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Sonos Ray Review

Kenn Muguna Avatar
Updated Dec 20, 2023 11:31 AM

True Score

82
80
24

Experts

89
2,639

Consumers

Product Awards

GR Certified

Customer Favorite

Expert Rankings

The Sonos Ray soundbar is perfect for users who value accurate vocal reproduction over anything else, but the lack of Bluetooth support, missing sound customization, and a low bass range might not be convincing to the discerning user.

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Table of Contents

Product Snapshot

Overview

The Sonos Ray was first launched in early 2022 as an entry-level soundbar available in either black or white. It has two channels, and render content in either Dolby Digital or DTS format.

Compared to the best speakers in the market, the Sonos Ray is pretty basic, with an okay soundstage for users to accurately identify where sound is coming from, plus two ports – an Optical Audio In port and an Ethernet port.

Its bass levels are low due to the lack of a subwoofer, but it gets loud enough for crowds and has both bass and treble adjustments. As far as wireless playback is concerned, the Sonos Ray is very limited, as it can only stream audio content through Wi-Fi connectivity and Apple AirPlay.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t support audio streaming through Bluetooth and Chromecast – two wireless playback options that are pretty common among the best soundbars in the industry.

Best For

  • PC

Consensus

our Verdict

The Sonos Ray soundbar is a sleek 2.0-channel solution with clear vocals enhanced by dialogue mode and well-balanced mids, but its lack of Dolby Atmos support and heavy bass may be a dealbreaker for some.

Still, its tested 55ms latency ensures accurate audio synchronization, but its port selection is limited to an Optical Audio In and Ethernet port.

The soundbar also supports Dolby Digital, DTS, Wi-Fi, AirPlay, and Spotify Connect but misses out on a graphic equalizer, limiting sound customization. Bluetooth connectivity is also absent.

A smart choice for compact spaces, its design shines, but it may disappoint bass enthusiasts and those needing more connectivity options.

ReasonS to Buy

  • Great sound quality
    • The Sonos Ray is great for watching TV shows or listening to podcasts. Its sound quality is top-tier as far as vocal reproduction is concerned since dialogue is clearly heard. However, its bass output is not impressive, so it isn’t ideal for a cinematic movie-watching experience.

  • Virtual surround sound
    • Surround sound performance on the Sonos Ray is average, as the soundbar only has 2 channels and no satellite speakers. It also has a tested max volume of 90.2 dB, and this, combined with its ability to produce a large, wide sound, places it at the top half of its category compared to its peers.

  • Vocal clarity
    • The Sonos Ray offers clear, articulate vocal reproduction, making dialogue clear and audible.

  • Excellent connectivity
    • Despite missing out on Bluetooth, the Sonos Ray has excellent connectivity, As owners will be able to stream content through WiFi, Apple AirPlay 2, Spotify Connect, and Tidal Connect. Unfortunately, it only offers an Optical Digital Connection for wired inputs. There’s no HDMI/ARC port or 3.5mm jack.

  • Low latency
    • With a low, tested 55ms latency, audiovisuals are very well synchronized, so there’s no lag, but compared to other alternatives in its category, this is average.

Reason to Avoid

  • No Smart Features
    • The Sonos Ray does not support any connections to smart devices and cannot be voice-controlled.

  • No graphic Eq
    • The lack of a graphic Eq on the Sonos Ray means owners won’t be able to customize its sound output to their liking.

  • Poor bass output
    • The Sonos Ray has a poor bass output, so it isn’t ideal for bass lovers looking for an immersive listening experience.

Sonos Ray Specs

Bluetooth EnabledBluetooth EnabledNo
DepthDepth3.74"
Dialogue Enhancement FeatureDialogue Enhancement FeatureYes
Energy Star CertifiedEnergy Star CertifiedNo
Equalizer Settingsn/a
HeightHeight2.79"
Number of Audio ChannelsNumber of Audio Channels2.0
Wall MountableWall MountableYes
WeightWeight4.29 lbs
WidthWidth22"
Wireless Subwoofer ConnectivityWireless Subwoofer ConnectivityYes

All Specs

Test Results

Low End Roll Off (Hz)85.99
High End Roll Off (Hz)9,122.803
Max Volume Test (db)90.2
Latency (ms)
THD @ 80dB0.51

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Product Comparison

Sonos Ray Review

True Score

82
86
81
NR

Ranking

#

37

/

149

#

8

/

149

#

47

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149

#

/

Market Context

The Sonos Ray was first launched in early 2022 as an entry-level soundbar available in either black or white. It has two channels, and render…

The Sonos Ray was first launched in early 2022 as an entry-level soundbar available in either black or white. It has two channels, and render content in either Dolby Digital or DTS format.

