Note that this is a discontinued product. You may want to visit the brand's page here to browse their newer products.
What reviewers think
Bloggers and YouTubers have tried this product—so we've summarized their strongest opinions below. Links to full reviews follow.
What are hifi reviews useful for? (1) Identifying products you should demo in person at a dealer. (2) Learning which products reviewers unanimously praise as the best they've heard (this means they probably are legitimately great). (3) Identifying a product's attributes that satisfy your idiosyncratic needs and tastes. Beyond that, we often discount what reviewers say because they heap praise on most products—and are often apprehensive about publishing strong criticism or comparisons between products. Further, they seldom have more than a few products on-hand, often relying on their memories to compare past products. Always listen for yourself.
All
SB-2
reviews
Video Review
Manufacturer details
Features
Specifications
- Frequency Response (-3 dB): 90 Hz – 30 kHz
- Sensitivity (1W@1M): 84 dB
- Nominal Impedance: 8 ohms
- Power Handling (RMS): 40 W
- System Power Handling (RMS): 100 W (High pass filter set to 100 Hz)
- Crossover Frequency: 80 — 120 Hz
- Maximum SPL: 104 (108.8 all channels driven)
- Drive Unit Complement: 3 x 4" (100 mm) C-CAM cone bass/mid driver, 3 x 1" (25 mm) C-CAM Gold Dome tweeter
- Cabinet Dimensions (H x W x D) (Including Feet): 147 x 1107 x 93 mm (5 13/16 x 43 9/16 x 3 11/16")
- External Dimensions Including Bracket (H x W x D): 145 x 1107 x 100 mm (5 11/16 x 43 9/16 x 3 15/16")
- Weight: 7.64 kg (16 lb 12 oz)
Description
The compact SB-2 is engineered for seamless integration with 50-60 inch TVs, featuring three separate driver arrays for left, centre, right channels in a single cabinet.
Release Timeline
Manufacturer Site
Brand highlights
Taking a step back to look at reviewers' thoughts of the brand's entire lineup—not just this product—what stands out most is the following:
- Monitor Audio's C-CAM (Ceramic-Coated Aluminium/Magnesium) drivers, specifically their "Gold Dome" tweeters and mid-bass drivers, are consistently praised for their unique combination of lightness, rigidity, and damping, resulting in clear, detailed, and dynamic sound reproduction.
- The "Rigid Surface Technology" (RST and RST II), employed on Monitor Audio's driver cones, enhances their stiffness and reduces distortion, leading to a fuller, more textured, and controlled sound, especially in the bass frequencies.
- They've developed a signature sound that balances detail, clarity, and a lively, energetic presentation while being smooth and non-fatiguing, making their speakers suitable for long listening sessions across various music genres.
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Avg. Product Price
$1,001-$2,500
Used For Sale
191
Available (Scroll Down)
Brand Popularity
23
of 900+
Badges
Top 50 Brand
Top 250 Brand
Products Listed
58
Founding Year
1972
Our take on the brand
Monitor Audio is an independently owned hifi brand that has earned multiple Editors Choice awards for their Silver Series speakers, which feature proprietary driver designs. Their speakers are distinguished by unique technologies like the MPD tweeter and C-CAM drivers, which provide exceptional clarity while resisting distortion and listener fatigue.
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What if you spend more?
Devialet
Dione Opéra de Paris
2999
2999
/
10
Reviews
Dolby Atmos | 101 dB SPL | 950 Watts RMSOur all-in-one soundbar Devialet Dione Opéra de Paris edition is the latest to join the Devialet Exclusive Collections compendium, an evolving series of rare editions created in collaboration with culture pioneers.Bring the show to life.Born of our ongoing partnership with the Opéra de Paris, this collector’s edition all-in-one soundbar features sleek extremities flanking a 22-carat moon gold central plate, inspired by the gilded interiors of Paris’s Opéra Garnier. Now you can tap into the emotional impact of the opera, from the privacy of your own home.
