Verdict on Sonos Ray

Perfect for limited spaces and budgets, the Sonos Ray enhances TV audio with clearer dialogue and enjoyable music. However, it lacks the depth and impact found in pricier models, particularly for sound effects in films and shows.

Reasons to Consider

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  Budget-friendly

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  Compact design ideal for small areas

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  Remarkable volume for its size

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  Clear dialogue delivery

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  Well-balanced sound

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  Music sounds rich and airy

Reasons to Skip

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  Weak bass response

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  Some distortion at high volumes

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  Music can feel underwhelming

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  No surround sound capability

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  No support for Dolby Atmos, Bluetooth, or HDMI ARC

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  Challenging remote integration; relies on the Sonos app or touch controls

Trust us; our reviewers rigorously test and compare various products to help you find the best options.

Sonos offers more than just high-end models. The Sonos Ray is their most affordable soundbar, designed for smaller spaces without compromising quality. With my fondness for the Sonos Arc Ultra, I was eager to see how this budget model performed. So, I tested the Sonos Ray soundbar in my home.

The verdict? While it can't match higher-end competitors, it's a top choice for those needing a compact and affordable soundbar, ranking among the best options available.

Sonos Ray: Quick Overview

With a width of just 21 inches, the Sonos Ray is exceptionally compact, making it suitable for tight spaces. Despite its size, it delivers impressive sound, filling the room even at 70% volume.

It enhances dialogue clarity and volume for movies, and it serves well for music as well. However, when compared to pricier alternatives, including the Fire TV Soundbar Plus—only $30 more—it falls short in terms of depth and clarity.

Though it lacks a subwoofer and Dolby Atmos support, the Sonos app offers excellent EQ settings and customization, along with access to a vast array of playlists and radio stations, distinguishing it from other budget soundbars.

Sonos Ray: Key Specs

Sonos Ray: Setup Process

Setting up the Sonos Ray is straightforward. To control the settings, including volume, you'll need the Sonos app.

Connect the power and optical cables to the TV and soundbar. If you're mounting the soundbar, you may need to manage some cables.

Once connected, it should play audio from your TV right away, but some TVs, like mine, require changing the audio output to optical in the settings.

Since the Ray doesn't support HDMI ARC, your TV remote won't control volume automatically, and it doesn't come with its own remote. You'll need to use the touch controls or the Sonos app instead.

After downloading the app, I connected the Ray, which required entering an audio pin and completing a quick software update—taking under five minutes.

I attempted to link my TV remote to the Ray, but it didn't work, despite being compatible. This issue could affect others with similar remotes.

Since my soundbar is on a shelf, accessing buttons is difficult, so I rely on the app for volume adjustments, which can be frustrating.

Interestingly, the Ray features Trueplay, which tunes sound to your room's acoustics, regardless of whether you have hardwood floors or soft furnishings. Setting it up requires moving around the room with your phone while the soundbar plays beeps to analyze acoustics, noticeably enhancing sound quality.

Sonos Ray: Design and Features

The Sonos Ray sports a sleek matte finish, available in black or white, allowing it to blend seamlessly into any décor. Measuring only 21 inches wide, it fits comfortably on smaller TV stands. If your TV is large, the Ray will likely fit neatly between its legs.

Despite being labeled a space-saving soundbar, its output is impressive—at 70% volume, it's louder than necessary for most small living rooms, with adjustable bass and treble settings to enhance sound.

The Ray features a 3.0 channel configuration with four speakers: two tweeters and two midwoofers. This is fewer than the Fire TV Soundbar Plus's eight speakers and the Sonos Arc Ultra's fourteen, so it can't compete on technical prowess.

However, audio quality is influenced by software as well as hardware, and the Sonos app features extensive customization options, making it suitable for small rooms, especially for those with nearby neighbors.

You can activate 'Night mode' to soften loud sounds while enhancing quieter audio. The app also allows volume limits to prevent disturbances.

The app is quick to load, which is a plus since the soundbar lacks a remote and doesn't easily connect to typical TV remotes.

When watching TV, the main playback options include volume adjustments, night mode, and speech enhancement. There's also a sleep timer feature accessible through the menu.

Playback is conveniently displayed on the Sonos app, but switching between TIDAL and Sonos can cause delays, so I recommend sticking with one for smoother operation.

The Sonos Ray lacks Bluetooth, limiting streaming options to Wi-Fi connections like Apple AirPlay and TIDAL Connect. Unfortunately, playback doesn't show on the lock screen of my phone, requiring app access to pause or skip tracks.

For music playback, I'd advise using either Sonos or TIDAL to avoid issues, but I found no lag while watching movies or shows.

The Sonos app also provides a vast selection of playlists and radio stations, though ads are present unless you subscribe for $7.99 a month to the premium Sonos Radio.

Sonos Ray: Performance with TV and Movies

The Sonos Ray significantly enhances the audio experience for TV shows and movies, ensuring voices are clearer and easier to follow without needing subtitles. Its high volume capacity is perfect for filling the room during movie nights.