Compared to the best speakers in the market, the Sonos Ray is pretty basic, with an okay soundstage for users to accurately identify where sound is coming from, plus two ports – an Optical Audio In port and an Ethernet port.

Its bass levels are low due to the lack of a subwoofer, but it gets loud enough for crowds and has both bass and treble adjustments. As far as wireless playback is concerned, the Sonos Ray is very limited, as it can only stream audio content through Wi-Fi connectivity and Apple AirPlay.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t support audio streaming through Bluetooth and Chromecast – two wireless playback options that are pretty common among the best soundbars in the industry.

The Sonos Ray is a 2-channel soundbar, while the Sonos Beam is a 3-channel setup. This is because the Sonos Beam has a discrete center…

The Sonos Ray is a 2-channel soundbar, while the Sonos Beam is a 3-channel setup. This is because the Sonos Beam has a discrete center channel that helps enhance dialogue. The Sonos Beam is also wider than the Sonos Ray, so it’ll take up slightly more space. Lastly, the Sonos Beam ships with a HDMI cable which is missing on the Sonos Ray, while the Sonos Ray also includes a Digital Optical Cable that the Sonos Beam does not. Check out our Sonos Beam review to see what else it offers.

Being a 2-channel soundbar, the Sonos Ray’s sound output is dwarfed by what the 5-channel Samsung HW-S60A is capable of. The Samsung soundbar also gets…

Being a 2-channel soundbar, the Sonos Ray’s sound output is dwarfed by what the 5-channel Samsung HW-S60A is capable of. The Samsung soundbar also gets louder than the Sonos Ray and has a graphic EQ that includes presets – something that the Sonos Ray does not.

The Sonos Ray can render DTS content, while the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 cannot. Still, the Bose 300 gets slightly louder than the Sonos Ray…

The Sonos Ray can render DTS content, while the Bose Smart Soundbar 300 cannot. Still, the Bose 300 gets slightly louder than the Sonos Ray at max volume, and it can also stream audio content through Bluetooth and Chromecast – wireless capabilities that the Sonos Ray does not have.

Bluetooth Enabled

No

No

Yes

Depth

3.74"

3.9"

4.9"

Dialogue Enhancement Feature

Yes

Yes

Yes

Energy Star Certified

No

No

No

Equalizer Settings

n/a

n/a

Height

2.79"

2.7"

2.7"

Number of Audio Channels

2.0

3

5

Wall Mountable

Yes

Yes

Yes

Dig Deeper

Sonos Beam Review →

Samsung HW-S60A Review →

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Score Card

E

Expert Score

80

*.75

We place a 75% weighted value on Expert Test Scores

C

Customer Score

89

*.25

We place a 25% weighted value on Customer Scores

True Score

82

Any product with a True Score above 80 is a Absolutely Fresh

Expert Scores

  • Rtings
    101.4

    Category Trust Rating

    70
    The Sonos Ray is acceptable for mixed usage. It’s a simple bar that shines for… Read More

    By:

    Jake Thauvette
  • PC Mag
    51.6

    Category Trust Rating

    60
    The Ray is the smallest, most affordable soundbar that works with any Sonos multi-room system,… Read More

    By:

    Will Greenwald
  • Tom’s Guide
    77.58

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    If you already have a Sonos speaker or two, and are after a usefully compact… Read More

    By:

    Simon Lucas
  • Trusted Reviews
    57.5

    Category Trust Rating

    90
    Simpler, cheaper and smaller than the other soundbars in the range, the Sonos Ray is… Read More

    By:

    David Ludlow
  • CNET
    52.25

    Category Trust Rating

    83
    LIKE: Excellent sound for movies and music., Compact, attractive design., Simple connection., Still the best… Read More

    By:

    Ty Pendlebury
  • Techradar
    39

    Category Trust Rating

    80
    The Sonos Ray is a major sound upgrade compared to the built-in speakers of just… Read More

    By:

    Matt Bolton