Sonos Beam vs Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 review

Votes 2 2
Rating 5 5

Sonos Beam vs Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 comparison chart

Overall
6
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1
7.8
8
4

Sonos Beam vs Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 review

Sonos Beam
vs
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1

It makes sense comparing Sonos Beam vs Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 because they both are able to give some premium features. Based on our rating, Beam has a total rating of 6 out of 10 versus 7.8 for Shockwafe Pro 7.1. The competitors' control buttons are different: volume down, volume up, microphone, play/pause and power, source, demo, volume down, volume up, respectively.

Audio features

Both soundbars have active amplification type. A significant difference between the units in the number of channels, the Sonos Beam has 3.0 versus 7.1.4 for the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1. Competitors do not have a built-in subwoofer. Rivals have wireless connection to separate subwoofer. The Sonos Beam got our rating of 6 out of 10, and the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 8 for its audio features and specs. Spotify support is available on the Shockwafe Pro 7.1.

Connectivity

Only the Sonos Beam can connect to the Internet via WI-FI. Rivals from our review have Bluetooth support. The Sonos Beam has 1/0 HDMI inputs/outputs versus 3/1 of the Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1. Only the Shockwafe Pro 7.1 supports HDMI Audio Return Channel (ARC). For connectivity, the Beam received a rating of 6/10 versus 8/10, respectively. App control is available for the Beam. A built-in microphone is present only on the Beam. Soundbars do not have Multi-room support.

Multichannel surround

Only the Shockwafe Pro 7.1 has a Dolby Atmos multichannel audio format support. A surround technology DTS:X is supported only by the Shockwafe Pro 7.1. For multichannel surround Sonos Beam got a rating of 4, and Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 10 out of 10.

Advantages Sonos Beam over Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1

  • WI-FI enabled
  • App control
  • Microphone

Advantages Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1 over Sonos Beam

  • Separate subwoofer in package
  • Amazon Music compatible
  • Spotify support
  • Audio return channel (HDMI ARC) support
  • Compatible with Dolby Atmos
  • Compatible with DTS:X
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Common

Product

Sonos Beam
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1

Model

Beam
Shockwafe Pro 7.1

Brand

Sonos
Nakamichi

Reviews

3280
3363

General

Placement type

table-top, wall-mountable
table-top, wall-mountable

Connection to source

wired, wireless
wired, wireless

Soundbar buttons

volume down, volume up, microphone, play/pause
power, source, demo, volume down, volume up

Audio features

Built-in channels

3.0
7.1.4

Amplification type

active
active

Output power, W

600 (overall)

Separate speaker (in package)

0
2

Separate speaker connections

wireless
wired

Subwoofer

Built-in subwoofer

Separate subwoofer (in package)

Separate subwoofer connections

wireless
wireless

Streaming services

Apple Music (AirPlay)

AirPlay 2

Amazon Music

Spotify

Other streaming services

Pandora, Tuneln, Chromecast
Pandora, SoundCloud

Connectivity

WI-FI

Bluetooth

Ethernet (RJ45)

1
0

NFC

HDMI input/output

1/0
3/1

HDMI ARC

HDMI eARC

HDMI CEC

Optical digital input/output

1/0
1/0

USB

1 (USB 2.0)

Coaxial digital input/output

0/0
1/0

Analog audio input/output (RCA)

0/0
1/0

Headphone output

0
0

Subwoofer output

0
0

Features

Voice control

Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant

App control

Microphone

Remote control

Multi-room

Multichannel surround

Dolby Atmos

Dolby (other)

Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital, Dolby TruHD

DTS:X

DTS (other)

has not
DTS Digital Surround, DTS HD

User manual

Manual

N/A

Dimensions

Size (Wx H x D), cm/in

65 x 6.8x 10/25.6 x 2.7 x 3.9
114.3 x 7.6 x 7.6/45.5 x 3 x 3.5

Weight, kg/pounds

2.8/6.2
3.1/7.2

Other

Release year

2018
2017
Sonos Beam
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1
Sonos Beam
Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1

Soundbars SoundStrokes Art comparison rating

  • better
  • worse
  • 6
  • 7.8
  • 6Sonos Beam
  • 7.8Nakamichi Shockwafe Pro 7.1