Devialet is a hifi brand that combines analog and digital amplification through their "Analog Digital Hybrid" technology, delivering extremely low distortion in sleek, minimalist speakers. Their signature Phantom speakers use high-pressure lateral drivers to produce ultra-deep bass down to 14 Hz, while their spherical design minimizes sound diffraction for consistent quality regardless of listening position.
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Our summary
Product Strengths
- Unique, striking design with a rotating center 'orb' that serves as the dedicated center channel speaker
- Impressive bass performance, potentially eliminating the need for a separate subwoofer in smaller rooms
- Good clarity and detail, especially in the midrange, resulting in clear voice reproduction and dialogue
- Delivers a room-filling and expansive soundstage
- Can be wall-mounted or placed on furniture, with acoustic adaptation for each position
Product Considerations
- Overpowering bass can overshadow the midrange and treble, resulting in a messy sound
- Limited physical connection options for its price
- No remote is included; control relies on a mobile app
- Some reviewers find the lack of rear surround sound disappointing
- Lacks DTS:X support
- Some reviewers wish tone controls would be offered
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- The Bowers & Wilkins Panorama 3 is more accurate, but lacks the bass output of the Dione
- The Sonos Arc's soundstage is wider and more immersive, and it has more enhancement features
Takeaway: The Dione is a stylish and innovative soundbar that delivers powerful bass and clear audio. It is a good choice for people who want a single, simple unit that sounds great.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Devialet is a hifi brand that combines analog and digital amplification through their "Analog Digital Hybrid" technology, delivering extremely low distortion in sleek, minimalist speakers. Their signature Phantom speakers use high-pressure lateral drivers to produce ultra-deep bass down to 14 Hz, while their spherical design minimizes sound diffraction for consistent quality regardless of listening position.
Product Page
Product Page
What competes at this price?
SVS
Prime Satellite 5.1 System
1199
/
Released
Unleash home cinema surround sound in any small to medium size room with the compact and versatile Prime Satellite 5.1 Surround Sound System.
SVS is a hifi brand known for its subwoofers that feature dual 8-inch voice coils and 17-inch drivers, delivering deep bass with precise control through their force-balanced woofer array design. Their Ultra Evolution series uses diamond-coated aluminum dome tweeters and acoustically centered time alignment cabinet architecture to ensure all sound reaches listeners' ears simultaneously for a coherent soundstage.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Awesome gloss finish makes it look more expensive
- Integrates a little bit better with a subwoofer
- A little bit better sound quality in terms of resolution, especially in the high end, and a little bit of a wider sound stage
- More efficient than the Micas and has a bit easier time playing louder in a larger space than the Micas do
- Built in keyhole mount
Product Considerations
- Absolutely require a subwoofer, or else the user may be unhappy
- Heavier speakers so you might want to find a stud before mounting them
- The gloss finish version is significantly more expensive than its competitor
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- SVS Prime Satellites offer about 20-25% better sound quality compared to Mica 000s
- SVS Prime Satellites are more efficient compared to Mica 000s
- SVS Prime Satellites have a wider sound stage compared to Mica 000s
- Sound signature is very similar between the two, both on the brighter side of neutral, but the SVSs are a little bit more brighter and a little bit forward
Takeaway: The Prime Satellites offer a gloss finish and improved sound quality, especially in the high end, when paired with a subwoofer. They are also more efficient and have a wider soundstage compared to some alternatives, making them a good choice if aesthetics and performance are important.
Video review
Our take on the brand
SVS is a hifi brand known for its subwoofers that feature dual 8-inch voice coils and 17-inch drivers, delivering deep bass with precise control through their force-balanced woofer array design. Their Ultra Evolution series uses diamond-coated aluminum dome tweeters and acoustically centered time alignment cabinet architecture to ensure all sound reaches listeners' ears simultaneously for a coherent soundstage.
Product Page
Product Page
Devialet
Dione
2199
/
Released
2022
Devialet Dione is Devialet's acoustic engineering applied to home cinema: a high-end, all-in-one Dolby Atmos® 5.1.2 soundbar that elevates all contents on your television.
