Sonos Ray

Clean and powerful TV audio ; Surprising amount of bass ; Wide soundstage ; Optional surround sound

Remote setup can be fiddly ; Better at TV than music

Simpler, cheaper and smaller than the other soundbars in the Sonos range, the Sonos Ray is built with one main job in mind: making poor-quality TVs sound better. This is a more straightforward soundbar than its stablemates, with optical input only, and...

Compact for versatile placement Impressive sound for its size Expandable to a full 5.1 system Easy setup and control

Pricey for a small soundbar Lacks a bit of midrange detail

“Sonos sets the stage for a much more affordable home theater system with the Ray.”

Neat and compact ; Coherent, unified sound ; Sonos system compatibility

No HDMI input ; Plenty of competition ; Slightly small-scale presentation

There’s lots to recommend the Sonos Ray – not least its Sonos-ness and compatibility with the wider system – and in some ways it’s the ideal compact soundbar. However, there's no HDMI connection and it looks expensive next to its most obvious rivals,...

Clean, clear audio with strong dialogue reproduction ; Generates large sound field for its size ; Works with other Sonos speakers in both home theater and multi-room setups

Limited bass response ; Stereo-only imaging ; Limited to optical audio wired connections ; No voice assistant features

The Ray is the smallest, most affordable soundbar that works with any Sonos multi-room system, but it's a bit too pricey for its bass-light performance and relative lack of features.

Compact design is lovely ; Great sound quality for its size ; Excellent range of features ; Quick setup ; Ease of use

Not as good at lower volumes ; No HDMI ARC or eARC support

If you're looking for a soundbar for your living room, we'd recommend the Sonos Beam over the Sonos Ray if your budget allows for it. However, the Sonos Ray is an excellent choice for those looking to upgrade their sound in other rooms. For the price,...

Affordable entry into Sonos home theater ; Very easy setup ; Undoubtedly sounds better than your TV's speakers ; All the advantages of the Sonos ecosystem

No Dolby Atmos ; No microphone for smart speaker use ; Best in sub-300 square foot rooms

Room correction feature with iOS devices. Dialogue enhancement mode. Clear and accurate vocal reproduction.

No Dolby Atmos support. No graphic EQ. No Bluetooth support. Lacks low-bass. No HDMI.

The Sonos Ray is acceptable for mixed usage. It's a simple bar that shines for vocal clarity, making it a solid choice if you want an upgrade over your TV speakers that won't break the bank. As a standalone bar, it fails to provide the rumble in the...