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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 Enabled
No
Depth
3.74"
Dialogue Enhancement Feature
Yes
Energy Star Certified
No
Equalizer Settings
n/a
Height
2.79"
Number of Audio Channels
2.0
Wall Mountable
Yes
Weight
4.29 lbs
Width
22"
Wireless Subwoofer Connectivity
Yes
All Specs
Test Results
These are the most important criteria to test for Soundbars based on our comprehensive Testing Methodology.
Low End Roll Off (Hz)
85.99
High End Roll Off (Hz)
9,122.803
Max Volume Test (db)
90.2
Latency (ms)
THD @ 80dB
0.51
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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.