However, distortion can occur, and the absence of directional sound is evident. The bass could be stronger for enjoying impactful sound effects, and voices occasionally sound hollow. For its price, it's a solid option, but the audio quality can't match that of soundbars costing 2-3 times more.

I tested the Ray with The Trial of the Chicago 7, a dialogue-heavy film. The courtroom scenes showcased its ability to deliver clearer and more powerful dialogue compared to standard TV speakers, enhancing the dramatic effect without overshadowing overlapping conversations.

However, it lacked sound direction, with voices seeming to originate solely from the center. This isn't unexpected, but combined with occasionally hollow vocals, it pales in comparison to pricier models like the Sony BRAVIA Theater Bar 8, known for its realistic surround sound.

While watching Princess Mononoke, the score was dramatic and immersive, but certain sounds felt less impactful than expected.

This beloved film features some of the clearest sounds, yet while it conveyed depth and texture, individual sound effects could have had more punch.

I rewatched scenes multiple times to evaluate the Ray's EQ response, noting that the sound effects in the action sequence of John Wick: Chapter 2 were somewhat muddled compared to the Arc Ultra.

Though the score became more intense with increased bass, background noises became more vivid, enhancing the experience as if sounds were closer.

The sound projects well into the room, offering clarity, but after experiencing Sonos' advanced technology in the Sonos Arc Ultra, the differences are apparent. Low or outdoor dialogue can distort slightly, with occasional harshness.

Nevertheless, I enjoyed the vibrant sound during this action-packed scene, appreciating the clarity and richness of character voices amidst the chaos.

Testing the Ray's 'Speech Enhancement' during Our Planet II made background noise fade, allowing David Attenborough's voice to resonate clearly while maintaining texture. However, as the episode progressed, music seemed to lose some of its richness.

With speech enhancement off, the Ray effectively captured the grand sound of the documentary, with crescendoing sandstorms filling the space—though clarity wasn't perfect, the sound was lively and immersive.

While watching season five, episode nine of Breaking Bad, I appreciated the sound balance. Although there's no surround sound, it was easy to catch Walter's dialogue off-screen while distinguishing sounds from Hank in the garage, providing a sense of directionality.

While other soundbars sometimes produce a tinny or muddy effect, the Ray delivered natural and rich audio with balanced volume across frequencies.

Sonos Ray: Music Performance

The Sonos Ray shines with songs that blend elements well, such as soft pop and soulful tracks. Its bass presence is noticeable but not always punchy; trebles can sound lush but may lack authenticity, and gentler songs could use more spaciousness.

In testing bass-heavy tracks from my soundbar playlist, Massive Attack's Angel came through with strong depth and clarity. The song's initial crescendo held firm, but it sometimes felt congested during climactic moments, lacking the thunderous depth expected.

Similarly, Daft Punk's Phoenix showcased solid bass and impressive sound projection. Yet, the depth typically associated with these tracks was occasionally absent.

Boosting the bass in the EQ improved the overall depth, allowing me to feel more of the rumbling sensation during bass-heavy songs, enhancing the listening experience. I'd recommend setting it around +5.

Shifting to the mids, Big Thief's Simulation Swarm sounded vibrant and coherent, a step above weaker speakers. However, while instruments were distinguishable, they weren't as rich as I've heard from others, like the Yamaha True X Bar 40A. The guitars, meant to sound rough, occasionally came across as distorted.

Marvin Gaye's Inner City Blues, with its seamless sound, showcased the Ray's strengths, revealing its ability to handle smooth tracks effectively.

This was further emphasized during Pitch the Baby by Cocteau Twins, where the trebles sparkled while lower synths highlighted the Ray's dynamism with multiple textures. Like Inner City Blues, it excelled in smoother tracks but struggled with sharp impacts.

Led Zeppelin's Ramble On began with a crisp opening, clearly presenting each instrument. While Robert's voice didn't have its usual authority, the overall sound was impressive. It's a solid choice for rock music.

Sonos Ray: Pricing

The Sonos Ray retails for $219 at Sonos, making it the most affordable soundbar I've tested so far. I noticed a significant difference in specs compared to pricier models—it lacks subwoofers, Bluetooth, and surround sound features.

For an additional $40, you can opt for the Fire TV Soundbar Plus, priced at $249.99 at Amazon, often available for $150-$200. This model offers Dolby Atmos support, eight speakers, including two subwoofers, and Bluetooth connectivity. During testing, it produced a fuller, more directional sound than the Ray, though it is 10 inches wider.

Both the Ray and the Fire TV Soundbar Plus, however, can't compete with premium soundbars like the Bose Smart Ultra Soundbar or the Sonos Arc Ultra, which provide an incredibly immersive experience. Expect to pay significantly more: $999 for the Bose Smart Ultra and $1,099 for the Sonos Arc Ultra, although discounts of $100-300 are common.

Testing Methodology for Sonos Ray

I evaluated the Sonos Ray in my largest room, featuring two large windows, wooden flooring, and various soft furnishings to simulate typical living room acoustics.

Using a standardized list of scenes and songs, I measured performance across diverse genres, from quiet dialogue to booming action sequences, and included a mix of bass, mids, and trebles.

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