
