Devialet is a hifi brand that combines analog and digital amplification through their "Analog Digital Hybrid" technology, delivering extremely low distortion in sleek, minimalist speakers. Their signature Phantom speakers use high-pressure lateral drivers to produce ultra-deep bass down to 14 Hz, while their spherical design minimizes sound diffraction for consistent quality regardless of listening position.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Excellent clarity and detail across the full-range drivers create a satisfyingly rich listening experience
- Remarkable bass performance delivers a deep and weighty low-end that rivals systems with external subwoofers
- Expansive, informative, and assertive full-range sound transforms the viewing experience
- Striking, high-end design features a unique rotatable center channel ('Orb') for versatile placement options
- Elegant, simple Dolby Atmos speaker provides sound without much added physical or sonic clutter
Product Considerations
- High price tag compared to competitors, especially considering the lack of DTS:X support and HDMI passthrough
- Middling surround sound performance offers a limited ability to create a truly enveloping soundfield
- Lacks sound enhancement features, like bass/treble adjustments, graphic EQ, or individual channel volume controls
- Bass can be overpowering at times
- Lacks a remote control, relying on a mobile app or HDMI-CEC for control
Takeaway: The Devialet Dione is a unique and powerful soundbar that delivers exceptional bass and clear audio, making movies and music sound great. It is a stylish, all-in-one solution for those who want high-end sound without the clutter of a traditional surround system.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Devialet is a hifi brand that combines analog and digital amplification through their "Analog Digital Hybrid" technology, delivering extremely low distortion in sleek, minimalist speakers. Their signature Phantom speakers use high-pressure lateral drivers to produce ultra-deep bass down to 14 Hz, while their spherical design minimizes sound diffraction for consistent quality regardless of listening position.
Product Page
Product Page
Sonos
Ray (Immersive Set)
1056
/
Released
2022
Level up your viewing and listening experiences with immersive surround sound powered by this compact soundbar, subwoofer, and pair of rear satellite speakers.
Sonos pioneered multi-room wireless audio with their proprietary SonosNet mesh network, which ensures synchronized streaming across multiple speakers without relying on traditional Wi-Fi. Their products feature Trueplay technology that automatically tunes speakers to room acoustics, while supporting multiple voice assistants and streaming services across their platform-agnostic ecosystem.
Expand Details
Our Summary
Product Strengths
- Clear and detailed audio, enhancing dialogue clarity significantly over TV speakers
- Compact size and aesthetic design make it suitable for smaller TVs (around 40-50 inches) and rooms, with flexible placement options
- Integrates seamlessly into the Sonos ecosystem, offering user-friendly operation and a cohesive app for control and setup
- Versatile connectivity through Wi-Fi and Apple Airplay 2, enabling wireless music streaming and integration with other Sonos speakers
Product Considerations
- Limited bass performance, potentially requiring a separate subwoofer for a more immersive experience
- Only connects to TVs via an optical port, lacking HDMI ARC and the ability to support higher quality audio formats
- Absence of Bluetooth connectivity, limiting its versatility for direct connections with devices
- Soundstage is narrower compared to wider soundbars, which may not provide as immersive a listening experience, although it does output in stereo
- The use of an optical connection means users have to go through an additional setup process so that their TV's remote can adjust the volume on it
Comparisons (according to reviewers)
- Vs Sonos Beam Gen 2: Offers a more affordable entry point into the Sonos ecosystem, sacrificing some features of the Beam Gen 2—such as Dolby Atmos and HDMI connectivity
- Vs Roku Streambar Pro: Has similar audio performance but fewer connectivity options
Takeaway: The Sonos Ray is a compact and stylish soundbar that noticeably upgrades the sound quality of the TV, especially for dialogue. Its integration with the Sonos ecosystem makes it a great choice for those looking to expand their multi-room audio setup.
Video review
Our take on the brand
Sonos pioneered multi-room wireless audio with their proprietary SonosNet mesh network, which ensures synchronized streaming across multiple speakers without relying on traditional Wi-Fi. Their products feature Trueplay technology that automatically tunes speakers to room acoustics, while supporting multiple voice assistants and streaming services across their platform-agnostic ecosystem.
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